Catholic radio in Spanish begins transmitting in Utah
SALT LAKE CITY — For the first time Utah has a Catholic Spanish radio station, El Sembrador, which started transmission on Oct. 22.
El Sembrador (ESNE) is a Spanish Catholic new evangelization ministry that started in 1984. The non-profit organization was legally established in 1994 in Los Angeles. It is recognized as a lay association in the Catholic Church. The ministry’s English counterpart is known as The Sower.
The radio station invited Bishop Oscar A. Solis to an Oct. 22 celebration to mark the beginning of its Utah operations.
As the bishop turned the transmission switch for the broadcast, he said, “I am sure that through this radio, God is once more showing us that he never forgets his people, and that he has put his eyes on us because he knows the specific needs of this faithful community, and through ESNE Radio he will keep comforting his people through his word, through the Holy Mass that many can experience through this medium.”
ESNE is transmitted at 1430 AM.
Bishop Solis thanked Noel Diaz, ESNE founder, his team of collaborators and, in a special way, “the people who have believed in this, and who with their support have made possible that the station is now here in our Church in Salt Lake City.”
Diaz said that the station’s mission is to bring the Good News. “This day we are witnessing God’s mercy pouring his blessings in many and different ways. I am very thankful because through 35 years of service through this apostolate, today we have achieved one more goal.”
Emphasizing that God’s mercy is always with his people, Diaz said that in the midst of the pain and suffering this year has brought to thousands of people all over the globe, “we are making history because for the first time we are transmitting a signal from Salt Lake City.”
Thanking Bishop Solis for opening the doors so the local Catholic community now can have a radio station that broadcasts the faith, Diaz said that El Sembrador is planting new seeds in Utah.
Diaz also thanked Fr. Omar Ontiveros, pastor of Saint Ann Parish, who has been part of El Sembrador for many years.
“We are very blessed that the seed of El Sembrador has been planted to keep evangelizing the many hearts and lives that need to hear the message of salvation,” Fr. Ontiveros said.
After symbolically turning the switch so that the transmission went live in Utah, Bishop Solis said, “It’s a great moment of joy and blessings for the Catholic community, especially the Hispanic community here in Utah, to have the inauguration of El Sembrador here in the state of Utah. El Sembrador is a wonderful ministry in which the new evangelization is being carried out here in Utah, so we welcome El Sembrador to the Diocese of Salt Lake City with tremendous joy and gratitude.”
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