Posted on October 21, 2012
Jim and Cheryl Manfredonia of the Fairless Hills section of Bristol Township have been spreading orthodox Catholicism over the radio airwaves since 2003.
Their work in reaching out to audiences in Bucks County and New Jersey via their Trenton-based radio stations has earned the attention of Pope Benedict XVI in Rome.
The couple was awarded the Benemerenti Medal, which was instituted in 1832 by Pope Gregory XVI to honor those with long-term and exceptional service to the Catholic Church, their families and the community.
The honor was presented to them Oct. 14 by Bishop David M. O’Connell of Trenton at the closing Mass of the diocese’s Eucharistic Congress.
“We are very humbled by the honor,” said Jim Manfredonia. “It is our calling and that is why we do it.”
The Manfredonias spread the word of the Gospel to as many people as radio waves will allow them.
The Manfredonias founded Domestic Church Media in 2003, which owns and operates two radio stations, WFJS 1260-AM in Trenton and WFJS 89.3-FM in Freehold, N.J.
The stations air orthodox Catholicism and are the only two full-time Catholic radio stations in the state, according to Manfredonia.
WFJS is picked up in parts of Bucks County and the station recently received FCC permission to expand its reach to parts of Northeast Philadelphia, Montgomery and Bucks counties as an affiliate of The Global Catholic Network, EWTN.
Jim Manfredonia, who never previously worked in radio, has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Seton Hall University in South Orange, N.J.
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