(ANS – Cochabamba) – “In all mission areas the roads are getting shorter because through the radio it is possible to meet up all day long; and so reach not only listeners’ ears but also their hearts” Fr Juan Aparicio, Delegate for Social Communication in the Province of  Bolivia declared, on the first  Radio Day, held yesterday, 13 February. “The radio has become the best way to communicate with out people.”

“In Bolivia,” – Fr Aparicio explains “we have 7 associated radio stations: ‘Radio Domenico Savio’ at Independencia; ‘Radio Don Bosco’ at Kami; ‘Radio Maria Ausiliatrice’ at Montero; ‘Radio Sariri’ at Escoma; ‘Radio salesiana’ at La Paz; ‘Radio AudioBosco’ at Sagrado Corazón and ‘Radio Ichilo’ at Yapacaní. In addition to these there are smaller radio and television operations which assist in strengthening pastoral and social work.”

“For the ‘Our Lady of Copacabana’ Province the radio has become a very efficient means of missionary work since in conjunctions with the heads of communities, in the language of each  native culture we have built up a great rapport. It is being used as a means of educations in all areas: health, catechesis, family formation, cultivation techniques, prayer, music and love for Don Bosco and Mary Help of Christians”, says Fr Aparicio.

Fr Pedro Quispe Vela, who works at Radio Kami says that “a sense of community is built up through radio, keeping them united under all circumstances: working together, literacy projects, telling the life of Don Bosco and learning how to live as Christians. By radio we Salesians enter peoples’ homes and talk to them about their difficulties, we reflect together, we amuse ourselves, we learn the Gospel and deepen our commitment as believers. Here in Kami, the whole community works with Fr Serafino Chiesa and they help each other.”

“At Radio Salesiana in La Paz,” Fr Thelian Corona, Director of the Station says, “the students from the Salesian University are real communicators, because they think of it as the cradle of thought. The students who work on producing programmes take a lot of trouble with the contents, because they know it is their responsibility to know how to guide, to communicate and to teach something new. Everything they do has to be an expression of the name of the city ‘La Paz’. Therefore all the Salesian messages are always leading towards building up peace.”

Yesterday was the first World Radio Day, and in Bolivia it was the day of communication, because, thanks to the radio the Salesians have reached the places furthest away in order to spread education and evangelisation.

Published 14/02/2012