World Family of Radio Maria News - 15 ENG

Periodical of the World Family Radio Maria Association

Year IV – Issue 15 January - February - March 2016

The Lenten season

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ear friends, Providence has arranged that Easter coincide with springtime. The awakening of nature after the winter frosts brings us back to the grace of redemption and the new life we are given through the risen Christ. The light that invades the days, the warmth of the sun, the shoots that sprout, the

meadows that are green again show that death does not have the last word and that life always ends in triumph. This is true firstly on the spiritual level, where the winter of sin is not unavoidable and without hope. The cross, upon which Christ set us free from the slavery of evil, is a source of life that wa-

ters the earth and makes it flourish again.

We too, in this time of grace, must rid ourselves of apathy, of the weariness and tepidity that hamper our spiritual journey. The days of fasting and penance of Lent should awaken the desire to pray and for the renewal of life. We keep before our eyes the exam-

ple of Jesus, who faced the trial of the Passion in total adherence to the Father’s will, by taking on the burden that is unimaginable for us but necessary to save our souls.

As the large Radio Maria family undertakes, with perseverance, the journey of Lent until the end, so as to rise to new life with Jesus, our Easter. Let the Divine Mercy fill us with his sweetness and joy. With Mary we climb Calvary and participate in the glory of the Resurrection Father Livio

Holy See The Pope's trip to Mexico pg.

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Radio Maria The anniversaries of the first quarter

Radio Maria Preparations for Mariathon 2016

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WF RADIO MARIA News

January - February - March 2016

Pope Francis visits Mexico

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illions of Mexicans awaited Pope Francis’ visit with joy. Songs, music festivals, the art and love of the Mexican people under the maternal gaze of Our Lady of Guadalupe, set the perfect scenario to experience the five days together with the “Messenger of Mercy and Peace” who in his first speech stated: “I am preparing to cross this beautiful and great country as a missionary and a pilgrim who wants to renew, together with you, the experience of mercy as a new horizon of possibility that is inevitably the bearer of justice and peace.” Radio Maria Mexico covered the meetings Pope Francis held in our country, in Mexico City, in San Cristobal de las Casas in Chiapas, in Morelia Michoacan and Ciudad Juarez where a network of correspondents and volunteers broadcast these trips and promoted Radio Maria together with thousands of visitors. His Holiness renewed our hope in confronting our society’s different realities: with our leaders, bishops, priests,

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religious organizations, seminarians, the sick, children, indigenous people, families, young people, prisoners and workers.

The Pope underlined that, “Mexico is a great country. Blessed with abundant natural resources and enormous biodiversity that extends over its entire vast territory.” In the same way he recognized that “Today the main wealth of Mexico lies with its young people”.

When I was in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Pope asked those present to join him in silence and pray for the protection of the Mother of God. During the Mass that was held in Ecatepec in front of over three hundred thousand people, he reminded us that, “Lent is a time to open our eyes to the many injustices that directly attack God’s dream and project.” The Pope reminded us: “Dear Mexicans: you have Our Lady of Guadalupe who wanted to visit these lands, and this provides us with the certainty of her intercession so that this dream called the family will not be

Pope Francis in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe. lost to precariousness and solitude.” And then he said to the prisoners of the Centro di Riabilitazione Sociale di Ciudad Juárez: “Celebrating the Jubilee of Mercy with you means learning to not remain prisoners of the past, of yesterday.”

The visit of Pope Francis to our country has left a great

apostolic proclamation for the entire Church. Friends, I remind you of the task that the Pope has given us, “Do not forget to pray for me”.

Thus, let us pray for our Holy Father.

Karla Barajas Father Jorge Antonio Casillas RM Mexico

January - February - March 2016

News RADIO MARIA WF

The Jubilee Year of God’s Mercy

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anzanians are among the people of God who have received the Jubilee year of God’s Mercy as a blessing from God. Each Diocese in Tanzania about 34 of them have different pastoral programs to implement Pope’s wishes of the Jubilee year of Mercy.

Each Bishop in Tanzania in their own respective Dioceses, have set apart Cathedral Churches and few more Churches of their own choice, in their own Dioceses, as centers where by faithful are encouraged to go to celebrate the Jubilee year of God’s Mercy. Along with these celebrations, there are many seminars given about God’s Mercy to enrich people’s spiritual life. All Priests are encouraged to remain available for celebrating the sacrament of reconciliation with faithful. There is no doubt that, many faithful are animated and are looking forward for spiritual benefits.

As Director of Programs for Radio Maria Tanzania, what I am observing in the entire Catholic Church of Tanzania is; there are various phases of time set apart to celebrate the Jubilee year Of Mercy. The year can be divided into four quarters of three Months each.

Radio Maria Tanzania, has concrete plans to help people celebrate this Jubilee year of Mercy. Many examples are drown from Old Testament Scriptures where by the God’s Mercy is constantly described.

This is the tune set out, ex-

pected to last throughout the year of Jubilee of God’s Mercy. Of course, Radio Maria Tanzania do broadcast masses celebrated in different Parishes of different Dioceses. During this Jubilee year of God’s mercy, Radio Maria Tanzania is going even further to broadcast,

special Masses whenever the so called “co- habitants” decides to celebrate Sacrament of Matrimony in the Church.

The 10th February this year, which was Ash Wednesday, our Lenten period started.

We can say that it is a special Lenten period because

it falls within the year of Jubilee of God’s Mercy. Radio Maria continue to broadcast many themes given by different Church leaders, which enriches people’s spiritual life. In this way, a Christian voice penetrates people’s hearts. We hope by this simple instrument; Radio Maria, and the programs broadcasted will win many people back to God. The Tanzania Episcopal Conference in short form titled “Be merciful as your Father is Merciful” Luke 6:36. The message is passed to all Radio Maria Listeners in a special program, which is repeated weekly, and will remain so for the entire Lenten period. By doing so we have no doubt that Radio Maria Tanzania has become an important instrument for the service of Tanzanian Bishops and the entire Church of Tanzania.

Fr. John Maendeleo, C.S.Sp Director of Radio Maria Tanzania

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WF RADIO MARIA News

January - February - March 2016

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes and the World Family of Radio Maria

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wo days before the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, when the World Day of Prayer for the Sick is celebrated, the World Family of Radio Maria, accompanied by the Head of Production of RM France, had the opportunity to meet with the rector of the Sanctuary, Father André Cabes, the director of communications of the Sanctuary and of Radio Presence, Mathias Terrier, and other close collaborators.

During the meeting, in addition to exchanging greetings and comparing experiences regarding Mary’s work in our times, both through the Sanctuary and through the Radio that bears her name, we started to take the first steps to identify what we could do together, so that the listeners of our radio will have the chance to participate in the various moments of prayer and the celebrations that will be held at the Sanctuary through the radio network that the World Family offers all the RM stations in the world. Father André has opened the doors of the Sanctuary in order to be able to broadcast all the events that the public will want to follow during this Jubilee Year.

The Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, established because of the Immaculate Conception apparitions to Saint Bernadette in a cave in 1858, today has three basilicas, a crypt, more than

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a dozen chapels, meeting centres and places to receive the sick. And in this Year of Mercy the Holy Door has been opened to obtain the Indulgence. More than 10 million pilgrims from various parts of the world will visit this place of grace and conversion.

During the next few months we will announce the programmes to be broadcast.

Father Francisco Palacios

January - February - March 2016

News RADIO MARIA WF

The radio stations’ anniversaries in January, February and March

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n this issue of our newsletter The World Family of Radio Maria commemorates anniversaries to give thanks to God for this miracle of volunteers and to bear witness together with the Pope and Mary to the constant growth of RM year after year.

January In January we will begin with the mother radio: on the 12th of January 1987 the Radio Maria association was officially founded in Italy, with which the small parish radio established in Erba provided the beginnings of a great missionary project destined to expand throughout the world to announce conversion, joy and peace to the most far flung corners of the earth.

On the 24th of January 1999 Radio Maria Spain was founded, which still continues with great enthusiasm in the land of Our Lady of the Pillar! Once again in Spanish, on the 23rd of January 2001 in New York the Amigos de Radio Maria association was

constituted for the Big Apple’s large Spanish-speaking community.

This great cathedral of ether arrived in Sierra Leone on the 1st of January 2004, where Radio Maria has distinguished itself recently in the fight against the Ebola virus.

And another two European stations will be celebrated: on the 15th of January Radio Maria Hungary, started in 2006, and on the 29th Radio Maria Kosovo, established in 2013.

February In February two radio stations celebrate their anniversary on two important dates: on the 22nd of February 1997 Radio Maria Croatia was founded, on the feast of the Chair of Saint Peter; on the 11th of February 2002 Radio Maria reached Asia, in the Philippines, under the protection of Our Lady of Lourdes, patron of the sick and all

those who are suffering, the privileged recipients of our mission!

March The two stations in Romania, for the Romanians and for the Hungarian linguistic minority, began broadcasting on the 25th of March 2006, and on the same date in 2015 Radio Maria arrived in Madagascar.

There could not have been a better date for the Solemnity of the Annunciation (that this year will be postponed until the 4th of April), when

the entire World Family of Radio Maria renews its consecration to the Virgin Mary.

On the 19th of March, the Solemn Feast of St Joseph, Spouse of Mary and Patron of the Universal Church, Radio Maria arrived in Togo (1997) and in the Dominican Republic (2007). Last but not least, on Saturday the 19th of March we will give thanks to God and the Blessed Virgin together with our Director's Advisor Father Livio Fanzaga for his 50 years of priesthood!

Stefano Chiappalone

Bishops and priests at the inauguration of Radio Maria Madagascar.

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WF RADIO MARIA News

January - February - March 2016

Mariathon 2016: mercy becomes a gesture of love

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fter the World Congress 2015 and the emotional private audience with Pope Francis (29th of October), all the Radio Marias are ready to hold, in the best possible way, the WORLD MARIATHON, as they do every year.

This event has allowed, over the last three years, the opening of new stations in developing countries and the strengthening of some Radio Maria services operating in areas affected by war and civil emergencies, in addition to the many rewards of conversion and prayer among the listeners in the five continents.

The next MARIATHON is planned, indicatively, for the 13th, 14th and 15th of May, depending on the national and local needs of our stations in the week from the 10th to 15th of May. The slogan for this year is once again “Help Our Lady to help us!”, with a special focus on supporting the new initiatives in Arabic and for Radio Maria stations in developing countries.

Before this great event there will be preparatory meetings in every continent to share experiences, ideas and

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proposals to make the special programmes and the participation of the audience even more inclusive, and to be able to reach the predefined generous goal to expand Radio Maria in Africa and Asia and for the persecuted Christians of the Middle East.

Therefore, everyone will be listening from the 13th to the 15th of May to our Radio Maria stations so that in the Year of Mercy we can experience real gestures of love and fraternity!

Raffaele Galati

Periodical of the WFRM Association

Editorial Office: p. Livio Fanzaga; p. Francisco Palacios; Stefano Chiappalone; Raffaele Galati; Daniele Trenca; Michela Burdino; p. Charles Mutabaruka.

Via Rusticucci, 13 00193 Rome roma.wf@radiomaria.org www.radiomaria.org 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”.