Ecumenical cooperation inspires playwright

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Ecumenical cooperation inspires playwright

Father Vic Subb, pastor of Glenmary’s Holy Family Catholic Church in Lafayette, Tenn., and Glenmary novice Matthew Solarz have prepared a weekly 10-minute radio show that promotes the Catholic Church in rural Tennessee. The show airs at 4 p.m. (CST) on Fridays, after the news.

“As missioners, we need to find ways to share our faith,” Father Vic said. “The radio show is one way. I had a program in Arkansas and many listened. I am looking forward to this new adventure in Lafayette.”

The 10-minute episodes air following the 4 p.m. announcements of obituaries, items for sale and local news on Lafayette’s WLCT 102.1 FM and WEEN 1460 AM. Father Vic and Matthew alternate as the presenter each week, and more members of the parish will be featured as the program grows. The program can also be heard via livestreaming at the station’s website.

The first show was broadcast Nov. 1 with Father Vic as the host. The show is paid programing, and each episode is based on the Gospel reading from the upcoming weekly Mass.

“It’s been a long time since I’ve worked in the news,” said Matthew, who worked as a newspaper reporter in the early 1990s. “It’s exciting to return to the media, and even more exciting to be promoting the Catholic faith. This is one of many blessings I have received as a novice in our missions, and it’s a lot of fun.”

Holy Family is Glenmary’s largest mission parish and is situated in a county where almost 80 percent of families have no church affiliation. Among local churchgoers, most are Baptist or non-denominational. Of Macon County’s 22,200 or so residents, only  about 400 are Catholic.

This story first appeared in the Winter 2017 edition of Glenmary Challenge magazine. Read the current edition of Glenmary Challenge online HERE.