St. Gabriel Radio expanded its reach deeper into southeast Ohio when a new sister station, 106.7 FM, went on the air Wednesday, Nov. 1.
The new station, operated by St. Isidore Media, will carry all of St. Gabriel Radio’s programming.
The addition of the Athens station comes nearly five years after St. Gabriel Radio’s last expansion when it began broadcasting in January 2019 on 88.3 FM in Portsmouth.
St. Gabriel Radio, Inc., has been on the air in central Ohio since 2005 when it began broadcasting on WUCO 1270 AM in Marysville. Its signal moved to 1580 AM on Christmas Eve 2008 and then found a permanent home on the radio dial at 820 AM on Dec. 17, 2011.
“From a small station in Marysville to one of the strongest Catholic radio signals in the country, it’s just been one miracle after another,” St. Gabriel Radio executive director Bill Messerly said.
“God has been so generous to our faith community, and our local support has been so humbling to witness. This expansion is just one more ‘God surprise.’
“It was so exciting when we received a call from our friends in Athens. It’s cool to see God work through their ‘yes.’”
The Athens station came together in just six months.
In May, residents interested in bringing Catholic radio to the Athens area reached out to EWTN and St. Gabriel. Local Knights of Columbus members Brett Martz, Jeff Niese and Father Mark Moore, a chaplain for the Newman Ministry on the Ohio University (OU) campus, created the non-profit St. Isidore Media during the summer and began working to establish a tower site, licensing, equipment and programming.
In September, Hobby Radio, Inc., donated the 100-watt 106.7 FM to St. Isidore Media, and the decision was made to pick up St. Gabriel Radio programming.
Hobby Radio had gone off the air on March 31 as WEAK radio, which played obscure and oldies music, and its owner had been seeking a non-profit to take over the station. Low-power FM signals generally reach an area within a 3½-mile radius.
The Federal Communications Commission granted St. Isidore Media a license to operate under the call letters WSIB LPFM on Oct. 23, and the station began broadcasting just over a week later on All Saints Day, Nov. 1.
“My philosophy when I started this is, is that if we could help save one soul, then our work would be paid a hundredfold,” said Niese, president of St. Isidore Media. “Our OU students have really been on fire through the new group called OU Catholics. I want to help our students learn more about the Catholic faith.
“We are pleased to work with St. Gabriel Radio. We haven’t done this before, and we need their help.”
Messerly credited Greg Savoldi, St. Gabriel Radio’s engineer, for his assistance in getting the new station on the air so quickly.
“I think he probably drove down to Athens as many times as the UPS truck,” Messerly said. “His expertise and the hours and hours of time spent helping St. Isidore Media made all of this possible.”
St. Gabriel Radio’s flagship 820 AM signal extends into Athens County to Nelsonville but not as far as Athens, which is 13 miles southeast of Nelsonville.
“Now, with FM 106.7 in Athens, residents and students will receive a strong radio signal 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Messerly said. “We will be working with the local community to get the word out about the new station and involving them in our local programming.”
At the outset, some of the station breaks on 106.7 FM will be localized, and guests from the area will start to be included in St. Gabriel’s content produced in Columbus.
Father Moore was scheduled to be a guest on the Athens station’s first day on the air.
“Being a small town with a large university, Athens is truly a unique environment,” Father Moore said. “Bringing Catholic radio to this area is an excellent opportunity for evangelization, both doctrinally and spiritually.
“Having prayers and Catholic teaching broadcast on the radio is something that can help people understand and appreciate the beauty of our Catholic faith. I am grateful to God for bringing this opportunity to have a Catholic teaching, and most importantly our prayer life, available to any listener.”
Messerly said, “It’s been a blessing to get to know the leadership from St. Isidore Media. We work well together and make a good team.
“Father Matt Moore is a bundle of energy and is always smiling. Jeff Niese is down to earth and has a no-nonsense approach. I’ve come accustomed to him telling me when we are talking on the phone that he is out on his farm working.”
Athens is located in the Diocese of Steubenville, just east of the Diocese of Columbus.
“Although many central Ohioans immediately think of Ohio University when considering Athens, there are strong, generational Catholic families in the area,” Messerly said. “Many are familiar with St. Gabriel programming and have been touched by it, and they want to share it with others.”