Radio Maria
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| Radio Maria Italia | |
| Broadcast area |  Italy
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|---|---|
| Frequency | varies |
| First air date | 1987 |
| Format | Catholic |
| Owner | Associazione Radio Maria |
| Website | http://www.radiomaria.it/ |
Radio Maria is an international Catholic radio broadcasting service founded in Erba (CO), Italy in the diocese of Milan in 1983.
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[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. In less than five years, it 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. It was inspired by the Marian apparitions at Fatima, Portugal (and in more recent years in Medjugorje), pleading for worldwide conversion. As such, Radio Maria is not subsidized 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 following 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 language station, together with a network of several FM and AM repeaters in Louisiana, an AM repeater in Texas, and an FM repeater in Ohio. A new AM repeater also in Ohio commenced broadcasting in June of 2008. Spanish-language programming is heard on FM subcarrier frequencies in Houston and in New York City. Plans are now underway for establishing a Spanish language station in Chicago in addition to applications filed with the Federal Communications Commission for ten additional FM stations in the U.S. as of November of 2007.
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 also has services in the Philippines, Peru, Ecuador, Chile, Mexico, Argentina, Croatia, Russia, Romania, Hungary, and most recently in the Dominican Republic and Papua New Guinea. Plans are now underway to start a Spanish-language station for Radio Maria USA in Chicago in addition to construction permits granted for English-language stations in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Mississippi.
[edit] Facilities and programming
Radio Maria's programming mostly emanates from one centrally located studio or station in a given region or country, and is 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, audiostreaming 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.
[edit] See also
- Blessed Virgin Mary
- List of religious radio stations
- Roman Catholic Church
- Christian radio
- Contemporary Catholic music
