A broadcast of archdiocesan radio takes place in the studios at the Archbishop Quigley Center, 835 N. Rush St. Radio and Television office/Chicago Catholic
On Jan. 8 the Archdiocese of Chicago’s daily radio shows will move from Relevant Radio to WNDZ 750 AM and start one hour earlier, at 8 a.m. The move comes with program changes at Relevant Radio following its merger with Immaculate Heart Radio in California. “Our new radio home is a great place on the radio dial between WGN 720 AM and WBBM 780 AM,” said Jim Disch, director of the archdiocese’s Office of Radio and Television. The archdiocese has had a regular radio presence since the early 2000s. For more than 10 years, Relevant Radio aired archdiocesan-produced shows from 9 to 10 a.m. Monday through Friday on its local Chicago stations. Outside of the Chicago area, regular national programs aired. Relevant Radio will now broadcast all national programming during weekday daytime hours. The archdiocese purchased air time on WNDZ to maintain its radio presence. “With Renew My Church and all the other things going on in the Archdiocese of Chicago, it’s an important time for us to maintain a daytime radio presence,” Disch said. “Radio is a tremendous evangelization tool that can touch thousands of people in just a few minutes.” As part of the changes, the archdiocese’s Spanish-language show will move from Saturdays on WSBC 1240 AM and WCFJ 1470 AM to Fridays on 750 AM. The archdiocese will also air a weekly, hour-long show called “Catholic Chicago” on Relevant Radio’s local stations, WNTD 950 AM and WAUR 930 AM, Saturdays at 9 a.m. that will focus on the work of its various ministries. The archdiocese’s radio ministry highlights all corners of faith in the local church, such as Catholic Charities, missions, black and Hispanic Catholic ministries, schools, family issues and news. The church must use modern communications to reach all people, Pope Francis said in his 2016 message for World Communications Day. “As sons and daughters of God, we are called to communicate with everyone, without exception. In a particular way, the church’s words and actions are all meant to convey mercy, to touch people’s hearts and to sustain them on their journey to that fullness of life which Jesus Christ was sent by the Father to bring to all,” he wrote. “Communication has the power to build bridges, to enable encounter and inclusion, and thus to enrich society. How beautiful it is when people select their words and actions with care, in the effort to avoid misunderstandings, to heal wounded memories and to build peace and harmony.” The changes in local Catholic radio will do just that. “There are really no losers in this because there’s no such thing as too much Catholic radio on the air,” Disch said. Radio shows are available online at www.archchicago.org/ radiotv