Hello everyone! It has been a very busy time for me and, though my intentions were of the best, it has taken me longer than I’d hoped to get a post ready to go.

As you know from my previous post, I attended the Catholic Radio Association Conference held in Birmingham, AL from October 13 – 17. The event began with a tour of Radio Mountain, the home of the shortwave radio network begun by Mother Angelica back in 1994. I never cease to be amazed at the wonder of radio communication through the air waves.

The first time I visited Radio Mountain several years ago, I was awestruck. The Lord had so arranged it that as I walked outside following the tour, our radio program came on the air. As I heard my voice behind me, the engineer pointed to the laundry-line of antennae strung out between the huge towers that supported them.

The engineer pointed to them and said, “Johnnette, right now those antennae are carrying your program to Africa. And those over there? To the Pacific Rim. And those? To Europe. And those? To Australia. And behind us? To South America. Right now, you are looking at the means God is using to take your program to the world.”

Tears came to my eyes as he spoke those words. And with the tears came a memory. Years before I had been listening to an interview on the radio. It featured a man who had just come back from the mission fields. As I listened, I thanked God that He hadn’t called me to be a missionary. I didn’t think I could take the rigorous life this man was describing.

Deep down in the bottom of my heart where St. Francis de Sales says we hear the voice of God, I seemed to hear the Lord say, “Oh Johnnette, I have called you to be a missionary. Your mission field is the air waves. You will take my word to the ends of the earth.” And, on that particular starry night, as the engineer pointed to one group of antennae after another, I saw how God had fulfilled that promise.

Indeed, Radio Mountain is a very special place to me. And so are the men and women who work tirelessly on behalf of Catholic Radio. Who see in it the great possibilities evangelization can achieve. Who are willing to stay with the task when it is convenient and when it isn’t. Who risk financial security, human respect, and a whole lot more to make it happen. I am privileged to serve with them. And to be a humble recipient of their service. Let’s do all we can to support this great effort. The world needs more evangelization not less, and we all have a part to play.