By Ann Marie Foley - 21 June, 2018
Catholic Comment is looking for volunteers to speak about their faith in the national media during the World Meeting of Families 2018.
“As pilgrims and media from all over the world turn towards Dublin for the World Meeting of Families in August, we at Catholic Comment are preparing a team of media speakers to help throw light on the message of Christ and of the Church, before and during this momentous event,” stated the organisation.
Catholic Comment (CC) in Ireland is part of the Catholic Voices global movement, established in the UK in 2010 to offer a new way to communicate the faith – “a new apologetics for the 21st century”.
CC stated it is more important than ever after the referendum on abortion in Ireland to take note of St Paul’s words to Timothy: “preach the word: be urgent in season and out of season” (2 Tim 4:2).
“Now more than ever, we need to hear the voice of faith in the public square in Ireland, and that’s exactly what Catholic Comment (Catholic Voices Ireland) was set up to do,” they stated.
The organisation is looking for Catholics, aged 18 and over, with a genuine enthusiasm for and commitment to the Catholic faith in all its aspects. Volunteers should be willing to share the Catholic worldview in an open, confident and friendly way that values winning hearts over winning arguments.
Those interested will participate in Saturday training sessions, starting in early July, in Dublin. They should be available and willing to speak in the media, sometimes at short notice, in the weeks before and during World Meeting of Families 2018 (21 to 26 August). The deadline for applications for this panel of speakers is Friday 22 June.
Petra Conroy, project coordinator, Catholic Comment
“We don’t just engage with the media, we do so using a very particular approach,” said Petra Conroy, Project Coordinator, Catholic Voices Ireland (Catholic Comment). She explained that this approach helps speakers to “touch hearts and minds and throw the light on the ‘Good News’ of the Catholic faith”. So they do need training.
As CC has limited capacity to train people, it may not be able to accept everyone who applies. CC is seeking a mix of speakers across age groups, geographical location, married and single, with a range of professional and life experience.
Volunteers are asked to pay some of the cost of training but those selected may also consider asking their parish, diocese or organisation to sponsor part or all of the cost. The training can be used in the future in many situations to present the faith positively and with confidence. CC also needs supporters to spread the word and to financially support the work.
“The most important support of all is your prayers. Please do keep this project, Pope Francis, World Meeting of Families, and our country, in your prayers in the months ahead,” stated Petra Conroy.
Further details see: www.catholiccomment.ie/
