Cardinal William Goh has reminded Catholic communicators that true evangelization must begin with a personal encounter with Christ.
Without it, he warned, their message could spread resentment instead of hope, according to Catholic News SG, the official news site of the Church in Singapore.
He delivered the message during a Mass for World Communications Day at the Cathedral of the Good Shepherd.
About 500 faithful attended, including some 70 Catholic communicators from parishes, Church organizations, and secular media.
“Do you live in despair and anger? You cannot give hope to the world,” Cardinal Goh said in his homily. “If you claim to be a communicator of hope, but your heart is full of revenge, you need God’s mercy to be healed first.”
He noted that in today’s world—troubled by wars and economic tensions—Catholics are called more than ever to bring hope.
“Proclaim the Good News and give them Jesus, because He is our hope,” he said.
The Cardinal reflected on the theme of this year’s World Communications Day, taken from 1 Peter 3:15–16. “You must give a reason for the hope in your hearts with gentleness and with respect,” he said.
The same verse was also used during Pope Francis’ visit to Singapore in September 2024.
Cardinal Goh urged communicators to share personal stories of faith. He said testimonies of healing and transformation help people see how God works.
“Every story can inspire,” he said.
He added that sincerity is more powerful than eloquence in communication. “It is not so much of what we say, but how we say it and Christ that is in us.”
Nicole Law, coordinator of the Franciscan Young Adults community, agreed. She said stories of faith help others understand what belief looks like in everyday life.
“When we try to explain our faith to others, merely quoting the Catechism of the Catholic Church isn’t enough,” said Law, 31, a secondary school teacher. “Instead, we should not be afraid to tell personal stories of faith.”
“People connect with each other through stories,” she added. “By sharing your testimony, others can glimpse what an encounter with Christ looks like in a concrete way.”
Pope Francis, in his 2025 message, warned that communication today often spreads fear and division. He said Christians must “disarm” communication and free it from aggression.
“Too often, communication today generates not hope, but fear, prejudice, and resentment,” the Pope wrote.
He said identifying enemies to attack denies people their dignity and destroys the chance to build hope.
“The hope of Christians has a face, the face of the risen Lord,” he said. “For Christians, hope is not an option, but necessary.”
