By Priscilla Greear, Staff Writer

ALPHARETTA—Just as St. Teresa of Avila founded convents across Europe in the 1500s and helped keep Spain Catholic, Avila Radio under her patronage has begun work to establish Catholic radio stations across America to transmit the truth of Christ.

Founded in March by Jim Duffy, former international radio marketing manager for Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), the organization is raising money to bring Catholic radio to Atlanta.

“We are dedicated to bringing Catholic radio to the greatest number of cities possible in the least amount of time,” said Duffy, president of Avila, who previously oversaw AM/FM feeds of EWTN radio programming to stations on five continents.

“Our professional consultants work with local volunteers who sacrifice their time and energy to make Catholic radio a reality. Atlanta Catholics have told us how desperately we want our own station and so I believe this will work.”

Duffy and co-founder and vice president Byrnes Lambert are based in Alpharetta. Duffy said the nonprofit has also been working with teams of volunteers in Chicago, Houston and Denver to establish Catholic radio. The Denver team is the farthest along in planning and may be on the air in a month, he said. Lambert and Duffy are trying to raise $4 million to purchase a station in Atlanta and be on the air by spring 2002.

For the venture, they held a conference, highlighting author and Catholic apologist Patrick Madrid, to help raise funds. They are planning another fund-raiser and will speak in coming months at parishes and to groups.

“We have just begun the project here in Atlanta and are currently looking to the generosity of local foundations and individual donors who can help make the project a reality,” Duffy said. “The idea is to raise all the money up front and to worry about operating expenses once we’re on the air.”

Duffy, 32, was involved in event management for the International Youth and Family Encounter held at the Georgia World Congress Center in 1999, a worldwide gathering of about 10,000 Legionaries of Christ and members of Regnum Christi, the lay apostolate associated with the order.

Lambert, who also worked with Duffy in the past, appreciates the interest shown in the archdiocese.

“The programming has already touched hundreds of lives in other cities. Atlanta is important to us. We have received an outpouring of emotional support from area Catholics who have long dreamed of an Atlanta Catholic station and we feel an obligation to help answer this call,” he said. “Even in the troubled times we’re in, people are still responding with financial support. It’s all we can do to keep up with the excitement.”

Working for EWTN, Duffy saw how many communities want to make Catholic radio a reality but need the tools and guidance. He eventually left his job to establish Avila. While there are 1,200 Christian radio stations nationally, Duffy said, there are only 41 Catholic stations, few in major markets.

“It’s exciting. At one time at EWTN I counted 160 cities with groups that wanted to start Catholic radio. It’s actually a big movement that’s nascent at this point,” he said. “We’re the new kids on the block.”

He credited Dr. Kathleen Raviele, who had been instrumental in planning this project already in Atlanta. When Avila Radio formed, they joined forces with her locally. There are now six volunteers and three part-time employees.

While the project is independent, Avila Radio received a letter of blessing from Archbishop John F. Donoghue.

“The need for Catholic communications in this archdiocese is great. I am a strong believer in Catholic communications and feel that every sincere effort to spread the good news of Jesus Christ should be recognized. I applaud your effort and the energy you have personally expended to bring Catholic radio to the Archdiocese of Atlanta,” the archbishop wrote. “I encourage people who are committed to the Catholic faith to prayerfully consider donating their time, talents and funds to this project to bring it to fruition.”

Raviele has been donating her time since 1998 when she and others began discussing feasibility issues of Catholic radio, and in 1999 formed a volunteer committee. She’s grateful for Duffy and Lambert’s commitment.

“I’m willing to help, to go and visit homes and businesses and support them with my prayers. I’ve been praying for this for a long time, probably five years. I feel this is so needed,” she said. “They’re a great group and don’t get discouraged easily, which is so important. I think this is the work of the Holy Spirit, just by the testimonies from other cities, the effect is inspiring.”

She thinks radio can be particularly effective in reaching those who might not go to church or even know about Catholicism, as they seek solace while commuting or stuck in traffic.

“It’s such a great opportunity for all people sitting in their cars. It’s such a great way to carry out the evangelization effort that the Holy Father has asked for and the archbishop has asked for. Radio is an opportunity for people to listen to Catholic programming without anyone else knowing they’re doing it.”

Duffy and Lambert expect to run the Atlanta station. They plan primarily talk radio, including national shows available through EWTN, such as Catholic Answers Live, St. Joseph Radio Presents, Scripture Matters, Living His Life Abundantly, The Carpenter’s Shop, devotionals and news from Catholic News Service. The station is projected to have a local component with weather and traffic reports, professional radio personalities and in-house professional local programming. It will work with archdiocesan parishes and community groups and the archdiocese to develop local programming through volunteers. The nonprofit status allows for pledge drives and program underwriting.

Duffy said Avila will have an ongoing partnership with all stations they support, guiding their professional and volunteer staff, providing training and tools and ensuring programs meet certain criteria.

“We want to help them run very professionally and direct their programming so that it’s both entertaining and evangelizing and gains listeners rather than turns them away.”

Atlanta is intended to be a training center for people from the other stations.

“It’s exciting that Atlanta is going to be a hub for Catholic radio,” Duffy said.

Duffy, who is married and has a daughter, holds a master’s degree in philosophy from Regina Apostolorum in Rome, Italy. He and his family recently moved and are newly attending St. Peter Chanel Church, Roswell. He is positive even as he faces the challenge of getting Catholic radio on the air.

The consumer culture “waters down” the faith, he said, but Catholic radio is a way to work within the culture and deliver the pure Gospel message. Catholic radio will augment activities in the archdiocese, strengthen the faith community and make it more effective, he said. Programs can inspire Catholics, help Catholics who do not have a personal faith and reach non-Catholics, he said.

“I’m extremely happy to be able to do this, at least on a national scale, full time . . . It will have a real impact on people’s lives, not just help them out in this life temporally but eternally. That for me is a big motivation,” he said. “There are people who basically don’t see any value in the faith. A lot of times they go to church on Sunday, but that’s about it. But once they listen to a (Catholic) channel for a while they get a fire under them and can do great things and go back to their parishes” and serve there.

Lambert, a member of the Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta, shows similar faith.

“It was a decision I had to pray about and consider for a long time, but really I just see the need for something to unify the Atlanta parishes and to provide them a tool of evangelization,” he said. “The reality of keeping food on the table is pretty scary sometimes. But I know it’s a project God wants and he’s going to make it happen.”

For information, contact Avila Radio at (770) 667-8054 or by e-mail at blambert@avilaradio.com.