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Archives Lake Placid couple planning to launch FM station to spread the Church’s message
Coming soon: Catholic radio station

Sept. 2, 2015

By Colleen Miner
Staff writer

Lake Placid - John and Maura Fehlner, parishioners of St. Agnes in Lake Placid and St. Brendan’s in Keene, are planning to launch Catholic radio station WCLP 98.3.

The low power FM radio station’s mission is to educate the public about the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Catholic Church through the distribution of nationally syndicated and locally produced Catholic programming.
Light of Truth, Inc. (a not-for-profit corporation established to fulfill licensing requirements for operating the station) will produce programming focusing on the teachings of the Catholic Church, parish and community activities and devotionals performed by local talent.

Broadcasts of live and pre-recorded events such as the Mass, Divine Mercy Chaplet, the rosary, lectures, sermons and musical performances will allow those unable to attend the ability to enjoy the production.

RadioThe station will promote and support local ministries such as respect life efforts, the ecumenical food pantry and thrift shop, parish nurse ministry, Women of Faith group, Men’s Forum and the Catholic school.

Survey taken
In April, a survey of Lake Placid and Keene parishioners found that Catholic news and talk radio were the most popular nationally syndicated programming. National programs may be obtained from EWTN, Relevant Radio or Immaculate Heart Radio.

For local programs, the Sunday Mass and public service announcements were the most popular. Interviews with Bishop LaValley and other clergy and representatives from lay apostolates within our diocese are also being considered.

Longtime dream
According to Maura Fehlner, her husband had the idea (for a Catholic radio station) before they met.
The Fehlners are newlyweds who met through CatholicMatch.com in 2013.

“When we met, I was living in Pennsylvanian, working as an assistant professor of Theology at DeSales University,” she said. “John was a young retiree, getting ready to enter diaconal studies and anxious to spend this new phase of life in God’s service.

“Our mutual love of the Church, theology and our shared sense of a call to evangelization were prominent factors in our attraction to each other,” she said. “When John mentioned that he was thinking about starting a radio station, my heart jumped! I also have a Master of Fine Arts degree in theater that I’ve been yearning to use somehow. This seemed like a wonderful venue that would incorporate all our dearest interests.

”John thought that the fact that his fiancee had credentials in both theology and theater was a sign from God that this radio thing was supposed to happen,” she said.

Recognizing the need
In 2013, Mr. Fehlner had stumbled across a radio ad encouraging listeners to build their own low-power FM radio station in communities that did not have access to a Catholic radio station.

He reflected on the numerous car trips through rural back roads of the Adirondacks with its intermittent radio reception.

“It was - and is - obvious that the secular world dominates the airwaves and their worldview infiltrates our psyche as we drive through their broadcast areas,” he said. “The secular message often has a subtle and sometimes overt anti-Christian slant and their high quality productions are seductive and alluring.”

Mr. Fehlner said he questioned why children so easily embrace the culture of death and defend deviant lifestyles.

“One obvious reason is that our society has kicked God out of the public square, our schools and institutions,” he said. “It’s time to take some steps to bring him back!”

Mr. Fehlner contacted the Catholic Radio Association (CRA) and the research began.  He said the process seemed daunting at first but with resources available through the CRA, encouragement from his pastor Father John Yonkovig, family and friends, he was strengthened.

“At first, I simply wanted to broadcast the nationally syndicated programs offered by EWTN but then I met my wife,” he said. “The proven nationally syndicated programming could now be combined with local productions.

“Operating a radio station was never my dream, nor my aptitude,” he said, “however, God has a tendency to select the least likely and least talented people to do His will.”

Diocesan support
The Fehlners contacted the diocesan administration with their idea.

“We received a warm welcome from Father O’Brien (episcopal vicar for administration, moderator of the curia and a lawyer) who gave us some very helpful advice about the paperwork when we were acquiring our tax exempt status and has offered to answer legal questions,” Mr. Fehlner said. “He and Bishop LaValley offered their support.”

WCLP will begin broadcasting as soon as the start-up funds are received and the equipment is installed.

“If the funding comes in, we’d like to be up and running with our national feed and some basic local programming within the year,” Mr. Fehlner said. “Eventually, locally produced shows will be available to stream online.

“Our long-term goals include negotiations for translator towers--additional stations that will re-broadcast the WCLP signal and so expand our listening area,” he said. Reaching other communities within the diocese will allow programing to those who are able to support a radio transmitter.

The Fehlners were among 80 participants who attended the national programming symposium sponsored by the CRA at Belmont Abbey College at the end of June.

“We now have a national support network that will answer just about any question that might come up,” Mr. Fehlner. “This fact, coupled with the great training we received from the formal program has really boosted our confidence.”

“So far we’ve made great progress,” Mrs. Fehlner said. “We received a few donations before we even began our official fundraising drive including $1000 Respect Life Grant from our diocese that will help fund our first locally produced series of talks on the culture of life, which, ideally, should air just prior to the 2016 March for Life in Washington.”

“We’ve also received a $500 donation from the Knights of Columbus, Saranac Lake council 599 and a couple of generous donations from parishioners,” she said.  So we're very hopeful about raising the rest of the money.”

Two fundraising events are planned for the fall. There is also a Paypal account set up for donations. The Paypal button is on the website www.lightoftruthministries.org. Private donations can be mailed to Light of Truth, P.O. Box 552, Keene Valley, NY 12943 (checks payable to “Light of Truth”). All donations are tax deductible.

“And of course we ask for prayers,” Mrs. Fehlner said.”The Holy Spirit is the real power behind anything good.”
Further information about Light of Truth Ministries may be obtained by emailing info@lightoftruthministries.org.

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