CHARLOTTE — Gail Buckley, a Catholic convert who started the international Bible study program Catholic Scripture Study International in 2003, has begun a new venture to reach out to Catholics via the airwaves with a weekly radio program on Radio Maria USA.

Radio Maria is a Catholic radio network committed to evangelization through programming about prayer, catechism and human development. It was started as a parish radio in 1983 in the diocese of Milan, Italy. It now operates in more than 60 countries, spreading the Gospel to millions of listeners in more than a dozen languages.

Buckley now hosts "The Bible Lady" program, which airs in select U.S. markets every Monday at noon and can also be listened to live on the Internet on Radio Maria's website.

Pictured: Gail Buckley, founder of Catholic Scripture Study International and host of the weekly Radio Maria program "The Bible Lady," is pictured in her home studio during a live broadcast. (Photo provided by Gail Buckley)

"The first few shows I felt like I was thrown into the deep end of the pool, but it's been great!" said Buckley of her first foray into radio.

She began her radio show last September after being recruited by Yvonne Florczak-Seeman, a pro-life speaker, activist and author from Chicago, whom Buckley had met at a women's conference in California a few years ago. Seeman works with Radio Maria in Chicago.

"The Bible Lady" now airs every Monday on radio stations in Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin. Listeners can also download the Radio Maria app for their smartphone device to enjoy the live program.

So how does a busy Catholic Scripture Study International executive find the time to tape a weekly radio program?

Says Buckley, "I have my studio in the house. Today's technology is so great."

Buckley tries to line up the guests at least six weeks in advance so she can prepare ahead.

"My show was originally broadcast just around the Chicago area, but now it's national. It goes to all the (Radio Maria) stations in the U.S. and it's broadcast out of Alexandria, La. I just call in and I log onto the Internet to communicate with my producer, and I can text to my producer as well during the show."

"The Bible Lady" addresses various aspects of the Catholic faith and includes guest experts on particular topics.

Guests have included Mark Shea, Carl Olson, Patrick Madrid, Jim Burnham, Hector Molina and Teresa Tomeo. Upcoming guests will include Dr. Deal Hudson of Catholic Advocate, Mike Aquilina, Father Larry Richards, Dorothy Pilawski, Father Dwight Longenecker and Mike Sullivan.

"I'm really enjoying it – it's fun! My primary reason for doing it is to have another avenue for evangelization ... I felt that the Lord was just expanding my territory to evangelize and so I couldn't say no to this opportunity to lead people to Christ and help them better understand His Word and His Church."

Online at radiomaria.us

Listen to "The Bible Lady" live every Monday at noon. Just click on the "Listen Live" button (Internet Explorer works best). Call in during the show with questions/comments at 1-866-333-6279. Upcoming shows are:

 Feb. 20 – Leon Suprenant: Lent

Feb. 27 – Father Dwight Longenecker: Why are so many Anglicans becoming Catholic?

 March 5 – Mike Aquilina: Angels

March 12 – Mike Sullivan: How to be an informed Catholic

March 19 – Dorothy Pilawski: Motherhood matters

March 26 – Deal Hudson: Facts Catholics need to know before voting

April 2 – Father Larry Richards: Becoming the person God created you to be

— SueAnn Howell, staff writer