Vatican Radio’s English Service for South Asia - 55 years!
The Vatican Radio started its English broadcast for South Asia in 1958, with a weekly
10-minute news transmission. Jesuit Father Thomas O’Donnell was its first Director
and the broadcast was specially made for India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. In 1964
South Asia got a boost when Pope Paul VI visited Bombay, India for the World Eucharistic
Congress from 2nd to 5th of December. Consequently, in 1965
the Indian section began a 10-minute evening broadcast in English,Hindi, Tamil and
Malayalam. Seventeen years later, in 1982 these evening broadcasts were repeated the
following morning. By 1975 the English service had become the most significant for
Vatican Radio, next to the Italian transmission. The English service for South Asia
had also grown in proportion. In 1986 Pope John Paul II visited India from January
31 to February 02. In preparation for his visit, English along with Hindi, Tamil and
Malayalam were given extra time of transmission. Starting from 7th January
1986 the English Section began broadcasting 15 minutes of feature programme every
morning. The evening programme consisted of six minutes of news only. By the end of
1986, the evening six minutes news increased to ten minutes and was repeated the following
morning. From March 25, 1990, the English programme of 15 minutes was re-broadcast
the following morning. From September 23, 1993, the English section has been transmitting
20 minutes of programs daily, repeating the evening programme the following morning.
Apart from the daily programmes there is also a live broadcast of the Holy Mass
in English on Friday and Saturday. It is meant for those who do not have a chance
to go for Mass on Sunday, such as those in the Middle East. The Friday Mass is transmitted
in the afternoon, while on Saturday Mass is broadcast in the evening. The Sunday reflections
on the liturgy and the News are aired only on Sunday morning. The 80 year jubilee
of Vatican Radio witnesses the English service for South Asia broadcasting daily afternoon
for 20 minutes, with a replica each morning. The weekly reflection on Sunday’s Liturgy
is enriched by a weekly programme on scripture, on Faith and Morals, and a Sunday
programme entitled “Focus on the Church”. Other features are the “Rights and Wrongs”
highlighting human rights issues, the “Come & See” feature illuminating happenings
in daily life, and “The Backgrounder”, providing an extensive study of the problems
of regions. Today the English section broadcasts daily. Its Monday to Saturday news
transmission focuses on papal events with particular emphasis on the Church in India,
Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Myanmar. On Sunday evening the section presents
the programme, Focus on the Church along with a short UN program on humanitarian issues. The
Wednesday General Audience of the Pope gets full coverage, providing the listeners
the voice of the Holy Father and his Apostolic Blessing. Sunday Angelus and other
important liturgical celebrations get coverage too. Vatican Radio also follows the
Pope on his pastoral visits abroad and brings to its audience a complete coverage
of his activities. In 2008 the English service for South Asia completed its Golden
Jubilee (50 years) and is now looking forward to its Diamond Jubilee in 2018. In the
past more than fifty years of its memorable service efforts have been undertaken to
reach out to a wider audience. The English section has been focussing on the regional
needs and provides them with the message of the Pope and his teachings. The News items
are posted along with other outstanding features daily on the web. Monthly news bulletins
are despatched, containing news and features. The English for Asia section is doing
its best to meet this challenge of making the voice of the Pope heard, understood
and appreciated by the people of South Asia. To achieve this end, we entrust ourselves
in the hand of God. We count on the intercession of our Blessed Mother and also the
patron of Vatican Radio, Archangel Gabriel.