BELMONT— Nearly a year after the Carolina Catholic Radio Network launched its first “test site” in Salisbury, the radio network is ready to move forward with contracts on three radio stations by Ash Wednesday.
The three new stations, part of five total new stations planned to cover 90 percent of the Catholics in the diocese, would broadcast along 150 miles of I-40 from Morganton to Burlington, said David Papandrea, who serves as a “media missionary” for EWTN in the area.
In order for the “highway to heaven” to start broadcasting EWTN and local Catholic programing, the CCRN needs more financial support. Papandrea said they’ve received a generous donation to serve as the base, but they are still in need of businesses to sponsor these stations.
These three stations would provide Catholic radio to parishioners of more than 30 parishes in the diocese, Papandrea said.
The CCRN was created last year and the network has one station on the air: Belmont Abbey College’s WBAC-LPFM 101.5. The college launched its FM station last February. The test station in Salisbury was on the air for nearly six months. It went dark in the fall.
Donations can be made online at www.CarolinaCatholicRadio.org or by mail to Carolina Catholic Radio Network, P.O. Box 1148, Clemmons, NC 27012-1148.
For more information or sponsorship opportunities, contact David Papandrea at 704-880-0260 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
— Kimberly Bender, online reporter