Bishop Larry Silva and Msgr. Terrence Watanabe will flip the switch at 1 p.m. Jan. 5 at St. Theresa Church in Kihei to launch a new Catholic radio station on Maui — KCIK AM 740, also known as Immaculate Heart Radio.
Immaculate Heart Radio is a non-profit organization of about 30 non-commercial listener-supported radio stations in five western states.
KCIK AM 740, which claims to be Hawaii’s first full-time Catholic radio station, promised in an announcement “the best in Catholic programming from around the country” as well as local programs.
“It has been a wonderful experience to bring Immaculate Heart Radio to Maui,” said its president and founder Doug Sherman in a news release. “We are entirely grateful for the support from parishioners and priests on Maui and from the diocese.”
Some of the national programs include “Celtic Connections,” “The World Over,” “Life On The Rock,” “The Choices We Face,” “Daily Mass from EWTN,” “Rosary With Father Scalon and Dana,” “Deep in Scripture,” “Faith and Family,” “Great Adventure Bible Study,” “Mother Angelica Live Classics,” “The Wisdom of Father Groeschel” and the “Divine Mercy Chaplet.”
Much of the national material originates from Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). Here are descriptions of some of the shows.
“Catholic Answers Live” is a daily call-in program about the Catholic Faith featuring leading Catholic apologists and theologians.
“Fire on Earth,” with host Peter Herbeck, examines the new evangelization through teaching, interviews and testimony.
“Register Radio,” hosted by Thom Price and Tim Drake of the National Catholic Register newspaper, discusses the events of the day in the light of the Gospel.
The weekday “Son Rise Morning Show” with Brian Patrick, live via satellite from the EWTN Chapel in Irondale, Ala., presents interviews, prayer, current news items from a Catholic perspective.
“Right Here, Right Now,” hosted by Patrick Madrid, is a daily interactive show about “things that really matter in life.”
According to Janette Parker, the station’s creative services project manager, local programming time has been offered to the bishop but it has not yet been developed.
AM 740 will reach Maui, Molokai and Lanai, and possibly parts of Oahu and the Big Island.
Msgr. Watanabe, pastor of St. Theresa, said the station is “a wonderful opportunity for us to touch the hearts and lives of the people of Maui with the love of Christ and His Word.”
“I know that our lives will be enriched by what we will be able to hear and reflect upon,” he said.
In the news release, Bishop Silva said it was a blessing to inaugurate the station on the Epiphany.
“It is the day on which the great gift of God, the gift of Jesus, God-with-us, is manifested, unwrapped, and broadcast to the wider world,” he said. “We pray that the seeds of faith sown by Immaculate Heart Radio may bear much fruit in evangelizers who take the good news of Jesus near and far.”
Parker said the station is “listener-supported … with the construction financed by local parishioners on Maui, a grant from the Hawaii Catholic Community Foundation and other existing Immaculate Heart Radio supporters.”
There will be no commercials but business sponsorships or underwriters will help finance the operation, she said.
Immaculate Heart Radio was started in Reno in 1997.
