ROCKFORD–For the first time, the Hispanic Community of the Rockford Diocese can watch reflections from Bishop David Malloy in Spanish on television and social media.

The new program, “Minuto de Meditación,” joins the long-running “Top of the Morning” program in diocesan communications efforts.

Bishop Malloy has already recorded the first part of several segments of the Spanish show.

“I receive many comments from people who have watched the English ... ‘Top of the Morning,’ ” he said. “But we have long been aware of a large element of the Church, the Spanish-speaking faithful, who might find encouragement from a regular meditation.

“I hope that these first reflections will be the beginning of a series of Scriptural moments that our Hispanic Catholic community will find helpful,” he said.

 “The opportunity to partner with My Stateline media in Rockford was the right opportunity at the right time,” said Penny Wiegert, diocesan director of  communication.

“We’re also pleased to be able to reach more of our Catholics in northern Illinois through multiple media channels,” she said.

Bishop Malloy’s new “Minuto de Meditación” airs every Wednesday during the Spanish news broadcast on Rockford’s My Network TV, channel 17.2, between 5:30 and 6 p.m.

It can also be viewed on the diocesan Spanish Facebook pages, Diócesis de Rockford and Periódico El Observador; on the Twitter page, @DiocesisRockfor; and online at MyStateline.com.

The diocese also reaches out to Spanish-speaking Catholics every month in El Observador newspaper.

“Top of the Morning” airs in English on WREX-TV, channel 13 in Rockford, about 6:59 a.m. weekdays, just before the “Today” show.

WREX-TV also airs the even longer running “Catholic Mass” on Sundays at 6:30 a.m. The Mass can also be viewed online from a link at http://observer.rockforddiocese.org.

— Margarita Mendoza and Sharon Boehlefeld