DECATUR — Catholic Radio WDCR 88.9 is on the air in Decatur. Bishop Thomas John Paprocki celebrated a Mass of dedication and thanksgiving for the station May 25 at St. Mary’s Hospital Chapel, just down the hall from the station’s studio. A live broadcast of the Mass was the first broadcast on WDCR airways.
The lay-initiated project was four years in the making, and Bishop Paprocki thanked supporters who filled the chapel “for the great efforts you have already exerted in bringing Catholic radio to the Decatur area and I congratulate you on this fine achievement for the faith. The programs that will soon be heard cover a wide array of interests, from spiritual insights and catechesis to papal Masses and other liturgical celebrations. Catholic radio both lifts the heart to God and feeds the hunger of the intellect.”
Joining the bishop as concelebrants were vicar general Msgr. Carl Kemme; Decatur pastors Fathers Richard Weltin (Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Thomas the Apostle), Joseph Molloy (Holy Family), and Jeffery Grant (Ss. James and Patrick); and Father Francis Hoffman, known as “Father Rocky,” an Opus Dei priest who is executive director of Relevant Radio, talk radio for Catholic Life in Chicago, which will supply feeds to the new station.
Deacon James Ghiglione, parish life coordinator of Our Lady of the Holy Spirit, Mt. Zion, assisted at the Mass, Father Daren Zehnle was master of ceremonies and seminarian Martin Smith from Mt. Zion Parish was server. Deacon Denny Baker, at Our Lady of the Holy Spirit, was minister of Communion.
In his homily, Bishop Paprocki spoke about St. Bede the Venerable, whose feast day it was. “The Venerable Bede spent his life in the service of the Gospel and sought always to help the faithful better understand the Word of God and to encounter in it, ever more deeply, the love of God,” said Bishop Paprocki. “St. Bede’s theology is an interweaving of the Bible, liturgy and history. In short, his theology is eminently Catholic. It was to this task — of expounding the faith of Jesus Christ entrusted to the church — that he devoted himself with great zeal and joy; it is to this same task that WDCR will soon be devoted.”
After Mass, Father Rocky told supporters who recognized him from Relevant radio broadcasts, “We are happy to be here. Having an FM station is even better.”
Kevin Kast, St. Mary Hospital’s president and CEO said, “Everyone at St. Mary’s is enthusiastic about having the WDCR studio on-site. When you think about it, St. Mary’s is the logical partner for this endeavor.”
At the WDCR studio Bishop Paprocki prayed “Lord, bless this place and all who work here.”