Catholic Spirit Radio supports traditional Catholic Teaching
We strive to reflect this in our programming. Using Mother Angelica's example, we will not air programming that does not follow the long held orthodox teachings of the Church.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q. How is Catholic Radio programming different from the other religious stations that are on the air?
A. While the programming that we offer is strictly Catholic and in accord with the Magisterium of the Church, it is designed to help all Christians, Catholics, and non-Catholics alike, understand the beauty and teachings of the Catholic Church. Much of the programming on other religious stations is music-oriented or features programs from one denomination one hour and a different one the next hour. Our programming is mostly talk. It includes the Mass and the Rosary each day plus call-in talk programs that offer listeners a chance to call in with questions about their faith or to hear the questions from other listeners. It is a great tool for evangelism.
Q. Do the stations operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week?
A. Yes, our stations operate 24 hours a day 7 days a week. We never know who will tune in or when. Nationally, there are several documented cases where people considered suicide and happened to tune into a Catholic station. They not only changed their minds about ending their lives but became active in their faith again.
Q. Do you broadcast any news programs?
A. Many of our programs contain current news items. The “Son Rise Morning Show” (5 to 7 AM), “Catholic Connection” (8 to 9 AM), and “Kresta in the Afternoon” (3 to 4 PM) all contain news segments. We carry EWTN’s News Nightly, a 30 minute up to the minute news program, each weekday evening at 8 PM and “The World Over-Live” each Thursday at 7 PM. Plus, other hours contain a 2-minute news summary at the top of the hour.
Q. Does the local Catholic Church or the Diocese of Peoria, support the stations financially?
A. Most of these entities support the efforts of Catholic Radio. Representatives of these organizations appear from time to time in our programming. However, these organizations do not contribute financially. Of the over 500 Catholic stations nationally, only a handful are owned and/or operated by the local dioceses. Like us, most of them are owned and operated by local Catholics who feel a strong need to have a Catholic presence on the local airwaves.
Q. Does Catholic Spirit Radio have plans to expand further beyond its present efforts?
A. In 2007, we began the application process for WSPI 89.5 FM. On March 9, 2011, we began broadcasting and streaming our EWTN-based signal 24 hours a day. In 2017 we added 92.5 FM to serve Metro Bloomington-Normal. On December 3, 2018, we added station WPJC 88.3 FM in Pontiac. In the summer of 2019, we began broadcasting in Lincoln, Illinois, on 97.1 FM. On December 29, 2021, we began broadcasting on 89.1 FM to the DeKalb-Sycamore area. On October 27, 2022, we added station WUON 89.3 in Morris, IL which broadcasts in Grundy County and surrounding counties. We now have a potential of over 650,000 listeners. We currently hold 8 Construction permits from the FCC to build more stations and are constantly looking for new opportunities to expand. We feel that radio is an excellent medium to help spread the message of Salvation as Jesus asked us to do.
Q. How can I help Catholic Radio?
A. There are many ways that you can help. Simply telling friends and family about the stations is beneficial as we have a minimal budget to promote the stations. Putting a bumper sticker on your vehicle can also help. It is like a mobile mini-billboard that helps us spread the word about the stations. Praying for the success of the station is also very helpful. If you can help support the station financially, we depend on listeners' and donors' generosity to keep us on the air. We have programs set up that permit you to automatically make a regular recurring monthly donation by credit or debit card or by check. Monthly gifts are wonderful; a monthly gift of $20 or $25 per month becomes $240 to $300 over just 12 months. Of course, one-time gifts of any amount are also appreciated. If you own or manage a business, you can become an underwriter, and it only costs as much as you want. You get some valuable exposure for your business or organization.
For additional information, please contact: Jon Hall jon@catholicspiritradio.com or (309) 242-4244
