When Oklahoma Catholics discover I have a connection to Oklahoma Catholic Radio, the typical response is “I love Catholic radio!” Those of you who have read the “Are You Listening?” column have heard this endorsement in some of my previous articles, primarily from my fellow Saint Charles Borromeo parishioners like Carmen Santos-Heinen, Mike Murphy and Kathleen Shannon because I see them more frequently than I see the larger
Catholic population in Oklahoma. For this column, I turned to a little broader sampling from the OKCR family of listeners. I hope you enjoy getting a peek and some insights into these folks.
Regular OKCR listeners are familiar with Novalyn Greff’s business, Merry Maids. Novalyn, a long-time business supporter of the KKNG, 97.3 FM, is a parishioner at Saint Teresa of Avila in Harrah.
“A bumper sticker led me to the station, and once I started listening, I never stopped,” Novalyn said. “Or let’s say I couldn’t stop. So many blessings have come to me by listening to Catholic radio.”
Via a virtual assistant, Novalyn tunes in throughout her hectic day, so in addition to OKCR, Novalyn listens to Catholic radio programs on Relevant Radio. On OKCR, she is partial to Father Don Wolf’s show “Living Catholic.”
Marilu Romo, from Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, started listening to Catholic radio on the two Spanish stations in Oklahoma City. Because of the limited content on those stations, Marilu began listening to 97.3 in English to learn more about her faith. I am not sure how Marilu has time to listen at all, because in addition to being a mom of eight children, she also serves in her parish as a catechist, an office assistant and in the parish Spanish RCIA program (She and her husband were the leaders for 10 years).
She attends Mass daily and is a lector. There is more, but I am already exhausted, pondering how she juggles everything. It is Father Ricardo’s preaching in “Christ is the Answer” that compels her to listen to OKCR.
“It touches my heart,” Romo said. “You feel like you know him. He loves the Lord, and you clearly understand. It is like the Holy Spirit talking to you.”
Peggy Kitchens of Woodward appreciates Catholic radio because it allows her to refocus.
“It keeps my faith alive,” she said.
She became aware of Catholic radio through her homebound friend, David Rogers.
“I had to listen because it was so important to him.”
David was a convert to Catholicism and he was convinced that Catholic radio was a key component in spreading the Gospel. He had professional experience in radio and was a HAM radio operator, so he recognized the potential radio offered.
It was David who donated the initial sum to get the Woodward station on the air. When David’s health failed, Peggy Kitchens would visit him in the nursing home.
“I had to listen to Catholic radio because David would always ask me about the station,” Kitchens said.
David has since died, but Peggy faithfully listens. She did not hesitate when I asked if she had a favorite program.
“‘More to Life’ with Greg and Lisa Popcak. The Popcaks help me answer people’s questions,” she said. “I have learned (from them) to accept people where they are at.”
Putting the spotlight on these members of the OKCR family was akin to perusing a family photo album. Tidbits about the value of Catholic radio emerged from each person I interviewed.
Partnering with Spanish-speaking Oklahomans for support to develop local programming must become a priority. Hearing about David Rogers and his devotion to establishing the station in Woodward made me realize the crucial role Catholic radio plays in the lives of those who are confined to their homes by illness, or disability or age.
Novalyn Greff’s virtual assistant is a reminder that technology is a tool that allows us to deliver God’s Word in ways that were never dreamed of when radio was first conceived. Help me uncover more about our OKCR family, so we can continue to appreciate Catholic radio in Oklahoma