"Traveling through Missouri enroute to Illinois, this summer,I happened upon a local, Catholic radio station broadcasting Raymond Arroyo's "The World Over Live". Arroyo interviews relevant guests on important cultural, political,  and religious topics. His guests on, June 27th, piqued my interest.

I had never heard of Reggie Littlejohn, but her interview with Arroyo and my subsequent research revealed her impressive credentials. She is a graduate of Yale Law School and an international rights advocate, the founder of "Womens' Rights Without Frontiers". She is internationally recognized as an expert on the One Child Policy ( now the Two Child Policy). She has testified before Congress, the European Parliament, and also the British, Irish and Canadian Parliaments. Her documented, credible work validates her position that this Chinese policy is in reality "systematic, state-sponsored violence against women."
 
In her interview she discussed the ruinous effects this social engineering has had on China, and specifically on baby girls and elderly women. Forced abortions, sterilizations, and sex-selective abortions have resulted in female gendercide. The population imbalance translates into as many as 37 million more Chinese men than women. One result is widespread sex trafficking and sexual slavery. As if that were not bad enough, those fortunate to become married couples, have another calamitous problem. As only children, they become the sole support of their elderly parents. Without siblings to share the responsibilities, the support often collapses - children abandon parents or urge the parents to commit suicide. I was astonished to hear Littlejohn cite a state department statistic that as many as 590 Chinese commit suicide, a day!
 
Another guest on the program, Damien Thompson, reminded me that China is not the only country forcing abortion upon its citizens as a social solution. Thompson is editor-in-chief of the UK's "The Catholic Herald". He described a recent judicial executive order mandating an abortion for a mentally-disabled young woman despite objection from her and her mother. The order was overturned after public outcry. Raymond Arroyo noted the judge's determination that the abortion was less traumatic than adoption. Thompson lamented the feeble response from bishops as worldwide Catholic leaders, and referenced the barbaric new abortion law in New York.
 
Littlejohn and Thompson are effectively and courageously addressing the most important and foundational issues in the world. Without Catholic radio,  I would not know them and their efforts. Their faith in action inspires me to learn more and participate."
 

"Archbishop Coakley noted it. Even the Daily Oklahoman found it newsworthy. Oklahoma Catholic Radio considered the June 29th ordination of 5 seminarians, William Banowsky, Zachary Boazman, John Herrera, Alexander Kroll, and Jerome Krug to the priesthood, this year, significant for our listeners. Consequently, on July 27th and 28th, Saturday and Sunday, OKCR will broadcast the ordination at 2 PM. Now, the actual ordination was two hours and twenty minutes. The OKCR broadcast will be 90 minutes, edited for radio listening.
While discussing the plans for airing this important event, board member Deacon Larry Sousa reflected on how the day had impacted him personally. "As these men received their Holy Orders, I thought about what a privilege it is to be a deacon. For one thing, I was right up front - You could say I had a ringside seat!"
He continued, "This was on the feast of Sts. Peter and Paul. It brought back memories of my own ordination, forty-one years ago. I find it encouraging," he concluded," that you have five young men in Oklahoma ... We can all be hopeful of the life to come in the Church, looking forward, with the next generation. It's refreshing that we have five, eager, young men dedicating their lives to Jesus Christ and His Church."
Father Macario Martinez, assistant pastor at St.Charles Borromeo Parish, was one of many brother priests in attendance to witness and support the ordination. He was gratified that so many alumni of Conception Seminary ( his alma mater ) were there to celebrate with the new priests. "Three of them graduated from Conception, so it was like a Conception reunion," enthused Father Macario.
Because you have OKCR, your local, Catholic radio station, news and events important to Oklahomans are highlighted and made accessible, like this upcoming  broadcast. It's unlikely that EWTN's global audience would consider an Oklahoma ordination with the same interest we Oklahoma Catholics would. Even if we were not able to attend the ordination at St. Mark's on June 29th, we can share in the celebration of the fulfillment of these vocations via Catholic radio on July 27th and July 28th."
 

"My Easter started with Lent. On Catholic radio, I heard a lot of explaining of the meaning of Lent, a lot of examples of Lenten practices, and a lot of exhortation to use Lent as a time to build a better relationship with Jesus. From "Catholic Answers Live" to "Living Catholic" to "Women of Grace", and many more programs, I received challenges and opportunities for Lent. In particular, as I prepared to make tuna casserole for the Lenten meal following Stations of the Cross at St. Charles, I enjoyed Father Don Wolf's nod to this practice as part of the traditional devotion in "Living Catholic."
 
On Easter Sunday, I had a grateful and joyous heart, but I pondered what resurrection meant to me if I really believed that Jesus personally paid for my sins with His passion and death. Was it freedom from sin? Transformation? If Christ ransomed me, this new life deserved more than a day's worth of consideration. Truthfully, many times my Easter celebration was Easter Sunday, not Easter Season. If I was taking my faith as seriously as the new Catholics I have heard on "The Journey Home", who leave comfortable, sometimes prominent lives in other faith traditions for Catholicism, then I had to live this Resurrection beyond one day.
 
I began to try to consciously live the Easter season in a small way. Several years ago, through Catholic radio, I learned about the Divine Mercy Chaplet. I prayed the chaplet throughout the Easter season, this year by expressing my thanks to God on each rosary bead for some specific person, circumstance, etc. in my life. I alternated by the decade, my prayers of gratitude with prayers of petition for people that needed my prayers. That has been great. There is nothing like gratitude to make you feel joy. My prayer petitions produced a bonus:  I have purpose in praying for others.
 
There is more than I can share here, but I have participated in the Easter Season. I think it is listening to Catholic radio that has prodded me to want more. Now I am all ears to re-visit Pentecost. What about you?"

One of the programs unique to Oklahoma Catholic Radio is "Around the Archdiocese ".  You won't hear it if you listen strictly to EWTN or Catholic radio via Sirius XM (TM). Listening to Oklahoma Catholic Radio is akin to shopping or eating local, and "Around the Archdiocese " is a local, audio calendar, if you will, of liturgical and community events of the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City  and the diocese of Tulsa. Fred Pope and Deacon Larry Sousa host the program, providing basic "who, what, when, where" of parish and diocesan activities and services. Groups such as Willow, Knights of Columbus, and the  Benedictine monks at St. Gregory's Abbey have all extended invitations on "Around the Archdiocese ". 
 
I want to highlight one of these events because it is sponsored by Oklahoma Catholic Radio.  Deacon Larry Sousa and Father Christopher Brashears are hosting a pilgrimage to EWTN and the Shrine of the Blessed Sacrament in Irondale Alabama. They have picked a pleasant time of year for travel, September 23 - 28, with an itinerary that feeds the soul, pays homage to the historical, and refreshes the body with a variety of recreation, including stops in Arkansas and Tennessee as part of the journey.
 
Although this trip is billed as a pilgrimage, the means of travel is a luxury motorcoach equipped with expansive touring windows, comfortable, adjustable seats, and temperature - controlled atmisphere. Deacon Larry and Father Brashears have engaged the expertise and enthusiasm of Melani Roewe / Travel Overtures, to guide them on the pilgrimage. Melani has led pilgrimages to EWTN before, so she knows what sites make the trip memorable, when to start and end the day, and how to personalize the travel experience. "I usually provide a Continental breakfast on the coach, the first day," Melani confided. "The seat next to me is my kitchen!"
 
Specific details of the trip are available at travelovertures.com or by calling (405) 293-2003. I spoke to Melani in early April and she already had close to twenty people signed up for the trip. I am writing about the trip now because after June 22nd, payment is due in full for the entire trip.
 
"Radioactive" (Deacon Larry and Fred Pope frequently use the term to describe OKCR listeners) travelers can expect electronic and social media to be part of their experience. They will be part of the live audience for an episode of "EWTN Live ".  There will also be updates and pictures on Facebook (TM), and ... on our new website which is up and running! There is lots to explore from global happenings to our own turf in Oklahoma.
Check out the easy navigation at www.okcr.org. Let me know how you like it.
 
The website is also your source for participating in the OKCR Spring Radiothon, April 30th and May 1st. The board members and other volunteers look forward to your calls, questions, donations and perspectives. We delight in the interviews from the religious community, business sponsors, and more. A spirit of gratitude rules this Spring Radiothon because generous donors at our annual benefit luncheon provided the seed money to fund our Radiothon challenge grant. If you have tuned in to a previous radiothon, you know how much fun it is to have a financial goal and share the suspense and satisfaction of achieving the financial match. Matching funds have made a significant contribution to the steady retirement of OKCR debt.