Resources for World Communications Day 2022

World Communications Day will be celebrated on Sunday 29 May – the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord. Pope Francis has chosen to reflect on the theme of ‘Listening with the ear of the heart’. 

This year’s message is an invitation to reflect on how listening involves more than simply the sense of hearing.  True listening is a foundation of genuine relationships, and is foundational to the relationship between God and humanity.

In his message Pope Francis notes that many people ‘are quickly losing the ability to listen to one another, while at the same time listening is undergoing new developments, especially due to new forms of communicating.’

The Holy Father highlights the importance of listening in the context of the Synodal Process, which the Church is currently engaged in at a local and universal level.  In his message Pope Francis says,

‘The most important task in pastoral activity is the ‘apostolate of the ear’ – to listen before speaking, as the Apostle James exhorts, ‘Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak’ (1:19).  Freely giving some of our own time to listen to people is the first act of charity.

‘A synodal process has just been launched. Let us pray that it will be a great opportunity to listen to one another. Communion, in fact, is not the result of strategies and programmes, but is built in mutual listening between brothers and sisters.

‘With the awareness that we participate in a communion that precedes and includes us, we can rediscover a symphonic Church, in which each person is able to sing with his or her own voice, welcoming the voices of others as a gift to manifest the harmony of the whole that the Holy Spirit composes.’

• Click here to read Pope Francis’ message in full
• Click here for more on the Universal Synod and the Synodal Pathway Ireland

Prayer Resources for World Communications Day 

Prayers of the Faithful relating to Communications 

For the Church throughout the world:
For Pope Francis, Church leaders and Christians everywhere.
May they communicate the Good News of Jesus Christ
with courage and conviction.
Lord, hear us.

For all involved in the work of communications and media
especially during this pandemic:
that their work may serve the cause of truth and justice
and bring real benefits to all.
Lord, hear us.

For a desire to be faithful witness to the Gospel:
That people everywhere may hear
God’s good news for the world.
Lord, hear us.

Pope Francis’ Prayer for Communications 

Lord, teach us to move beyond ourselves,
and to set out in search of truth.

Teach us to go out and see,
teach us to listen,
not to entertain prejudices
or draw hasty conclusions.

Teach us to go where no one else will go,
to take the time needed to understand,
to pay attention to the essentials,
not to be distracted by the superfluous,
to distinguish deceptive appearances from the truth.

Grant us the grace to recognise your dwelling places in our world
and the honesty needed to tell others what we have seen.

From the message of the Holy Father for World Communications Day 2021

Prayers for Communications and Media

Prayer for Communicators
Lord, let the good news of your marvellous deeds fall on every ear,
and let all tongues rejoice in your wisdom,
your compassion, your faithfulness,
and your love.
Make me bold and let me share your Word
with those you desire to reach.
As my heart overflows with your love,
speak through me.
Let me proclaim your glory and your majesty,
and tell of the kindness you have shown your people.
This I ask, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.

Communications Prayer for those working in Diocesan and Parish Communications 

Holy Spirit,
you blessed the first disciples
with the power to spread God’s love
throughout the world. 

Give me a new power to proclaim your word
through my own unique gifts
and through the channels of clear communications.

Make me wiling to receive that word
as it enters my daily life. 

Bless all who use their talents
in the field of communications. 

Guide those who send out the message
and those who receive it,
so that all people
may come to know your truth
and be renewed by your love.  
We ask this through
Jesus Christ, Our Lord.

Amen 

Prayer of Saint Francis de Sales

Be at Peace
Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life;
rather look to them with full hope as they arise.
God, whose very own you are,
will deliver you from out of them.
He has kept you hitherto,
and He will lead you safely through all things;
and when you cannot stand it,
God will bury you in his arms.
Do not fear what may happen tomorrow;
the same everlasting Father who cares for you today
will take care of you then and everyday.
He will either shield you from suffering,
or will give you unfailing strength to bear it.
Be at peace,
and put aside all anxious thoughts and imagination.

St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622)
Patron of Journalists, Writers, Editors and the Catholic Press.

Prayer for Journalists
Almighty God, strengthen and direct, we pray,
the will of all whose work it is to write what many read,
and to speak where many listen.
May we be bold to confront evil and injustice:
understanding and compassionate of human weakness;
rejecting alike the half-truth which deceives, and the slanted word which corrupts.
May the power which is ours,
for good or ill,
always be used with honesty and courage,
with respect and integrity,
so that, when all here has been written,
said and done,
we may, unashamed,
meet Thee face to face, through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Amen.

Social Media Prayer by Meredith Gould 

Christ has no online presence but yours
No blog, no Facebook page but yours,

Yours are the tweets through which love touches the world,
Yours are the posts through which the Gospel is shared,

Yours are the updates through which hope is revealed.

Christ has no online presence but yours,
No blog, no Facebook page but yours.

By Meredith Gould

Social Media Prayer by Brenda Drumm