Accompanied by some revisions, the long-running Family Rosary for Peace has returned to early-evening radio after a two-week hiatus.
The show went back on the air July 16 on Rochester’s WHIC 1460-AM, formerly Christian-format WWWG. It is being broadcast four evenings per week with an air time of 7 p.m., slightly later than its former slot of 6:30.
Although tapes of the late Msgr. Joseph Cirrincione’s program have continued airing seven days per week on two other Rochester stations — 9:30 p.m. on WLGZ 990-AM and 5 a.m. on WDCZ 102.7-FM — followers of the show apparently felt a void in the early evening, where Family Rosary for Peace has run continuously since its inception in 1950.
“A lot of listeners had called and contacted us, saying ‘I miss Msgr. Cirrincione.’ We certainly took those comments into serious consideration,” said William Purcell, general manager of Buffalo’s Holy Family Communications, which acquired WHIC on July 1. “Catholic devotions are important to us, and obviously a tradition with such local impact is something important to continue.”
“Many people were calling us and the diocese,” added Father Paul Tomasso, director of Family Rosary for Peace. “We’re very happy that it’s back. We’re working with (WHIC) in order to continue it as the great tradition it is.”
Family Rosary for Peace had previously aired seven days per week on WWWG but is only running on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday on WHIC. However, Purcell emphasized that WHIC — the first all-Catholic radio station in Rochester — has greatly increased the overall offering of rosaries on 1460-AM. Nationally produced rosaries air seven days per week at 11 p.m., as well as Monday through Friday at 10:30 a.m. The Thursday 7 p.m. slot features a Buffalo-based rosary show with the Luminous Mysteries.
Purcell said copies of the Family Rosary for Peace have been edited for better quality and transferred from audio to compact disc to enhance preservation. Unfortunately, Purcell said, evening prayer by Msgr. Cirrincione that followed the rosaries are in such poor shape that they’re being replaced on the WHIC broadcasts by different prayers.
The time switch on WHIC from 6:30 to 7 p.m., Purcell explained, is due to a time conflict with Catholic Answers, a live syndicated call-in show that runs from 6 to 7 p.m. that is Holy Family Communications’ most popular program.
Family Rosary for Peace has aired on 1460-AM since 1979, when WWWG acquired the program following a 29-year run on WSAY 1240-AM. WSAY and WWWG have served as the program’s flagship stations; many other radio outlets across the Rochester Diocese have also carried the show in the past. In recent years tapes of the show were run after Msgr. Cirrincione’s failing health prevented him from doing live broadcasts. Msgr. Cirrincione, who died in November 2002, served as the show’s director from its founding until 1998, when Father Tomasso became director.
WHIC, a 5,000-watt station, offers national Catholic programs, devotionals and Masses. Locally generated programming is also expected to increase as the station takes root. Purcell said station management has, thus far, received “tremendously positive feedback from the community — a number of phone calls and e-mails. People are truly glad to have Catholic radio in Rochester.”
Purcell invites listener feedback by calling 877/888-6279, or e-mailing info@holyfamily.ws.
Copyright © 2023 Rochester Catholic Press Association, Inc. All rights reserved. Linking is encouraged, but republishing or redistributing, including by framing or similar means, without the publisher's prior written permission is prohibited.
