Doug Sherman, left, and the Rev. Ed Benioff watch as L.A. Archbishop Jose H. Gomez flips an “on air” switch during a ceremony at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels to bless the new Catholic radio station KHJ AM930 on Immaculate Heart Radio on Nov. 17. (Christina House / For the Times)
Following a strategy Immaculate Heart Radio has used elsewhere, KHJ 930 AM will now host exclusively Catholic-theme programming. For Catholic radio in America, it is one of the biggest moves yet into a medium long dominated by evangelists.
Immaculate Heart’s purchase of KHJ underscores how an old technology such as radio still plays an important role in faith in America. Above, parishioners pray during a blessing ceremony for the station at the downtown cathedral. (Christina House / For the Times)
The Knights of Columbus enter during a ceremony at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels to bless the radio station. Members of the fraternity have put up banners in parish parking lots and passed out bumper stickers touting the station. (Christina House / For the Times)
Los Angeles Archbishop Jose H. Gomez leads the blessing ceremony of KHJ on Nov. 17. “This new station offers our Church great potential to inspire and educate people and strengthen their faith and Catholic identity,” he says. (Christina House / For the Times)
Immaculate Heart Radio paid $9.75 million to buy KHJ from a Spanish-language broadcaster. It will spend about another $300,000 on billboards and other promotions. Above, nuns attend the blessing ceremony. (Christina House / For the Times)
