LAWRENCE – June 1, 2015 – Father Paul O’Brien, pastor of Saint Patrick Parish in Lawrence announced today that WGUA Radio Católica 98.1 FM-LP has begun to form a team of volunteers to complete the preparations to allow the station to begin broadcasting on December 12, 2015.
Benny Espaillat, who will serve as station manager of WGUA, explained the significance of the launch date. “December 12 is the feast day of Our Lady of Guadalupe, who is the patroness of all the Americas. Many Catholics in Lawrence have a deep devotion to her and ask for her intercession daily. It is fitting to begin our new station on her feast day. We are thrilled that we were able to secure the radio call letters ‘WGUA’ in honor of her.”
WGUA Radio Católica 98.1 FM will broadcast Catholic programming in Spanish 24 hours per day, 365 days per year to the Lawrence area over the FM dial and also on its website, RadioCatolica981.org. The programming will include national and international programming from EWTN Radio Católica Mundial as well as local programs like La Voz Católica, which is celebrating its 25th year in 2015, and the Sunday Mass.
WGUA can broadcast up to 100 watts and is classified as a low-power FM station capable of reaching 5-10 miles with a clear FM signal which is a great range to cover a city the size of Lawrence.
Father O’Brien commented, “Catholic radio in Lawrence will extend the various ways that the Church cares for everyone in this community. WGUA will provide spiritual accompaniment, discuss important questions about life and faith, and provide informational programs that help all us of build a stronger community.”
He added, “St. Patrick’s has participated since the beginning in the effort to bring Catholic radio to Lawrence. Going forward, we will partner with the other parishes in our city and in neighboring towns, as well as many other Catholic organizations to make WGUA an effort of our entire Catholic community. There are many ways to get involved and we invite people to join with us in this initiative.”
Jose Rodriguez from WGUA’s leadership team indicated that Cardinal Seán O’Malley has provided strong encouragement for Catholic Radio in Lawrence.
“We wrote to Cardinal Seán in the fall of 2013 requesting his support and any assistance the Archdiocese of Boston could provide to us in applying to the FCC,” explained Rodriguez. “Cardinal Seán strongly encouraged our effort to apply for a Lawrence station and connected us with people from his office and other archdiocesan offices who helped us. He hopes to be able to celebrate Mass when we inaugurate the station later this year.”
In a letter of support from Cardinal O’Malley published on the station’s website, the Cardinal wrote, “Radio is such a wonderful medium because it reaches people at home, in the car, at work, at all hours of the day and night. Radio provides the opportunity for our Catholic community to share the message of our Church with people in all of these settings. For some they have no other contact with our community of faith. I think the launch of your apostolate is an extraordinary blessing for us. I hope that it will be a source of grace in the lives of everybody who listens to the station.”
WGUA has begun an effort to raise approximately $50,000 to fund the purchase of studio broadcast equipment, transmission equipment, promotional materials and the building of the transmission site. Gus Mendieta, another member of the station’s leadership team, commented, “We will be holding many events to raise funds to get the station on air and we are asking people in the Lawrence area that are excited about the new station to sponsor the station with a gift of $25 or more. We also would be grateful if people would help promote the station by word-of-mouth and by placing a bumper sticker on their car. We invite people to join our all-volunteer team to organize events, plan programs, stuff letters and answer phones and email. There are many ways to get involved.”
For more information about WGUA 98.1, visit its website, RadioCatolica981.org.