By ANDREW HANSEN
Editor

Pope St. John Paul II said that “The very evangelization of modern culture depends to a great extent on the influence of the media." That is what Covenant Network and Relevant Radio, two Catholic radio networks that have affiliate stations in our diocese, are doing on a daily basis.

Adam Wright wakes every morning at 5:15 a.m. to host Roadmap to Heaven on Covenant Network, which is based in St. Louis. The 7-8 a.m. live show is broadcasted throughout 43 stations in 10 archdioceses/dioceses in the Midwest and south, including several cities in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. 

Wright’s show continuously features several priests from our diocese who discuss diocesan events, Catholic family life, Catholic news in our region, and Catholic theology. Wright also interviews Bishop Thomas John Paprocki every other month about diocesan, national, and international Catholic news. Wright’s show combines humor and authentic Catholicism in a fast paced, yet easy to consume way, all in effort to help you become a saint.

“Roadmap to Heaven is your ‘local’ dose of daily inspiration to strive for holiness,” Wright said. “It takes faith, perseverance, commitment, and a lot of grace to have that daily conversion and choose Christ. We feature stories about everyday Catholics who are in the same walks of life as our listeners.”

Covenant Network has several affiliates across the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. This includes 88.9 FM in Springfield, 106.3 FM in Beardstown; 95.9 FM in Carlinville; AM 1080 in Edwardsville; 91.3 FM in Effingham; 102.5 FM in Mattoon; 92.1 FM in Pittsfield; 93.7 FM in Quincy; AM 1410 in Taylorville; and 96.9 FM in Williamsville. The mission of Covenant Network is simple: evangelize the Catholic faith. 

Covenant Network itself is an affiliate of EWTN’s global Catholic radio and features other popular programming such as The Doctor is In with Dr. Ray Guarendi, Open Line (taking your faith-based questions live), Catholic Answers (apologetics and evangelization), and the praying of the rosary, among other informative and inspirational programming. 

“It never fails that we meet listeners who found answers to their questions listening to Covenant Network,” Wright said. “Whether it was something keeping them away from the faith or an impediment to growing in their faith, listeners have found the answers they needed because of the programming on Covenant Network.”

If you would like to donate to Covenant Network, you can visit OurCatholicRadio.org or call (314) 752-7000 or (877) 305-1234.  

Relevant Radio, another Catholic radio network, which has 182 affiliates nationwide, has stations in Decatur and St. Louis (which can be heard in the Metro East area of our diocese). Like Covenant Network, Bishop Paprocki is a frequent guest on Relevant Radio’s national programing, including the Patrick Madrid Show in the morning and the Drew Mariani Show in the afternoon. The rosary is also prayed nightly at 7 p.m.

WDCR, 88.9 FM and 96.5 FM in Decatur, is an affiliate of Relevant Radio. They recently celebrated 10 years of serving listeners in Macon County. 

“WDCR with the help of Relevant Radio broadcast the true word of God,” said Jim Comerford, president of the WDCR board said. “Catholic news is provided in a timely manner by members of the clergy and hosts who are up to date on Catholic teachings. If you have questions about what is said the host are available by phone or email.” 

WDCR offers a local program called Catholic and Company. Airing three times on Thursdays at 8 a.m., 5 p.m., and 10 p.m., hosts Father Chris Comerford (pastor of Ss. James and Patrick Parish in Decatur), Dave Slade, Katherine Smith, and Sharon Shilawski, highlight what is going on in the Catholic community locally and in the diocese. 

You don’t have to be in Macon County to listen. You can listen live and find archived podcasts of the shows at wdcrradio.com. You can donate to WDCR by going to wdcrradio.com or calling (217) 464-1099. 

“WDCR is a listener supported radio station,” Jim Comerford said. “The great support of our listeners has allowed us to continue to grow and to add options such as streaming to make listening convenient. Our listeners are the greatest! They go all out for us.”

Relevant Radio also has affiliates in the St. Louis area: 95.1 FM and 1380 AM (Spanish). Relevant Radio’s guiding principles include being faithful to the Magisterium and Catechism of the Catholic Church, being united to the bishops, and being under the protective intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The stories of impact Catholic radio is having on people is tremendous. Wright says that every year, they hear from multiple listeners who have fallen away from the faith, sometimes for years, because of a question or doubt that became an impediment. 

“Through God’s grace and one of our Catholic Radio bumper stickers and yard signs, they end up tuning into Covenant Network and find a solid, thorough answer to the question that kept them away,” Wright said. “These stories are usually very moving as the impediments were very difficult for these listeners.”

Jim Comerford says that when he hears someone has returned to the Catholic church after listening to WDCR, they are doing their job.  

“We have one couple who joined the church after listening and are very active members of their parish,” Comerford said. “We understand we are God’s helpers and will continue to work to let everyone know God loves them.”

Then, there is the funny story involving Father Michael Berndt, parochial vicar at St. Anthony Parish in Effingham. He said that while he was a priest in Springfield and went out for lunch, a man ran into the store and paid for his lunch after seeing Father Berndt walk inside the establishment. The man said he wanted to pay for Father Berndt’s lunch because he heard Father Berndt’s vocation story interview on Covenant Network and was grateful for his priestly vocation.  

Cutlines

Adam Wright, host of Roadmap to Heaven on Covenant Network, prepares to go LIVE in the studio based in St. Louis. Covenant Network has 10 radio station affiliates in the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois. 

Father Chris Comerford, pastor of Ss. James and Patrick Parish in Decatur, is one of the hosts of Catholic and Company on WDCR in Decatur.