Going the Distance - Patrick Madrid

New Adventures in Hi-Fi
Envoy debuts its new radio show, "Right Here, Right Now."

The airwaves are heating up as Catholic apostolates are launching new radio programs left and right. Envoy Magazine won't be left behind. In a few weeks we'll unveil "Right Here, Right Now," our new radio magazine.

Our own Zoë Romanowsky, the show's producer, and Brian Paul, her snappy on-air partner, have spearheaded the scripting, recording, and producing of the first 13 one-hour shows. And believe me, folks, these shows are really, really good. But don't take my word for it. In early 1999, "Right Here, Right Now" will begin airing on about a dozen Catholic radio stations (AM and FM) around the country. Soon, you'll be able to get program information at our Web site. And as soon as the shows begin to air around the country, we'll archive them at our Web site, so you'll be able to listen over the Internet, anytime you want. Soon we'll provide you with a complete list of stations that carry the show. Please stay tuned.

As for the show's format, we've designed "Right Here, Right Now" to be the audio version of Envoy magazine: lots of crisp apologetics and evangelization material, catchy bumper music, interviews with top Catholic apologists, writers, and leaders. In a word, "Right Here, Right Now" will be fun and faith-building (all right that was three words, but you get the idea).

There's an added benefit to the show's mission of bringing Christ to the world. It will help drive subscriptions to Envoy upward. Please join me in praying that Envoy Magazine and its radio evangelism outreach will accomplish effectively the work Christ has given us.

CHIPs (Catholics Have Interesting Prospects for Sharing)
No, I'm not talking about a Catholic version of motorcycle cops "Ponch" Poncha-relo and Jon Baker. I'm talking about a potential challenge for Catholic evangelization. That's right, the Y2K problem looms just over the horizon, mere months away. Many Catholics are looking beyond their own personal welfare and are wondering what it could mean for the future of the Church. In this issue, computer engineer David Palm traces a sobering outline of the infamous though widely ignored "Y2K Bug," a computer software and microchip glitch that could mean big-time problems for many segments of commerce and industry. He explains how its arrival (if it arrives) could shake things up for society as we know it. From there, he shows how Y2K could force Catholics into a whole new way of living out their Faith. Turn to page 52 for the whole story.

But before you do, let me add my two cents on the subject. I've been reflecting for some time on the ramifications for Catholics of Y2K, or something akin to it. Let's face it, there's no divine guarantee that the Church in the West will indefinitely chug merrily along with no serious external challenges to hinder its mission of spreading the message of Jesus Christ. In fact, the 2000-year history of the Catholic Church is punctuated with dark and difficult chapters. We in the 21st century would be foolish to imagine we're somehow exempt from such crosses as our forefathers suffered.

So here's my theory. While I don't necessarily predict a Y2K meltdown, or even a hearty case of societal heartburn (though a number of my Catholic technological and eschatological betters are), I do think we're headed for some sort of a crucible. Pope John Paul II constantly encourages us to "Be not afraid!" Afraid of what? Perhaps the Holy Father sees what we don't. Perhaps he sees a time of transition coming soon, a dark corridor of suffering and uncertainty for us to walk through . . . and then emerge into . . . light. I can easily envision that this time of difficulty will be the perfect opportunity for a flabby and complacent Catholic laity to become serious about its commitment to Christ, serious about real evangelism. Difficult times bring out the best and the worst in people, yes, but among Catholics, suffering often yields heroism. As Tertullian observed: "The blood of martyrs is the seed of the Church."

So that's why I'm intrigued by the Y2K question. I've wondered many times about the fabulous, inexplicable explosion of Catholic apostolates in the last 15 years. Where did they all come from? And why did they spring up so quickly and spontaneously? My guess is that the Lord has showered His Church with many special blessings (eg. radio programs, books, tapes, videos, publishing companies, cassette tape apostolates, seminars, Internet sites and much more) in a very short period of time to prepare us for some challenge that lies ahead.

Right now we enjoy the benefits of these blessings. Many Catholics who once were lukewarm or even estranged from the Faith have been touched and energized by God's grace. They're excited and proud to be Catholic. They want to love Christ with all their hearts and share Him with others. But, at least for the moment, many on-fire Catholics are — I hate to say it — couch-potato quarterbacks. They love the apologetics tapes and videos and TV programs. They thrill to the debate tapes of Catholics explaining and defending the Faith. They're madly in love with the idea of evangelizing. But unfortunately, evangelization is for some a bit too scary to actually do.

Well, we all need to face our fears. Perhaps the Y2K issue, or something else like it, will be the catalyst for us to step forward in faith and actually put into practice the information and examples we've been given through the many good tapes and books and other tools we've been blessed with.

The world desperately needs to hear Christ's voice. In due time, God will certainly use some catalyst to nudge us toward a more heroic, authentic and personal evangelism. Let's take full advantage of our interesting prospects for sharing Christ.

Singin' the Haiku Blues
They say nothing worthwhile happens easily. Well, whoever "they" are, they're right, and producing each issue of Envoy is no exception. From crashed hard drives to printing glitches, we've encountered almost any annoying techno-roadblock you can imagine. Don't get me wrong; I'm not complaining. We love producing this magazine, but there can be moments of vein-throbbing, forehead-slapping exasperation when our computers won't cooperate. That's why we got a laugh out of an recent humorous e-mail from a reader:

"What if Your Computer Gave Error Messages In Haiku Instead of Cryptic, Unintelligible Code?"
(Haiku is a form of Japanese poetry that employs exactly 16 syllables.)

A file that big?
It might be very useful.
But now it is gone.

First snow, then silence.
Your thousand dollar screen
dies so beautifully.

Chaos reigns within.
Reflect, repent and reboot.
Order shall return.

Out of memory.
You wish to hold the whole sky,
But you never will.

The Tao that is seen
is not the true Tao, until
you bring fresh toner.

A crash reduces
your expensive computer
to a simple stone.

Three things are certain:
Death, taxes and lost data.
Guess which has occurred.

Having been erased,
the document you're seeking
must now be retyped.

Serious error.
All shortcuts have disappeared.
Screen. Mind. Both are blank.

Windows NT crashed.
I am the Blue Screen of Death.
No one hears your screams.

More is Better

A couple of issues ago, Dr. Mark Lowery (contributing editor for our "Gray Matters" department) did us all a favor by listing a dozen excellent Catholic publications he recommends as well as ordering information for each. The response was so enthusiastic that I thought it would be a good thing to add to the list by bringing to your attention a few other Catholic periodicals and Internet services. I read each of these regularly and highly recommend each of them to each of you. (Oh, and by the way, when you subscribe, tell them Envoy Magazine sent you!)

The Catholic Answer
This magazine is one of the early pioneers in modern apologetics. Launched in the late 1980s, under editor Fr. Peter Stravinskas, The Catholic Answer has helped reintroduce to lay people the nearly lost art of Catholic apologetics. Known for its extensive, no-nonsense question-&-answer section, not to mention lively articles, it's a welcome friend in any Catholic home. Isn't it time to make sure it's welcome in yours? To subscribe, call 800-348-2440, 200 Noll Plaza Huntington, IN 46750, e-mail OSVsales@aol.com.

Lay Witness
This magazine is an emerging bright light in a darkened world. Each issue is packed with excellent feature articles and departments that show forth the beauty and truth of the Catholic Faith, doctrinally, socially and morally. Under the visionary leadership of its editor, Leon J. Suprenant, Jr., the Lay Witness staff make each issue a potent force for orthodoxy that's always presented charitably. Subscriptions are $30 for 10 issues. Call 800-693-2484 or write 827 N. Fourth St., Steubenville, OH 43952. Their Web site is www.CUF.org, or e-mail laywitnes@aol.com.

Our Sunday Visitor
What can I say? Our Sunday Visitor is truly the Granddaddy of all Catholic newspapers in the U.S. And is high on the list of my "must read" publications. Week after week, it offers an exciting and relevant mix of hard news, feature articles, opinion pieces, human interest stories and a lot more. You get a trustworthy, balanced view of the Church from a uniquely American perspective. OSV is faithful to the pope and the magisterium but always challenging and hard-hitting in its journalism. Call 800-348-2440, 200 Noll Plaza Huntington, IN 46750, or e-mail OSVsales@aol.com.

National Catholic Register
I read this paper religiously —and so should you. Why? First, because it's reliable, comprehensive, colorful and relevant. And second, because many of today's top Catholic writers, apologists, journalists and personalities appear in its pages each week. Stay up to date! The National Catholic Register consistently delivers a wide range of breaking Catholic news and incisive editorials. Its quick-read, in-depth format taps deep into the vitality of the Church and equips readers to engage the emerging culture. Makes a great gift for pastors. Call 800-421-3230, or write to P.O. Box 373, Mt. Morris, IL 61054. $38/year, 52 issues.

New Covenant
The Catholic Faith nourishes our hearts as much as our heads, and so should the Catholic magazines you read. For solid, insightful and plain old fun-to-read spiritual wisdom, I couldn't recommend New Covenant more highly. It features today's top Catholic writers, compelling articles and excellent graphics to boot. Editor Mike Aquilina has his stethoscope squarely on the heartbeat of Catholic spirituality. So go ahead and subscribe. Let Mike and his crew warm and invigorate your heart. Call 800-348-2440, 200 Noll Plaza Huntington, IN 46750, e-mail to OSVsales@aol.com. $18/year for 12 issues.

L'Osservatore Romano
I figure that if the Holy See considers this the pope's own newspaper (and it does), then I should be reading — and so should you. The venerable "Roman Observer" is a goldmine of fascinating and important information about the doings of the Vatican, the pope's schedule, his weekly angelus address and other messages and plenty more. This is a publication every Catholic home should be reading. And it's easy! You can catch up with each weekly English edition Online at http://www. vatican.va/news_services/or/or_eng/or_eng.htm, or for a reasonable subscription fee, get it by regular mail. Contact The Cathedral Foundation, P.O. Box 777, Baltimore,MD 21203; or call 410-547-5380 (voice) or 410 385-0113 (fax). E-mail: DMedinger@ aol.com.

Catholic Faith & Family
An inspiring and practical new weekly for parents who want to build their family life on the rock of the Catholic Faith. Each issue brims with enjoyable, pertinent feature stories and sound advice on parenting and marital issues. My wife and I enjoy it mainly for its many practical and encouraging tips for a successful (and holy!) Catholic home life. It strikes the perfect balance between the practical and the sublime. I enthusiastically recommend Catholic Faith & Family as a great gift idea for a family or newly married couple. 800-421-3230, P.O. Box 369, Mt. Morris, IL 61054. $38/year, 52 issues.

ZENIT News Agency
My daily morning routine: Sit at my computer, sip coffee and read the Catholic news from around the globe. Where do I get the headlines? Stories and headlines are e-mailed to me automatically by the ZENIT News Agency, a relatively new Internet news service. Based in Rome, the very heart of the Catholic Church, ZENIT's international journalists and Vatican insiders provide you with a unique blend of Catholic news you can't get elsewhere. When I want to know what's happening anywhere in the universal Church, from New York to Nemi, I turn to ZENIT, and so should you. Subscriptions are free. Visit www.zenit.org or send an e-mail to English-request@Zenit.org and add the word "subscribe" in the subject field.