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Published: December 17, 2007
Twenty stations in 11 years
Radio station proclaiming “an absolute faithfulness to the Holy Father and the Bishops in union with him” goes on the airwaves in the Bay Area.
At noon on Monday, Dec. 10, Immaculate Heart Radio began broadcasting in San Francisco on 1260 AM. Though already broadcasting in several California cities (including Bakersfield, Stockton, and Sacramento), Immaculate Heart Radio’s expansion to San Francisco makes it the first Catholic radio station to cover the dioceses of San Francisco, San Jose, and most of Monterey and Santa Rosa.
 A non-profit lay apostolate founded by its president Doug Sherman, Immaculate Heart Radio is dedicated to spreading “the knowledge, love and practice of the Roman Catholic Faith by means of radio.” It offers programming that is primarily catechetical in nature, but it features devotional and inspirational shows as well. Besides carrying many of EWTN’s shows, Immaculate Heart Radio features “Catholic Answers Live,” regular broadcasts of the Mass and the rosary, as well as popular priests such as Fathers John Corapi, Frank Pavone, and Mitch Pacwa.
Sherman started Immaculate Heart Radio in 1997 with his first station, KIHM, in Reno, Nevada. At that time, there were only seven full-time Catholic stations in the U.S., compared to more than 1,600 Protestant stations. Today, IHM has 20 stations in California, Nevada, and New Mexico.
In its mission statement, Immaculate Heart Radio proclaims “an absolute faithfulness to the Holy Father and the Bishops in union with him. We are bound to accurately and fully transmit the Faith as proposed by the Teaching Authority of the Church. We are specifically bound by the vehicle in which it is proposed for our time, the Catechism of the Catholic Church. We hold everything we broadcast up to the Catechism as its standard. These qualities shape our service to the faithful in the several dioceses in which we broadcast, our obedience to the bishops of those dioceses, and our assistance to local priests and religious.”
While Sherman is passionate about delivering solid Catholic programming to the faithful, he is equally determined to reach non-believers through the airwaves. “I have heard from people who told me that Immaculate Heart Radio brought them closer to God ... or back to the Church ... or back to the Sacraments ... or into the Church for the first time,” he said in a press release. “I have heard from people who have been away from the Church for twenty or thirty years ... or longer! I’ve heard from people who were on the verge of suicide ... until our programming gave them hope and a reason to live.”
Sherman’s plans include getting California’s bishops on the air. “Soon we will begin local programming, including ‘The Bishop's Hour,’ which will highlight the great work of the Church and laity in the Bay Area, and give the Bay Area bishops an opportunity to use the radio to reach their flock,” said Sherman.
Immaculate Heart Radio is listener supported, and all donations are tax deductible.
Posted Monday, December 17, 2007 7:40 AM By Lisa
This is great news but please enlighten me someone. Are there any bishops in California who are faithful to the Holy Father?
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Posted Monday, December 17, 2007 8:05 AM By Robert Lockwood
A wonderful radio station - we have been listening for years out of Quincy, CA and have been waiting for it to come to the Bay Area.
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Posted Monday, December 17, 2007 8:21 AM By Maria C
Praise God!!! I am so greatful for this new radio broadcast. May our Lord bless them and expand their horizons. I am ever so greatful for this wonderful news because it gives us hope to us who are always evangelizing the true faith in Jesus Christ! Praise be our Lord Jesus Christ!
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Posted Monday, December 17, 2007 8:36 AM By Jay
It looks like we're getting one soon in the Palm Springs area too! I can't wait. Jimmy Swaggart's show is broadcast from a local station here and it's very anti-Catholic.
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Posted Monday, December 17, 2007 11:19 AM By Ally
I don't want to sound like I am complaining because I am most grateful for any amount of air time from Immaculate Heart Radio but we could use a booster down here in the San Jose area. The signal is not very strong and we can only receive the signal during the daylight hours. I find it hard to believe that it goes as far south as Monterey.
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Posted Monday, December 17, 2007 11:21 AM By Daniel
Sounds great, the EWTN line up are the best of the best, but pray tell WHAT CALIFORNIA BISHOPS would you be talking about, you know what Mother Angelica said about the Bishops getting involved in her TV station, it was not very Christian, but it was the correct way to address it.
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Posted Monday, December 17, 2007 1:39 PM By Diane
I am very pleased that IHM radio is now broadcasting from San Francisco. I have listened asoften as possible while driving in my car which was the only way I could hear the broadcast out of Sacramento.
I hope that that portion of the program referred to as the Bishop's hour will not devolve into merely a bulletin board of parish activities as does the current Bishop Wiegand progam. However, if the program aires Bishop Neiderauer proposals and agendas using George Wesolock it won;t be much better and will just be a pandering to the Bishop.
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Posted Monday, December 17, 2007 2:13 PM By Ygnacia
Praise God!!! I pray I can reach it down here in the Diocese of Monterey, I've been hoping for a Catholic station for a long time. Now, if they only could do the same thing in Spanish, to bring the Truths of the Faith to Spanish speakers in our areas, to stop the exodus to the protestant communities...
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Posted Monday, December 17, 2007 3:57 PM By Dave N.
Great! I've enjoyed some of these programs while driving from the Bay Area to LA. On the whole, the offerings are quite excellent, however every once in awhile the programs are pretty disappointing and some healthy discernment and critical listening skills are in order. I've heard a fair amount of errors on the Johnette Benkovich show and John Martignoni show, so watch out. But by-and-large the programs are really good.
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Posted Monday, December 17, 2007 4:17 PM By John L. Sillasen
EWTN can be picked up on short wave. I have a radio I bought from them fifteen years ago. It plays all three bands, and did cost a bit. But they may still sell a small radio preset to EWTN for not much of a cost. I have not listened or watched it for a long time, but find myself continuously saying "And what is your question" to folks. For those of you who don't recall or know, that is what Mother Angelica would always say to her callers or audience members. I appreciate its simple, clear and utterly baffling humility. And it humbles me when I find myself saying those exact words. What a remarkable soul she is!!!
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Posted Monday, December 17, 2007 11:46 PM By Pax Christi
Dave N., I've never heard anything said on Johnette Benkovic's or John Martignoni's shows that would be construed as errors. Both seem to be as orthodox as they come. Are you from the Cardinal Mahony & Co. camp?
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Posted Tuesday, December 18, 2007 7:17 AM By Fr. X
In 2002, after Ave Maria Radio's attempt at a Vallejo station did not last, I presented a portfolio sent to me by Doug Sherman explaining IHM Radio request for moral support from the Priest Council of the Archdiocese of San Francisco.
I was mocked, or should I say, Mother Angelica was mocked, and I gave up trying.
My sincere gratitude to Doug Sherman and the staff and volunteers of IHM for their faith and perseverance.
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Posted Tuesday, December 18, 2007 8:16 AM By Catholic Chamber
If IHR doesn't reach your area very well, consider listening via: www.ihradio.org or www.CatholicChamber.com. And, if you want to spread the good news in the vicinity of your parish, boost the internet signal with an inexpensive FM transmitter or set up a low power FM station for around $2K. Congratulations to Doug and crew!
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Posted Tuesday, December 18, 2007 8:27 AM By Robert Lockwood
To Lisa - NO, not that I know of. California has a lot to offer but not to anyone of traditional Catholic faith.
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Posted Tuesday, December 18, 2007 11:28 AM By Elizabeth
This radio station is truly a 'GIft from God'.
I had tears in my eyes on the first day as I heard Father Corapi with his wonderful booming and traditional voice over the airwaves here in this SO LIBERAL bay area!!!!!!!
Also interesting is that after 6 years of trying to get the station in our area, it finally went on in between Our Lady of Immaculate Conception and Our Lady of Guadalupe's Feast day.
AND ALSO IT CAME ON ABOUT A WEEK AFTER A VERY LIBERAL 'GOD TALK' SHOW'S HOST WAS TAKEN OFF THE AIR AFTER BEING ON FOR DECADES ON SUNDAY MORNING ON A SUPER POWERFUL TALK SHOW STATION HERE LOCALLY. GOD IS AWESOME!
How I would like Father Corapi to be on a local program with AB Niederhauer....
That would be one interesting program.
Perhaps the AB could learn something from him and I know the AB could learn from the radio station if he will even listen to it????
I
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Posted Tuesday, December 18, 2007 2:34 PM By Andrew
I pray that Doug Sherman will open one here in the Los Angeles area soon. We need to hear the truth of our faith, not the psycho-babble and pseudo-theology of Cardinal Mahony & company. God bless you Doug and IHR.
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Posted Tuesday, December 18, 2007 4:09 PM By Pax Christi
IHR isn't broadcasting in the L.A. area? Well, that should come as no surprise considering the brouhaha of a decade ago (read all about it here: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-20067461.html). Is Mahony blocking EWTN from airing in his area? I can see why he would if that is the case. What kind of shepherding is that to allow "fuzzy" theology to confuse the flock while being a stumbling block to the clear, unmistakable teachings from the likes of Mother Angelica, Fr. Corapi, Johnette Benkovic and Fr. Corapi?
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Posted Wednesday, December 19, 2007 7:54 AM By Marcum
Bishop Vigneron of Oakland is loyal to the magisterium. He inherited a diocese full of existentialists but he is patiently doing the work of a good shepherd. There is a great parish in the diocese "St. Margaret Mary's" in Oakland, who offer the Traditional roman rite (Mass of the ages), and also the novus ordo in Latin. The community here is in unity to magisterium and the sacramental life of the church.
If you're in the area please visit
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Posted Wednesday, December 19, 2007 11:49 AM By John L. Sillasen
Good to hear. A bishop is vicar of Christ in his diocese. As the Son of Man part of the vicariate, it is obvious that some men would work closer and some further from the Son of God part. But still, the bishop is God's ruler for the diocese. Does anyone know of cases where a bishop was tossed out on his ear by a pope? Not counting Cdl Law, who might have been moved out of country to avoid prosecution, what cases does anyone know of?
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Posted Thursday, December 20, 2007 7:51 AM By cubeland mystic
I know a little about this project. IHR offers the Bishops an hour of programming each day. That is a HUGE amount of time to fill. HUGE! That is 365 hours a year. Try to create a 1 hour daily program, it would take budget, time and talent. Maybe 5 hours of preparation for 1 hour of programming 1825 hours a year to make a 1 hour program. That's a guess, but it sounds like a full time job.
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Posted Thursday, December 20, 2007 7:56 AM By cubeland mystic
IHR will not enter a diocese without an invitation from the Bishops. I am not sure but I believe that every Bishop in the listening area offered an invitation. So let's not be too hard on them. On the other hand, they are going to need help to use this hour. Some of you out there might have production skills. Volunteer to run the bishop's hour. Take your resume contact IHR and the Bishop's tell them what you want to do. If you are legit, I guarantee that IHR would welcome your help. Especially if you have the skills to product the hour of daily programming. Otherwise it will turn into a bunch of parish announcements.
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Posted Thursday, December 20, 2007 8:05 AM By cubeland mystic
I've worked with my bishop before on a charity project. One thing I noticed is everything ground to a halt because everyone was obsequiously waiting for the bishop's CONSTANT blessing for every step of the project. Please, your bishops already agreed. Go to your diocese tell them what you want to do. I am sure your will welcome someone anyone who could produce an hour of daily programming that is orthodox. But please don't wait for your diocese, they understaffed and overloaded with work. You have the authority to do this by virtue of your baptism. If you feel God's get involved, I am sure they need your help. Help your bay area dioceses unite behind your bishops by giving them this powerful gift. As long as the programming is orthodox, it can be used on the hour. If I am not being clear let me know I will explain in detail.
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Posted Sunday, January 13, 2008 5:45 PM By Maria Chang
Hallelujah!! My prayers are answered! When I moved from Reno, NV to Berkeley, CA almost two years ago, one of the things I sorely missed was Catholic radio. Finally, the Bay Area has Immaculate Heart Radio! Bless you, Doug Sherman! You will be receiving my donation in the mail. Thank you, thank you, thank you :)
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