Spirit Catholic Radio
Southern Nebraska Register
Spirit Catholic Radio in December announced its merger with Oklahoma Catholic Broadcasting, Inc.
The Spirit Catholic Radio Network operates a 20-station network across Nebraska, reaching more than 2.3 million people in parts of eight states. It is one of the oldest EWTN affiliate networks dedicated to answering St. John Paul II’s call for a new evangelization.
After the merger, Oklahoma Catholic Broadcasting, Inc. will operate under the new name Spirit Catholic Radio Oklahoma, LLC, doing business as Oklahoma Catholic Radio Network. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of VSS Catholic Communications, Inc., operating as the Spirit Catholic Radio Network, a non-profit 501 c3 company.
As part of this transition, Jim Carroll, who served as executive director of Spirit Catholic Radio for 23 years, has been appointed interim executive director of the Oklahoma Catholic Radio Network, coordinating efforts across the state. Carroll currently serves as president of the VSS Catholic Communications Foundation and brings decades of experience in Catholic broadcasting. He has been a member of the EWTN Radio Advisory Board for more than 10 years and has helped launch more than three dozen Catholic radio stations nationwide.
“I am honored to help lead this transition,” Carroll said. “Catholic radio is a powerful tool for evangelization, and this merger will allow us to serve the faithful in Oklahoma more effectively than ever before. We are inviting all people in Oklahoma to fully live out their faith through participation in parish life and the sacraments and listen to Catholic radio to help in their faith journey.”
The VSS Catholic Communications Foundation will make a $200,000 investment in the technical infrastructure of Oklahoma Catholic Radio Network next year. Three Oklahoma staff members – two part-time and one full-time – will be hired to provide programming, production, community engagement and development initiatives throughout the Oklahoma listening area. Jeff Finnell, president and co-founder of Oklahoma Catholic Radio, will lead development initiatives and become a board member of VSS Catholic Communications, Inc. The current members of Oklahoma Catholic Radio board will become members of either the Oklahoma Development, or Community Engagement, committees.
“This merger is about more than combining resources—it’s about providing programming that transforms lives,” said Finnell. “Catholic radio should never be the best-kept secret. It’s a powerful tool for evangelization, and we want people to know it can change lives.”
The development marks a new era of planned collaboration with parishes, schools, and Catholic apostolates and ministries across the state of Oklahoma —working alongside the local bishops, priests, and Catholic leadership to shine a light on Oklahoma featuring local and national resources that build up the faith and make Catholic radio accessible and relevant to everyone.
Oklahoma Catholic Broadcasting is run by volunteers and has a network of 15 stations across the state. The Oklahoma Catholic Radio Network, an EWTN affiliate for national programming, will offer a mix of local content designed to inspire and engage, including nationally recognized programs and Bible studies, local features, community engagement and special initiatives. The merger is subject to Federal Communications Commission approval and transference of broadcast licenses.
“This merger expanding the reach and enriching the content for local Catholic radio is a blessing for the faithful in our state,” said Archbishop Paul S. Coakley of Oklahoma City. “The Oklahoma Catholic Radio Network offers us the opportunity to engage more fully in the mandate given by the Lord in his great commission to ‘Go make disciples.’”
For more information about the Oklahoma Catholic Radio Network and its mission, visit www.okcr.org. More information about Spirit Catholic Radio network is available at www.spiritcatholicradio.com.
