Voice of Peter ToRot
Your Daily Spiritual Companion
Bereina 88.50 FM

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Overcoming very acute Isolation: Diocesan Radio at Bereina Diocese

"Radio is truly enabling us to have a regular evangelization and real presence among our people."
Bishop Rochus Josef Tatamai, MSC, Bereina Diocese, Papua New Guinea

Part of our diocesan mission and pastoral care is to respond in very practical, creative and effective ways to the needs of those who are isolated and very remote in the rural villages and communities. But how does one do that in a country where the literacy rate is 57% and in a region where telephones and regular electricity are a luxury, no internet access, no local Post office, no Banks, etc? By starting a small Diocesan Radio Station we have found a new way of daily evangelization of our people.

One of the greatest challenges facing our diocese are the long distances between parishes and villages and a powerful sense of isolation, of being cut off from the rest of the community. Some of the methods frequently used in dioceses in Europe, Australia and the United States, such as expanded websites, email updates and podcasts, quite simply are non-existent within the boundaries of the Bereina Diocese. So our pastoral team began searching for a creative yet practical solution. Faced with the decision between building a proper cathedral and a radio station, we managed to convert one office space so that we can run a radio station, called "Voice of Blessed Peter ToRot - Your Daily Spiritual Companion". The first antenna used was a piece of "crooked bamboo", which was then "upgraded" to a collection of 1 inch water pipes in order to reach the height of 18 meters from the ground. The latest "enhancement" is a "professional telescopic mask" installed at the top of the Bishop's house. With the help of a generator, the radio program come on air from 5pm to 10 pm, but we desperately need financial support to help to expand this project and reach more people in the rural communities. It is already "good-news" that the people of bush Mekeo, Bakoyudu and Fane could pick up the "Voice of Peter ToRot - Bereina" and feel proud to be part of the diocesan family when they can follow significant celebrations held around the parishes or coming live from Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Cathedral, Bereina.

We do "Live Radio -Every Sunday Eucharist," Catechetical Instructions, Broadcast diocesan significant Events, Parish Reports and News updates, Health and Education Talks, Testimonies from the Youth, Gospel Music and local Talents. The local listeners are now very proud to have a Daily Spiritual Companion in the medium of "Radio Voice of Peter ToRot - Bereina Diocese

Bereina District is closer to the city of Port Moresby and yet so remote and distant, thus disadvantaged in accessing the facilities and benefits of development necessary for the well-being of the population concerned. Such a FM Community Radio Station in Bereina begins to contribute towards providing an alternative means for communication and information through awareness programs in the different areas of health, education, social awareness in issues such as law and order, leadership, community building, methods of farming, fishing and self-reliant initiatives towards improving and promoting integral human development of the people.

The Radio had been very instrumental in the preparations of the Catholic population of Bereina and the eventual celebrations of its 125 anniversary of the Catholic Church's presence in the Bereina and the dioceses throughout the Southern Region. This was a very significant milestone in its history and presence with continual commitment to the people through its vital social services like health and education, infra-structure development, and ultimately the promotion of integral human development toward nation building.

Hence, the "Voice of Blessed Peter ToRot" will foster the Diocese of Bereina to prepare programs and broadcast alternative and supportive information towards education, entertainment and communications through its radio service to both the civil and Catholic population in and around the whole community and in the region. This opportunity will also provide for health awareness programs on sicknesses and diseases such as Malnutrition, Malaria, TB, HIV/AIDS, etc, as well as Education and Literacy awareness programs, Social, Environmental and Justice Issues, thus enhancing the Spiritual and Integral Human Development of the population.

In honor and tribute to the early Missionaries and their selfless commitment to the people of PNG and as a direct result of evangelization, we acknowledge in particular the heroic and outstanding life of Blessed Peter ToRot, catechist and Martyr, who was killed by the Japanese during WWII and was beatified in 1995 by Pope John Paul II, thus we have as the Call Sign is "VOICE OF BLESSED PETER TOROT - BEREINA" Your Daily Spiritual Companion!