THE POTENTIALS OF NEW MEDIA FOR CATECHETICAL INSTRUCTIONS IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN NIGERIA

Abstract

This paper identifies one of the main challenges of Catechetical instruction in Nigeria, which is fixation in a single oral method. The most common method of instruction is through oral communication, which consists of recitation of questions and answers. Pastoral instructions, Church’s decrees and Papal messages have stressed the need for the use of communication technologies in teaching and preaching, yet there is a slow adoption of these technologies. How can the New Media enhance catechetical instruction of children and adults? This paper examines this question and points out advantages of new (digital) media. Furthermore, the paper suggests practical ways by which we can build on the existing traditional oral methods of catechetical instructions with New Media. The author stresses that the major strength of New Media is its dynamism. It is dynamic in the sense that it is interactive and incorporates diverse media (convergence). New Media is not without limitations and these limitations are elaborated. More still, the paper suggests some online resources that catechetical instructors can use to improve their work.