Domestic Church Media gala celebrates new evangelization of the airways
July 29, 2019 at 12:37 p.m.
By Christina Leslie | Staff Writer
Listeners from around the Diocese gathered to affirm the power of Catholic radio during the first annual Domestic Church Media fundraising gala Sept. 25. Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., joined WFJS co-founders Jim and Cheryl Manfredonia and about 125 others in celebrating the radio stations’ mission to spread the Good News to faithful throughout the Diocese of Trenton and beyond.
To see photo gallery on this story, click here.
Held in the Monmouth Beach Country Club, Monmouth Beach, the gala’s theme, “A joy ever new, a joy which is shared,” echoed the words of Pope Francis from his apostolic exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium” (Joy of the Gospel) in which he describes the delight of believers who work to spread the Good News of Christ.
A choral group from St. Mary School, Middletown, sang religious songs and simple hymns as station supporters mingled with the guests. Bishop O’Connell greeted the donors upon his arrival, but, much to the children’s delight, soon joined them as they regaled the room with song.
In his address, Bishop O’Connell recognized the two Eternal Word Television Network Catholic Radio stations, located on the dial at 1260 AM in Trenton and 89.3 FM in Freehold, had the mission to evangelize just as Christ’s disciples had, but in a new way for a changed world. Jesus, his truth and his Gospel have not changed, he told the room of supporters, but “you have the adaptation necessary to reach people and they need to hear about it. This is the heart of evangelization.”
Bishop O’Connell noted his monthly radio show with the Manfredonias, “The Shepherd’s Voice,” was broadcast on WFJS the First Friday of each month from 3 to 4 p.m. “It is another means of evangelization, though I think we do more laughing than preaching the joy of the Gospel, and that’s good, too.” he admitted.
Jim Manfredonia described his metamorphosis from a corporate worker for a package delivery company to the head of two radio stations created in 2008. “It’s about we as Catholics answering that Baptismal call,” the co-founder asserted, and quoted the portion of the Hail Mary prayer that beseeches the Virgin’s assistance “now and at the hour of our death.”
“Those two hours are getting closer together,” Manfredonia stated, “We have to answer for that.” Stating his mission was to “answer the call of Vatican II to have lay people evangelize, he said, “... Look what God has done. Open your heart to what the Lord is asking you to do.”
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By Christina Leslie | Staff Writer
Listeners from around the Diocese gathered to affirm the power of Catholic radio during the first annual Domestic Church Media fundraising gala Sept. 25. Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., joined WFJS co-founders Jim and Cheryl Manfredonia and about 125 others in celebrating the radio stations’ mission to spread the Good News to faithful throughout the Diocese of Trenton and beyond.
To see photo gallery on this story, click here.
Held in the Monmouth Beach Country Club, Monmouth Beach, the gala’s theme, “A joy ever new, a joy which is shared,” echoed the words of Pope Francis from his apostolic exhortation “Evangelii Gaudium” (Joy of the Gospel) in which he describes the delight of believers who work to spread the Good News of Christ.
A choral group from St. Mary School, Middletown, sang religious songs and simple hymns as station supporters mingled with the guests. Bishop O’Connell greeted the donors upon his arrival, but, much to the children’s delight, soon joined them as they regaled the room with song.
In his address, Bishop O’Connell recognized the two Eternal Word Television Network Catholic Radio stations, located on the dial at 1260 AM in Trenton and 89.3 FM in Freehold, had the mission to evangelize just as Christ’s disciples had, but in a new way for a changed world. Jesus, his truth and his Gospel have not changed, he told the room of supporters, but “you have the adaptation necessary to reach people and they need to hear about it. This is the heart of evangelization.”
Bishop O’Connell noted his monthly radio show with the Manfredonias, “The Shepherd’s Voice,” was broadcast on WFJS the First Friday of each month from 3 to 4 p.m. “It is another means of evangelization, though I think we do more laughing than preaching the joy of the Gospel, and that’s good, too.” he admitted.
Jim Manfredonia described his metamorphosis from a corporate worker for a package delivery company to the head of two radio stations created in 2008. “It’s about we as Catholics answering that Baptismal call,” the co-founder asserted, and quoted the portion of the Hail Mary prayer that beseeches the Virgin’s assistance “now and at the hour of our death.”
“Those two hours are getting closer together,” Manfredonia stated, “We have to answer for that.” Stating his mission was to “answer the call of Vatican II to have lay people evangelize, he said, “... Look what God has done. Open your heart to what the Lord is asking you to do.”
MORE TO COME