Pope Leo’s Call for Humanness Resonate Globally
Spread News that Enthrones Truth, Inspired by the Holy Spirit – Fr Okoro
By: Tim Etoh
The curtain of the 60th World Day of Social Communications, tagged COMWEEK ‘2026, was drawn on Sunday, May 17, 2026, amidst calls for communicators to spread the good news of Christ, founded on Gospel truth and delivered with a high sense of responsibility and humanness
Communications professionals and enthusiasts in the Catholic world came out en masse in their respective dioceses and countries to mark the end of the celebration.
Ahiara Diocese was not left out as participants, led by the bishop, His Lordship, Most Rev. Dr. Simeon Okezuo Nwobi CMF, who was ably represented by the Vicar-General, Very Rev. Fr. Godson Okoro.
The event kicked off with a Mass presided over by Fr. Godson Okoro at St. Brigid’s Parish, Nnarambia, Ahiara, Mbaise.
Fr Okoro expressed appreciation to social communicators for their respective roles of spreading the Good News, noting that it is a role that brings peace, joy, and other good things to the family, church, community, and nation. He enjoined them to spread news that enthrones truth, inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Rev. Fr. Prof. Innocent Uwah, the Director of Social Communications of Ahiara Diocese and Vice-Chancellor of Nigerian British University, Asa, Abia State, delivered the homily.
He began by thanking God for the great day, not only because it was a Sunday, but also because it was Sunday after the ascension of Christ.
He referred to the reading of the day, where Paul the Apostle encouraged followers of Christ to rejoice because they are sharers of the gifts of Christ.
While giving the reason for Communications Day, Fr. Uwah asserted that many people take communications for granted, not knowing that the various ways we express ourselves in the house of God relate to communications. According to him, the choir, lectors, and every other worker serving in the church, who make the work of God meaningful, are communicators of the Word, which touches the lives of people.
He also stated that communication is an apostolate that should be upheld in the family, church, community, and nation.
‘’ It is for this reason our bishop and those working with him have been working assiduously to provide modern media platforms and infrastructures in the diocese for advancing the spread of the Gospel,” Fr. Uwah explained. He is of the view that, with the establishment of the Guide, its print media platform, Mater TV, its online platform, and Mater Radio, an electronic version in focus, Ahiara Diocese has made significant progress in the area of communications and effective information dissemination. He thanked Bishop Nwobi and those working with him to elevate the communications status of the diocese. He also thanked SIGNIS AFRICA President, Rev. Fr. Prof. Walter Ihejirika, for his noble efforts in implementing other social communications policies and programs of the Church.
He extended his appreciation to members of the Catholic Media Practitioners Association of Nigeria (CAMPAN), Catholic Entertainers Association of Nigeria (CAEAN), and Daughters of Providence of the Deaf and Dumb, who, through charity and skills, have made the use of sign language an integral part of the communication mix of the diocese. Every other members of the Communications Apostolate were appreciated and those present at the Mass came to the altar for the bishop’s blessings, administered by the Vicar-General, assisted by other priests present.
Next on the day’s program was the bestowing of merit awards to some prominent individuals who have contributed to the growth of communication in society.
Members of the Communications Apostolate later filed out in a procession in thanksgiving to God for successful celebrations.
After Mass, the celebrations shifted to the Parish Civic Hall for other activities, including member interaction, drama, and entertainment in form of food and drinks.
At the end, it was obvious that participants were satisfied and left with the hope of experiencing a more vibrant communications environment in Ahiara Diocese, in alignment with the Church’s goal of preserving human voices and faces in social communications.
