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Evangelization Through the Immaculate

From its modest beginnings with those two grains of wheat, (i.e. the Founders of the Franciscans of the Immaculate) the growth of the Casa Mariana has been so great as to amaze everyone who has heard about it. Besides the numerous vocations (which are in the hundreds at present) the little “Marian House” has flourished with apostolic works which would be unthinkable if one were to follow the criterion of human logic and possibility.

The care of shrines, the help given to parish priests near and far, the publication of Catholic literature to be widely diffused in Italy and other countries, the radio apostolate, the television apostolate – this was, and still is, the activity of the various communities spread worldwide, working tirelessly to further the “Mission of the Immaculate,” which is the work of evangelization “through the Immaculate” reaching millions of people who are in need of the Word of life.

Mass Media

It should be noted that the missionary zeal of the Franciscans of the Immaculate, particularly in regard to the mass media, is a legacy of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, who longed to “wrap the globe in Marian publications.”

Publishing House

It might be surprising to discover that in a small Italian mountain-top town (Frigento, Avellino) there’s a Marian press that produces and distributes hundreds of thousands of books and booklets, pamphlets and magazines, not only throughout Italy but also abroad. The sisters are the editorial staff of a weekly magazine called "Il Settimanale di Padre Pio" (The Weekly of Padre Pio) and of a bi-monthly magazine "Missio Immaculatæ International," the latter being in Italian as well as in English. Besides this, they prepare other publications of the Marian Press in Italy, including, among others, the "Annales Francescani," an annual publication on Franciscan Study (History, Theology and spirituality); and "Immaculata Mediatrix," a tri-monthly international review on Marian Theology. There are also other small magazines: "In Communion", which is only for our Family of the Franciscans of the Immaculate (Friars, Sisters, Poor Clares and those laity who are members of the MIM), and another magazine only for the members of the MIM. The sisters produce a seasonal missalette throughout Italy, called "La Mia Messa" (My Mass), printing about 35,000 copies. This missalette is very much appreciated and requested because it is the most complete: it contains the readings of the Mass for every day, a maxim from the saints and a little resolution for every day, as well as a short biography of the saint of the day. It is the sisters who edit all the printing material for our publications. In 1992 another publishing house, “the Academy of the Immaculate,” opened in the United States. Books published by these two publishing houses have been translated in various parts of the world into English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Filipino, Romanian, Korean, Polish, and still other languages, all with efficiency and professionalism, to the praise and glory of God and for the salvation of souls.

Since 2008, our cloistered Franciscan sisters of the Immaculate have begun to produce "De Vita Contemplativa" both in Italian and English. It is sent worldwide to the diverse monasteries and abbies of monks and nuns and is very greatly appreciated and esteemed being the only one of it's kind in existence.

T.V.

The sisters in Italy also manage and direct the radio station (short waves and on satellite) dedicated to Our Lady of Good Counsel (Teleradio Buon Consiglio), while the friars direct the TV station.

Radio

There are also radio stations in the U.S., the Philippines, Brazil, and Benin (Africa). On March 25, 2011, solemnity of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Franciscan Friars of the Immaculate officially launched the first Catholic Radio station in New Bedford, MA (Radio Cormariæ 88.5 FM ). The Friars in Maine, NY have a smaller station up and running (Holy Virgin Mary Radio Station 91.9 FM), while in Bloomington, IN, the friars have received the necessary permits and are working towards raising the necessary funds to get a radio station started there, as well. The friars in Griswold, CT have also been working on a “VLOG” website since 2006, with great success. This is a new Internet-based television initiative called airmaria.com, and the main focus is Marian and Franciscan programming, as one might expect from the Franciscans of the Immaculate, with programs of more general Catholic interest as well. The sisters make themselves available to help with programs for the radio.

Note: All radio stations depend completely on the donations of benefactors, which will determine the speediness of when these much needed Marian radio stations can be officially up and running.