Bishop Michael Olson to receive “Fishers of Men” award at inaugural Guadalupe Radio Network event
Bishop Michael Olson at St. Patrick Cathedral. (NTC/Juan Guajardo)
FORT WORTH — Bishop Michael Olson has been named the first recipient of the “Fishers of Men” award for his outstanding efforts in evangelization. He will be recognized at the inaugural Fishers of Men benefit dinner hosted by the Guadalupe Radio Network stations KCPP 1140 AM in Fort Worth and 101.5 FM in Cleburne.
Tickets and tables are available for the Oct. 25 event, to be held in the St. Patrick Cathedral pastoral center (1300 Throckmorton St., Fort Worth).
The keynote speaker will be Dr. David Anders, host of the popular “Called to Communion” radio program on EWTN. Dr. Anders grew up in the Presbyterian Church and attended a Protestant college and seminary. As he researched Reformation history for his doctorate, he became convinced of the truth of the Catholic faith and subsequently entered the Church.
On his radio program, which airs each weekday, Dr. Anders addresses questions and misconceptions from non-Catholics about the Catholic faith. At the Fishers of Men banquet, he will share the story of how the Catholic Church saved his marriage.
Although this is the inaugural Fishers of Men benefit dinner in Fort Worth, several other affiliates of the Guadalupe Radio Network host the annual dinners, explained Toya Hall, the chief operating officer and founder of Guadalupe Radio Network.
“The number one goal for anyone attending our Fishers of Men dinners is to bring someone in who will speak in a way so that everyone leaves there with hope and joy. In these times, we need it so much — the authentic hope and the authentic joy that only comes from Jesus Christ,” said Hall.
Hall explained that Bishop Olson was chosen as the first Fishers of Men honoree in Fort Worth because he “has a heart for evangelization. You can look at his track record and know he has a great heart for fishing for souls.”
Radio’s reach
On Aug. 15, 2024, Bishop Olson “flipped the switch” for KCPP 1140 AM, expanding the reach of Guadalupe Radio Network farther into the Diocese of Fort Worth. COO Hall, present for the launch, recalled that Bishop Olson’s face “lit up” when he learned the station’s call letters stand for Capuchin Padre Pio, a saint whose relic is permanently displayed at St. Peter the Apostle Parish in White Settlement.
Proceeds from the Fishers of Men benefit dinner will help with the operating expenses of KCPP, helping the station expand content, increase understanding of the faith, and draw both non-Catholics and Catholics closer to the Church, explained Hall.
“Our goal is to populate heaven,” she said, describing the impact of Catholic radio on its listeners.
With 48 radio stations and more than 31 million potential listeners, Guadalupe Radio Network is EWTN’s largest radio affiliate.
Information about tickets, tables, and sponsorships can be found at grnonline.com/fishers/768-2025-sct-fom-3