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Catholic
radio in our area
PRAISED BE JESUS
CHRIST!
(Now and Forever)
The modern media (radio, TV, movies and the Internet) can be used for a
variety of purposes. Unfortunately, many of them are not very helpful to
us on our journey to eternal salvation. Most are familiar with some of
the questionable programming that is presented as entertainment today.
Some of the “reality shows” on television present a twisted idea of
“reality” as it should be for today’s Catholic families. Some of the
lyrics in what passes for music certainly do not lead young people in a
positive direction. If we are not careful, our choices in the movies we
see and what Internet sites we visit can have a harmful effect on our
spiritual life.
My column this week is not to condemn the modern media, but rather to
highlight some of the new and very positive things that are going on in
the media today. The duty of the followers of Jesus to spread the Word
of God and his message of salvation didn’t end in ancient biblical
times. It is not limited to missionary work in foreign countries either.
The late Pope John Paul II coined the phrase “The New Evangelism.”
Basically, it refers to using modern media (radio, TV, movies and the
Internet) to fulfill Jesus’ command to spread his word to all nations,
even in the high-tech, very secular world in which we live.
In “Ecclesia in America” (“The Church in America”), Pope John
Paul II said, “Radio offers perhaps the closest equivalent to what Jesus
was able to do with large crowds of people through his preaching. Radio
is an intimate medium … and may well be the most effective means of
reaching large numbers of people.”
For the past two years, parts of our diocese have been blessed with a
24-hour-a-day Catholic radio station: Catholic Radio 89.1 FM. That
station has recently made some changes that affect its coverage area. It
has added equipment to make its on-the-air signal louder and clearer.
Unfortunately, in our Local Church reception is pretty much limited to
the Carmel Deanery, although now and then it is picked up in
Crawfordsville and other areas.
Recently, however, the station has begun “streaming” its signal on the
Internet. I do not claim to be a technical expert of any kind, but I am
told that anyone who has a computer can now hear the station loud and
clear in their home or office, regardless of where they live or work,
just by visiting the station’s Web site (www.catholicradioindy.org).
There is also 24-hour-a-day Catholic programming in Spanish available at
that same site.
As a practicing Catholic, in this modern era, it is not uncommon to have
thoughts such as: “Am I the only Catholic who believes the things I
do?,” “Just what is the Church’s position on a particular issue?” or
“How can I explain my beliefs to my friends?”
Catholic Radio 89.1 FM features many daily programs that help people
wrestle with these questions and other issues.
Some of its programs, such as “Catholic Answers” (6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Monday through Friday) are very much “apologetics” driven. That is, in
response to questions called in by listeners, the host takes a look at
not only what the Church teaches on a particular subject, but why.
Apologetics demonstrates the reasons behind each of the beliefs and
traces the roots back to the very beginning of the Church.
Catholic Radio 89.1 FM also broadcasts Mass twice daily, at 8 a.m. and
at noon. The rosary is prayed with listeners at 7:30 a.m. and 11 p.m.,
and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy daily at 4 p.m. Plus, there are programs
especially for young adults such as “Life on the Rock,” which airs
Thursday evenings at 8 p.m. There are also special programs for even
younger people, such as “Adventures in Odyssey” at 3:30 p.m. Saturdays.
A locally produced program titled “Faith in Action” focuses on local
people and organizations. A recent program featured two seminarians from
our diocese. Other topics have included such things as The O’Connor
House and the Catholic Professional and Business Club. Brigid Curtis
Ayer, a regular contributor to The Catholic Moment, and Eric
Murzyn, both members of the Lafayette Diocese, are co-hosts of the
program. They welcome ideas for show topics and guests.
Catholic Radio 89.1 FM came to our area about two and a half years ago.
Several years before that, a group headed by local businessman Bob
Teipen, his wife, Sharon, and several others diligently searched for a
way to bring Catholic radio to the area. They looked into putting a new
station on the air but found, because of Federal Communications
Commission rules, all of the frequencies that can be used in the area
were already taken. They looked at buying an existing station, but found
prices to be many millions of dollars, which was beyond their budget.
They eventually decided to lease the station that they currently use.
The lease is expensive.
Inter Mirifica, Inc., the non-profit corporation that controls Catholic
Radio 89.1 FM, hopes to be able to purchase the station in the near
future. That will take close to $2 million. They are actively seeking
help from individuals and organizations that may be able to help them
with this purchase.
Nationally, Catholic radio is still in its infancy. Overall, there are
about 15,000 AM and FM stations in the United States. About 1,500 of
these are religious stations of one sort or another. Only about 100
stations in the entire country are Catholic stations. Many of them are
low-power stations located outside major markets. Our area is blessed to
have a full-time FM Catholic station.
Catholic Radio 89.1 FM has enjoyed positive results since coming on the
air. I’m told that there are currently two young men who have entered
the seminary partly because of things that they heard on the station.
There are a number of new converts to the faith who have said Catholic
radio was instrumental in their decision to join the Church. There are
also many, many Catholics who report that their faith has been
strengthened and enriched by programming on the station.
Catholic Radio 89.1 FM runs a very frugal operation. With the exception
of the station lease, their expenses to keep the station on the air 24
hours a day are modest. They operate with only one full-time and one
part-time employee. Jim Ganley, a veteran with 40 years of experience in
the radio business, handles all of the day-to-day operations of the
station. M.J. Krauter handles the office and bookkeeping chores on a
part-time basis. Both employees are members of Holy Spirit Parish at
Geist.
Right now, the station struggles financially. It depends on
contributions from listeners and supporters as well as a small amount of
underwriting from area businesses. Future plans for the operation could
include purchasing additional stations in other areas of the state,
possibly including Lafayette.
In its Decree on the Means of Social Communications, the Second Vatican
Council said: “An effort should be made to set up Catholic stations …
Catholic programs should be promoted in which listeners can be brought
to share in the life of the Church and learn religious truths.”
Catholic Radio 89.1 FM is such a station and does promote such programs.
I would encourage you to support the station however you can. If you
live in the Carmel Deanery, you may be able to listen to the station on
the air at 89.1 on your FM radio. If you live outside of that area, you
can still hear their programming on your computer at
www.catholicradioindy.org. And regardless of where you live you can help
the station by keeping it in your prayers. |
