THE Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos recently organised a dinner party to celebrate its Catholic Agora Social Medial Network, the first privately owned Catholic Social Media in Africa, which was formally unveiled in August, last year, by Archbishop Alfred Adewale Martins.

The occasion was also used to raise funds for the management of the Catholic Agora Social Media owned by Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos.

In his address, the Catholic Archbishop of Lagos, Most Rev. (Dr.) Alfred Adewale Martins, disclosed that the Catholic Agora inspirations came from Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI message to all Catholic faithful during the 47th World Communication Day, urging them to embrace the social networks as the new expectations, especially Catholic website space for evangelism. He pointed out the special features that would support family relationships, fellowship and dialogues. Other features, he said include profile pages, activities, Online TV, membership directory, forums, games, photo gallery, job board, video chat, On-Bible and Online Radio among others. According to him, the Agora social media is connecting the Archdiocese to the ecosystem (pubic social media), clergy, laity, society and others with guidelines on users as regards to minors and vulnerable in the society. The managers have a firm control over the contents, the ads messages and images in conformity with the Catholic faith and teachings.

Speaking to The Guardian, the Director of Social Communications, Archdiocese of Lagos, Monsignor Gabriel Osu, said, “The arrival of Catholic Agora marked a major turning point in the information management and dissemination in the Archdiocese and beyond.