Donna L. Halper, PhD, on Boston's "Radio Priest"

"On a Sunday afternoon, Sept. 15, 1929, an event occurred that would have a lasting effect on greater Boston's 800,000 Catholics. On that day, nearly 88 years ago, Father Michael J. Ahern, S.J. did something no priest in Boston had ever done before: he introduced a weekly radio program specifically for Catholics. While that may not sound very remarkable in our internet, cable television, and social media age, back in 1929, it was a very important occasion. Back then, radio was the dominant mass medium, and being on the air could turn a previously unknown performer or announcer into a celebrity.

"Radio became an obsession for Bostonians during the 1920s; families gathered in their 'radio room' to listen to their favorite programs. The most popular shows were the radio dramas (which would later be called 'soap operas') and people were also delighted to hear their favorite songs. Boston stations also provided news, sports, and weather, and as far back as 1922, there were inspirational messages and Bible readings from ministers and rabbis; there were even live broadcasts from area houses of worship. But if you were a Catholic in those formative years of radio, there were no programs that featured a priest.

"Then as now, Boston was overwhelmingly Christian, yet one of the most popular radio preachers of the 1920s was Jewish: Harry Levi, the rabbi of Boston's Temple Israel. An eloquent speaker, he developed a large following of both Jews and non-Jews. For most Bostonians, in that era before interfaith events became more common, listening to a rabbi was a new experience; to Rabbi Levi's surprise, there were many non-Jews tuned in to his broadcasts over station WNAC (today WRKO), and they enjoyed hearing him discuss the Old Testament; in fact, many sent him fan mail and asked for autographed copies of his sermons. The same phenomenon occurred for some Protestant ministers, including Rev. Henry Knox Sherrill; he broadcast over station WEEI, and he never expected that the power of radio would turn members of Boston's clergy into radio stars.

"But for whatever reason, and despite radio's growing influence, it wasn't until 1928 when the Catholic church became more active in broadcasting. That year, there were a few radio programs of interest to Catholics -- usually on special occasions. For example, on May 20, there was a Mass to honor military veterans, held at Fenway Park, and on Christmas day, there was a Mass from the Cathedral of the Holy Cross; both were officiated by Cardinal O'Connell. Undoubtedly, these broadcasts led Boston's Catholics to hope for a more frequent presence on the air. They finally got their wish in mid-September 1929 when Father Ahern debuted the weekly 'Catholic Truth Hour,' also called the 'Catholic Truth Period.'"

In a recent commentary, Donna L. Halper, PhD, reflected on the ministry of Father Ahern (who came to be known as the "Radio Priest"), on his friendship with Rabbi Levi, and on his scientific endeavors as professor and as a researcher.

To access Dr. Halper's complete essay, please visit:

The Pilot: Echoes: Father Michael J. Ahern: Boston's First 'Radio Priest' (1 SEP 17)