News

Airwaves seek wings of prayer

By Patricia Kasten
Compass Associate Editor

Have you ever wanted to be on the radio?

Dreamed of reaching out and touching the lives of people you'll never see or know, miles away, or even all around the country?

Well, here's your chance. Relevant Radio is seeking prayer partners to be part of their radio shows. With stations and affiliate stations in 32 markets across the country, Relevant Radio reaches an estimated 22 million listeners with prayer, talk shows and Catholic teachings, as well as local programming and daily Mass.

As with any non-profit group, Relevant Radio needs sponsors and supporters. But as a Catholic ministry, they also want prayers. Lots of them.

"Prayer has to be the beginning, the end and the middle," said Jeannie Hannemann, senior director of mission.

So the plan is to support every radio show, every host and guest with prayer partners. Hannemann said that, before each radio broadcast, the show team prays. A new chapel - the Chapel of the Nativity - was just blessed at the main studios on Bellevue Street. Now the team can pray before the Blessed Sacrament, which was reserved there on May 15 by Bp. David Zubik.

(Another chapel is the site of daily Mass at 11:30 a.m. at the network's main headquarters on Riverside Drive in Green Bay. That Mass is taped and broadcast nationally at 8:30 p.m. CST.)

The new Chapel of the Nativity will have Eucharistic Adoration each weekday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. And this is where the prayer partners are most needed.

"What we want now," said Hannemann, "are prayer partners to spiritually adopt an aspect of Relevant Radio, especially specific radio programs, and then be in adoration, saying the rosary or some other type of prayer, during the broadcasts."

Local prayer partners would, ideally, be physically present in the Chapel of the Nativity all day long. However, other prayer partners around the country are also needed - since the ministry is nationwide.

Hannemann recounted many stories of lives changed by broadcast, personal testimonies she and the radio hosts have heard about suicides prevented or conversions taking place after listening to Relevant Radio. The network team believes prayer plays a part in these happenings.

"The testimonials of these people are humbling," said Hannemann, adding that she believes Relevant Radio is fulfilling the call of the late Pope John Paul II to a new evangelization.

"If Jesus were here now," she said, "I believe he'd be on the radio."

To learn more about becoming a prayer partner, call Hannemann at (920)431-1070, or email mission@relevantradio.com