CommunicationsCommunications

Challenges for the Caribbean Challenges for the Caribbean ChurchChurch

All the figures wear a blue garment - the colour of the heavens...

but each wears something that speaks of Their own identity.

The three faces are identical...

The figures can be enclosed in a circle

how might this help us to understand the nature of the Trinity?

The Spirit

A blue robe speaking of divinity -- A green robe representing new life

The Spirit touches the table - earthing the divine life of God.

Behind the figure is a mountain.

The Spirit

Elijah could not find God in the earthquake -

- the wind - - the fire on the mountain - but in the gentle breeze

which carried the voice of God deep into his being.

The Spirit

The Spirit inclines - drawing our gaze to the central figure - representing Christ.

The Christ

The Christ figure rests two fingers on the table - laying onto it His divine and His human nature.

He points to a cup filled with wine...

What does this represent?

The Christ

Behind the figure is a tree.

This could be the oak tree at Mamre under which the three angelic visitors rested.

The Christ

The tree may also represent the Cross -the tree on which our Saviour died.

The tree of death which becomes the tree of eternal life -lost to humanity by the disobedience of Adam and Eve -restored to us by the obedience of Jesus.

The Christ

The figure wears the blue of divinity.

The brown garment speaks of the earth - of His humanity.The gold stripe speaks of kingship.

The Christ

It may also be the tree of life in Revelationbearing twelve kinds of fruitone for each month of the year

and the leaves of this tree are for the healing of the nations...

The Father

A figure at rest within Itself. The blue garment almost hidden by a shimmering - ethereal robe.

The Father

the One who is Creator who cannot be seen by His human creatures.

The Father

Both hands clasp the staff

All authority in heaven and on earth belong to the Father.

The Father

Behind the figure is a housethe dwelling place of God.

"In my Father's House are many mansions - I go to prepare a place for you..."

The Father

"Those who love Me will keep My wordand My Father will love them -and we will come to them and make our home with them".

The Beloved

Although, as we have seen, the three figures can be enclosed in a circlethey are not closed in upon themselves.

There is an open-ness. They are turned towards

the one looking at the icon -drawing them into their relationship.

The Beloved

Imagine a new circle but this time a 3-dimensional one.

It travels around the back of the Spirit - behind the Christbehind the Father

and comes forwardextends beyond the imagebeyond the screen

to go round behind you too...

http://www.wellsprings.org.uk/rublevs_icon/trinity.htm

CommunicationsCommunications

Challenges for the Caribbean Challenges for the Caribbean ChurchChurch

The Profound dialogueThe Profound dialogue

Here, in the Word made flesh, God's Here, in the Word made flesh, God's self-communication is definitive. In self-communication is definitive. In Jesus' words and deeds the Word is Jesus' words and deeds the Word is liberating, redemptive, for all liberating, redemptive, for all humankind. This loving self-humankind. This loving self-revelation of God, combined with revelation of God, combined with humanity's response of faith, humanity's response of faith, constitutes a profound dialogue. constitutes a profound dialogue. (Dawn of a New Era 6)(Dawn of a New Era 6)

The Profound DialogueThe Profound Dialogue 7. All over the world, men are at work on 7. All over the world, men are at work on

improving the conditions for human living improving the conditions for human living and the latest scientific wonders and and the latest scientific wonders and technical achievements play their part in technical achievements play their part in this. The Christian vision of man, of his this. The Christian vision of man, of his motives and of his history, sees in this motives and of his history, sees in this development a response–though usually development a response–though usually an unconscious one–to the divine an unconscious one–to the divine command to "possess and master the command to "possess and master the world". (10) It also sees it as an act of world". (10) It also sees it as an act of cooperation in the divine work of creation cooperation in the divine work of creation and conservation. and conservation. (C et P)(C et P)

Dialogue and socializationDialogue and socialization 8. Social communications tend to multiply 8. Social communications tend to multiply

contacts within society and to deepen contacts within society and to deepen social consciousness. As a result the social consciousness. As a result the individual is bound more closely to his individual is bound more closely to his fellow men and can play his part in the fellow men and can play his part in the unfolding of history as if led by the hand unfolding of history as if led by the hand of God.(13) In the Christian faith, the unity of God.(13) In the Christian faith, the unity and brotherhood of man are the chief aims and brotherhood of man are the chief aims of all communication and these find their of all communication and these find their source and model in the central mystery source and model in the central mystery of the eternal communion between the of the eternal communion between the Father, Son and Holy Spirit who live a Father, Son and Holy Spirit who live a single divine life.single divine life. (C et P) (C et P)

Dialogue and LoveDialogue and Love Communication is more than the Communication is more than the

expression of ideas and the indication of expression of ideas and the indication of emotion. At its most profound level it is emotion. At its most profound level it is the giving of self in love. Christ's the giving of self in love. Christ's communication was, in fact, spirit and life. communication was, in fact, spirit and life. In the institution of the Holy Eucharist, In the institution of the Holy Eucharist, Christ gave us the most perfect and most Christ gave us the most perfect and most intimate form of communion between intimate form of communion between God and man possible in this life, and, out God and man possible in this life, and, out of this, the deepest possible unity of this, the deepest possible unity between men. … As a result we move, between men. … As a result we move, within the Church and with the help of the within the Church and with the help of the word and the sacraments, towards the word and the sacraments, towards the hope of that last unity where "God will be hope of that last unity where "God will be all in all".all in all". (C et P 11)(C et P 11)

Communications and historyCommunications and history

187. The People of God walk in 187. The People of God walk in history. As they, who are, essentially, history. As they, who are, essentially, both communicators and recipients, both communicators and recipients, advance with their times, they look advance with their times, they look forward with confidence and even forward with confidence and even with enthusiasm to whatever the with enthusiasm to whatever the development of communications in a development of communications in a space age may have to offer. space age may have to offer. (Communio et Progressio 187)(Communio et Progressio 187)

Changes in Church and Changes in Church and SocietySociety

In 1968 the world went through a In 1968 the world went through a cultural revolution:cultural revolution:

Woodstock FestivalWoodstock Festival Paris Youth RiotsParis Youth Riots Civil rights movement and the Civil rights movement and the

assassinationassassination of Martin Luther of Martin Luther KingKing

Protest Against VietnamProtest Against Vietnam In the Caribbean The Black In the Caribbean The Black

Power movementPower movement

Changes in Church and Changes in Church and SocietySociety

The revolutions represented the The revolutions represented the triumph of the local over the global.triumph of the local over the global.

The revolutions ended in 1973 with The revolutions ended in 1973 with OPEC Oil CrisisOPEC Oil Crisis

From 1973 to today the shaping force From 1973 to today the shaping force of church and society has been of church and society has been towardstowards– UniversalityUniversality– GlobalizationGlobalization– Central administration/organizationCentral administration/organization

The Techonological The Techonological RevolutionRevolution

These trends are possible These trends are possible because of a technological because of a technological revolution:revolution:

TelephoneTelephoneCinemaCinemaRadioRadioTelevisionTelevisionSatellite Satellite IntranetIntranet InternetInternet

Technology and SocietyTechnology and Society

These transformations have changed These transformations have changed our concept of society:our concept of society:

Hunter GathererHunter Gatherer AgricultureAgriculture IndustrializationIndustrialization InformationInformation Knowledge workerKnowledge worker

The Information The Information SocietySociety

Growth of service and information Growth of service and information based occupationsbased occupations

Great increase in the flow of Great increase in the flow of information within and across information within and across national frontiers.national frontiers.

The rise of knowledge as a source of The rise of knowledge as a source of wealth and power wealth and power

The dependence of modern political The dependence of modern political and economic systems on and economic systems on information.information.

The Information SocietyThe Information Society

For all professionals this has meant For all professionals this has meant finding new ways of: finding new ways of: – Managing informationManaging information– Processing informationProcessing information– Passing on informationPassing on information

The Church is no exception     The Church is no exception     

The Pastoral ChallengeThe Pastoral Challenge

Communications:Communications:– getting the word out to others. getting the word out to others. – Sharing information within the Sharing information within the

organisation between ourselves. organisation between ourselves. The technological revolution allows The technological revolution allows

greater efficiency in both these greater efficiency in both these aspects of communications.aspects of communications.

Communications Communications revolution and paradigm revolution and paradigm

of societyof society The Communications revolution is not The Communications revolution is not

just about efficiency.just about efficiency. It is a change in paradigmIt is a change in paradigm The new paradigm has changed the The new paradigm has changed the

way we understand ourselves as a way we understand ourselves as a civilization.civilization.

This is not a change in volume, but This is not a change in volume, but rather a change in kind.rather a change in kind.

This transformation has important This transformation has important pastoral consequencespastoral consequences

Mode of Mode of CommunicCommunic-ation-ation

Form of Form of ConsciousConscious-ness-ness

DescriptioDescriptionn

Political Political organisatiorganisationon

OralOral ArchaicArchaic CultureCulture BandBand

ScriptScript MagicalMagical SocietySociety TribeTribe

AlphabetiAlphabeticc

MythicalMythical CivilisationCivilisation City City State to State to EmpireEmpire

PrintPrint MentalMental IndustrialisaIndustrialisationtion

Nation Nation StateState

ElectronicElectronic IntegralIntegral PlanetisatioPlanetisationn

Noetic Noetic PolityPolity

Mode of communicationsMode of communications

Fits together with Fits together with – Mode of human consciousnessMode of human consciousness– The way we describe our selfThe way we describe our self– Our political aspirationsOur political aspirations

All of these affect the pastoral All of these affect the pastoral mission of the churchmission of the church

Pastoral responsePastoral response““Moreover, as the Church Moreover, as the Church

always must communicate its always must communicate its message in a manner suited to message in a manner suited to each age and to the cultures of each age and to the cultures of particular nations and peoples, particular nations and peoples, so today it must communicate so today it must communicate in and to the emerging media in and to the emerging media culture.” (culture.” (Aetatis NovaeAetatis Novae [The [The dawn of a new Era] #8 dawn of a new Era] #8

The Appropriate Use and The Appropriate Use and Understanding of New Understanding of New Technology Is Directly Technology Is Directly

Connected to the Pastoral Connected to the Pastoral Mission of the Church. Our Mission of the Church. Our

Failure in This Area Is Failure in This Area Is Therefore Not Simply a Therefore Not Simply a

Failure in Efficiency but In Failure in Efficiency but In Theology and Mission.Theology and Mission.

Technology and MissionTechnology and Mission The connection between new The connection between new

technology and emerging culture is a technology and emerging culture is a pastoral challenge.pastoral challenge.

Failure to learn and understand the Failure to learn and understand the new technologies keeps the church new technologies keeps the church outside of the emerging culture.outside of the emerging culture.

With all of its problems and With all of its problems and opportunities this culture is shaping opportunities this culture is shaping the lives, beliefs and world view of the the lives, beliefs and world view of the future.future.

The Church needs to be part of the The Church needs to be part of the great dialogue that shapes this culture.great dialogue that shapes this culture.

CommunicationsCommunications Catholic media work is not simply one Catholic media work is not simply one

more program alongside all the rest of more program alongside all the rest of the Church's activities: Social the Church's activities: Social communications have a role to play in communications have a role to play in every aspect of the Church's mission. every aspect of the Church's mission. Thus, not only should there be a pastoral Thus, not only should there be a pastoral plan for communications, but plan for communications, but communications should be an integral communications should be an integral part of every pastoral plan, for it has part of every pastoral plan, for it has something to contribute to virtually something to contribute to virtually every other apostolate, ministry and every other apostolate, ministry and program.program. ((Aetatis NovaeAetatis Novae [The dawn of a [The dawn of a new Era] #17)new Era] #17)