2013 - The Miracle of Volunteers - ENG

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA AIUTIAMO LA MADONNA AD AIUTARCI

EDITORIALE

Annual Publication of the World Family of Radio Maria Association TWO THOUSAND TWELVE YEAR ONE ISSUE

1

47 www. radiomaria. org

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA AIUTIAMO LA MADONNA AD AIUTARCI

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA AIUTIAMO LA MADONNA AD AIUTARCI

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA AIUTIAMO LA MADONNA AD AIUTARCI

EDITORIALE

PUBBLICAZIONE ANNUALE DELL’ASSOCIAZIONE WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA DUEMILADODICI ANNO PRIMO NUMERO

1

46

47 www radiomaria org

THE MIRACLE OF VOLUNTEERS Annual Publication of the World Family of Radio Maria Association October 2012 Front cover: Presence and reach of Radio Maria in the world.

Photo: Paolo Patruno

Editorial manager Fr. Livio Fanzaga Editor Raffaele Galati (raffaele.galati@radiomaria.org) Editorial team Stefano Chiappalone (stefano.chiappalone@radiomaria.org) Fr. Francisco Palacios (francisco.palacios@radiomaria.org) Vittorio Viccardi (vittorio.viccardi@radiomaria.org) Graphic Paolo Marchetti (www.paolomarchetti.net) Contributors to this issue Stefano Chiappalone, Giulia Chironi, René D’Almeida, Alicia del Cid, Tito Díaz Santisteban, Emanuele Ferrario, Fr. Stjepan Fridl, Raffaele Galati, Fr. Joseph Kimu, Fr. Raphael Kootumghal Antony, Bernhard Mitterrutzner, Joseph Nassar, Fr. Francisco Palacios, Fr. Jay Policarpio, Fr. Alvaro Saenz, Fr. Andreas Schätzle, Valentina Scorza, Paolo Taffuri, Fr. Walter Tonelotto, Vittorio Viccardi Photographs Paolo Patruno (www.paolopatrunophoto.org) Historical Archive of the World Family of Radio Maria Association Translations Omnia Language Solutions srl - Bergamo Printed by Nastro&Nastro srl - Germignaga (VA)

© 2012 All rights reserved Any form of reproduction (even partial) is forbidden

48

S O U Mm Mm A aR rI O y 2 6

volounteers of Radio IThe volontari di Radio MariaMaria

Let us helplaOur Lady toadhelp us Aiutiamo Madonna aiutarci fatherLIVIO livioFANZAGA fanzaga PADRE

Ournostra familyfamiglia La

The history anddifuture Radio Maria Storia e futuro RadioofMaria emanuele FERRARIO ferrario EMANUELE

The importance voluntary work L’importanza delofvolontariato

in thecultura Africanafricana culture 10 Radio Maria nella stefano A CURA DIchiappalone STEFANO CHIAPPALONE

Trainingformativi courses and professionalism Percorsi e professionalità

Training andecommunion comunione 14 Formazione paolo TAFFURI taffuri PAOLO

Radio Maria in America

A round table discussion to reflect together tavola rotonda per riflettere assieme 18 Una father francisco palacios A CURA DI DON FRANCISCO PALACIOS

Special insert onRM RMnel in the world Inserto speciale mondo Ten years Dieci anniofdimission missione

the challenge of the Asian continent Maria,and la sfida del continente asiatico 24 Radio Maria vittorio VICCARDI viccardi VITTORIO

Fromprimi the first to Radio Maria Dai fratifriars a Radio Maria

mission country di missione 30 India, terra

father Raphael Kootumghal Antony DON RAPHAEL KOOTUMGHAL ANTONY

The European experience L’esperienza europea

Prayer ande spirituality spiritualità in in Radio Radio Maria Maria 34 Preghiera raffaele A CURA DI galati RAFFAELE GALATI

Thedifesa defence of fede the faith La della

the Church’s side 40 Radio Maria abyfianco della Chiesa raffaele A CURA DI galati RAFFAELE GALATI

44 La Ournostra WorldFamiglia Family Mondiale

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA

— The volounteers of Radio Maria —

Let us help Our Lady to help us Father Livio Fanzaga, Director of the first Radio Maria in Italy, explains the centrality of voluntary work in the service and in the activities which are shared by all radio stations worldwide.

A unique and inestimable value.

father LIVIO FANZAGA WFRM Directors Adviser & rm italy Director

D

ear friends, one of the inherent evangelise, but also many assistants who work characteristics of Radio Maria in the offices, editorial teams and in the variis that of being supported by ous promotion, development and broadcasting an extraordinary army of volactivities. Volunteers are also the members of unteers. Voluntary work is such the Radio Maria Association, like the people in a fundamental element of the charisma that if charge who cover managerial and operational it were to be even just toned down, the nature positions. Experience teaches that the roles of Radio Maria would change. It is a form of which require a full time commitment and a voluntary work which distinhigh level of professionalism guishes itself from other simneed to have salaried-workilar phenomena, in terms of ers. In this case a spirit of “Radio Maria has quantity and quality. Radio enthusiasm and dedication is its own special Maria volunteers are an esalso essential which is the life sential element and represent and soul of voluntary work. profile in the a large part of its human asVoluntary work is a social panorama of sets. Volunteers are the prouniversal phenomena, even Catholic radio gramme presenters who take if it is more developed in turns on the microphone to some nations than in others. stations„

2

EDITORIAL

RM Italy

«

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA Let us help Our Lady to help us

Nevertheless, Radio Maria has Maria has a spe“Radio Maria found that even where the prescifically religious volunteers 828 ence of voluntary work appeared root. What moves transmitters love Our Lady difficult at first, due to poverty a full-fledged and unemployment, it can still and wish army of people 5 million be successfully developed. The to economically to serve weekly real problem is reaching peosupport Radio listeners her through ple’s hearts to encourage them Maria, even with the radio which to give part of their time and engreat sacrifice, 504 ergy. What other way is there to carries her name„ and to joyfully volunteers do this but start from the fundacommit themmental motivation that Radio Maria is at the selves to even the most humble 130 service of Our Lady and that her primary aim and hidden activities, is the love presenters is to bring people to God, so that in faith they for Our Lady. can rediscover the beauty and the greatness of Radio Maria was born from life? There is no doubt that the extraordinary a dual love. First and foremost the love of the phenomenon of the voluntary work of Radio Mother of God for her people. Only Our

The presenter of each Radio Maria around the world is a volunteer

3

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA Let us help Our Lady to help us

Lady could have the extraordinary intuition of choosing such a universal tool, so penetrating and so fitting for evangelisation as the radio. In the horizon of mass media, radio is the simplest, most affordable and suited tool for bringing God’s Word to men. People are not converted by seeing images, but by listening to a voice. Through the airwaves, Our Lady has wanted her voice to reach wherever there is a human being to save. This is why she accepted that a radio would carry her name. At the same time Radio Maria was born from the love of the sons for their Heavenly Mother. They know that they have to help Our Lady to help them.

They want to be her heart, her smile, her outstretched hands, and reach out to all brothers in need. It is the love for the Mother of God and the Mother of the Church, which is the the life and soul of Radio Maria and her army of volunteers, among which it is also right to include the employees who feel lucky to spend their entire day at the service of Our Lady. When

the Priest-Directors and the Presidents will be “Marian” and know how to transmit the love for Our Lady, there will always be a generous response of many souls who are willing to make great sacrifices.

Radio Maria volunteers love Our Lady and wish to serve her through the radio which carries her name. From here comes the need that the volunteer must, first and foremost, be an assiduous listener of Radio Maria, so that he will know it deeply in all its aspects. The first thing to understand and take into the heart is the soul of the radio, the charisma which inspires it and the objectives it sets itself for. The volunteer must understand that Radio Maria has its own special profile in the panorama of Catholic radio stations. Radio Maria is a radio station which proposes to reawaken faith, call to conversion, exhort to prayer, to help the Church in its ultiRadio Maria distributes “Marian transistor radios” to the most needy: prisoners, the sick and the elderly. To date, in Italy alone, 5000 transistor radios have been distributed with the image of Our Lady.

The generosity of the benefactors makes the Good News reach homes, cells and hospital rooms to give support to the most needy. For further information: info.ita@radiomaria.org

4

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA Let us help Our Lady to help us

EDITORIAL

“Radio Maria places itself under the doctrinal vigilance of the Magisterium of the Catholic Church and is faithful to the directives of the Pope” (Guiding Principles of Radio Maria)

mate goal which is to save souls. The volunteer must never lose sight of this missionary dimension, which makes him an apostle and a witness.

Consequently, volunteers need to have spiritual training, so that they feel the responsibility of the task, whatever service they carry out. They must have in-depth knowledge of the Radio Maria project, its history, its organisation and the problems it has to face.

sible way. Background, loyalty, professionalism and diligence are required. Each task must be performed in the best possible way, with intelligence and love. Voluntary work must be synonymous with reliability and continuity. The history of Radio Maria shows us that the most important thing is its spiritual and human resources, without which even ample financial means would accomplish nothing.

The Radio Maria Project, with twenty thousand volunteers spread around the globe, avails of a valuable treasure which must be preserved, developed and qualified. At a time of economic, moral and spiritual crisis, voluntary work is the medicine which Our Lady bestows upon us.

At the same time the volunteer must know how to perform his job well. When he is at the service of Our Lady he must do it in the best pos-

© 2012 - all right reserved

5

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA

— Our family —

The history and future of Radio Maria Each project has its own past from which to start building the present and the future. Twenty five years of Radio Maria history: from the first antenna to the villages of Papua New Guinea.

EMANUELE FERRARIO WFRM & RM Italy president

E

very time I visit a Radio Maria station around the world, the first question they ask me is always the same: tell us about the early stages of the project.

You are probably interested in this “story” too, which has already reached its first milestone of twenty-five years.

In Italy, starting from the eighties, a ruling of the Constitutional Court made it possible to set up private radios; before that only state radios had been able to broadcast under a monopoly regime.

Hundreds of small radios were set up this way and the phenomenon also involved many parishes.

It is customary for parishes in Italy to organise a series of spiritual events and special catechesis for a few weeks every five years, with the aid of special preachers (Passionists, Franciscans,... ). In 1982 the parish of Arcellasco, a suburb of Erba, in the province of Como, was involved in such an experience. The parish priest, in order to help the participation of everyone in the church events,

Historical site of Radio Maria Italy in Erba, Como

even the sick and those for whom it was impossible to attend church, had an antenna erected on the bell tower.

The parishioners welcomed it with open arms, so they decided to continue the programmes and the first Radio Maria was set up, a station which was poor in means but attentive to sufferers and rich in prayer. Over time, several towers were

6

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA The history and future of Radio Maria

EDITORIAL

added, but still at a highly experimental level. On 12th January 1987 the management of the radio station passed from the parish control to a committed legal association. After such a move, with good reason we can speak of a new foundation.

The decisions which have affected the development of the project have been those to put an immediate stop to all forms of advertising, deciding to depend completely on the offerings of listeners in a spirit of total trust in Divine Providence. It has also been necessary to create a well-organised programming schedule, eliminating the programmes of little use, together with the launch of a tangible project which H.E. Mgr. Vincenzo Bertolone, Metropolitan Archbishop of Catanzaro Squillace, recently summarised as follows: “the Church continues its work with Radio Maria to reach out to those who are distant, and who very often return to the practice of the Sacraments”.

Let us return to our “story”.

Helped and encouraged by listeners we were able to profit from the three year period 1988-1990, before the law which normalised the existent one came into place, to create a nation-wide network with more than 500 transmitters. Of course we also found ourselves with many debts, but the listeners were very generous and in a few years everything was

Mgr. Giuseppe Antonio Scotti, on behalf of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, inaugurated work for the IV World Convention of Radio Maria in 2009

back to normal. During the subsequent decade the private network was optimised and it became the most widespread in Italy to be faithful to our slogan: “wherever there is a human being Radio Maria will be at his side”.

Having reached a large part of the Italian population the next step was to take the signal to Italians abroad and punctually in 1992 programmes began airing in new York with the Italian schedule rebroadcasted in the USA via satellite, which was followed by the signal for Italians in Canada and “Within the timing throughout Europe. that she alone In the meantime two invitations came: from Burkina knows, the Blessed Faso (Africa) and from Peru Virgin will want (South America). to cover the entire One of the features of the world with her “new” Radio Maria station was that of extensive diamantle reaching logue between the listeners places which today and the various programme would seem to be presenters, especially with the director. Listeners enutopia„

7

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA The history and future of Radio Maria

couraged us not only to respond to these calls, but also to financially assist the radio stations which were setting up in the poorest countries of the world. From 1992 to 1997, starting from Burkina Faso and Peru, Radio Maria Italy witnessed the development of stations in Europe, South America and Africa. It became necessary to develop a new association which would gather all the existing radios and open up to new calls: on the 3rd of June 1998 the Association World Family of Radio Maria, a non-governmental organisation later also recognised by the UN, was also set up.

It has proven to be exciting work. We are currently present in 59 countries of which 19 in the Americas, 19 in Europe, 17 in Africa, 3 in Asia and 1 in Oceania, plus five radio stations for linguistic minorities and a twinning project in Lebanon.

The Blessed Virgin wants to continue her journey, so we are pursuing several dossiers which will involve the next two years, on condition that the governments and authorities in charge grant us the broadcasting licences within reasonable timeframes. In Africa, the continent of Hope: Benin, Guinea Conakry, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia,

Madagascar, Mali and Nigeria. In Asia: Hong Kong as a gateway to China. In America: Haiti. In Europe: Byelorussia, Ireland and Latvia.

In light of the experience gained, we can confidently claim that Radio Maria is a project of the Blessed Virgin slotted into the great battle against the forces of evil, which will see the victory of Good. We are all simple means and I can assure you that, very often, our “President” has to be very patient by accepting our limits and errors.

What does the future hold? For certain, within the timing that she alone knows, the Blessed Virgin will want to cover the entire world with her mantle reaching places which today would seem to be utopia. Day after day, we continue to install antennas and transmitters, to improve the technological equipment, to reach countries with a small Catholic presence, in addition to continuously training worldwide the people involved in the project.

In the meantime technology develops at a hectic pace and it opens up new horizons, so it becomes a priority for us to be present and up-to-date, from mobile phones to new digital and satellite means passing through internet. Thanks to our current 64 signals, broadcasting over both traditional and innovative platforms, emigrants wherever they may be in the world, will be able to listen to the voice of Radio Maria in their language and feel closer to home.

Every three years we all meet at a World Convention to share our experiences, discuss the activities and update the rules which govern the project, in order to return to our radio stations recharged by the brotherly communion and the encouragement of the Holy Father. We ask the Blessed Virgin for her protection, so that we may always remain faithful to our two main goals: to help the Holy Church in her work of evangelisation and to be close to all human beings with a word of comfort and hope.

The WFRM World Conventions

Starting from the year 2000, the radio stations associated to the World Family of Radio Maria have got together every three years in Italy for a moment of sharing, reflection and programming of the activities at world level. At the most recent meetings it was possible to participate in the Public Audience with the Pope in St. Peter’s Square in Rome.

© 2012 - all right reserved

8

Continental data 17 Radio Maria 64 transmitters 85,450,000 population coverage

AFRICA The importance of voluntary work: Radio Maria in the African culture Training courses and professionalism: Training and communion

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA

— The importance of voluntary work —

Radio Maria in the African culture What it means to be a Radio Maria volunteer in Africa in the words of Father Joseph Kimu (Director of RM Malawi) and René D’Almeida (President of RM Togo).

Stefano Chiappalone wfrm editorial assistant

I

n his recent Apostolic Exhortation Afsion of Radio Maria. Once his good intentions are subricae Munus, Benedict XVI pointed out stantiated, the candidate is called for an interview and, “the great openness of the heart and spirit in if considered suitable, he is asked to sign a contract in the African tradition”. Radio Maria has which he agrees to offer his service for free. also found particularly fertile soil in the Based on the experience, qualifications and skills of African continent, the people of which joyfuleach person, the volunteers are assigned to the different ly welcome the Blessed Virgin and put themdepartments of the radio which can be the technical selves at her service as volunteers in the radio. area, the programming area, the promotional area, the Fr. Joseph Kimu, Director of RM Malawi, administrative or the news and current affairs area». gives a practical explanation of the experience of voluntary work, starting with the selection From what Fr. Kimu says, it would appear of candidates: that the requests from potential «Voluntary work takes many forms in volunteers are many, showing a “Many Radio Radio Maria Africa. A person who generosity which is not limited Maria volunteers believes in the Radio Maria project by the difficult living conditions claim to have usually forwards a request to become in many African countries... a volunteer in a specific area, commit«It is true that many people in Africa received more ting himself to offering his service for live in very precarious financial condispiritual and free for a few hours a week. Special tions and that the idea of voluntary human benefits work may seem a difficult decision to attention is paid to evaluating the mothan those they tivations of the candidate, which must make. However, contrary to the belief be in step with the mission and the vithat voluntary work in Africa is a have helped„

10

The Blessed Virgin, Mother of Christ, supports the walk of Radio Maria in the world 11

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA Radio Maria in the African culture

foreign concept because Africans are poor, the experience of Radio Maria is truly extraordinary and overwhelming. Considering that it carries out no commercial activity, but survives solely on the generous offerings of its listeners, the free service of the volunteers to Radio Maria becomes the core of its daily operation and of its existence. During the interview, we ask why a person wants to offer his service for free, despite the fact that he needs financial assistance to meet his own needs and that of his family.

RM

Malawi

150

volunteers

8

transmitters

50

presenters

The answers are rich and multiple, and bursting with faith, hope and love. Many offer themselves as volunteers because they want to share, defend and nourish their faith. Africans are by nature very religious, and by offering this service they show that no one is so poor that he cannot offer even the small amount he can. In short, they testify that for the Glory of God it is noble even to share one’s own poverty! » So they carry out this precious service because they are evidently aware that they will receive much more than material remuneration. Dear Fr. Kimu, what enrichment does the African volunteers of RM experience?

«The miracle of voluntary work in Africa is a wonderful story, which deserves to be told. The success of voluntary

work in Radio Maria amazes many secular radio stations, but also diocesan and religious radio stations. At times, they do not believe that this is possible, above all because there are many young people who are unemployed and left to their own resources in the cities and remotest areas. We want to share a small anecdote in this regard. During a meeting with more than two hundred volunteers, during his welcome speech to the Bishop present on that day, the Director of Radio Maria Africa praised the volunteers “because they offer their service for free without expecting any remuneration”. Well, one of the volunteers responded that it wasn’t true that they would receive no remuneration, since Salvation would be the greatest of all forms of remuneration achievable on Earth!

Many volunteers of Radio Maria Africa claim to have received more spiritual and human benefits than those they have helped. Many of them joyfully and enthusiastically tell how their personal life has changed for the better by carrying out the voluntary service for Radio Maria».

The importance of voluntary work can be observed in every corner of the African continent where Radio Maria operates. Réné D’Almeida, President of RM Togo, tells us how this work is precious, not only logistically, but also to embody at best the family spirit which characterises our radio stations everywhere.

Dear René, how would you describe the crucial role of the RM volunteers

The mobile studios are managed by organised groups of volunteers

12

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA Radio Maria in the African culture

and how is it practically carried out in Togo?

«Volunteers for Radio Maria are what electrical wires are for electricity: they play a leading role, allowing us to link-up with our listeners and with the people.

Every week hundreds of people make contact with the offices of our radio station. The work of the volunteers is essential to deal with many people in a way that is

RM 245 Togo

volunteers

5

transmitters

80

presenters

efficient and fraternal. Their work, which is anything but secondary, is an important resource for the mission of Radio Maria.

The administration area often resorts to volunteers to ensure the distribution of correspondence in cities and for other organisational and managerial tasks. For example, where it is still not customary and widespread to use banking services, volunteers go directly to people’s homes to collect the offerings. This service requires a certain number of volunteers who can help each other.

Thanks to the volunteers the radio can rely on people who are worthy of trust and believe in the “Radio Maria Project”. In total there are over 120 people just for the station of Lomé; approximately another hundred volunteers will need to be added to work in the four secondary premises within the country».

How do so many volunteers interact with each other?

«Strangely enough, when you are in the offices or in a studio, you don’t realise the number: you get

AFRICA

the impression that there are just 5 or 7 volunteers and that they all know each other. And yet, overall, there are more than 200!

So that their work may be efficient, we must give them adequate training on the guiding principles and characteristics of the Project. When volunteers are driven by the right spirit and ready for their assignment, the work is carried out in a friendly and fraternal atmosphere: each humbly covers his own role and understands that nothing is essential (after all we are all humble servants), but also that nothing is useless in the eyes of the Virgin Mary».

It is clearly more than just a matter of numbers. What is the added value that distinguishes a radio based on voluntary work like Radio Maria?

«As regards to our experience in Togo, we have understood that voluntary work is vital for Radio Maria: without help from volunteers we would be fighting a losing battle. A large number of employees would certainly suffice to keep a radio station in operation, but it would not be a Radio Maria. Throughout Africa and the world, our radio station presents these specific features: those who collaborate try to experience evangelical brotherhood. We are like one family, one parish, and we are called to lead a Christian life.

Voluntary work gives the mission of Radio Maria a spiritual feeling, and the volunteers are the engine and the power required for its everyday operation.

Thanks to them, listeners feel part of a Christian community which broadcasts its faith across the air waves».

In Africa Radio Maria has a large youth listenership

13

© 2012 - all right reserved

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA

— Training courses and professionalism —

Training and communion

World Family of Radio Maria is active in the training and the professional development of its collaborators.

In Africa, as in the rest of the world.

PAOLO TAFFURI WFRM Africa COORDINATOR

14

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA training and communion

R

adio Maria first arrived in Africa in 1993 with the opening of Radio Maria Burkina Faso. In 19 years that small experience has widened to the majority of the African continent, in particular in the Sub-Saharan area.

The persevering, and sometimes adventurous, work of the first missionaries of the late 19th century, and the local Church that originated from them, has resulted in more than 176 million Catholics out of a population of 854 million people. Approximately one century after these first missionaries arrived, Radio Maria carries on its evangelisation work.

Radio Maria is considered to be a large parish in the airwaves

AFRICA

Today, an important challenge for Africans is to compete in a globalised world. The new millennium opened with a development that had never been experienced in this part of the world which, however, has almost exclusively involved a minority of the population. This is an elite which, thanks to the high levels of education, occupies high-ranking positions in politics, economics and society, but which is distant from the majority of the people, for whom little has changed over the centuries. Sub-Saharan Africa society remains for the most part, and perhaps more than ever, divided between high-income and low-income earners, between professionals and the poorly educated and qualified.

Among the many factors which create this gap is the level of professionalism with which employment is approached and this distance further highlights the gap between Africa RM in the English speaking zone: Kenya, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia RM in the French speaking zone: Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Rep., Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Ivory Coast, Rwanda, Togo RM in the Portuguese speaking zone: Mozambique and the rest of the world. For an organisation like World Family of Radio Maria which works in five continents this drawback in Africa is even more evident. So, in a period in which the Church in the majority of cases assigns its mission to the clergy

15

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA training and communion

The World Family office in Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) holds training courses for all African radio stations

and local secular people, passion and voluntary work are no longer sufficient: there is a mandatory phase which involves increasing the quality of work, in terms of organisation and strategies, in terms of personal aptitude and technical skills.

Following its mission of service to the Radio Maria stations in Africa, World Family has also decided to use part of its resources to professionalise staff in the individual radio stations.

There are two main activities: training and support. Training, so that the people involved in the Radio Maria project can achieve positive results in every activity. Support, in the sense of “staying close” to those who, during the development process, may need assistance to reach the necessary maturity. That is why World Family of Radio Maria has been investing in training courses and training on the field since 2010, with the goal of developing the radio staff professionally. It involves participative training, in which the experience of each individual is a teacher for the other.

Above all, with training on the field, the opportunity to experience the activities of a “sister” radio station allows them to breathe the spirit of Radio Maria and to learn to make the first steps in a reality in which voluntary work and professionalism go hand in hand. The organised training cours-

es have another interesting aspect. They create communion and unity. In one word: community.

Directors, presidents, coordinators, technicians and promoters from different African countries find themselves living an experience together, in which the service in Radio Maria, their common denominator, brings them to know and share the experiences and different cultures, challenges and personal successes and their situations.

They are living human beings which meet and are enriched reciprocally, and for this reason they unite in a community of people at the service of Jesus and Mary, through the radio.

The size of the community-family of Radio Maria is an important element in the training and professionalization journey, as it is the first environment where professional qualities are used with a specific purpose: to serve the poorest and the neediest. It is not possible to

Each radio prays in the spirit of brotherly communion

serve our neighbour who is on the other side of the microphone, an antenna and a radio unless we start by working with dedication, a spirit of sacrifice and a desire to give our best within our community-family. It is together with these men and women of goodwill that we try to work with maximum professionalism in the vineyard of the Lord. © 2012 - all right reserved

16

Continental data 22 Radio Maria 398 transmitters 157,450,000 population coverage

AMERICA Radio Maria in America: A round table discussion to reflect together

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA

— Radio Maria in America —

A round table discussion to reflect together Voluntary work, Marian devotion, peace. Let’s speak about it with Alicia del Cid (President of RM Guatemala), Tito Díaz Santisteban (President of RM Peru) and Fr. Álvaro Saenz (Director of RM Costa Rica). father FRANCISCO PALACIOS wfrm EDITORIAL MANAGER

D

ear readers, using a ‘round table’ discussion type reflection, we would like to give you the opportunity to discover different viewpoints from the collaborators of the Radio Maria stations in the American continent. To do this, we have invited the following to participate: • Alicia del Cid, President of RM Guatemala • Tito Díaz Santisteban, President of RM Peru • Fr. Álvaro Saenz, Director of RM Costa Rica.

We start our meeting with Alicia del Cid, President of RM Guatemala. Alicia, what are the characteristics of the Latin American populations which, in different ways, have encouraged voluntary work in Radio Maria?

«Thank you for the question. The American continent is deeply rooted in the Pre-Columbian cultures which are founded on essential values such as solidarity, service, deThe promotional activity at the service of the people

18

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA A round table discussion to reflect together

AMERICA

The smile and gratitude of the listeners repay the efforts of everyday work

dication and sacrifice. In peaceful times, our people dedicated themselves unrelentingly to the co-existence between communities and to the strengthening of the bonds of mutual aid. I am not exaggerating when I say that before the discovery and colonisation of the 15th and 16th centuries, Americans had a “cosmic view” characterised by a deep religiosisty. The “transculturation” following the contact with European countries resulted in the advent of deplorable subjugation systems, which led to outright slavery. Nevertheless, there was a voice that proclaimed the equality of human dignity: many testimonies tell of the Catholic missionaries who preached peaceful co-existence and respect for our cultures. Today, we are experiencing a new process of intercultural exchange and there are plenty of examples of community life based on the intrinsic values of the oldest cultures, combined with the vision of

19

the evangelical message and the preaching of the Catholic religion among our people. As a result, our countries are always willing to provide social and religious support.

This continent relentlessly pursues values like dedication, attention to community needs, willingness to organise support committees, generosity and solidarity; to all this we add the deep love and devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. In every country of Latin America, faith in Our Lady has marked the course of people’s lives and precisely this Marian devotion ensures that the voluntary work for Radio Maria represents a tangible, thriving and wonderful reality in these places».

For the Radio Maria stations of this continent, in particular RM Guatemala, what are the key issues that volunteers have to address

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA A round table discussion to reflect together

in pursuing their good tion from the Church which, Countries in which deeds within the radio? today more than ever, calls Radio Maria is present «I believe that the perseveus, through Faith, to a New North America rance of volunteers can be Evangelisation which has Canada, Mexico, USA threatened by both internal the goal of transforming an (weaknesses) and external indifferent and selfish world Central America (threats) factors. Here are through a process of social, Costa Rica, Dominican Rep., El Salvador, some weaknesses: just and supportive co-exiGuatemala, Nicaragua, Panama • The absence of an interstence. Our culture does not nal promotion programme: promote voluntary work.

South America those who express the desire I would like to share the siArgentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, to join the RM project are tuation in my country. FortuEcuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela not adequately guided throunately, in Guatemala there is gh a support, assistance and great perseverance in voluntraining programme according to the Charisma of Radio tary work within the different areas of involvement. First Maria . and foremost, this is due to an ongoing activity of encou• Weak support. Once they have become part of the ragement, participation and integration in effective work project the volunteers must be supervised and supported practices, in particular in the Promotion, Programming until they feel they are not “working” simply for their and Administration area, within which we can rely on own area, but understand that they are “part” of a larger the presence of a large team of volunteers. mission.

As we all know, Voluntary work means everything to • The lack of effective communication, which is essenRadio Maria, it is the “body” of the project. When votial for building solid bonds of acceptance, cooperation, lunteers understand this truth, they become the personiexchange of ideas and achievement of positive results. fication of its importance and live out its consequences, As regards to external factors, the most significant are the they are ready to give their proactive contribution and following: persevere in their actions. We have numerous testimo• We live in a secularized nies of volunteers who do world, which encourages not lose heart because of the selfishness, consumerism difficulties, carrying out the and social indifference. tasks assigned to them each The modern idols of “poday with enthusiasm and wer”, “possession” and dedication, like true “ants”». “pleasure” keep us from giving ourselves to our neighbour through projects of evangelisation and human Our “round table” dipromotion. We have to conscussion continues with trast this real threat with a Tito Díaz Santisteban, strong system of evangelisaPresident of the “oldest” In every country, Radio Maria involves people of all ages

20

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA A round table discussion to reflect together

Radio Maria station in Latin America.

Tito, as President of RM Peru, can you give us a brief account of its history?

«In 1993, Father Luciano Ciccarelli, a Montfortian Missionary, contacted the President of World Family of Radio Maria asking for his help in setting up a radio station in Peru. In March 1995, Father Leo arrived in the country on behalf of Radio Maria, and once he ascertained the strong commitment of his fellow priest to accomplishing the project, he decided to offer his support.

So, on 13th March of the same year, the Association Radio Maria Peru was officially established».

We began the interview with this question because it is exactly here, in the American continent, that Radio Maria has rapidly expanded: in less than 15 years it has reached almost all the countries in the region, including the Caribbean.

Tito, what are the aspects or the circumstances which have encouraged such rapid and widespread expansion?

«One of the reasons is certainly the religious zeal of our populations, in addition to the many forms of devotion to the Virgin Mary, like the Virgin of Guadalupe in Mexico, of Copacabana in Bolivia, Our Lady of Luján in Argentina, of Aparecida in Brazil, etc.

Moreover, the fact that we all speak the same language, Spanish, has helped by facilitating communication. However, the World Family’s steady support has been of essential importance for our growth and expansion».

Alicia told us about the difficulties that the volunteers are facing to stay faithful to their commitment. What approach and media can each radio station use to help volunteers overcome the obstacles which threaten their perseverance?

«I believe it is important to show our gratitude to the volunteers every day for their unselfish support to the radio, recognising their untiring contribution and making them

21

AMERICA

Radio Maria lives thanks to the generosity of its benefactors

feel they are an essential part of the Radio Maria family.

Volunteers must feel integrated because they represent the foundations of this large missionary project».

As we come to the end of our “round table” discussion, let’s listen to the words of Father Álvaro Saenz, Director of Radio Maria Costa Rica. Father Alvaro, one of the main characteristics of the American people’s faith is their deep Marian devotion. What is the relationship between Marian spirituality and Radio Maria?

What does our radio offer to a deeply Marian population?

«Our continent lives an intense Marian devotion. We honor Our Lady, whether it is in the invocation of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Our Lady of Coromoto, Our Lady of the Angels, the Immaculate Conception or Our Lady of Luján. She has always been an essential presence in our religious life. Nevertheless, even in this context of deep Marian devotion, a purification process is required, and it is precisely in this that our evangelising task consists. Our people often finds it difficult to approach Christ, and it “sits” comfortably with Marian devotion. Radio Maria has the task of reminding and

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA A round table discussion to reflect together

underlining the fact that true Marian devotion is In his work entitled “What is the point of being a what leads us to the personal meeting with Christ.

Christian”, Father Timothy Radcliffe claims that duIn our continent, Christians live according to the ring the obscure moment in which humanity is living motto of St. Louis Maria Grignon de Montfort: today, the Church continues to be the only element able “To Jesus through Mary”, aware of the need for a to offer an effective answer: Christ. deep approach to the myThe Charisma of Radio stery of the Incarnation.

Maria itself offers its listeHowever, to reach Christ, ners excellent suggestions: it which is the ultimate goal, announces conversion, enthe listener must experiencourages collaboration with ce the second part of the the Church for the New motto: “To Mary through Evangelisation, it promotes Jesus”, because after the the spiritual walk. In this personal meeting with Jeway we again confirm that sus, true Marian devotion the mission of Radio Maleads us to discover in ria is to always offer Jesus The staff of each radio station is like a close-knit family Mary the first Christian and Christ as the only and pressing our best travel companion. Point 9 of the Charialternative, as the irreplaceable tool of change and resma of Radio Maria speaks of a “discreet presenbirth. Radio Maria addresses those who are both near ce” of Mary in the radio, because Radio Maria is and far; hence, it is necessary to commit ourselves for not a radio which always speaks about Mary but, the good of humanity and of the community. Precisely rather, on behalf of Mary, which in the radio finds for this reason the time has come for RM to develop a a tool to announce Christ and the Kingdom of Heasocial form of action which is less conversational and ven. To strengthen this task means to bring meaning more capable of taking charge, together with all huto the presence of Radio Maria in our continent». man beings, of the difficult mission of transforming the present world».

One of the issues shared by all Latin American countries is violence, in all its forms and We thank Alicia, Tito and Father Álvaro for expressions. What suggestions can our radio taking part in our discussion. stations put forward so that they can work as Dear readers, thanks to this reflection we have tools to bring peace in a society which is so understood that, the more problems and diffifull of violence? culties plague the world, the more necessary «The violence that torments us is a reaction to the and pressing it is to announce Jesus Christ. increase in poverty, to the concentration of richness The radio, the gift which Mary has bestowed and ambition, to the selfishness and corruption of upon us, embodies this mission, transforming politicians. Symptoms are multiple and they can be itself into an essential tool to complete the alleviated with a single remedy. The medicine to tackle New Evangelisation not just in America but every evil, to recover one’s health and leave behind the all over the world, just like our Holy Father consequences of injustice: Jesus Christ.

Benedict XVI encourages us to do. © 2012 - all right reserved

22

398 12 1.192

22 4 21

A M E R I C A

BURKINA FASO

BURUNDI

KEY

A

www.radiomaria.bi

population coverage

transmitters

telephone

address Facebook

e-mail

1

Twitter

website

700.000

+237 33464522

Fr. Gabriel Anda

5.300.000

+257 22239847

Fr. Désiré Bireha

800.000

+226 40700565

Fr. Nérée Zabsonré

85.450.000

750.000

+236 70015122

Fr. Étienne Kotto-Wawe CM

64

Radio Maria

1

BP 1728 Bangui - Bimbo www.radiomariacentrafrique.org

director name

jcsengue@yahoo.fr

4

BP 297 Edea

ASSOCIATION RADIO MARIA CENTRAFRIQUE

www.radiomaria.cm

ASSOCIATION RADIO MARIA CAMEROUN

radiomaria.cameroun@yahoo.fr

1

BP 51 Koupela

BP 2106 - Bujumbura

www.radiomariaburkinafaso.org

RADIO MARIA BURUNDI

info.bdi@radiomaria.org

CENTR. AFRICAN REP.

A

CAMEROON

A

info.bur@radiomaria.org

ASSOCIATION RADIO MARIA BURKINA

17

D A T A

ARMENIA, EQUATORIAL GUINEA, GUINEA-CONAKRY, KOSOVO, LATVIA, LIBERIA, MADAGASCAR, MALI

AFRICA

A

196.250.000

4.600.000

157.450.000

C O N T I N E N T A L

T H E

A

www.radiomaria.ci

www.radiomaria.co.ke

www.radiomaria.mw

8

ASSOCIATION MARIA CONGO

www.radiomaria.org.mz

6

Rua da Igreja nº 156 Machava sede - Matola

ASSOCIACAO RADIO MARIA MOCAMBIQUE

info.moz@radiomaria.org

1

P.O. Box 408, Mangochi

ASSOCIATION OF RADIO MARIA MALAWI

info.mlw@radiomaria.org

1

734 - 10200 Murang'a

ASSOCIATION OF RADIO MARIA KENYA

info.cvi@radiomaria.org

1

www.radiomaria.cg

2

coordinator.rwa@radiomaria.org

www.radiomaria.rw

4

Muhanga District, South Province, P.O. Box. 52 Muhanga

RADIO MARIA RWANDA

radiomaria@yahoo.fr

7.000.000

+243 815468225

Fr. Roger Mufuta

1.000.000

+243 0994448274

7.000.000

+250 252562401

Fr. Casimir Ruzindaza

1.000.000

+242 016652018

Fr. Chris Goma

4.200.000

+258 21752124

Fr. Alberto Buque

6.000.000

+265 1599627

Fr. Joseph Kimu

300.000

+254 734796187

in the process of being filled

500.000

+225 30644155

Fr. Hervé Djezou Konan

100.000

+241 07348425

Fr. Godeffroy Nkoulou Beyem BP 1359 Oyem

1

BP 70 Kananga

Avenue Charles de Gaules, dans l'enceinte de la Paroisse Saint Pierre Apôtre, s/c 659 Diocèse de Pointe-Noire

RWANDA

A

1

BP 1555 Yamoussoukro

www.radiomariagabon.org

ASSOCIATION RADIO MARIA

radiomariagabon@yahoo.fr

REP. OF CONGO

A

www.radiomaria.cd

ASSOCIATION RADIO MARIA

florentwalelu@yahoo.fr

administration.ken@radiomaria.org

MOZAMBIQUE

A

MALAWI

A

KENYA

A

IVORY COAST

A

GABON

A

work in progress

12, Avenue Mbaki, BP162 Bukavu

Fr. Gilbert Kadjemenje Bashib

ASSOCIATION RADIO MARIA CONGO RD CENTRE

radiomariaestc@gmail.com

DEM. REP. OF CONGO (Central)

A

ASSOCIATION RADIO MARIA EST CONGO

WOR LD

DEM. REP. OF CONGO (East)

www.radiomaria.org

OF

85.450.000

ASSOCIATIONS IN THE INITIAL PHASE OF RADIO BROADCASTING ACTIVITY

E U R O P E

A S I A / O C E A N I A

64

443.750.000 17

1.706

D A T A

A F R I C A

64

W O R L D

R A DI OS

W O R L D FA M I L Y O F R A D I O M A R I A

TANZANIA

KEY

A

BRAZIL

A

BOLIVIA

A

www.radiomaria.co.tz

RADIO MARIA UGANDA

info.tog@radiomaria.org

5

www.radiomaria.ug

2

ASOCIACIÓN CIVIL RADIO MARÍA ARGENTINA

22

www.radiomaria.org.ar

www.radiomaria.org.bo

population coverage

transmitters

telephone

address

director name

info.bra@radiomaria.org

16

Facebook

e-mail

Twitter

website

www.radiomaria.net.br

30.000.000

+54 3514200700

Fr. Javier Soteras

157.450.000

3.000.000

+55 6130212545

Fr. Rodrigo Amaral

7.250.000

+591 44520313

Fr. Eloy Rios Almendras

Radio Maria

2

Qe 13, Conjunto C, Casa 2 - Guara Ii - Brasília DF

ASSOCIAÇÃO RADIO MARIA DO BRASIL - ARMB

info.bol@radiomaria.org

197

Calle Lanza 844 Entre La Paz Y Oruro (Cochabamba)

ASOCIACIÓN RADIO MARIA BOLIVIA

coordinator.arg@radiomaria.org

398

D A T A

1.300.000

+260 216221154

Fr. Bernard Kaluba Zulu

18.000.000

+256 414220535

Fr. Charles Lwanga

4.000.000

+228 22263500

Fr. Benu Efoevi Penoukou

23.000.000

+255 222773837

Fr. John Bosco Nqua

4.500.000

+232 78850287

in the process of being filled

C O N T I N E N T A L

www.radiomaria.org.zm

P.O. Box 510307

9

P.O. Box 7488 Kampala

www.radiomaria.tg

ASSOCIATION OF RADIO MARIA ZAMBIA

director.zam@radiomaria.org

13

N°155 De La Rue 158 - Hedzranawoe

ASSOCIATION RADIO MARIA TOGO

info.tan@radiomaria.org

Mikocheni Industrial Area Box 34573 - DSM

3

Avenida Vélez Sarfield 51 – Ciudad de Córdoba (Provincia de Córdoba) - C.P.A. X5000JJA

ARGENTINA

www.radiomaria.sl

ASSOCIATION OF RADIO MARIA

AMERICA

A

ZAMBIA

A

UGANDA

A

TOGO

A

radiomariasl@gmail.com

17 Bath Street, Brookfields, Freetown

ASSOCIATION OF RADIO MARIA SIERRA LEONE

coordinator.uga@radiomaria.org

SIERRA LEONE

A

CANADA

www.radiomariacanada.org

www.radiomariacol.org

44

A

MEXICO

A

www.radiomariaecuador.org

ASOCIACIÓN RADIO MARÍA

info.ecu@radiomaria.org

1

15

Baquerizo Moreno E9-116 Y Leonidas Plaza - Quito

FUNDACIÓN RADIO MARIA

www.radiomariadominicana.org

www.radiomaria.org.sv

www.radiomaria.org.gt

10

program.mex@radiomaria.org

www.radiomariamexico.com

3

9.000.000

+502 22542836

Fr. Manuel Abac

5.000.000

+503 21321212

Fr. Hilario Contran OFM

11.000.000

+593 22564401

Fr. Marco Bayas CM

3.000.000

+1 8094122370

Fr. Juan R. Fabiàn

4.000.000

+506 22341970

Fr. Álvaro Saenz

18.000.000

+57 12169839

5.900.000

+52 013335636003

Fr. Jorge Antonio Luna Casillas San Juan Bosco N°3623, Fracc. Jardínes de San Ignacio C. P. 45040, Zapopán, Jalisco

RADIO MARÍA ASOCIACIÓN CIVIL

info.gua@radiomaria.org

7

10a. Calle 6-86 zona 2, Ciudad de Guatemala

ASOCIACIÓN RADIO MARÍA

info@radiomaria.org.sv

11.000.000

+56 22091483

Fr. German Dario Acosta

Km. 2 1/2, Inicio Carretera a Planes de Renderos, Colonia Alfa, Pje. Califormia, San Salvador, C.A.

GUATEMALA

A

EL SALVADOR

A

ECUADOR

radiomariadominicana@hotmail.com

Ave. 27 De Febrero Esq. Abraham Lincoln 2Do. Piso. Santo Domingo

5

RADIO MARIA INC.

www.radiomaria.cr

DOMINICAN REP.

info.crc@radiomaria.org

Guadalupe de Goicoechea, 75 metros al sur de la Escuela Pilar Jiménez

ASOCIACIÓN RADIO MARÍA

info.col@radiomaria.org

17

Carrera 21A # 151-23

www.radiomaria.cl

ASOCIACIÓN RADIO MARÍA

info.chi@radiomaria.org

500.000

+1 4162457117

Fr. Michele Brizio JMC

web radio

+1 4162457117

Mgr. John Iverinci

Fr. Carlos Yrarrázaval Errazuriz

2

Monseñor Miller 74 Providencia, Santiago

CORPORACION RADIO MARIA

info@radiomariacanada.org

1247 Lawrence Avenue West, Toronto, ON M6L 1A1

RADIO MARIA CANADA

0

A

A

COSTA RICA

A

COLOMBIA

A

CHILE

A

www.hmwn.net

1247 Lawrence Avenue West, Toronto, ON M6L 1A1

HMWN RADIO MARIA

info@hmwn.net

CANADA (Italian speaking)

A

KEY

A

www.radiomaria.org.py

www.radiomariaperu.org

www.radiomaria.us

info.nys@radiomaria.us

www.radiomaria.us

www.radiomaria.us

population coverage

transmitters

telephone

address

3

Facebook

e-mail

Twitter

website Radio Maria

2

1255 N. Noble St. 4th Flr., Chicago IL. 60642 www.radiomaria.us

300.000

+1 7184170550

Fr. Walter Tonelotto CS

9.000.000

+1 2122338040

Fr. Robert Young OFM

1.000.000

+598 29030094

2.100.000

+1 7734865500

Fr. Edwin Correa

7.000.000

+1 8667926074

Fr. Lazaro Nuñez Renteria FMAP

1

21 Oliver Street, New York, N.Y. 10038

HERMANOS DE RADIO MARIA INC.

director name

info.ils@radiomaria.us

10

16.000.000

+51 17001600

Fr. Fabian Alberto Rovere

70-05 Fresh Pond Rd., Ridgewood, N.Y. 11385

AMIGOS DE RADIO MARÍA-EAST COAST

info.nyi@radiomaria.us

6

21 Oliver St. NYC, N.Y. 10038

www.radiomaria.org.uy

FRIENDS OF RADIO MARIA INC.

info.eng@radiomaria.us

45

18 de Julio 1220 piso 4 Montevideo CP 11100

RADIO MARIA, INC.

info.ury@radiomaria.org

3.500.000

+595 021576600

Fr. Vicente Segovia

3.400.000

+507 2606762

Fr. Victor Atencio Batista

4.000.000

Mgr. Jose Ignazio Alemani Grau

3

Av. Gral. Garzón # 2031, Lima 11

ASOCIACION CIVIL RARIO MARIA

program.per@radiomaria.org

5

Gra. Caballero 183 c/ Cerro Corá, San Lorenzo

ASOCIACIÓN RADIO MARÍA

info.par@radiomaria.org

USA (Spanish speaking - Central)

A

www.radiomaria.org.pa

ASOCIACIÓN RADIO MARÍA PARAGUAY

info.pan@radiomaria.org

USA (Spanish speaking - East)

A

3

Betania, Urbanización Los Angeles, Ave. Los Periodistas, Casa D-5

ASOCIACIÓN RADIO MARIA

www.radiomaria.org.ni

+505 22689034

Fr. José Antonio Espinoza González

Bolonia, Iglesia San Francisco 150mts. Al este

ASOCIACION RADIO MARIA

info.nic@radiomaria.org

USA (Italian speaking)

A

USA

A

URUGUAY

A

PERU

A

PARAGUAY

A

PANAMA

A

NICARAGUA

info.ven@radiomaria.org

INDIA

ALBANIA

A

AUSTRIA

A

www.radiomariapng.org

info.phi@radiomaria.org

www.radiomaria.al

kontakt@radiomaria.at

8

www.radiomaria.at

7

1120 Wien, Pottendorferstr. 21

RADIO MARIA ÖSTERREICH - DER SENDER MIT SENDUNG

info.alb@radiomaria.org

1.000.000

+43 17107072

Fr. Andreas Schätzle

2.400.000

+35 542346346

Fr. Lazraj Prekë

D A T A

1.192

196.250.000

1.100.000

+63 045 9821797

Fr. Jay Policarpio

1.000.000

+675 3259178

Fr. Martin We-en

+961 9918090

Fr. Fadi Tabet OLM

2.500.000

+62 618458002

21

3

Rruga Papa Gjon Pali Ii Nr. 4 Fushe Kercik Babrru, Tirane

SHOQATA RADIO MARIA

web radio

+91 9995169584

C O N T I N E N T A L

www.radiomaria.ph

Sunrise Subd., Maliwalo, Tarlac City, 2300

8

P.O. Box 8719, Boroko. N.C.D.

RADIO MARIA FOUNDATION INCORPORATED

info.png@radiomaria.org

EUROPE

A

PHILIPPINES

A

1

Fouad Chehab Street - Jounieh www.radiocharity.org

ASOCIACIÓN RADIO MARÍA

mahaba@radiocharity.org

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

A

www.radiomaria.co.id

RADIO VOICE OF CHARITY

radiomaria.inFr.esia@yahoo.com

4.600.000

Fr. Benedictus Simamora OFM Cap.

0

Jl. Beringin I No 39 Helvetia Medan 20124

ASSOCIATION RADIO MARIA

www.radiomaria.org.in

12

D A T A

3.500.000

Fr. Raphael Koottumghal Antony

4

Animation Centre, Aroor, Kerala, Pin - 688534

RADIO MARIA ASSOCIATION

info.ind@radiomaria.org

LEBANON (twinning)

A

INDONESIA

A

1

C O N T I N E N T A L

www.radiomaria.org.ve

+58 2125773870

Mgr. Luis Armando Tineo

Urbaniz. Guaipuro, 3a calle Transv. Norte Quinta Mirla, Parroquia El Recreo, Munic. Libertador - Caracas 1050

ASOCIACIÓN CIVIL RADIO MARIA

ASIA/OCEANIA

A

VENEZUELA

BELGIUM

KEY

A

LITHUANIA

A

www.radiomaria.be

4

www.radiomaria.fr

1

www.mariaradio.hu

www.radiomaria.bz.it

population coverage

transmitters

telephone

address

director name

redakcija@marijosradijas.lt

825

16

Facebook

e-mail

Twitter

website

www.marijosradijas.lt

Radio Maria

15

M. Daukšos 21/ V. Sladkevičiaus 1, Lt-44282 Kaunas

PUBLIC INSTITUTION RADIO MARIA

info.tir@radiomaria.org

www.radiomaria.it

Bahnhofstraße 28, CAP 39042 Brixen

RADIO MARIA SÜDTIROL

info.ita@radiomaria.org

22

Via Milano 12, CAP 22036 - Erba (CO)

ASSOCIAZIONE RADIO MARIA

info@mariaradio.hu

43

1133 Budapest, Gogol Út 28

www.horeb.org

MÁRIA RÁDIÓ KÖZHASZNÚ EGYESÜLET

info@horeb.org

P.O. Box 1165, D-87501 Immenstadt

INTERNATIONALE CHRISTLICHE RUNDFUNKGEMEINSCHAFT (ICR) E.V.

info@radiomaria.fr

www.radiomarija.hr

Jordanovac 110, 10000 Zagreb

2

41 rue des Métiers, 83140 Six-Fours Les Plages

RADIO MARIA FRANCE

info@radiomarija.hr

UDRUGA RADIO MARIJA

www.radiomarija.ba

Kranceviceva 36, 71000 Sarajevo

12

Sint Reneldisplein 23 - 3001 Leuven

UDRUGA “ RADIO MARIJA” U BOSNI I HERCEGOVINI

info.bih@radiomaria.org

ITALY (German speaking)

A

ITALY

A

HUNGARY

A

GERMANY

A

FRANCE

A

CROATIA

A

RADIO MARIA VZW

info@radiomaria.be

BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA

A

2.200.000

+370 410401

Fr. Kestutis Kevelas

400.000

+39 0472830094

Fr. Christoph Haider

55.000.000

+39 031610600

Fr. Livio Fanzaga SP

40.000.000

+36 13730701

Fr. Dúl Géza

43.800.000

+49 83239675110

Fr. Richard Kocher

1.100.000

+33 0970809965

Fr. Alexis Wiehe

1.500.000

+385 12327000

Fr. Stjepan Fridl SJ

1.000.000

+387 33263055

Fr. Ivo Jezidžić

3.000.000

+32 16414747

Fr. Karlo Tyberghien MALTA

A

UKRAINE

A

www.mariaradio.ro

3

www.radiomaria.ru

2

P.O. Box 732, Saint-Petersburg 190068

www.radiomarija.rs

www.radiomaria.es

www.radiomaria.ch

www.radiomaria.nl

info@radiomaria.org.ua

1

www.radiomaria.org.ua

7

Sribnokilska Str. 8, AP. 394, Kyiv, 02095

THE INTERNATIONAL CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION RADIO MARIA

info@radiomaria.nl

Postbus 5045, 5201 Ga 'S-Hertogenbosch

20

Soodring 3, CH-8134 Adliswil

190

Paseo de Lanceros 2, 28024 Madrid

VERENIGING RADIO MARIA NEDERLAND

info@radiomaria.ch

0 (*)

1.500.000

+421 357789416

Fr. Lorant Lepes

1.650.000

+381 214790529

Fr. Palatinus István

5.300.000

+7 8124381192

Fr. Yuri Dorogin OFM

2.000.000

+40 259420777

Fr. Timar Asztirk OFM

480.000

+40 359191291

Fr. Dorel Popovici

420.000

+356 21453105

Fr. Charles Fenech OP

8.000.000

+38 0445722929

Fr. Aleksej Samsonov

22.000.000

+31 736872000

in the process of being filled

4.500.000

+41 435012233

Fr. Thomas Rellstab

35.000.000

+34 902500518

Fr. Luis Fernando de Prada

(*) RM Slovakia is using RM Hungary transmitters

www.mariaradio.sk

VEREIN RADIO MARIA DEUTSCHSCHWEIZ

radiomaria@radiomaria.es

ASOCIACIÓN RADIO MARÍA

6

Jókaihoč. 6, 945 01 Komárno

RÁDIO MÁRIA SLOVAKIA, OBČIANSKE ZDRUŽENIE

felvidek@mariaradio.hu

THE NETHERLANDS

A

UDRUŽENJE MARIJA

info.rus@radiomaria.org

radiomarija.srbija@gmail.com

SWITZERLAND

A

mariaradio@mariaradio.ro

Oradea, 410423, str. Barsei, nr. 18, jud. Bihor

3

Sede Novi Sad: Koste Abraševića 16, 21000 Novi Sad - Sede Subotica: Matije Gupca 8, 24000 Subotica

SPAIN

A

www.radiomaria.ro

MARIA RADIO ERDELY EGYESULET

radiomaria@radiomaria.ro

Str. Spartacus 33, Oradea, 410339

2

DEVELOPMENT FUND OF NON-COMM. RADIO BROADC. «RADIO MARIA»

SLOVAKIA

A

SERBIA

A

RUSSIA

A

www.radjumarija.org

ASOCIATIA RADIO MARIA ROMANIA

info.mal@radiomaria.org

Kunvent Patrijiet Dumnikani, Rabat RBT 2521

ASSOCJAZZJONI RADJU MARIJA MALTA

ROMANIA (Hungarian speaking)

A

ROMANIA

A

Continental data 4 Radio Maria 12 transmitters 4,600,000 population coverage

ASIA/OCEANIA Ten years of mission: Radio Maria and the challenge of the Asian continent From the first friars to Radio Maria: India, mission country

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA

— Ten years of mission —

Radio Maria, the challenge of the Asian continent Asia and Oceania are a land of evangelisation full of opportunities for Radio Maria. The Project, which started ten years ago in the Philippines, is also expanding into nations with a Catholic minority. Today, between technology and web radio, it is possible to reach millions of people who are in search of the Lord. vittorio viccardi wfrm general secretary

I

nterest in Asia has increased in recent years, partly because almost 60% of the world’s population live in this continent and partly because of its growing economic and productive importance. In terms of religion, particularly in the Catholic Church, the numbers are also interesting. Christianity was born in Asia and yet today it is the predominant faith in only four Asian countries: the Philippines and Timor East, which is mostly Catholic, Armenia and Georgia, which is mostly Christian but

not Catholic. However, the Christian presence is widespread throughout the continent with very active communities in Lebanon, South Korea, India, Pakistan, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, China, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, Syria, Kazakhstan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

The number of Catholics in Asia is increasing, amounting to 3% of the population – helped by an increase of vocations in several countries

World Family representatives in the Asian continent

24

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA Radio Maria RADIO andMARIA, the challenge LA SFIDA DEL of the CONTINENTE Asian continent ASIATICO

ASIA/OCEANIA Asia/oceania

Radio Oceania:Filippine, India, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines RadioMaria MariaininAsia Asiaand e Oceania: Indonesia, India, Papua Nuova Guinea

25

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA Radio Maria and the challenge of the Asian continent

– and about 10-11% of world Catholics, so much that in his book Rise, Let us be on our way! John Paul II specifically said: “Asia is our common task for the third millennium”. Communication media are an essential tool in the new evangelisation and will certainly contribute to fulfilling the exhortation of the Blessed Pontiff.

How has Radio Maria risen to this challenge? The requests of priests and religious people to have a Radio Maria station in Asian countries have become numerous and

OCEANIA Countries

14 Surface area

7.687.000 kmq Population

more than 36.000.000

ASIA Countries

The Eucharistic celebration, pillar of Radio Maria

it is no accident that our presence in the continent is frequent. The mission of Radio Maria in Asia began 10 years ago, when the Radio Maria foundation started to move its first steps in the Philippines (2002). The Philippine station located in Tarlac City has yet to reach the capital Manila, but it has obtained a national licence and enjoys high listenership in the region of Luzon so much that, through the assistance of several Franciscan priests and the support of the Bishop of Medan, the “neighbouring” Indonesians of Sumatra have succeeded in bringing Radio Maria to their own region.

49 Surface area

44.579.000 Kmq Population

more than 4.100.000.000

We know that good experiences are the best vehicle for promotion and yet, despite many difficulties, Radio Maria is starting to develop in India in the city of Cochin (Kerala) and several religious people are thinking

26

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA Radio Maria and the challenge of the Asian continent

Asia/oceania

With the new technologies it is possible to listen to one’s own Radio Maria station, even when abroad

about starting a station radio of other nations where only a few years around the world, so the ago it seemed impossicommunication media ble: Macao and Hong are spreading above all Kong, in Southern through internet. At the China. A similar probeginning, we will have ject has begun in Arto be content with broadmenia, but the difficulcasting a programming ties in these countries schedule in audio streamare many. The first is ing via internet, creating RM Philippines was the first radio station in Asia to obtain the frequena website with contents cies to receive the radio signal. Furtherin the local language. The volunteers are full more, many of these countries do not have of enthusiasm and this web presence is althe same long-standing tradition of private ready an excellent result which makes it

27

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA Radio Maria and the challenge of the Asian continent

Radio Maria Philippines

Short chronicle Radio Maria Philippines was the fulfilment of a simple dream: to create a radio station which would be an evangelisation tool. In 1999, the contact made with the World Family of Radio Maria association obtained a positive response and on 11th February 2002 the first official programme was broadcast.

On 25th July 2003 Radio Maria Philippines became a member of World Family of Radio Maria and just three years later, on 24th July 2006, it was granted a national licence.

Radio Maria’s reach The second repeater was inaugurated (Archdiocese of Tuguegarao) in 2010, while the next one was turned on in 2011 in the Diocese of Ilagan. New repeaters were later installed in the provinces of Cagayan and Isabela, and now we are working

on covering the province of Zambales. Thanks to the digital channels it will also soon be possible to listen to Radio Maria in the provinces of Tarlac, Pampanga and Bataan.

You didn’t know that...

- The programmes of Radio Maria Philippines are broadcast in English and in Filipino.

- Marian devotion is widespread in the Philippines. This is witnessed by the many shrines dedicated to the Virgin Mary, a sign of simple veneration which has been deeply rooted in the people throughout the centuries.

Some of the best known shrines are: Our Lady of Peace in Manila, Our Lady of Lourdes in Quezon City, Our Lady of the Holy Rosary in Manaoag, Our Lady of Fatima in Valenzuela, Our Lady of Peñafrancia in Naga City, and Our Lady of Pilar in Zamboanga.

28

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA Radio Maria and the challenge of the Asian continent

Asia/oceania

The Project also takes its first steps in China

possible to start putting together small editorial teams to slowly develop an experience of communication which will be very useful for the future. The new digital technologies and listenership, including on latest generation mobile phones, will transform this small but important presence of Radio Maria, which will lead to listenership destined to increase as technology is perfected.

«(...) Asian peoples are known for their spirit of religious tolerance and peaceful coexistence.

Without denying the existence of bitter tensions and violent conflicts, it can still be said that Asia has often demonstrated a remarkable capacity for accommodation and a natural openness to the mutual enrichment of peoples, in the midst of a plurality of religions and cultures. (...) The Church’s faith in Jesus is a gift received and a gift to be shared; it is the greatest gift which the Church can offer to Asia. Sharing the truth of Jesus Christ with others is the solemn duty of all who have received the gift of faith».

More than elsewhere the mission of Radio Maria in Asia, and indirectly in nearby Oceania, will be based on the new technologies generating new ways of interaction with listeners. 2013 will see the birth and consolidation of multiple “web radios”: this experience will involve implementation in the multimedia services of the Radio Maria stations, along with the classical schedule being broadcast on analogue frequencies.

Jean Paul II (New Delhi India 6th November 1999 - Post-Synodal Apostolic Exhortation Ecclesia in Asia)

© 2012 - all right reserved

29

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA

— From the first friars to Radio Maria —

India, mission country

The history of this densely populated country has always been traversed by great testimonies of faith.

Radio Maria India is beginning to work with sacrifice and humility to reach the heart of the people. father Raphael Kootumghal Antony rM india director

C

hristianity is India’s third-largest religion, with approximately 30 million followers, constituting 2.4 per cent of India’s population.

The research of many scholars states that Christianity was introduced to India

by St. Thomas the Apostle, who visited Kerala in 52 AD to spread the gospel amongst Kerala’s Jewish settlements.

The history of the current Indian Church began with the arrival of European missionaries. These neo apostles reached Kerala on 20th May 1498, along with Vasco da Gama, the famous navigator. History has it that their reception was far from friendly. In the violent encounter that ensued, several missionaries, including priests, were killed. As a result, da Gama had to return to Lisbon. The first martyr among the Portuguese missionaries in Kerala was Fr. Fedro De Covilham.

A second expedition under Captain Álvares Cabral anchored at Cochin on 26th November

1500. Cabral soon won the goodwill of the King of Cochin and so four friars could be assigned to do apostolic work among the early Christian communities. More Franciscan friars and secular priests reached Goa in May 1542; they were accompanied by a group of missionaries of the Jesuit Order led by St. Francis Xavier.

Later, the whole of Eastern India was placed under the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Lisbon but in 1514, by a Bull of Pope Leo X, Goa and Cochin were included in the Portuguese Diocese of Madeira. The activities of the missionaries of various congregations continued incessantly in India and in 1557, by his famous Bull “Pro Excellento Praeeminentia”, Pope Paul IV established the Diocese of Cochin.

Over the centuries, thanks to the missionaries who have dedicated their lives to spread the

30

Saint Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception (19101946) was the first Blessed and the first Saint of India

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA india, mission country

Catholic faith in India, devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary is deeply rooted among Catholic families: regular recitation of the rosary, prayer vigils, celebration of Marian feasts, especially during May and October, and pilgrimages to Marian Shrines. Marian spirituality and vocations are flourishing. Devotion to the Mother of God is also spreading among the Hindus, Muslims and Buddhists. People belonging to other religions do not see Mary as a threat for themselves, their culture or religion. Our Lady is seen as a caring and loving mother who helps

people, brings them graces, and heals divisions.

So Mary is an important key to the evangelization of India, even among other faiths.

And Radio Maria, being the Heavenly Voice of Mother Mary, has a significant role in the process of the evangelization of India. To the question: “What is the mission of Radio Maria in India?”, I came to the answer that this radio station is the divine instrument of Mary, to spread the Love and Peace of Christ, her Son, in every family in India. Radio Maria India must become an instrument of Peace, through which people can share their problems, pray, and on which they can always rely at the difficult moments of life.

I found it very interesting when the Holy Father reminded the missionaries on the occasion of their Annual Assembly this year. He said, “Evangelization is relevant all the time, but in these days it is an urgent need of the church to take more decisive steps, to go through the ways of the world, in order to bring Christ to every human being, because every human being has the right to know the Truth”.

The call of the Holy Father is a full-fledged challenge. Radio Maria India is dreaming of a future when it can be listened to by 1,241,491,960 Indians... 17.5% of the world’s population.

The devotion to the Blessed Virgin is deeply rooted in the Indian population

32

© 2012 - all right reserved

Continental data 21 Radio Maria 1,192 transmitters 196,250,000 population coverage

EUROPE The European experience: Prayer and spirituality in Radio Maria The defence of the faith: Radio Maria by the Church’s side

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA

— The European experience —

Prayer and spirituality in Radio Maria To pray with Radio Maria and in Radio Maria. Spirituality paths for listeners and collaborators with the testimonies of Father Andreas Schätzle (Director of RM Austria) and Bernhard Mitterrutzner (Continental WF representative in Europe). raffaele galati wfrm communication & web editorial officer

R

adio Maria was born in Europe. The first seed sprouted here in 1982. Officially established in 1987 (Radio Maria Association in Italy), it has branched out to 19 nations together with two minority language radio stations: Romania in Hungarian and South Tyrol in German.

It is a relentless project which is capable of

overcoming many obstacles with a spirit of sacrifice and absolute faith. Along its journey, prayer and spirituality have always been the distinguishing signs of the service of Radio Maria in every continent.

We ask the Director of RM Austria, Fr. Andreas Schätzle: how important is prayer in the programming of Radio Maria?

«Prayer is the life and soul of Radio Maria programmes. “The family that prays together stays together” (Mother Teresa of Calcutta). Prayer builds the world family; it creates a deep, intimate and very personal relationship with God and, at the same time, vital communion among listeners. Prayer must be broadcast live by every radio station and be interactive, which means that listeners have the opportunity to call and pray together at these times. Cardinal Christoph Schönborn, Archbishop of Vienna, once said: “The unique characteristic of Radio Maria is that it builds an authentic family”. This intimate

The Word of God is at the centre of the Radio Maria programmes

34

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA Prayer and spirituality in Radio Maria

EUROPe

atmosphere, which for many of those activities is the construction of “The unique who stumble upon Radio Maria by the chapel: why is this necescharacteristic chance becomes a surprising invitasary? of Radio Maria tion to search for the closeness of «When I was a guest of RM UganGod, is created through prayer. da in Kampala in 2011, I noticed is that it builds The entire daily and nightly prothat a small bus arrived every day an authentic gramming of the radio is “soaked” full of people who came to pray family„ by prayer, starting with the Angelus with the listeners. The chapel was and the Rosary a sign that we, like a true attraction. Every evening it H.E. Card. Christoph the apostles and the disciples of Jewas full of people who, singing and Schönborn sus before us, gather around Mary. dancing, celebrated the Holy Mass Radio programming reaches its culmination in the broadcast by radio. Even the priest sang during the celebration of the Holy Mass and, through faithful sermon which was also a bilingual catechesis. prayer full of the love for the Liturgy of the Hours, We, collaborators of RM Austria, get together every we harmonize with the rhythm of the prayer of the morning for brief Eucharistic adoration and recital Church. Let us not forget the programmes during of the Rosary, to start the day together in prayer. which listeners in need can phone up and find the The tabernacle is also open in the afternoon for 2 comfort of a priest who, on air, prays with them hours. Outsiders can come at any time to pray in the for what they desire. Praying with children is parchapel or to participate in the Holy Mass with us. ticularly emotional; it touches the heart of all those These moments are especially important when, once a listeners turning to God. month, we invite all volunteers to pray with us. This The centrality and importance of prayer for people is an important testimony for listeners who, like us, at large and listeners in particular is understood by volunteers and listeners, understand that we are colthe fact that the listenership doubles each time we laborators of the Lord’s Mother through our prayer pray or mass is and our personal celebrated». commitment in the most diverse secWe percieve tors. The presence the centrality of Jesus in the of prayer and chapel tabernacle consequently always makes us the need for a aware that Radio place in which Maria is work of to pray. Dear the Lord. In our Fr. Andreas, chapel a special when a new place is reserved Radio Maria to the Mother of station is set up God, Queen of one of the first Radio Maria, To make families pray is one of the key services of Radio Maria

35

36

The programmes broadcast from the parishes gather many faithful in prayer

37

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA Prayer and spirituality in Radio Maria

The Radio Maria programmes The schedule of each Radio Maria station must reflect the right balance of the following themed areas in the 24 hours:

1) Prayers 2) Religious Culture 3) Human Promotion 4) Information 5) Entertainment 6) Music and to St. Joseph: the statues and relics of the saints remind us of the presence of the Heavens and our responsibility to zealously pray and work for the salvation of souls».

The continental representative of Europe for the World Family of Radio Maria is Bernhard Mitterrutzner, who for many years was the collaborator of RM South Tyrol in Bressanone (Italy). We want to ask him how the listeners experience and participate in the prayer programmes: «Radio Maria is a radio for meeting. Above all a meeting with Jesus and his Church. The listeners experience this aspect more intensely during the prayer moments. By praying we experience the presence of He who said: “if two or three people come together in my name, I am there with them” (Mt 18,20).

Prayer is the driving force of Radio Maria, which allows the Holy Spirit to breathe life and imbue our

project. The protagonists of every prayer in Radio Maria are the listeners, because they participate live thanks to the link-ups from their own parishes, communities and families or because they call live on air. By doing so each person who prays with and for Radio Maria becomes an important volunteer in this mission.

Thank you Bernhard for your answer. Let us move on from talking about the listeners to talking about the collaborators. Are there spiritual experiences that different Radio Maria stations share, in terms of programming, and outside the regular schedule?

«There are two opportunities of greater spiritual intensity for all our radio stations: the Friday after Easter and the Friday and Saturday before the feast of Christ the King. These are special programming moments where all Radio Maria stations around the world are united and contemporarily linked-up,

38

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA Prayer and spirituality in Radio Maria

joining millions of listeners. Shared prayer is also a central component among the twinned Radio Maria stations (“Radio Maria for Africa”project), which link-up at least once a month for the Rosary.

Another very powerful experience for European radio stations is the annual spiritual excercises: collaborators of several Radio Maria stations meet for at least three days to reflect on their life and on the different spiritual aspects of the charisma of Radio Maria. Jesus’ prayer to his Father teaches us that unity amongst us is essential in evangelisation: “… that they may be one, and the world will believe” (Jn. 17,21).

This happened in February in Germany and in June in Serbia. The participants in the two exercises were: RM Austria, Belgium, Germany, Holland, Switzerland, South Tyrol and RM Albania, Bosnia, Croa-

EUROPe

tia, Serbia. The focus was the role of Mary in the plan of Salvation through the new evangelisation and the feeling of community in Radio Maria (personal sanctification and mission)».

Radio Maria is a faithful companion to the elderly and the sick

39

© 2012 - all right reserved

The Marian shrines in Europe give testimony of the history and faith of the people over the centuries. Radio Maria Lithuania for example, organises programmes of prayer from the Shrine of Divine Mercy in Vilnius, which is home to the celebrated painting of the Merciful Jesus who appeared to Saint Faustina Kowalska.

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA

— The defence of the faith —

Radio Maria by the Church’s side Europe is experiencing a particular moment of spiritual crisis in its history. We ask Fr. Stjepan Fridl, Director of RM Croatia, a few questions, to better understand the role of Radio Maria in the apology of the Catholic faith. raffaele galati wfrm communication & web editorial officer

The Blessed Lord gives light and strength to collaborators and volunteers of Radio Maria

40

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA Radio Maria by the Church’s side

R

adio Maria tackles the material and spiritual challenges that the modern world lays before it every day. One challenge of primary urgency is the recovery of the Catholic faith. In a context where currents of antireligious thought spread distorted and untrue images of faith, Radio Maria is called upon to assist the Church in supporting believers and in re-evangelising populations and cultures. Europe, the “old continent”, is one of the most demanding testing grounds in which this service of witness is necessary.

EUROPe

the entire history of Europe was being denied. Considering these implications, the then Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, pointed out, in his reflections on Europe, “a pathological hatred” towards its history and in particular towards Christianity, also encouraged by the works of numerous leading European intellectuals. These include the French philosopher Michel Onfray (“Treatise of Atheology”), the German philosopher Herbert Schnädelbach and the English author Christopher Hitchens (“God is not great: how religion poisons everything”), who claims that good people would remain good and bad people would remain bad even without religion, also claiming that religion makes people spy, tyrannise, torture and kill».

So, how does Radio Maria fit within the

Let’s speak about this with Father Stjepan Fridl, Jesuit priest and Director of RM Croatia.

Dear Father Stjepan, based on your experience in Croatia and with a broader European outlook, what is the most widespread and “publicised” trend of antireligious thought today?

«At the moment, I believe that neo-atheism is the fastest advancing on the European, and perhaps global scene, raising strong objections to religion and to Christianity in particular. This new movement is not a mere return to classical atheism, which evolved into Enlightenment, but rather it expresses itself in the spread of wickedness and hatred especially through the media.

Religion is purposely and systematically, aggressively and improperly condemned, marginalised and mocked.

We must remember the acrimonious debate on the insertion of a reference to the Christian roots of Europe in the European Constitutional Chart. I was shocked with the ultimate decision of not to insert any reference to Christianity in the European Constitutional Chart: it was hard to believe that a fundamental element of The Blessed Virgin, Queen and Protector of Radio Maria

41

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA AIUTIAMO LA MADONNA AD AIUTARCI

“Give praise to Jesus with our heart, our words and our testimony„

42

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA Radio Maria by the Church’s side

EUROPe

evangelising pulpit for millions of people. Radio, television and press are “essential elements for a renewed announcement of Christ in the contemporary world” (Benedict XVI - World Day of Social Communications, 2012).

In this outlook, the role and mission of Radio Maria are essential. The charisma of our radio invites conversion and spreads the same message of the Gospel: convert and believe the Gospel. First and foremost, those who work for Radio Maria must realise that they have been entrusted with a sacred mission: to bear witness to the precepts of the Gospel. Our goal is to praise Jesus with our heart, our words and our testimony. To support this belief, there are currently 19

«Learning to communicate is learning to listen and contemplate as well as speak. This is especially important for those engaged in the task of evangelisation: both silence and word are essential elements, (....) for the sake of a renewed proclamation of Christ in today’s world.

To Mary, whose silence “listens to the Word and causes it to blossom”, I entrust all the work of evangelisation which the Church undertakes through the means of social communication».

Pope Benedict XVI (Vatican, Sunday 20th May 2012 – Message for the XLVI World Social Communications Day). apology of the Catholic faith according to the Magisterium of the Church?

«The media are a very powerful weapon: they create and shape public opinion. But the same communication media can become a shield for faith and an

countries with national radio stations in Europe and two for linguistic minorities, in addition to contacts in different countries in which we hope to give voice to Radio Maria as soon as possible.

So “The Truth will set you free”! We have to fight lies with truth, hatred with love, immoral actions and corruption with a virtuous and honest life. Pray and you will be rewarded! Prayer is an extraordinary tool.

Through our prayers, Jesus will touch and convert the most unbelieving hearts and guide them to the right path. Jesus will be victorious in the end! Let Mary guide us and inspire us to become mediators for those who want to embark on the search for Truth, so that they may find Jesus who is the Way, the Truth and the Life». © 2012 - all right reserved

43

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA

O U R W O R L D F AM I L Y

WORLD DATA 64 Radio Maria 1,706 transmitters 443,750,000 population coverage

44

EUROPE Via Mazzini, 12 21020 Casciago (VA) – Italy Phone: +39 0332 1955001 Fax: +39 0332 826920 E-mail: info.wf@radiomaria.org Via Rusticucci, 13 00193 Roma – Italy Phone: + 39 06 64005701 Fax: +39 06 64005707 E-mail: roma.wf@radiomaria.org

AFRICA P.O. Box 38655 Ursino Street, Plot 55 Dar Es Salaam – Tanzania Phone/Fax +255 222700871 E-mail: africa@radiomaria.org

AMERICA 21 Oliver Street, New York NY 10038 – USA Phone: +1 212 2338040, +1 718 4170550 Fax: +1 212 2338046 E-mail: wfny@radiomariainternet.us

www.radiomaria.org

WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA AIUTIAMO LA MADONNA AD AIUTARCI

www. radiomaria. org

46