Radio Maria

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Not to be confused with Radio Maryja.

Radio Maria is an international Catholic radio broadcasting service founded in Como, Italy in the diocese of Milan in 1983.

1 History
2 Radio Maria Today
3 Facilities and Programming
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] History

Its first broadcast facility was originally parish operated but was later re-formed as a separate entity outside its home parish as an association of lay people and priests in 1987 as Radio Maria Italia which in less than five years grew into a national Catholic radio network throughout Italy. Though not directly connected with the Roman Catholic Church it was founded as an instrument of the Church and as a tool for evangelization implementing and adhering to the teachings of the Church and is inspired by the Marian apparations at Fatima, Portugal (and in more recent years in Medjugorje ) pleading for worldwide conversion. As such,Radio Maria is not subsidised or funded by the Roman Catholic Church..instead it is underwritten by listener contributions.

The World Family of Radio Maria was formed in 1998 out of its subsequent international growth in the 1990s and by the 1987 speech by Pope John Paul II in St Peter's Square addressing the need for a new evangelization. Emanuele Ferrario,(inspired by the Pope's words to form that new evangelization) is the founder and president of Radio Maria Inc. which has since grown into an association of 40 multilingual broadcast operations in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas. Overall, Radio Maria operates approximately 1,500 terrestrial radio transmitters worldwide.

It's mission includes Liturgy,Catechesis,Spirituality,Spiritual assistance with everyday issues,Information,Music and Culture.

The World Family of Radio Maria is not to be confused with "The Radio Maryja Family" a controversial religious movement in Poland.

[edit] Radio Maria Today

Its USA operations is one of the newest joining the World Family in May of 2000 with KJMJ (AM) in Alexandria, Louisiana being the originating English launguage station and a network of several FM and AM repeaters in Lousiana, an AM repeater in Texas and an FM repeater in Ohio. Spanish language programming is heard on FM subcarrier frequencies in Houston and in New York City. Italian language programming can also be heard on a New York FM subcarrier as well as French Canadian and English speaking services on FM subcarriers in Toronto, Ontario. Audiostreaming is available from most of these stations. Radio Maria has also recently commenced services in Argentina,Croatia, Russia, Romania, Hungary and Dominican Republic.

[edit] Facilities and Programming

Radio Maria's programming mostly eminates from one centrally located studio or station in a given region or country then re-broadcast (or "simulcast") on a network of repeater transmitters on the AM and FM bands. Some employ the use of a subcarrier..also known as SCA (for "Subsidiary Communications Authority") facilities of FM stations requiring the use of a receiver designed to receive SCA signals. Since the emergence of the internet, audiostreming has been used extensively as a means to help fill-in gaps left by the unavailability of AM or FM frequencies in metropolitan areas already taken up by commercial, public or other religious broadcasters. At present, there are no shortwave transmissions or satellite radio subscription services (such as Sky Digital, Sirius or XM ) of Radio Maria. However its Spanish, Italian and Polish language stations may be available in some areas served by the Dish Pronto division of Dish Network, a satellite television subscription service.

Programming mostly consists of traditional Catholic worship music but some stations also air a mix of traditional and Contemporary Catholic music along with various talk and teaching programs discussing the Catholic faith, frequent recitals of the Holy Rosary, novenas and Masses.

On Friday April 13th 2007,all Radio Maria stations worldwide will come together for a global broadcast of Masses,mutilingual rosary recitals and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy with a special catechesis on Easter themes. The global world prayer day event will be entitled "With Holy Mary in the Light of the Merciful Christ."