CATHOLIC RADIO: Carroll airs only radio station in diocese with Catholic programming

By RENEE WEBB, Globe editor
August 9, 2007

CARROLL - In many parts of the Diocese of Sioux City, you can tune your radio dial to a Christian station, but for most people who live in Carroll County they have the option to listen to a station that is distinctively Catholic.

Trinity 103.1 FM, which airs Relevant Radio programming, is broadcast from a second floor office building in Carroll. The space is donated by the Knights of Columbus, Charles Carroll Council #780.

It is the only Catholic radio station located in the diocese and is one of 11 Catholic stations in the state of Iowa.

The two men who were on the application for the station are Dave Prenger and Scott Steffen. A third man on the application has since moved away from Carroll.

How it all started

Did these men just wake up one day and decide to start up a faith-based station? Not at all. Father Jim McCormick, pastor at Holy Spirit Church in Carroll, had received a letter from Relevant Radio asking if he was aware of anyone who may be interested in applying for a Catholic radio station permit.

"Then Relevant Radio called me and I said, 'I don't know what you are talking about,'" recalled Prenger. "They said it was easy - we'll do all of the work for you, just sign your names."

In any community, there are only certain frequencies that are available. Relevant Radio, the nation's largest Catholic radio network that is headquartered in Green Bay, Wis., did all of the legwork because they were looking to expand their network. They checked out which communities had available frequencies, where the best locations for towers would be and did all of the initial applications.

All Relevant Radio needed were names on the application.

The application for a Catholic radio station in Carroll was made on June 11, 2000.

"At that point we didn't have anything to do but pray," said Prenger. "Sometimes we prayed that it wouldn't happen and sometimes we prayed that it would."

More than five years later, on July 12, 2005, they received government approval. That's when the legwork really began for Prenger and Steffen and it became apparent that involvement was more than mere names on paper.

"It was our choice at that time whether or not we would act on it - go for the construction permit," noted Steffen, who added that he and Prenger agreed to move forward with the project.

At that time they formed a board, which is called St. Barnabus Educational Association. St. Barnabus, who is the patron saint of the station, was an evangelist whose feast day is June 11.

"We looked for people that knew their Catholic faith, lived their Catholic faith and were fairly Orthodox," said Steffen.

Members of the board include Mark Beardmore, Deacon Greg Sampson and Marilyn Foley.

Trinity 103.1

It was board member Foley who came up with the naming of the station Trinity to tie in with the No. 3 in the frequency 103.1.

They also wanted the stations call letters to have a religious tie. KJMJ Know Jesus Mary (and) Joseph would have been perfect, but it was taken. So they got a little creative and went with KYMJ - Know Yeshua Mary (and) Joseph. Yeshua is Hebrew for Jesus.

The station went on the air on Columbus Day in 2005.

Foley agreed to serve on the board because she felt it was a worthwhile ministry.

"It's been a blessing," she said. "I've had so many people tell me thanks."

Others have told her that they have learned a great deal about their Catholic faith through the station. Trinity, noted Foley, broadcasts "24/7."

Beardmore pointed out that he agreed to serve on the board because he has always had an interest in evangelization and yet, he acknowledged, that he isn't particularly good at it himself on a one-to-one basis.

"This is my small way to contribute to evangelization," he said.

Board members not only attend monthly meetings but they also have some hands on roles when it comes to the operation of the station. These tasks range from cutting local radio spots, creating marketing materials and even cleaning the office.

Beardmore, a member of St. Lawrence, mentioned that he has heard positive comments about Trinity 103.1 from Catholics and other Christians.

"It's nice to be able to break away from secular media," he said.

Deacon Sampson, who is president of the board, said he "jumped at the opportunity" to become involved in the station. Prior to coming to Carroll, he noted that he had spent about three years on a similar board trying to get a station started in the Diocese of Rochester, Minn.

"I have been in awe of the energy and devotion of the other board members," said the deacon, who serves at Holy Spirit Parish in Carroll.

He pointed out that the concept of low-power FM radio "is almost to order for small town Iowa."

They explained that in the initial application, it was for a Catholic radio station - so they were also approached by EWTN radio and a third option for Catholic radio was Ave Maria Radio. Relevant Radio was selected because they liked the talk format and the network's talk show hosts along with the Midwest flavor of programming.

In addition, Prenger pointed out that EWTN was offered on the Carroll cable network and some of the radio programming was the same so with Relevant Radio the Carroll area people could have more variety.

"The programming that Relevant Radio puts out is really, really good. The quality is wonderful. They have a lot of call in shows. They interview great bishops, priests and lay people from all over the country," he said.

By listening to Catholic radio, Prenger said they come to realize how little they know about their faith.

Looking to the future

With the station approaching its two-year anniversary, they agreed that things have been going well but they hope to expand programming options in the future.

First of all, they are seeking a volunteer or volunteers who could assist them with local programming to highlight some of the programs and ministries of the Carroll area Catholic churches.

Eventually, they would love to buy a satellite that would enable them to provide some EWTN Radio programming in addition to that offered by Relevant Radio.

"Judging from our donor-base, which I think represents a good cross-section of our listener demographics, we are getting a wide variety - younger, middleage and elderly, family and singles," said Beardmore.

While Catholic radio is not available in most parts of the diocese, people can still listen via the Internet. Check out relevantradio.com; EWTN.com; avemariaradio.net.

"So much had to come together. No single one thing could be removed from that chain in order to make it work," said Beardmore. "It starts from an initiative being made available. It takes two people with their hearts on fire to get some organization. It takes a donor base that is willing to participate. It takes listenership. It takes donor support, diocese support and bishop's support."

Prenger said they ran into some obstacles along the way but they knew that if the Lord wanted the station to happen then God would take care of things.

One of the reasons why Steffen wanted to get on board with the project was that he had listened to Christian radio for 20 years and after he moved back to Carroll, it was no longer available.

"With Catholic radio, if you even listen to it for a day it deepens your Catholic faith and your love for your Catholic faith. It is incredible," he said.