Radio Maria (A Christian Voice in Your Home)

I found Radio Maria quite by accident as I was scanning for something to listen to on the radio. There are currently two stations in the Western Ohio area. WHJM in Anna went on the air in May of 2006 and the newest station, WULM in Springfield has been on since May 31 of 2008. The Call Sign WHJM stands for "With the Hearts of Jesus and Mary". You can imagine my surprise to find that Anna had a radio station. Now of course if I was Catholic there is a very good chance I would have known that. The radio station is promoted through the local churches. But when I heard 88.7 FM Anna, Ohio I just had to stare at my radio and say to myself did I hear that right.

Of course I had to Google it when I got home. Between Google and my conversation with John Koening the Ohio Operations Manger (Yes, I called the radio station), I found out the following:
The transmitter / antenna was located in Botkins. They were leasing the old AT&T tower. The radio station was licensed to Anna Ohio. (Makes no sense to me.) The local headquarters and broadcasting studio is in Minster

John invited me for a tour and I was more than happy to show up with my camera. There I met John and one of the volunteers that helps keep the station running named Ernestine. Pictured here is John explaining how the transmitter works and Ernestine who is a dear and a joy to talk with, working on a Bible study. John is also an amateur photographer and there is a good chance we my hook up for a picture outing.

The radio station was actually started in Milan, Italy for the local parishes in 1983. By 1990 it had grown to cover all of Italy. By the year 2000 the radio station was broadcasting from over 30 countries and opening up shop in the United States. Alexandria, Louisiana was the first station to broadcast in the U.S. and became the headquarters for all American broadcast. Anna and Springfiled Ohio were added in 2006 and 2008. For more details about this Ministry be sure to check out these related links:

Radio Maria
Wikipedia Radio Maria
Wikipedia WHJM





The following prayer is called the Radio Maria Prayer and was composed by Pope John Paul II.

"Mary, guide us in our major decisions and give us strength in times of trial so that we may, with humble courage, follow the hidden ways of Heaven, keeping faith with God and mankind so that we can bring the joyful message of Christ, the Savior, to the hearts and minds of all. Mary, guiding star of evangelization, be with us. Be with Radio Maria as guide and be its protector."

You don't have to be near a transmitter to listen to Radio Maria. You can catch it on the Web at www.radioamaria.us.

Sr. Ann Shields

Sr. Ann Shields noted Catholic author and radio show host for Food for the Journey was at Holy Angels Church this Friday. She was the guest speaker after the Mass for a fund raiser for Radio Maria 88.7 FM (WHJM Anna, Ohio) or www.radiomaria.us on the web.



I did not make the Mass but Kurt (Shadows of Augustine) has an excellent post on both the Mass and Ann Shields. Click Here Shadows of Augustine to read his post.



I've become an fan of her morning airing of Food for the Journey on Radio Maria and have made it a staple in my morning commute. Ann is inspiring to listen to on the radio and I found so in person as well. Afterwards she was swamped with fans eager to say hello and to get a signed copy of her new book.

Of course I took a few shots of the church. Pictured here are St. Therese and one of the Stations of the Cross.



I found this to be an interesting declaration for Pro Life.



Pictures taken at Holy Angels Church (Sidney, Ohio)

Our Lady of Guadalupe

The following text is from the "Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe" web page found in the Link section of this post.

Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared in Mexico as the pregnant Mother of God to Saint Juan Diego, a Chicemeca Indian, on December 9, 10 and 12, 1531. She left a Miraculous Image of her appearance on his cactus fiber cloak, or "tilma", which still exists today for all to see in the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City.

Our Lady came to offer faith, hope and consolation to the oppressed natives of Mexico and to reconcile then with their Spanish rulers. She put an end to the bloody human sacrifice of the Aztecs and converted nine million natives in the next nine years!



The Image of Our Lady is actually an Aztec Pictograph which was read and understood quickly by the Aztec Indians.

1. THE LADY STOOD IN FRONT OF THE SUN
She was greater than the dreaded Huitzilopochtli, their sun-god of war.

2. HER FOOT RESTED ON THE CRESCENT MOON
She had clearly crushed Quetzalcoatl, the feathered serpent moon- god.

3. THE STARS STREWN ACROSS THE MANTLE
She was greater than the stars of heaven which they worshipped.
She was a virgin and the Queen of the heavens for Virgo rests over
her womb and the northern crown upon her head. She appeared on
December 12, 1531 and the stars that she wore are the constellations
of the stars that appeared in the sky that day!

4. THE BLUE‑GREEN HUE OF HER MANTLE
She was a Queen because she wears the color of royalty.



5. THE BLACK CROSS ON THE BROOCH AT HER NECK
Her God was that of the Spanish Missionaries, Jesus Christ her son
who died on the cross for all mankind.

6. THE BLACK BELT
She was with child because she wore the Aztec Maternity Belt.

7. THE FOUR PETAL FLOWER OVER THE WOMB
She was the Mother of God because the flower was a special symbol
of life, movement and deity-the center of the universe.

8. HER HANDS ARE JOINED IN PRAYER
She was not God but clearly there was one greater than Her and she
pointed her finger to the cross on her brooch.

9. THE DESIGN ON HER ROSE COLORED GARMENT
She is the Queen of the Earth because she is wearing a contour map
of Mexico telling the Indians exactly where the apparition took place

These pictures were taken at the



in Minster Ohio, while touring Radio Maria broadcasting station and office located in the same building.

RELATED LINKS:
Wikipedia Our Lady of Guadalupe
The Image of Our Lady of Guadalupe