Each year a theme is selected for the Catholic Church’s World Social Communications Day:
- 2011: “Truth, Proclamation and Authenticity of Life in the Digital Age”
- 2012: “Silence and Word: Path of Evangelization”
So What?
While many found the pope’s message this year to be progressive and thoughtful, next year’s topic is the sort that could have been selected for any of the prior years in the day’s forty-five year history. However, according to a Catholic News Agency article the two topics are more related than they first appear. More specifically, silence and communication (including digital communication) are complementary components of the church’s global evangelization strategy.
- Whether or not you agree in the premise of global evangelization, how might the discipline of silence and reflection be a helpful supplement to 24/7 engagement via social media and other forms of digital communications? Are both necessary elements of one’s own personal spiritual development?
- Over the course of your lifetime, what changes have you noted insofar as silence in daily life and as a part of faith formation? What experiences with silence have been particularly meaningful in your own life?