Neha Patil (Editor)

Radio Maria

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Broadcast area
  
Worldwide

Format
  
Catholic

First air date
  
1982 (1982)

Sister stations
  
Radio Vaticana

Radio Maria

Frequency
  
FM, AM, Shortwave, Cable, SCA/SCMO, DAB, DRM, DVB-T, Satellite, Sirius XM, Internet streaming

Owner
  
Associazione Radio Maria (The World Family of Radio Maria)

Radio Maria (formally known as The World Family of Radio Maria; Spanish: Radio María, Portuguese: Rádio Maria, Croatian: Radio Marija, Maltese: Radju Marija, Lithuanian: Marijos Radijas, Hungarian: Mária Rádió, Russian: Радио Мария, Ukrainian: Радіо Марія, known in Germany as Radio Horeb) is an international Catholic radio broadcasting service founded in Erba, province of Como, in the diocese of Milan, Italy, in 1982. The World Family of Radio Maria was formed in 1998, mainly based on the Our Lady of Medjugorje apparitions and messages, and today has branches in 55 countries around the world. Its mission includes Liturgy, Catechesis, Spirituality, Spiritual assistance with everyday issues, Information, Music, and Culture.

Contents

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 Fátima, 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.

Radio Maria USA

Its United States of America operations is one of the newest joining the World Family in May 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 station in Port Arthur, Texas on 1250 AM (KDEI), and an FM repeater in Anna, Ohio. An AM repeater in Springfield, Ohio east of Dayton commenced broadcasting in June 2008 with new FM repeaters in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania coming on the air in June 2009, D'Iberville, Mississippi and Peshtigo, Wisconsin both in May 2010. Spanish-language and Italian-language programming is heard on FM subcarrier frequencies in Boston, Chicago, Houston, New York City and Washington, D.C.. Italian-language programming can also be heard on New York City 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.

Programming

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.

Facilities

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.

Beginning in June 2008, there are now shortwave transmissions originating from Italy at 26,000 kHz and at 26,010 kHz DRM making it the only (and last) shortwave service originating in Italy besides Vatican Radio. There are presently no commercial satellite radio subscription services (such as Sky Digital, Sirius or XM) of Radio Maria. However its Spanish-language, Italian-language and Polish-language stations may be available in some areas served by the Dish Pronto division of Dish Network, a satellite television subscription service.

References

Radio Maria Wikipedia