My recent trip to Birmingham, Alabama turned out to be a radioactive experience. The Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) management and staff hosted their 19th annual Catholic Radio Conference that included a brief retreat at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament, a tour of EWTN’s global broadcasting facilities, and a series of invigorating talks and workshops all focused on the apostolic ministry of Catholic radio.
Participants heard a keynote delivered by Scott Hahn and participated in well-orchestrated sessions covering topics from tuning up by-laws to mission advancement and brand building.
The common thread among the many talks was truth; and answering the question, “What is the truth?” This is a question for the ages and one asked of Jesus by Pontius Pilate. It is in the process of learning the truth that we find the meaning of our lives. Yet, so few of us strive to find it.
In his talk on faith and mercy, Father Wade Menezes quoted Pope Benedict XVI who once commented, “What the world lacks today is seekers of the truth.” Pope Benedict was speaking on the topic of Catholic radio and its catalytic ability to increase the desire for truth and to enhance the faith formation process.
Other sage words quoted were from Edith Stein who said, “God is truth. Whoever seeks truth is seeking God whether they know it or not.” A more recent quote from Monsignor Charles Pope is: “Truth exists. The incarnation happened. That’s the truth!”
That said, the most compelling reason to know the truth comes from a quote from our own Catechism of the Catholic Church (#675):
“Before Christ’s second coming the Church must pass through a final trial that will shake the faith of many believers. The persecution that accompanies her pilgrimage on earth will unveil the ‘mystery of iniquity’ in the form of a religious deception offering men an apparent solution to their problems at the price of apostasy from the truth. The supreme religious deception is that of the Antichrist, a pseudo-messianism by which man glorifies himself in place of God and of his Messiah come in the flesh.”
EWTN radio provides the truth in many forms. So, too, does Relevant Radio. In the Diocese of Orange we are blessed with several programs originating from the Tower of Hope on our Christ Cathedral campus. These programs are broadcast live and made available as podcasts on our website, OCCatholic.com. Among the programs originating locally, are: Call Me Catholic with host Peggy Normandin; Trending with host Timmerie; Music from the Tower with host Dr. John Romeri; Empowered by the Spirit with host Deacon Steve Greco; Catholic Sports View with host Bob Gibson; Orange County Catholic Radio with host Rick Howick; and Father Spitzer’s Universe with hosts Fr. Robert Spitzer and EWTN’s Doug Keck.