About us

How was Radio Maria founded?

It all began in the year 1987. when Pope John Paul II called on all believers in the Church to get involved in the creation of the project of "new evangelization", in light of the third millennium. Among many different initiatives taken by the laity and priests, they were laymen who founded Radio Maria.

Radio Maria was born as a parish radio, in 1983. in a small town Arcellasco d'Erba in the province of Como, Italy, in the Diocese of Milan. At the time Radio Maria was used for parish news, as well as prayer, holy Mass and the Rosary, which would daily come to its listeners.

These were the characteristics of Radio Maria until January of 1987, when the Association of Radio Maria was founded by the laity and priests. The aim of forming this Association was that the Radio gets its independence from the parish and that the program gets raised to a higher level. At the same time the whole territory of Italy was covered by the signal, and in 1990. Radio Maria of Italy, was a radio station with national coverage. With its 800 transmitters Radio Maria was equal to RAI (Italian state radio). Grateful for the experience gained, Mother exemplified leadership and grace of the Blessed Virgin Mary in the genesis and development of the project, Radio Maria of Italy wanted to convey the experience and give other nations, so that the same missionary spirit can live in other countries.

Since 1990., stations of Radio Maria are founded all around the world, so that as a natural consequence of the expansion project was the establishment of the World Family of Radio Maria (WFMR) in the year of 1998 as non-governmental and non-profit organization. The goal of this organization was taking care of the establishment of Radio Maria stations around the world in the administrative, technical, financial and organizational terms.

However, the most important role that WFRM took upon herself was to closely follow the spirit of the mission and evangelization in order to connect all the stations of Radio Maria worldwide to the same charisma. In this way the WFRM responded to the call of the Virgin Mary, who whishes the hear voice gets heard all around the world, via radio waves of Radio Maria. Today WFRM has projects in 57 countries on four continents. Member of the World Family Radio Maria is a RADIO MARIA OF SERBIA. Her legal holder in the Republic of Serbia is the Citizens' Association under the name "Maria Association".

Why radio?

The advantage of radio over other media such as television, is that radio can reach their audience wherever they where: in the home, at the workplace, in the car or in the nature while they are resting. Also, radio is a great friend to many abandoned and sick persons; Radio Maria brings them peace and trough her programs tries to be their friend in pain and loneliness.There are a large number of those, who Radio Maria returned to communion with the Church and their neighbors.

History of Radio Maria of Serbia

In the Republic of Serbia, the establishment of Radio Maria was prepared since the year 2000., and the first broadcast by radio waves of Radio Maria was done on 13thNovember 2003.That day, the improvised studio of Radio Maria Serbia, which was located in the Franciscan monastery "Sv. Ivana Kapistrana", Cara Dušana 4 in Novi Sad, was blessed by Msgr. Eugenio Sbarbaro, Apostolic Nuncio in the Republic of Serbia, Msgr. Stanislav Hočevar, Archbishop of Belgrade, Msgr. Janoš Penzeš, Bishop of Subotica diocese, Msgr.Đuro Gašparović, Bishop of Srijem diocese, Msgr Hužvar Laslo, Bishop of Zrenjanin diocese, and brother Lucije Jagec, Provincial of the Franciscan Province of "St. Cyril and Method".

Since 2004, the seat and the central studio of Radio Maria of Serbia is located in Novi Sad, Koste Abraševića 16, and in 2006. an extra studio of Radio Maria of Serbia was opened in Subotica, Starine Novaka 58.

Until the year of 2007,Radio Maria Serbia had its transmitter in Novi Sad, Subotica, Čantavir, Sombor, Niš, Pančevo, Vrdnik and Zaječar.Today Radio Maria of Serbia has permits for transmitters in Novi Sad, Subotica, Sombor, Plandište and Leskovac.

Specificity and curiosity of Radio Maria of Serbia in relation to all other Radio Maria in the world is that the frequency of Subotica and Sombor shares with radio stations of the Serbian Orthodox Church - in Subotica, with radio "Slavoslovlje", and in Sombor with radio "Blagovesnik."Msgr. dr.Andrija Kopilović has agreed the division of time with the Serbian Orthodox Church in July 2009 (every 4 hours the program are switched from Radio Maria Serbia and radio of the Serbian Orthodox Church). Radio stations of the Serbian Orthodox Church began its work 01.07.2009.

Program concept of Radio Maria of Serbia

 Program of Radio Maria, includes the expansion and improvement of spreading of the Gospel message of joy and hope in the spirit of the teachings of Christianity and the Catholic Church, promoting the social and cultural growth through the promotion of ethical, social, cultural and religious values in order to improve community life and raise the price of human resources, with the help of radio broadcasts and news about the spread of specific religious / spiritual events, protection of the Christian cultural heritage and promotion of spiritual creation, dissemination and to foster the spirit of ecumenism and interfaith dialogue, spreading the spirit of tolerance and coexistence.

 

The program is intended primarily to the residents of Catholic parishes and people who are not otherwise able to hear the informative and formative news, mostly old and sick, and also to the potential audience interested in religious topics, which don't have the opportunity to inform themselves by listening to other radiostation or through other media.

It is important to note that: the necessity of ecumenical cooperation, interfaith dialogue, an affirmation of tolerance, coexistence and good interpersonal relations is emphasized through the whole program.Through its programs and broadcasts Radio Maria is trying to spread positive attitudes, good points and instructive examples, and thus contributes to the mission of the Church, and by doing that, serves to the whole world.

Radio Maria in informing the public, emphasizes and respects the diversity of nations, languages, cultures and religion, contributing to the creation of a democratic public opinion, democratic development of spiritual culture, the expression of cultural identity and the mediation of cultural and artistic values with a focus on multi-confessional communities in the designated area of responsibility.

Program of Radio Maria of Serbia is conceived on the model of the World Family of Radio Maria and consists of a third spiritual-religious content, one third under the name of human promotion with a focus on science and culture and a third, which is filled with musical content.

Radio Maria Serbia achieves twenty four hours program, in two languages: Serbian or Croatian, and Hungarian, and airs programs in Ruthenian, Ukrainian and Slovakian language.

Objectives of Radio Maria of Serbia

The goal of Radio Maria of Serbia, as the motto of the radio says, "God's voice in each house."Radio Maria wants to bring God's word to the people, to mediate an encounter with Jesus Christ and to nurture the spirit of unity and reconciliation among people.Radio Maria of Serbia serves the local church.Its program follows the life and happenings in the local church and helps believers to be informed about all current events.