As we prepared the 2025 themes for The Catholic Telegraph magazine, I looked at the monthly Jubilee Year celebrations happening in Rome during the coming year. From January 24-26, the Vatican will recognize the Jubilee of the World of Communications.

The theme for the 20225 World Day of Communications is “Share with gentleness the hope that is in your heart.” Upon announcing it, Pope Francis wrote, “too often communication is violent, aimed at striking and not at establishing the conditions for dialogue.” This theme calls for efforts “to disarm communication, to cleanse it of aggression.”

With this in mind, and because we also celebrate Catholic Schools Week in January, I asked our Catholic schools how they utilize positive communications with their students. The responses varied from some of the expected: broadcasting and video coverage, to perhaps the unexpected: teaching American Sign Language classes.

Additionally, with the continued implementation of Beacons of Light, Families of Parishes have been asked to appoint Communications Coordinators. We talked to one Family who has already taken that step and seen the fruits from their efforts.

This year also presents a personal opportunity for me to grow in my understanding of Catholic media and communications. Last year I was elected to the National Catholic Media Association board as the magazine at large representative. I’ve begun attending monthly Zoom meetings with Catholic communicators across the United States and Canada, and learned of both exciting changes and concerns that stretch across
state and country lines. The network of Catholic communications is vast, and it’s exciting to see the Vatican place a priority on the topic in this Jubilee Year.

Whether we recognize it or not, communications affect each of us every day. From how we receive our news to how we talk to our family members, it’s important to recognize God’s hand in each exchange, both the words we use and how we receive and respond to information shared with us.

I hope that every issue of the magazine this year helps draw you into the international Jubilee 2025 celebration.