Catholic Radio Returns to Airwaves

By Eileen Dugan
The Sooner Catholic

OKLAHOMA CITY — After an absence of almost a year, Catholic radio programming has returned to the airwaves across the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City. The popular program, “Catholic Answers Live,” once again is being heard every Friday at 3 p.m. The program is broadcast on KTLR 890-AM throughout an area of 30 counties surrounding Oklahoma City.

Locally produced Catholic radio was dropped from the airwaves about a year ago when funding to continue production could not be found. Not content with this situation, Deacon Larry Sousa of St. Joseph’s parish in Norman, and Jeff Finnell, a member of St. Monica’s in Edmond, worked tirelessly to restore Catholic radio to central Oklahoma.

Finnell had just moved to Oklahoma from Kansas, transferred here by Chesapeake Energy. He and his wife, Kathy had owned a Catholic bookstore in Wichita and were thinking of starting a Catholic radio station there.

“After talking with Jeff, we decided we could do that here,” Sousa said. “We went to the archdiocese. The archbishop thought it was a great idea.”

In January, Finnell and Sousa joined forces to put together a new broadcasting  ministry, Oklahoma Catholic Broadcasting Inc. The purpose of this nonprofit (501-C3) organization “is to bring authentic Catholic programming back to the airwaves of central Oklahoma,” Sousa said.

The communication duo quickly formed a corporation, opened a bank account and chose a board of directors. In addition to Sousa and Finnell, the board includes Brian Dobry, Fred Pope, Doug Stafford, Ray Dyer, Father Shane Tharp and Father Price Oswalt.

“Father Shane currently broadcasts to    several different states on Relevant Radio, out of Wisconsin. So he has broadcast experience. Father Price and I do also. In the past, we both had programs on KTLR. Mine, on more recently, was called ‘Good News Sunday,’ about the following Sunday’s readings. His, titled ‘This Is Our Faith,’ dealt with issues from the catechism. It was on before he became a priest,” Sousa said.

Instead of asking the archbishop for funds or selling commercial time during their broadcasts, the OCB board decided to support the radio station with parish and lay donations. In August, request letters were sent to 56 parishes and 99 Catholic-owned businesses.

“Only a handful have come back. We hope that others who have not yet responded will do so in the future,” Sousa said. “Like National Public Radio, we plan to acknowledge on the air those parishes, businesses, and individuals who have helped us financially.”

“Initially, we decided not to use locally produced programming,” Sousa said. “Instead, for our first broadcast, we chose the nationally broadcast radio call program, ‘Catholic Answers Live’. This unique presentation, originating in San Diego, is a favorite with Catholics and non-Catholics, alike.”

“Catholic Answers Live” is broadcast daily to more than 100 AM and FM stations throughout the United States. People can call in questions about the Catholic Church from any where in the country. Jerry Usher acts as host, and prominent guests answer the inquiries. Archbishop Beltran has fielded questions on the program on at least one occasion. “‘Catholic Answers Live’ is like RCIA [Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults] on the airwaves,” Sousa said.

As money was pledged to the effort, Finnell contacted Mike Miller, station manager for KTLR, and bought the necessary airtime to broadcast “Catholic Answers Live” once a week. It hit the airwaves on KTLR, 890 AM, on Friday, September 8, from 3–5 p.m.

Each of the two hours of “our first broadcast was 55 minutes long, leaving five minutes for commercials. Since we don’t run commercials, we had 10 extra minutes to use any way we wanted,” Sousa said. “We decided to use the extra minutes to let people know how they could help our new ministry and to present a short piece by Brian Buettner on how ‘Catholic Answers Live’ had changed his life.”

Buettner, from Saint Mark’s parish in Norman, told the radio audience how he used to listen to “Catholic Answers Live” while attending medical school. Before listening to “Catholic Answers Live”, he did not attend Mass. Now, due to the ministry of this program, he attends Mass regularly and is seriously considering pursuing the priesthood.

“We have started broadcasting Catholic radio one day a week,” Sousa said. “When the Lord blesses us with more funding, we hope to go to five days a week. Eventually, we want to broadcast locally-produced programs and purchase a 24-hour-a-day station,” he said.

 Prayers for the success of Oklahoma Catholic Broadcasting, Inc. are always appreciated. Those with the means may also wish to contribute financially to OCB. Mail checks to: Oklahoma Catholic Broadcasting, Inc., P.O. Box 721041, Norman, Oklahoma 73070. All donations to OCB are tax deductible.