Catholic Bishops representing the eight regions of the Symposium of Episcopal Conferences of Africa and Madagascar (SECAM), will gather in Lagos, Nigeria for the 50th anniversary of the Pan-African Committee for Social Communications (CEPACS) slated for 18-21 November 2023.
CEPACS was founded in 1973 by SECAM in the Nigerian western city of Ibadan for the management and operations of the communications Apostolate in Africa.
It handles all matters/activities on media in Africa and Madagascar – press, radio, television, traditional, and other forms of the new media, including social media.
Speaking on the event, the President of CEPACS and Bishop of Oyo Diocese, Most Rev. Emmanuel Badejo said the 50th anniversary would help promote the Synodal Church in Africa through social Communications.
Themed “CEPACS at 50: Towards promoting a Synodal Church in Africa through Social Communications,” the anniversary with an assembly of communications experts and Catholic Bishops from across Africa will feature Dr Paolo Ruffini, Prefect for the Dicastery for Communications, Vatican as Keynote Speaker.
According to Bishop Badejo, “The purpose of the Synod in Africa is the need for every segment to be given access… a voice, … a place and recognition in the affairs of the Church. The emphasis is that every segment of the Church be given the attention it requires to attain holiness, and eventually, to attain salvation.”
“CEPACS helps bring to the grassroots teachings of the Church on communications, the teachings of the Church on the modern media, the teachings of the Church on what the lives of the professionals of media ought to be, what their role, contribution ought to be,” Bishop Badejo said.
“CEPACS also helps to emphasise the importance of the accompaniment of these communications professionals even in their own private life because what happens in their private lives; their family, their daily activities have an impact on the work that they do in reporting news, in reporting events in the Church.
“That is why it is important that everybody takes interest in this assembly which is organised to celebrate the 50th anniversary of CEPACS, so that together, the representatives of the different segments of media that work in the Church, we can all deliberate together on the way forward and how to chart that course together for a Synodal Church, a Church that cares for every segment, everybody, without leaving anyone behind,” the CEPACS President added.
According to the World Christian database, of the estimated 1.2 billion Roman Catholics in the world, Latin America has 483 million or 40%, followed by Europe with 277million or 23.7%.
But Africa, which places third with 177 million or 15.2% has seen the biggest growth in Catholic congregations in recent years.
