Last week Bishop John Sherrington celebrated a thanksgiving Mass for the launch of Radio Maria England’s London Studio, based at the Diocesan Rosary Shrine in Haverstock Hill, fittingly on the feast of the Archangels.
In his homily, Bishop John spoke of the way the Archangels ‘reveal aspects of the love and power of God who desires to save his people.’ Gabriel reveals God’s plan, Michael reveals his defense of the Church, and Raphael, his healing.
Together, they ‘are Christ’s angels who belong to him and carry through his will and saving plan’.
The Mass was accompanied by the Shrine’s Schola, directed by Rachael Shipard.
After the Mass, a reception took place in St Dominic’s Hall beneath the new studio which brought together Catholic leaders, radio speakers and volunteers, parish friends and representatives of London’s diverse Catholic groups and organisations. This diversity echoes the charism of Radio Maria, which exists to provide a microphone to all that is good in the Church so that it can be more widely heard.
Bishop John prayed the first decade of the evening’s live rosary on the radio, followed by a number of other guests, after which there were further song and prayer requests from the visitors.
Charles Wilson, President of Radio Maria England, said of the location of the Shrine that, ‘Our Lady has called us here. We believe that Our Lady has gifted us with Radio Maria, and what better place to be than the Rosary Shrine, in the heart of London?’
Also present was Vittorrio Viccardi, President of the Radio Maria World Family, who highlighted the importance of an English-speaking Catholic radio for the millions of listeners around the world.
Radio Maria is entirely run through the donations of listeners and the work of volunteers, many of whom were present and thanked by the new Priest Director, Fr Toby Lees OP. He spoke about the mission of Radio Maria, that it wants 'to be part of a restoration of our culture by providing something that genuinely nourishes, that genuinely raises hearts and minds to higher things, to the Person we were made for.'
Listen to Radio Maria England via their website, the Radio Maria Play App, or DAB/DAB+ in the London and Cambridge areas. It’s also possible to just ask Alexa to 'Play Radio Maria England!'
Header Photo (from left to right): Fr Toby Lees OP, Katie Smith, Fr Lawrence Lew OP, Michele Cucchi, Bishop John Sherrington, Izzy Rettke-Grover, Vittorrio Vaccardi, Fr Andreas Schaetzle and Raffaele Galati. See more photos from the event here.
