HMWN Radio Maria Web Magazine - July 2009
- From the President’s Desk
- General HMWN Volunteers Meeting
- Behind the Scenes at Radio Maria
- Rosary in Our Schools
- The Year of the Priests
- Sr. Carmelina Booklets Available
- How to help HMWN Radio Maria
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From the President’s Desk
Professor Luigi Pautasso
Food for Thought
- The Mission of the Seventy-two (Lk 10:1-12)
After this the Lord appointed seventy-two others whom he sent ahead of him in pairs to every town and place he intended to visit. He said to them, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest. Go on your way; behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves. Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals; and greet no one along the way. Into whatever house you enter, first say, 'Peace to this household.' If a peaceful person lives there, your peace will rest on him; but if not, it will return to you.
Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you, for the laborer deserves his payment. Do not move about from one house to another. Whatever town you enter and they welcome you, eat what is set before you, cure the sick in it and say to them, 'The kingdom of God is at hand for you.'
Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you, go out into the streets and say,
'The dust of your town that clings to our feet, even that we shake off against you.' Yet know this: the kingdom of God is at hand. - The Mission of the Servers at Cana
On the third day there was a wedding in Cana in Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding. When the wine ran short, the mother of Jesus said to him, "They have no wine." (And) Jesus said to her, "Woman, how does your concern affect me? My hour has not yet come." His mother said to the servers, "Do whatever He tells you."
A Message For Our Listeners
Dear Friends:
I have an important message for all of you. The sales and distribution of radio receivers, which is crucial to the future existence of HMWN Radio Maria, needs to greatly increase. About 1,500 HMWN radio receivers have been sold since we began broadcasting in 2005 and the number of donations is minimal. These numbers cannot sustain our radio apostolate. We need many more listeners and donors.
What Do We Do?
In the past weeks, we have examined the situation and taken some important decisions.
First, we have reconsidered our central mission: to promote the Christian life for our families in today’s secular society. Like the 72 disciples (Lk 10:1-12), we are volunteers at the service of the Kingdom of the Lord, bringing to all the invitation to heed to Our Lady's call: “Do what (Jesus) tells you.” This too is our mission; this is what we want to continue to do together. And, like the disciples who “took food and drink offered to sustain themselves” (Lk 10:7), HMWN Radio Maria relies solely on financial donors to continue broadcasting our programs over the radio.
Secondly, we know that Jesus called the Apostles individually (this also happens to all of us at Baptism), but then He sent them out “two by two”, “in pairs”. So we believe it’s important to follow Jesus’ invitation. HMWN, therefore, will use Jesus’ example to start and to continue the promotion of the radio by enlisting "Two Contact Volunteers" for every parish or zone.
Currently HMWN can be listened to in the archdiocese of Toronto and in the dioceses of Hamilton and St. Catharines. Toronto has 223, Hamilton 120 and St. Catharines 45 parishes. This means that in order to have “Two Contact Volunteers” per each parish, HMWN will require 776 contact volunteers. This is indeed a very challenging, but, with your help, not impossible mission.
The “Two Contact Volunteers” will form the core of HMWN’s media missionary work; these "Two" will help to establish the presence of the voice of Mary through HMWN in the family, the community and the local parish.
This radio project of evangelization is enormous and will require a great deal of labour, but it will be a labour of love as we work for the Lord. Presently, we have people in only a handful of parishes. We need to re-organize our presence in those parishes where we are known, and invite many others to join. This apostolic task can only succeed with our unfailing commitment for a long period of time, and with dedication that does not sway, nor derail from our prime focus of expanding our audience by selling radios.
If you want to help us meet this challenge and spread the Word, call the station and tells us you are up for the challenge. The number is (416) 245-0200 or e-mail us at info@hmwn.net.
Where Do We Start?
There’s an immediate need to enlarge our listening audience. Time is of the essence. We must start now. The first thing the "Two Contact Volunteers" have to do is to work out a plan with our help on how best to begin selling of Radio Receivers.
What's the Plan?
We trust that you will say yes to this effort and help HMWN to “spread the word.” As soon as we hear from you, HMWN will give each team of two one (or more) radios free, so that they can be continuously circulated to new potential listeners. Each team can strategize with the help of other committed helpers/volunteers the best way to proceed at each zone. Should the need arise the "Two Contact Volunteers" can ask for more radios to be used for the purpose of previewing and listening to our programs and getting to know our apostolate. Of course, we’re hoping that once they try listening to the station they will want to buy a radio or get one for a gift.
There is also a special incentive offered to the two contact volunteers. For every 20 radios sold, one radio will be given to the organizers. They can then choose someone who wants to listen to HMWN but may not be able to afford to buy a radio receiver.
In brief, although a tall order to undertake, this is what needs to be done NOW. If more radio receivers are sold, this will increase the number of HMWN listeners and financial donors and thus secure the future survival of HMWN Radio Maria. We hope and pray that you respond with a YES to this call.
“O Holy Queen of peace, Star of Evangelization be our Guide and our Protectress.
God bless,
General HMWN Volunteers Meeting
The General meeting of the Volunteers of HMWN Radio Maria took place on July the 18th, 2009, giving to both old and new volunteers the opportunity to talk about their successes and to voice their concerns. Important decisions were taken, which are also mentioned in the above letter of the president of HMWN Radio Maria. To find out more, download the Meeting Agenda here).
Photo (from left): Prof. Luigi Pautasso, President; Bruce Weinert, Vice-President and Loredana Sposato, Secretary of HMWN Radio Maria.
Photo: A group of HMWN volunteers, ready to go "two by two".
Behind the Scenes at Radio Maria
- Words from Alex Dias
At the age of 9 like most boys my age I fell in love with sports and moreover, the idea of becoming a sports-caster. I wanted to tell the story of the game, excite the listener with the play by play, share interesting sports related stories and stats, as well as share my enthusiasm for life. To fulfill this dream I went to college for radio broadcasting and learnt a multitude of skills and techniques. With experiences attained at college utilizing production software, I felt very much accustomed to the workings of radio and with behind the scenes work, capturing and effectively portray the imaginations of those who wished to share their gifts via the radio. For the past year I have been fortunate to be part of the family at HMWN Radio Maria. My skills and gifts from God have enabled me to be part of a bigger dream; sharing and spreading the word of God and our faith. I couldn't be more blessed to work with a wonderful group of people. Thanks to God.
The Rosary in our Schools
Students have been praying the Rosary at their school, over the radio! Listen to students from an ever-expanding number of TCDSB (Toronto Catholic District School Board) and YCDSB (York Catholic District School Board) schools throughout the scholastic year.
You can learn more about the School Rosary program by clicking here.
Click here to view the School Rosary Newletters.
Sr. Carmelina of the Cross
Book Now Available in English
"Teaching of Prayer and of Christian Living"
Luigi Pautasso, HMWN Radio Maria 2009
Exerpt from the Book:
The Story of Sr. Carmelina’s Vocation
"Many times I've been asked how long I've been a sister: my religious call entered my heart when I was 12 years old, but I could not immediately join an order because of family reasons and my health.
The Lord began to test me at the age of 14 and at 16 suffering was already part of my life. Thanks to God and his mercy, I've always had the strength to accept my condition even with so many difficulties. With suffering in my heart, my love for God and for religious life has grown so much.
I hoped that one day Jesus would grant me the grace to make my dream of becoming a nun come true. I never lost hope, and I embraced God's will and everything that it brings.
When I came to Canada for three months to visit members of my family, our Lord had already prepared for me other plans. Many times I had turned to priests to seek out their help because I wanted to see if I could realize this dream of mine before God called me from this life. The answer I got was that I should be resigned to the fact that I was ill, and so could not join any religious order. My illness took me from one hospital to another, but my faith in Jesus and my desire for the religious life kept growing.
In hospital, I had been bedridden for seven years when in 1973 Jesus made me encounter Fr. Claudio Piccinini. His visit lasted just a few minutes, and I didn't see him again until December 17, 1976. Finally, Jesus and my dear Mother in heaven were leading me down the road about which I had dreamt. Fr. Claudio became my spiritual advisor and helped me to fulfill that wish that Jesus had placed in my heart.
Thanks to God, I became a Passionist sister on November 26, 1977 and I'm happy to be a nun even if I'm confined to a hospital bed. I'm also thankful to be associated with Società Unita because it has given me so much happiness, and for the opportunity to work with its members to carry out my apostolate as a nun, offering my prayers as a means of being together with them. (From "Lettera di Suor Carmelina", Il Ponte, maggio-giugno 1982, page 7)
Purchase this Book via PayPal OnlineRead More on Sr. Carmelina:
Archdiocese of Toronto Opens Official Inquiry into Sainthood for Toronto Nun, Sr. Carmelina Tarantino (Released March 16, 2009)
How to Help HMWN Radio Maria
HMWN does not accept any advertising, nor is it sponsored by any institution. To cover the cost of its operations, HMWN can only depend on God’s Providence, using the generous collaboration of its volunteers and listeners. In short, HMWN exists because its volunteers and listeners, through their generous donations want it to exist.
Click the link below to make a secure and safe online donation using PayPal, Visa or Mastercard. For more information on donations to HMWN, click here.
You desire that we pray the Lord of the harvest
that He send zealous labourers into His harvest.
Deign to raise up in your Church,
and especially in this diocese, numerous and holy priests who,
taking your Divine Heart as their Model,
will, in the exercise of their holy priesthood,
promote the glory of your heavenly Father and the salvation of those souls
whom you have redeemed with your Precious Blood.
Give us truly holy priests
who, inflamed with the fire of your divine love,
seek nothing but your greater glory and the salvation of souls.
O Mary, Queen of the clergy, pray for us;
obtain for us a number of holy priests.
Amen.
