Listening in Community: The Relevancy of Radio

Every Thursday night, Diabou Wandia and a number of women — and men — from her community gather around a radio.

They tune in to a program on Radio Djimara, broadcast from nearby in southern Senegal. The program is specifically tailored to the needs of women in the community and communities nearby. They discuss nutrition, breastfeeding, and hygiene.

After the program ends, the conversation starts.

“We listen as a community,” says Diabou. “When we listen together, we support each other, we understand better.”

In Diabou’s group they discuss how they can deal with waste as a community, or how they are starting a vegetable nursery to help with their kitchen gardens and to ensure the health of their children. They ask questions of each other, they phone in new questions to the radio station to address in the next program.

It’s a scene that is echoed in many communities across sub-Saharan Africa — though the topics of the radio programs change.

Farm Radio International is the non-profit that promotes this approach. By working with radio stations to design compelling, informative radio programs, they encourage communities to take up new practices, change attitudes and try new things — all the while knowing that the radio programs will support them as they do this.

Many ask why radio is so important, especially as the internet and smartphones grow ever more popular. For Farm Radio, the answer is evident: in rural sub-Saharan Africa, radio is widespread and inexpensive. Broadcasters speak the local language, meaning listeners get information in the language they are most comfortable in, and don’t have to be literate. Radio is also nimble — broadcasters can change the topic of the program immediately, as new events happen. Farm Radio’s partner broadcasters in Ethiopia, for example, when they learned of drought, changed the whole course of a program to directly meet the needs of farmers facing the crisis.

Radio is also interactive. Just because it’s a medium that has been around for more than 100 years, doesn’t mean it can’t adapt. Using mobile phones, even smart phones, Farm Radio works with their partner broadcasters to make sure their programs are participatory. Farmers and rural people call into the shows to ask questions; interactive voice response systems augment the programming, meaning listeners can call in and hear more tips; broadcasters can use phones to conduct polls that determine their next show.

Above all, this means that the voices that matter, those of rural people like Diabou Wandia can have a say, voice their concerns, and hear their voices amplified in a way that matters, and a way that will bring change to her own community.

Farm Radio International, alongside their partner radio stations, and stations around the world, is celebrating World Radio Day this Thursday, Feb. 13! This year’s theme is pluralism, representation and diversity. Amplifying the diverse voices of rural people like Diabou and ensuring their voices are represented on a powerful stage makes it possible to spark change across Africa and around the world.

For more information about Farm Radio International, visit them on their website at farmradio.org.

The Sisters of St. Joseph are proud supporters of Farm Radio International.

 - Submission by Tara Sprickerhoff, Farm Radio International Communications Officer

A New Lens: A New Perspective

Recently on January 23^rd I had cataract surgery and I was amazed with the new technology that allowed me to actually enjoy viewing images as the surgery was performed.  That evening with paint and brush in hand, I created a painting from this experience, titled, NEW LENS. (pictured left)

From my initial experience I saw a shining bright light with splashing water and various forms and colours merging into many-faceted images and energy extending, encircling, and blending harmoniously towards the integration of the whole.

I simply share my experience and created art which reveals parallels and invites a NEW LENS that hopes to see the connections and links in our day-to-day encounters and looks to being ONE in God's evolving design.

O GOD, OF ALL INCLUSIVE LOVE, OPEN OUR HEARTS TO THE CRY

THAT IS WELLING UP FROM OUR UNIVERSE.

"In every era, the divine imprint within life comes alive in a new way."

 - Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee, Alchemy of Light: Working with the Primal Energies of Life

-Sister Dorothy Ann Howley, csj

World Day for Consecrated Life

February 2, 2020 - World Day for Consecrated Life

There are many shapes, garbs and missions of persons committed to consecrated life, but each year on February 2 a day of prayer unfolds to celebrate this vowed way of life - a day to remember God’s continued outpouring of love. Pope Francis offers a message of inspiration, and women and men will gather in their respective chapels to give Eucharistic gratitude and to feast at the table of word and sacrament. We will sing hymns and songs about discipleship and we will remember the many varied ways we have had opportunity to work side-by-side with our sisters and brothers who profess other forms of commitment (married, single, activists, peacemakers). We are all one in the relationship of life, from the beginning of time. Together let us continue to build places of hope, compassion and mercy.

Enjoy this post from the Canadian Religious Conference

- Sister Loretta Manzara, csj

Firefighters and Cookies

Occasionally, I just wish I could turn back the clock.  Such wishful thinking was particularly acute after I inadvertently made a blunder that resulted in totally unexpected consequences.  Yesterday, I was sent a list of blog ideas for 2020.  Nothing grabbed my blogging mind during a quick scan of the topics.  Not to worry, life happens, and in an instant, it provided a topic never dreamt of in my wildest dreams.  Let me explain. Imagine this scenario – a dreary Friday afternoon, just the perfect setting to enjoy a cup of tea and a homemade cookie while reading, “A Better Man”, by Louise Penny.  Homemade Christmas cookies always taste best when you eat them freshly baked.  The one I selected had become hard and was stuck to another cookie. To soften them, I popped them into the microwave for a couple of seconds.  First mistake.  Wouldn’t you know it, suddenly the microwave began to spew greyish smoke.  As it wasn’t a lot, I opened the door to the hallway to help dissipate it. Second mistake.  The smoke gently floated through the door, and yes, you guessed it – set off the fire alarm!  You know what I mean; it’s that horrible, shrill chirping that goes on and on and wouldn’t be stilled until those imposing men, dressed in firefighter garb, appeared to check out the situation, and me, the culprit. 

In hindsight, I was stunned at how two innocuous little cookies could set off such a dramatic incident. Thankfully, it was just a bit of smoke that brought three firefighters to the scene of the crime.  Just like the man in the novel I am reading, they were efficient, kind “better men” who commiserated with me, and were grateful that nothing terrible had happened.  Yes, they did what they had to do, in such a kindly manner which helped me feel less embarrassed about the whole sorry saga.  When I caught sight of the offending cookies sitting on the counter, I quickly fetched a bag of chocolate gingerbread hearts from the cupboard.  Well, wouldn’t you know it, these firefighters loved those cookies!  There were smiles all around as my unfortunate incident ended on a happy note. 

May God bless and protect all firefighters who have such tough jobs saving people, homes, and extinguishing devastating fires such as the ones that have recently ravaged Australia. Considering what it could have been, I am grateful that this unfortunate incident turned out to be merely a tempest in a tea pot.

- Sr. Magdalena Vogt, CPS

Week of Prayer for Christian Unity

“Widen our love, good Spirit” is one of my favourite lines from J.R. Peacey’s hymn Filled with the Spirit’s Power. Perhaps you will sing it or hear it sung over the next week as we focus our prayer and conversation on Christian Unity. This annual week in January gives us a chance not to omit our concern for all peoples of faith and spirituality, but to settle into one of the pews of knowing God and seek deeper relationships. Those of us who gather as sisters and brothers in Christ, know that Christianity is only divided by the lines of separation that we humans make. As Sisters of St. Joseph we live with an underlining principle that all are one, so we keep trying to widen our tent of welcome and hospitality.

From January 18 – 25, wherever Christians gather in Canada, there will be services prepared by the Canadian Council of Churches, Canadian Centre for Ecumenism and the Prairie Centre for Ecumenism. These adapted materials from the World Council of Churches and the Pontifical Council for the Promoting of Christian Unity, this year develop the theme “They showed us unusual kindness.” (Acts 28:2) Scripture relates the story of hospitality shown by islanders to those who had been shipwrecked.

Hospitality usually entails not only reaching out to the other, but providing a safe place to listen to the life stories of each other, to share food and establish a rapport. Who will you meet this year? What gifts will you share? Will you let spirit widen your love?

https://www.weekofprayer.ca/

https://www.hymnlyrics.org/lyricsf/filled_with_the_spirits_power.html

submitted by Sr. Loretta Manzara