Just recently we bid goodbye to another year but not without having a taste of the challenges inherent in the work of a non-profit, non-commercial Catholic radio station. The past year has tested our  endurance, our creativity, our faith, our trust, our patience and even our devotion. We have discovered more deeply what it means to be involved in the mission of Radio Maria. When we really did, we might just have realized how much courage and strength we have.

We have discovered not only what we can do, but also our limitations. We are glad that we have friends to stand by our side. It has also given us the opportunity to see so much goodness and talents in other people within and outside the Diocese of Tarlac. For all of these, we thank the Lord.

The new year is about to bring us surprising changes and new challenges which I am certain are not easy ones. But after knowing quite well our volunteers, I am very confident about their commitment. We might just be able to pull things off, especially if we have at our disposal the
power of faith. First, there is a need to accommodate in our plans and operations the fact that Radio Maria Philippines is a rapidly growing family. Second, the economic instability in a worldwide scale, including Europe, means that Radio Maria Philippines will have to be 100 percent self-sufficient sooner than later. Third, the receding material and financial resources of the World Family of Radio Maria due to economic crisis should invite us to aim not only for a self-sufficiency program but also for a capacity to reach out to other countries. Fourth, the pervading presence of materialistic values in the world is a sign that a lot of hard work is to be done in the area of evangelization. Fifth, quality programs, effective and efficient job performance, and well-motivated staff presume holistic and systematic formation programs and careful selection
of people. And last, the change of leadership is possibly at our doorsteps.

However, we must not forget that our many accomplishments are not always due to our skills, talents and hard work. In our ten years of experience in the broadcast media, our funds, competence and hard work have never been enough. In many ways Radio Maria is always poor. In spite of this, we are still able to accomplish things. It is because God continues to bless our work. That is why we continue to trust Him and one another while we offer the best of ourselves in the mission of Radio Maria.

Welcome to a challenging but certainly a promising new year!

Fr. Jay Policarpio
Director, Radio Maria Philippines
director.phi@radiomaria.org

(Hebrews 1:1-2)

For all of us involved in the work of communicating God's love through the airwaves, Christmas is a time to open ourselves to God's greatest communication to us, that is, His Son Jesus our Lord. Our accomplishments in bringing God's love to our listeners are in no way to be underestimated. But all of these pale when compared with what the true encounter with Christ can accomplish.

Let us then be vigilant with Christ's coming into our lives. He comes to us in unexpected manners. He comes to us through the manger - and everything it meaningfully represents. He comes to us through a family, just like the family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph. He comes to us also through His Word and the Sacraments.

But certainly he has already visited us in the radio and He is in the faces of our listeners, volunteers and benefactors who never fail to remind us of God's providence and goodness. To them I would like say "THANK YOU VERY MUCH!" Thank you for letting us experience the love of Christ in the flesh by your solicitude for the mission of Radio Maria. In this season of hope may you be filled with His blessings and with His peace...

A BLESSED CHRISTMAS TO ALL!

Fr. Jay M. Policarpio
Director, Radio Maria Philippines
director.phi@radiomaria.org