What can you do to stay connected to the Catholic community during these days of pandemic and social distancing? Tune in to Our Lady of Perpetual Help Radio, WRXJ Catholic Radio.

Our Lady of Perpetual Help Radio airs 24/7 and gives up-to-date world news from the Vatican and relevant commentary on current events. Recently, on the Feast of St Joseph, the station interrupted the regularly scheduled program at the request of Pope Francis to join him in a worldwide rosary at 4 p.m. to ask God for mercy during the COVID-19 pandemic and to be united in one voice.

“I hope to build a sense of community and comfort to listeners during this time of isolation. I want to help combat the loneliness and sadness that some may feel from being away from their pastors,” said Donna McSoley, OLPH Radio president. “By bringing the voices of their priests back into their lives, I hope to give us all a sense of connection and a way to move forward throughout this pandemic, through the lens of the Gospel.”

She is reaching out to Vermont priests to record messages of comfort and other words of encouragement during this time of suspended public Masses. Burlington Bishop Christopher Coyne, for example, sent a recording of his letter announcing the public Mass suspension. Msgr. John McDermott, vicar general, gave permission to broadcast his first Sunday of suspended Mass TV homily.

And Father Timothy Naples, pastor of St. John Vianney Church in South Burlington, shared some encouraging reflections for those who are saddened by not attending Mass and receiving the sacraments.

The radio station airs the Stations of the Cross with Msgr. Richard Lavalley, pastor of St. Francis Xavier Church in Winooski, every Friday at noon and at 7 p.m.

“During this time that the faithful cannot receive Our Lord in Holy Communion, Father (Lance) Harlow, (rector of St. Joseph Cathedral in Burlington), sent a spiritual communion in English, French and Spanish so that all may pause and ask Jesus to give them strength at this time of sadness and uncertainty,” McSoley said. “Father Harlow is also working on other ideas to put on the air. I am here to support Bishop Coyne and all the priests that wish to get a timely message out to the flock.”

Because the station’s airwaves are limited to Chittenden County, she encourages all Vermonters outside of the listening community to stream Our Lady of Perpetual Help Radio from their computers, phones or devices so they can bring the station’s programs into their homes.

She invites priests from the Diocese of Burlington to contact her so she can add their insights, thoughts and commentary on the air.

EWTN radio will be changing its Classics programming grid to offer more opportunities for prayer during this time of Lent and pandemic, McSoley reported: “We may have a change of some of the regularly aired shows because of this.”

On the website, there is a “listen live button,” and under the mobile tab, there are instructions on how to save the “listen live button” to devices to access the station easily.

Access Our Lady of Perpetual Help Radio at wrxj1055.org.