As a new day unfolds, a familiar sound begins to play on the airwaves.
A soulful hymn rises first—gentle, reflective, unmistakably Jesuit. In another home, a conversation begins: a Jesuit priest speaks at length about faith, conscience, and the challenges of public life. For years, these moments have lived quietly on the radio waves of Radyo Katipunan 87.9 FM.
In 2026, a new beginning awaits on a new screen.
Starting on the second week of March, two of #OneBigFM’s long-running programs—JMM Radio and The Jesuit Hour—will begin airing on TV Maria, bringing the station’s distinctive blend of reflection, music, and dialogue from the radio booth to television audiences nationwide. The announcement was made on March 1st through Radyo Katipunan’s official Facebook page.
The schedule is set: The Jesuit Hour airs Thursdays at 10:30 a.m. and 9 p.m., while JMM Radio airs Mondays at 10:30 a.m. and 9 p.m. Viewers can watch TV Maria on free TV, Sky Cable Channel 210, and through its digital platforms.
For both programs, the transition marks a new chapter in a story that began in February 2018, when Radyo Katipunan made its soft launch as Ateneo de Manila University’s campus-community station, a joint initiative of the university and Jesuit Communications (JesCom).
Hosted by JesCom Executive Director Fr. Emmanuel “Nono” Alfonso, SJ, The Jesuit Hour has become a steady space for thoughtful conversations grounded in Ignatian spirituality. A veteran broadcaster from Radyo Veritas 846 and former host of Usapang Kapatid on DZMM Teleradyo, Fr. Nono invites Jesuit priests, religious, and lay leaders to reflect on faith, public life, and the call to Magis and Cura Personalis.
Under Fr. Nono’s nearly two decades of leadership, JesCom has expanded its presence across film, digital media, and radio, consistently advancing its mission of media evangelization. Bringing The Jesuit Hour to television extends that same effort—forming conscience and encouraging thoughtful dialogue through a wider lens.
If The Jesuit Hour offers reflection, JMM Radio offers uplifting song.
Inspired by the pioneering legacy of Fr. Eduardo Hontiveros, SJ, the program serves as the official broadcast platform of the Jesuit Music Ministry. Hosted by Lester Mendiola, Rey Malipot, and Patricia Morato, JMM Radio blends original Jesuit Music Ministry hymns with interpretation and commentary. Over eight years on the air, it has become a weekly companion for listeners seeking prayerful music and meaning. The program marked its eighth anniversary on Feb. 21st.
This expansion follows Radyo Katipunan’s seventh anniversary in 2025, celebrated under the theme “S7REAMING BEYOND”—a call to extend the station’s mission of education, engagement, and evangelization beyond Loyola Heights and into new frontiers.
Since its founding, Radyo Katipunan has broadcast daily Masses through Keep the Faith, covered major national events, and hosted voices from across the Church and society. The station has grown into a platform for formation and dialogue, serving not only the Ateneo community but also Filipinos here and abroad.
TV Maria, owned by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines and managed by the Archdiocese of Manila, was established to serve as the Filipino Catholic television channel.
Its aim—to lead viewers toward the fullness of life—closely aligns with JesCom’s own mandate.
From radio to television, the format may slightly change. Yet, the greater mission firmly remains.
For JesCom, this exciting development is not simply about reaching a larger audience. It is about widening the invitation—into deeper reflection, shared song, and meaningful conversation in more homes and hearts.
AMDG
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