Bishop Frank J. Dewane was a special guest of Relevant Radio – the largest Catholic radio network – which hosted a live national broadcast on Feb. 28, 2024, of the “Family Rosary Across America” in conjunction with Ave Maria University and Ave Maria Parish.
The special broadcast, hosted by Father Francis J. Hoffman (best known as “Father Rocky”), executive director and CEO of Relevant Radio, was intended to pray for peace and unity in our families, in our country, in the Church, as well as for peace in the Holy Land and in the Ukraine.
Bishop Dewane led the praying of the rosary, while Father Rocky described the Glorious Mysteries (used each Wednesday on the program). Those present, including leaders and students at Ave Maria University, were able to offer their prayer intentions, forgoing the usual option of taking prayer intentions from callers across the country.
Father Rocky estimates that between 50,000 and 100,000 pray the rosary in that half hour, daily at 8 p.m. (EST) on 250 AM/FM stations, with about 40,000 watching the livestream in their homes. Many of the listeners are on west coast, where it broadcasts at 5 p.m., the peak of rush hour.
“The more people praying the rosary at the same time, the more powerful the prayer,” Father Rocky said.
Bishop Dewane said it is an honor to be asked to participate and lead the praying of the rosary.
In fact, this was the third time Bishop Dewane has joined Father Rocky in the “Family Rosary Across America” broadcast. The first time was for a special joint broadcast with Archbishop Bernard Hebda, of Minneapolis – St. Paul, which took place in March 2022 from St. Isabel Parish in Sanibel. That broadcast also included an interview with the two guests. The second time occurred on Ash Wednesday, in February 2023 from Ave Maria.
Relevant Radio can be heard on 106.7 FM and 1410 AM in Fort Myers and 93.3 FM and 1660 AM in Naples and is also available online at https://relevantradio.com/.
Bishop Dewane has a monthly radio show “Witnessing Faith with Bishop Dewane,” which can be heard on Relevant Radio at 8:30 a.m. on the last Friday of each month. The next broadcast is March 29, Good Friday. Outside of the listening area, access to the program is available at https://dioceseofvenice.org/our-bishop/relevant-radio-podcasts.
