History of radio horeb

There have been four important phases in the development of radio horeb. Basically, every conceivable difficulty has to be overcome. It needs enormous perseverance and a lot of patience (it's the story of the mustard seed that grows slowly but persistently).

• 8 December 1996: Start of broadcasting via satellite. At that time, it was not even possible to insert our programme in cable systems, and purely religious radio stations were not given licences. Even the satellite licence was not possible in Germany but had to be acquired via Luxembourg.
• In 2004: radio horeb was assigned the FM frequency 92.4 MHz in the greater Munich area and prevailed against 17 competitors. The result was a strong growth.
• 17.5.2011: radio horeb receives a national licence for digital radio covering the whole of Germany. Out of over 1000 FM stations, only eight radios have received such a licence. Digital radio replaces FM broadcasting in Europe. radio horeb can be received in almost every household.
• 16-18 May 2016: A breakthrough at the Mariathon. The satellite uplink and a radio studio in Kibeho are financed. From then on, when hearts and wallets opened up to this commitment, radio horeb's commitment to spread Radio Maria in Africa grew rapidly.

Commitment for Africa - our vision: Africa 2030

The declared aim is for all countries south of the Sahara to be able to receive Radio Maria by 2030, although countries north of the Sahara will not be overlooked. A radio can always be started via Internet (for example in Pakistan). We believe that this goal is achievable despite many problems (customs, corruption, transport routes, climatic conditions, technical support, staff training, human error) and we are guided by the principle: “If something is impossible, then make it possible”. Most of the donations from the Mariathon in recent years - which only lasts three days in our country - brought an average of 4 million Euros; they were sent to Africa. The lack of money is the main reason, and occasionally also the lack of frequencies, why Radio Maria is not distributed in Africa.

If the church is the mystical body of Christ, then we must not be indifferent to the need of our brothers and sisters in Africa. According to Pope Francis, the globalisation of indifference is the worst thing that can happen. The Lord says: "I have seen the misery of my people in Egypt. ... I know their suffering" (Exodus 3,7). We have also seen it and want to help.

History can and must be changed

Pope Francis, archbishop Jorge Mario Bergoglio preceding his papacy, was in best relationship with rabbi Abraham Skorka. In the foreword to the book ‘El Jesuita’, he wrote in Buenos Aires on 23 December 2009:

1. We believe that the course of history can and must be changed.

2. We believe that the biblical vision of a redeemed world, as seen by the prophets, is not a mere utopia, but an achievable reality.

3. And we also believe that it only needs committed people to make this vision a reality.

The path to this is through prayer, sacrifice and fasting.

Regarding topic 1: Prayer, fasting or sacrifice and giving of donations are the decisive means of changing the course of history in the spirit of the Gospel. At radio horeb we ask our listeners to fast on Friday with bread and water. The gifts of the wise men - gold, incense and myrrh - play a role here. Gold stands for money, incense for prayer and myrrh for sacrifice. Our Lady in Fatima, in Kibeho and in Medjugorje told us that the prayer of the rosary can prevent wars and change the laws of nature. The Rosary has the power to change people's hearts and bring them closer to the Lord (according to Sr. Lucia of Fatima). This change of hearts has a positive effect on society.

It is important to use the binding and loosing power of the church and to command in the name of Jesus. This had granted frequencies to Radio Maria. I prayed: ‘In the name of Jesus Christ, I command that all obstacles to the ratification of the treaties shall be removed.’ And the miracle happened.

Regarding topic 2: In the vision of a redeemed world as seen by the prophets, we remember the pilgrimage of the nations in Isaiah 2,1-5: The nations of the world come to Zion to receive counsel from Yahweh. Swords are forged into ploughshares and spears into pruning hooks. People no longer practise for war. This vision is particularly important for Africa, which is plagued by so many armed conflicts. The last sentence is decisive: “Arise, o house of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord” (Isaiah 2,5). Israel shall begin now what will be a universal reality at the end of time. In New Testament terms, we are meant to be the sourdough that permeates everything, the salt of the earth, the light of the world and the city on the mountain (Matthew 5,13-16).

Regarding topic 3: This vision becomes reality when many people hold it in their hearts. Only those who have visions are good leaders. We are requested to go to work and never give up hope. Radio Maria is always national and never limited to a single diocese. In the past, this has proved to be a not inconsiderable obstacle when bishops have thought only in terms of their own diocese. Of course, local or regional windows can be integrated into Radio Maria, but in principle it is always organised nationally.

(In the Democratic Republic of Congo, for example, 110 million people in this huge country can potentially be reached by Radio Maria. This is a great vision that must never be abandoned and be pursued until it becomes a reality.)

1. Providence of God: We believe that God stands behind this radio. “There is such a providence behind Radio Maria that it cannot be destroyed from the outside, unless we do it ourselves by being divided” (Emanuele Ferrario, the founding president of Radio Maria). Inner unity is always the point at which the evil one attacks. He tries to create divisions, misunderstandings, disobedience, a desire for recognition and excessive ambition between the members of the association, the president and the programme director. Internal unity is of greatest importance! The programme director must pay particular attention to this and not tolerate any divisions within the team. Trust in God's providence is demonstrated by the renunciation of advertising. In Germany we have never advertised commercially, not even in the most difficult moments. Advertising does not fit in with Radio Maria.

2. Teaching of the Church (in particular the Second Vatican Council and the catechism): The programme director must be very precise here. He represents the church and its teachings. In Germany, this is not easy in the current situation. In Africa, education will be particularly necessary with regard to voodoo, sorcery, witchcraft, animist movements, polygamy and interreligious dialogue.

3. Mother Mary: She is the patron saint of the radio. The radio is regularly consecrated to her immaculate heart. Emanuele Ferrario received a prophetic instruction that he should take control of Radio Maria, which in 1987 was broadcasted in just four parishes in Varese (northern Italy) and spread it throughout the world. The financial means would not be lacking. We are convinced that the blessed mother wanted Radio Maria and that it exists thanks to her initiative.

Radio Maria is the “voice of peace”. We honour our Lady as the queen of peace.

4. Missionary spirituality: The listeners see Radio Maria as their radio and do everything they can to maintain and spread it. The expression of the “listener family” is an active reality in Africa and in Germany!

5. Volunteers: The success of the radio depends largely on well-organised volunteer work. Volunteer work is possible in all areas of the radio (mobile studios, technics, broadcast support, speakers). In Germany we have over 1200 people who are well trained and regularly supervised.

Programme content

1. Liturgy and prayer: Prayer is our breath. The liturgy includes holy mass, the rosary and the liturgy of the hours. These are the inner axis around which the programme is built. The examples of Radio Maria Italy and also of radio horeb in Germany show that these are the programmes that are switched on the most. The liturgy is always live and is not broadcasted with a time delay.

2. Catechesis/christian spirituality: The aim here is to make the teachings of the church accessible to people. Ecumenical and inter-religious topics can be taken up, provided they do not involve controversy against the magisterium of the church. Interaction with the listener, i.e. the opportunity to call in and contribute to the programme, is an essential part of Radio Maria. Every speaker must be able to answer questions from the listeners.

3. Human promotion - Life support: This is even more important in Africa than in Germany, as it deals with issues of healthcare, education, practical life support such as water treatment, AIDS prevention, female genital mutilation, communicating prices on the market and much more. In terms of human promotion, Radio Maria makes a great contribution to overcome tribalism and changes the culture of the country in a sustainable way in the spirit of the gospel.

4. News and christian music: On our radio station, we play music with a Christian inspiration.

The foundation of a Radio Maria

Vocations to a spiritual ministry or to the consecrated life and religious knowledge increase considerably where Radio Maria can be heard.

Representatives of Radio Maria's global family are first and foremost its president, Vittorio Viccardi, and the continental managers for Africa, Paolo Taffuri and Jean Paul Kayihura. They are responsible for all matters relating to construction, technology and financing in Africa. The contact person for the priest directors is the programme director of the DRC, Roger Wawa. 25 bishops from Africa are currently asking the World Family for a Radio Maria. radio horeb is committed to prayer, through the Mariathon, Michael Wielath's visits and our vision for Africa.

Radio Maria only comes when it is requested by a bishop

What is needed for Radio Maria is an association, a president, a programme director, who must always be a priest, a studio with broadcasting equipment and frequencies. The key people at Radio Maria must be carefully selected and be theologically, humanly and spiritually mature. This is especially valid for the programme director. This person must love the blessed mother Mary and the people, be a good theologian with leadership qualities and communicative. He represents the church. It would be an advantage if he speaks at least English and French, is resilient and willing to bring sacrifices. He is the shepherd of the radio. A degree in communications is not necessary. However, he must be “on fire” for the project (St Augustine: incendit, qui ardet). Every programme director receives training and education. This also includes visits to Italy (Erba, near Milan) and Germany (Balderschwang).

It is significant to experience a fully functioning radio station like radio horeb in Germany. That is why I am extending an invitation to the next Mariathon from 1 to 3 May 2026.  Experience has shown that the bishops will be much more supportive of Radio Maria once they have experienced it.

I thank Cardinal Ambongo and the African church for the clarity regarding  “Fiducia supplicans”. That was a great help for us in Germany.

Kibeho is a place of extraordinary grace. Let us entrust our mission to the heart of the blessed mother. She will bless it and help us to realize it. Radio Maria is her radio.

There is a red heart on the casula that African priests gave me. It symbolises my heart, which beats for Africa.

Your direct contact to the Radio Maria world family

paolo.taffuri@radiomaria.org
info.wf@radiomaria.org (Cc)