“For the passion demonstrated in the field of the media and for his dedication to communicating the Gospel in this field”: with this motivation the bishops of Switzerland have awarded Jean-Luc Ballestraz the Catholic prize for Communication 2005, now in its eleventh year. Born in Grône, second of eight children, Ballestraz suffers from a pituitary disorder that has preventing him from growing. He took a diploma in watch-making, entered business, became the director of a multimedia review, and then founded “Radio Martigny”, the first local radio station of Valais in the 1980s, now “Rhône-Fm”. Married, father of four children and now a grandfather, Ballestraz consummated his dream of religious commitment by being ordained deacon in 1997. The prize-giving ceremony will take place at Martigny on 5 October (11.00 am).
