For Catholics looking to grow in their faith during their daily routine, Relevant Radio has become a familiar voice across Southern Arizona.
The national Catholic radio network expanded into the Tucson market several years ago after identifying a gap in local Catholic broadcasting. Already established in Phoenix, Relevant Radio leaders recognized that Tucson lacked a full-time Catholic radio presence and saw an opportunity to serve the region’s faithful.
Today, Tucson is part of a network that reaches millions of listeners through more than 220 stations and a growing digital presence. Yet for Relevant Radio founder and CEO Father Francis Hoffman, known to listeners as “Father Rocky,” success is measured by more than ratings or revenue.
“It’s not just money. It’s mission,” he said while discussing the network’s continued growth and commitment to serving communities where Catholic programming may otherwise be unavailable. Father Rocky visited the Diocese of Tucson in September and met with members of Fideles Amici Tucson.
Founded in 2000, Relevant Radio has grown from a small network into one of the largest Catholic media apostolates in the country. Its programming includes faith formation, prayer, news, apologetics, and call-in shows that help Catholics navigate everyday questions through the lens of Church teaching.
Among its most popular programs are The Patrick Madrid Show, which features live listener questions on faith and culture, the Divine Mercy Chaplet, and the nightly Family Rosary Across America. Father Rocky noted that tens of thousands of people join the Rosary each evening through radio, streaming, podcasts, and smart devices.
The network estimates that between 15 million and 20 million people engage with Relevant Radio content each year across its radio, digital, and mobile platforms. While many listeners discover the network by chance, hundreds of thousands listen regularly, often spending several hours each week with its programming.
Father Rocky believes Catholic radio offers something unique in today’s fast-paced world: the opportunity to turn ordinary moments into encounters with Christ.
Referring to the time many people spend commuting, he explained that Relevant Radio helps listeners transform otherwise unproductive moments into opportunities for prayer, learning, and spiritual growth.
For Catholics throughout the Diocese of Tucson, Relevant Radio provides a convenient way to stay connected to the faith, whether driving to work, praying the Rosary with family, or seeking answers to questions about Catholic life. Anyone can listen on 104.9 FM in Tucson, on the Relevant Radio website, or through the Relevant Radio app. As Father Rocky put it, sometimes all it takes is a few minutes of listening to learn something new about the faith and deepen one’s relationship with Christ.
This article was originally published on news.diocesetucson.org, and is republished here with permission. You can read the original piece here.