In New Book, Catholic Priest in Nigeria Offers Insights into Authentic Catechesis, Cyber Evangelization

Fr. Achor explained that the concept of “flux” in the book’s title draws from the philosophical ideas of Heraclitus, emphasizing the ever-changing nature of the world. 

“The journey of this book began about three years ago, inspired by my theological thesis on witnessing to the new evangelization in the digital space," he said, and added, “While the world around us is in constant flux, the Catholic faith remains resilient, particularly in Nigeria, where it has had to navigate the complex interplay of traditional African religions and modern challenges.”

One of the primary goals of this book, Fr. Achor continued, is to “inspire a more authentic and engaged form of witnessing within the Catholic community.”

He lamented that many young Catholics today are disconnected from the core teachings of the faith, often because traditional methods of catechesis are not resonating in the digital age. Fr. Achor went on to advocate for the engaging of modern tools, including social media forums, to make catechesis more accessible and engaging.

“In an age of content creation, the craze for monetization is driving a lot of stuff. Somebody goes naked just to get followers. The craze is such that those are the things that trend. But that shouldn't be a discouragement,” he said.

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The Catholic Priest added, “The Church needs to do more to engage the youth in our parishes, encourage them, and provide incentives that motivate them to engage with the Gospel in the social media space. While harmful content may be trending, the youth should counter it with good moral content that promotes evangelization and glorifies God.”

“Let us take Jesus to cyberspace,” Fr. Achor said, and highlighted the need for collaboration among parishioners and youth networks to create and promote content that reflects Catholic values as important. This, he said, would counter the negative influences that often dominate social media.

The book also explores the intersection of faith and politics, particularly the role of Catholic politicians in shaping society. 

In the August 17 interview, Fr. Achor underscored the need for politicians who not only profess the Catholic faith but also actively live out its values in their political roles.

“The Church encourages the Laity to be actively involved in the political narratives of countries,” he said, and noted that it is not enough to simply participate in politics; one must do so in a way that reflects the moral and ethical teachings of the Church.

Fr. Achor said that the Church must do more to educate Catholic politicians on the importance of integrating their faith with their political responsibilities, and called on Catholic politicians to embody the teachings of the Church in their public lives and to be active participants in shaping the nation’s political landscape. 

“The price you will have to pay as an enlightened man for being indifferent to deciding who governs you is that you will be governed by your inferiors,” he warned in a bid to urge Catholics to be proactive in deciding about leaders and good governance.

In his book, the Nigerian Catholic Priest, who serves as Deputy Director of the Cardinal Onaiyekan Foundation for Peace (COFP) reflects on the role of the Clergy as advocates for social justice. 

“The Priest must be a voice that is never silent against injustice,” he told ACI Africa.

Fr. Achor also said that in his book, he also delves into the intersection of Nigerian culture and Catholicism. He recounts his own experiences with traditional Igala festivals and how his understanding of these practices evolved over time through his studies and Priestly formation. 

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“Our cultures have got to be purified,” he said referring to his call for action in his book that goes for N3,000 (US$5.00).

Abah Anthony John is a Nigerian Journalist with great enthusiasm and interest for Catholic Church Communication and Media Apostolate. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Mass Communication from Benue State University, Makurdi, Benue State Nigeria. He has vast experience in Print,  Electronic and Multi-Media Production.