Radio Maria: a growing mission
Year II – Issue 7 – July-August 2014
Periodical of the World Family of Radio Maria Association
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The meeting with several radio stations from the American continent on supporting the mission has ended
s we all know, the Radio Maria project worldwide develops and supports itself, not by advertising, sponsoring bodies, granting of promotional space in programmes or by co-operation with other institutions, but rather by Divine Provi-
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dence, which communicates through the generosity of its listeners. In this way listeners arebothinvitedtoandhavethe opportunitytoparticipateinthe RadioMariamission,thanksto their offering. The offering refers not just to thedonationofsomethingmaterial (indeed in the Bible the word “offering” is found 323 times). It is the gift of self, which involves our whole being: time, commitment and sacrifices.
the Corinthians, who excelled in all things, “to excel in this grace of giving” (2nd letter to the Corinthians 8, 7-14).
Consequently,theWorldFamilyisorganisingcoursestohelp the Radio Maria stations worldwide to motivate, direct and assist the participation of listeners in their self-financing mission. The World Family, in association with the Equipo de Formación Continental Americano (EFCA), organAclear example is given to us ized a meeting in Guatemala by St. Paul, when he exhorts for the first week in July, at-
World Family receives a new calling
n early July John Farhat, former secretary to the Bishop Luigi Padovese, visited the office of the World Family in Casciago (Italy). In 2010, John had started a radio with Bishop Padovese (killed in the same year), broadcasting two hours a day on an FM network which covered all the south-eastern area of the Country. The project came to a halt following the killing of the Bishop. The idea now is to set up a Radio Maria station in the country starting with a web radio for the 100 thousand Christians present in Turkey. Besides these there are thousands who have taken refuge in Syria and Iraq in the diocese of Iskenderun. This Turkish city is one of the places where the Christians are persecuted, tortured and even killed
for their strong Christian faith. In 2006, Father Andrea Santoro was gunned down in his parish church of Trabzon. On that occasion the Bishop of the diocese, Mons. Padovese declared that “this is no casual murder. This place is teeming with fanatical Islamists”. The evangelising activity of the radio, begun by John and Mons. Padovese, shared moments of prayer, catechesis and children's programmes. During the visit John was able to develop his knowledge on the identity of Radio Maria, by meeting the President of World Family Emanuele Ferrario and the General Secretary Vittorio Viccardi. He has returned to Turkey and is currently assessing the project feasibility study for every sector: legal,
tended by staff of the Radio Maria stations in Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Panama and the same host country. In those two days, in addition to moments of prayer and training, there were moments to reflect on the different experienceswhichallowtodevelop an authentic “dynamism of inclusion” of all those who are able to tune into the Radio Maria frequency in the scope of its evangelising mission, so thatitnotonlykeepsitselfalive over time but also grows and spreads worldwide.
RM IN THE WORLD The first anniversary of RM India
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EDITORIAL ADVICE editorial and technical. The Turkish Republic has more than seventytwo and a half million residents, the official religion of which is Islam, while Christians account for 0.2% of the population. This Christian minority needs a communication tool which can give them comfort and support in bearing witness to their faith every day… nothing better than Mary with her Radio. Fr. Francisco Palacios
Presenters and operators at the mixer
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WEBSITEOFTHEMONTH The story on the RM websites continues
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