Sr. Sylvie Lum Cho, of the Congregation of the Missionary Sisters of the Holy Rosary (MSHR) was invited by one of the Facilitators, to share about her journey into the Communication Apostolate, as a way of inspiring other Sister Communicators.
Her journey is a true testimony of the saying that some journeys begin with years of professional training, but others begin with a simple “Yes”.
Sr. Sylvie is one of the pioneer Sister Communicators in Ghana and the Secretary of the Catholic Sister Communicators Network, Ghana (CASCON-GH)
According to Sr. Sylvie, who is the Director of the Department of Social Communications (DEPSOCOM) of the newly erected Catholic Diocese of Donkorkrom, whose inspiring testimony captivated participants at the Catholic Sisters Communicators (CASCON-GH) MediaTraining in Kumasi, the path into Church communication was never part of her original plan.
Yet, through passion, faith and perseverance, she has become a powerful voice telling the stories of the Church in one of Ghana’s mission territories, as testified by many.
Standing before fellow Sister Communicators, she spoke with remarkable honesty about her humble beginnings.
She had never studied journalism or media. Being an educationist, Communication was not the ministry she had envisioned for herself. However, being her Congregation’s Vocations Promoter in Ghana, she got interesting in, and enjoyed creating content for Vocation fostering mainly on Facebook and websites, learning new skills through curiosity, experimentation and determination.
Unknown to her, the bishop had quietly been following her works. Impressed by her commitment and creativity, he eventually invited her to head the Diocesan Communications Office.
“I wasn’t sure I could do it,” she recalled with a smile. “I only had the little I knew, but I accepted the responsibility with faith. What has brought me this far is passion and the Grace of God”.
Her story immediately resonated with many of the Sisters gathered for the training, especially those who, like her, had been entrusted with communication responsibilities without formal professional preparation.
She explained that most of what she knows today was built through practice. With nothing more than a mobile phone, she taught herself photography, video production and digital storytelling, constantly experimenting and discovering new ways to communicate the Gospel.
“It wasn’t magic,” she told the participants. “It was interest, passion and practice. The more you practise, the better you become”.
Her responsibilities were far from light. In addition to leading the diocesan communications office, and being the Vocations Personel, she serves full-time in her Congregation’s-run school at Donkorkrom.
Though sometimes challenging, she has been able to maintain a balance across these different apostolates.
Though not a professionally trained communicator, Sr. Sylvie refused to allow self-doubt to define her mission.
Living and ministering in the then Apostolic Vicariate of Donkorkrom gave her a deeper sense of purpose. She realised that many people across Ghana knew little about the Church’s missionary work in the area.
“I wanted the world, beginning with Ghana, to know that there is a place called Donkorkrom and that beautiful and interesting things are happening there, too” she explained.
That vision transformed the way she approached communication. She began documenting every significant moment in diocesan life, including pastoral visits, mission outreach, celebrations and ordinary encounters that reflected the living presence of the Church.
As social media audiences increasingly responded to visual storytelling, she expanded from photography into video production, discovering creative ways to share the Church’s mission.
Her efforts soon produced results far beyond increased online visibility.
One short video documenting the Bishop and other pastoral agents travelling to island communities without life jackets touched viewers deeply. The response was immediate. Concerned supporters donated more than fifty life jackets to improve the safety of the mission team. Other stories she shared attracted financial assistance and support for pastoral initiatives, including projects that directly benefited the local Church.
Her experience offered participants a powerful lesson: communication is not merely about reporting events. It is an instrument of evangelisation, advocacy and development. When authentic stories are told well, they inspire prayer, generosity, solidarity and action.
The testimony sparked lively discussions among participants, many of whom reflected on how storytelling can strengthen the Church’s mission within their own congregations and dioceses.
Facilitators challenged the Sisters to embrace communication as a ministry of service, reminding them that every congregation, every mission station and every community has stories capable of touching lives and transforming hearts.
As the session drew to a close, one message echoed throughout the room: effective Church Communication does not begin with expensive equipment or formal qualifications. It begins with a heart willing to notice God’s work, the courage to tell those stories faithfully and the commitment to keep learning.
For Sr. Sylvie whose journey began with a simple mobile phone and a passion for storytelling, that commitment has already changed countless lives.
For the Sister Communicators gathered in Kumasi, her testimony became more than an inspiring story it became an invitation to discover what God can accomplish through ordinary people who choose to communicate His mission with extraordinary dedication.
By Sr. Vera Tina Woelinam Tay, HHCJ. CASCON- GH
