Mariathon: shared Providence Year II – Issue 5 – March-April 2014
Periodical of the World Family of Radio Maria Association
W
“Let us put our offering in the hands of Our Lady and make the Providence of God visible”
e often hear our families, communities and ecclesiastical movements talk about Providence, which supports and strengthens the works we
undertake. One of the challenges presented to us is to know the dynamics in which Providence acts, to stop deluding ourselves that we can achieve it in full without collaborating in any way. A clear example of this participation in Providence is what is said in John’s Gospel 6, 9-11. The Apostle Andrew says to Jesus: “There is a boy here who has five bar-
ley loaves and two fish; but what are these for so many?”. And yet, in Jesus’ hands, the few loaves of bread and fish transform into food for five thousand men, and twelve baskets are left over. The boy of the Gospel has transformed into the visible face of Providence. This is one of the salient points of shared Providence: to share everything that one has.
Miracle of Volunteers 2014
Radio Maria speaks to the people
T
he appointment with the “Miracle of Volunteers” yearbook of the World Family of Radio Maria Association is renewed. The 2014 issue explains and narrates what has been done in the last year, but above all future projects. The publication, divided according to geographical area, will reach your radio station and describe the various projects which Radio Maria has undertaken throughout the five continents: in Asia and Oceania, interreligious dialogue, in Africa, pro-
motion for peace among populations, in Europe, the great challenge against secularisation and, in America, the daily service carried out with the young people based on the teaching of Pope Francis. The pull-out contains all the information on the radios located around the world and two editorials by Fr. Livio Fanzaga and Emanuele Ferrario, respectively Director’s Advisor and President of the World Family of Radio Maria. Enjoy reading! Daniele Trenca
Through the gift of Her Radio, the Virgin Mary invites us to participate in this challenge. She does not choose the able, but makes able those she chooses, she does not call those who have plenty to give.. but those who are able to give what they have (however small) to help everyone. Fr. Francisco Palacios
MARIATHON The situation of the worldwide projects
MARIATHON The experience of Europe and Africa
JOHN PAUL II A great miracle in Costa Rica
page. 2
page. 3
page. 4
2
Mariathon 2014 is just around the corner! MARCH-APRIL 2014
T
The worldwide situation of the eleven Mariathon projects and where to find material for the event
he display of worldwide solidarity begun in 2013 is now in its second edition. Millions of listeners throughout the five continents are awaiting these days (between 9th and 11th May) to pray, give their testimony, and lovingly help those countries where Radio Maria has just started broadcasting and where we hope it can start its activity within the next 2 years.
Like last year, there are 11 projects which we want to specifically support and of which we want to give you a brief overview: India: was the first of these projects to be officially inaugurated on 30th June 2013 in the city of Cochin, region of Kerala. It is now time to develop the team of collaborators and number of volunteers and we have to commit ourselves to increase signal coverage. Equitorial Guinea (photo of the future studios below): second Radio Maria to have obtained a broadcasting frequency; it is currently being renovated and can be considered up and running. The radio is located in the capital city, Malabo, and the goal is to achieve nationwide co-
verage. Liberia: the efforts to fit out the radio station are continuing. There are technical problems due to the total absence of electricity, which implies delays and the need to find alternative solutions (photo of the future chapel).
Madagascar: Radio Maria is developing in the south-eastern area of the island, in the Diocese of Ambositra. By the end of 2014 the radio will be up and running (below the priest and President of RM Madagascar, together with their Bishop).
Mali: Catholic minority country, which has been experiencing a distinct political, military and social situation for many years. There are problems regarding safety which are blocking the
Radio Maria project, also due to the risk of being killed for professing their faith. Nigeria: the project began more than 8 years ago, but many obstacles remain. It is still difficult to obtain a broadcasting frequency, so structural and organisational developments have dramatically slowed down. Macau (China): webradio in a complex country due to its religious denominations. In the 2013-2014 biennial we hope to consolidate the staff and increase the programming schedule. Rep. of Guinea (Conakry): Muslim-majority country, where Radio Maria is finalising the last works before starting to broadcast in late 2014. Haiti: a nation, which is still suffering after the 2010 earthquake. Radio Maria is working to try and obtain a broadcasting frequency and give comfort and evangelise the population who is living in extreme poverty. Ireland: the first contacts date to 1997…but for legislative reasons it has not been possible to obtain denominational radio broadcasting frequencies. Radio Maria will start as a web radio thanks to the new digital technologies. Latvia: a project which should start by the end of this year. A broadcasting frequency has already been requested and many Catholics are praying to have Radio Maria close to their homes and the
hearts of the people (photo shows RM Latvia with the continental representative Bernhard Mitterrutzner and the Bishop of Riga).
We remind you that this year we want to focus on the African continent as a whole, as a mission land which needs the effort of Radio Maria to evangelise and help the populations who reside in difficult social, cultural, political and religious conditions. Specifically, for example, Radio Maria has been granted 19 frequencies in different countries which could be lost during the year if it is not possible to enable the respective broadcasts. Let us join our efforts and spread the Mariathon’s message of charity in every home: Let us help Our Lady to Help us! Mariathon public website: www.mariathon.org For Mariathon presentation materials, updates on projects and audio files to use in the months prior to Mariathon: intranet WF (www.intranet.radiomaria.org), MARIATHON group, DOCUMENTS section, “Mariathon 2014” folder. Raffaele Galati
3
Let us bring the “Gift” of Mary to the world MARCH-APRIL 2014
B
Two testimonies from Europe and Africa on the first worldwide Mariathon
Pope in the Holy Land
Francis, a pilgrim in Jerusalem
T
here are places in the heart of every Christian in which God has incarnated himself to save each and every one of us. Pope Francis is also fond of the Holy Land and, in the wake of his predecessors, he has decided to travel there in person from 24th to 26th May to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the historic meeting between Pope Paul VI and the Patriarch Athenagoras. The Pope has called it a prayerful pilgrimage, motivated by the ecumenical tension and by the desire for peace in the face of the difficult divisions that mark the Holy Land and all of the Middle East. The World Family of Radio Maria will follow the Pope with direct streaming of the event and accompanies him from now with its prayer. Stefano Chiappalone
elow are the testimonies of Fr. Prenke, Director of RM Albania and Fr. Desiré, Director of RM Burundi, on their experience of the first worldwide Mariathon in May 2013. “In Albania, Mariathon 2013 was a totally new experience which we gratefully participated in for this great gift of Our Lady, received thanks to the benefactors of Radio Maria Italy; we, in turn, want to do something to help our brothers around the world who are waiting for Radio Maria.
On 10th and 11th May we broadcast special programmes from 8am to 11pm, with the volunteers located in five different cities, Scutari, Tirana, Durres, Lezha and Gjackova (in Kosovo), to collect donations and update ourselves on the latest developments. We then continued in several Albanian parishes from
12th to 30th May. To organise everything we had to spend 550 euro, and we collected more than 32000. In each parish the people offered
prayers and donations to spread Radio Maria. The joy of those who participated was indescribable: Jesus saw the face of the poor widow of the Gospel in many men and women who put what they could to help Radio Maria accomplish 11 new projects worldwide”. Fr. Prenke Lazraj
“The listeners of Radio Maria Burundi participated in Mariathon 2013, both in our country and abroad, with prayer and cash donations according to their financial situation, but also offering their time
and resources, awareness and mobilisation. Our country has just experienced a terrifying catastrophe due to torrential rain which has devastated entire areas – also where our listeners live – and thrown Burundi into a serious state of desolation. Mariathon 2014 falls within this difficult situation, in which all Burundians are committed to helping those who have suffered damage. Therefore, it is probable that they will not be able to offer as much as last year; nevertheless, our hope is not based, first and foremost, on apparent possibilities, but above all on Divine Providence. We are not involved in a project which is reduced to our human strengths, but rather in a noble mission which has Christ himself as its protagonist: evangelisation. Consequently, despite the difficulties, we hope in Him and in the unfailing support of His Mother Mary”. Fr. Desiré Bireha
4
A great miracle in Costa Rica
D
MARCH-APRIL 2014
ivine Providence makes the most unusual things happen. God’s benevolence has wanted Costa Rica, a relatively small country compared with many others of our planet, to be blessed with the miracle which has be-
come the reason for the canonisation of Pope John Paul II. In 2011, Floribeth Mora, a resident of Tres Ríos in San José, struck by a serious aneurysm, was healed without the doctors being able to give an explanation: this happened thanks to the prayers recited by the woman and her family to John Paul II. In the interviews given to Radio Maria, the
woman, her husband and her doctor told us that in her specific case it had not been possible to operate due to the nature of the cerebral lesion and, unfortunately, there was nothing left to do but wait for her death. The doctors of the public hospital asked her to leave the facility and return home to die with her family. Her husband told us that he was driven to desperation, and it was at those moments, sitting on one of the steps of the hospital, that he began to pray to Pope John Paul II; he was so sure that the Pope would intercede with God that he brought his wife home with a great feeling of tranquillity. The day of the Pope’s beatification the woman was reading the front cover of a newspaper with the photo of the Pope and she prayed to him, while watching the religious celebration on the television. The mira-
cle happened at that precise moment. She stood up and started to walk to the kitchen to see her husband and told him what had happened. Her improvement was progressive, and she has become a great evangeliser. They realised it was a miracle and Monsignors arrived from Rome to verify it at La Católica Clinic in Costa Rica and at the Gemelli hospital in Rome. Following all the canonical proceedings it was declared a miracle. In a radio interview with the
medical physician we were told that what happened could not be explained by science, so it had to be a miracle. We listened to the great testimony with all the people we interviewed at Radio Maria and this series of programmes will be sent to the different Radio Maria stations so that you can be direct witnesses of these wonderful events. Fr. Emilio Garreaud RM Director Costa Rica
Happy Birthday President Ferrario
O
n 11th March, during the monthly meeting held with the staff of RM1 and WF, we had another element to highlight: the Birthday of President of World Family, Emanuele Ferrario. We shared the projects
which make it possible to know how the worldwide mission is progressing, and had the joy of listening to encouraging words from the person who has dedicated himself wholeheartedly to Radio Maria; not only has he regained full health, but also continues to motivate us all, to carry forward this gift of Our Lady, trying to do the very best we can every day. WF Staff
5
Pope Francis and Radio Maria
A
MARCH-APRIL 2014
through a small broadcasting station, takes the Gospel through the heart of Mary to the most isolated suburbs, even into the
And since Radio Maria is one family, Pope Francis has undoubtedly blessed all those who participate in this worldwide pro-
homes scattered among the fields, and to the sick in their homes and in hospitals, to prisoners and to many families who wish to fervently draw closer to God.
ject. H.E. Mons. Josè Ignacio Alemany
the radios present contents in the five contiand granents in streaphics. On ming and the new information will be proportal it will be possible to listen to all vided on each radio. A
rich editorial section will provide the setting for the new project, with photos, videos and audio files from the over 65 radios worldwide.
month after the start of Pope Francis’ pontificate we, the Bishops in the Vatican, were given the opportunity to meet the Supreme Pontiff in person. When I had the opportunity to express my warm greetings, as Director of Radio Maria, I asked him for a special blessing for RM Peru. When the Pope heard the words “Radio Maria”, he changed the position of his hands and took mine with greater affection (see photo), gave me an accepting and approving smile with a blessing and told me with a joyful face: “May God bless the Radio and may Radio
Maria be listened to by everyone, in cars, in kitchens or at work... everyone must listen to this Radio which is accomplishing an excellent work of evangelisation. It needs to reach everyone..” There is no doubt that the Pope, who was very well acquainted with Radio Maria Argentina and also knows the worldwide reach of the Radio, knows that it is a very important tool of evangelisation. That evangelisation which he himself is asking for and which he takes especially to the peripheries. This is what happens with our Radio which,
he new World Family of Radio Maria website will be launched in a few months’ time. It will be renewed in both its
RM Director Peru
The new World Family website available soon
T
MARIATHÓN 2014
WORLD FAMILY RADIO MARIA news periodical of the World Family of Radio Maria association a pag. 18 Editorial office: P. Francisco Palacios;
Stefano Chiappalone; Raffaele Galati; Daniele Trenca
Send us your photos of “Mariathon 2014” so we can share with the world how this great initiative is unfolding throughout the five continents. Write to: roma.wf@radiomaria.org
Via Rusticucci, 13 - 00193 Rome mail: roma.wf@radiomaria.org skype: wf.daniele.trenca The contents of this periodical (texts and photos) may be used in full or partially on the
websites, newsletters, social networks of RM. Always mention the source “WFRM News”
You can be the protagonist of
World Family News Send your ideas, proposals, suggestions to: roma.wf@radiomaria.org
The contents
will be published in the upcoming issues
CONTACT US!