Good News from Gospel spread through the radio
SALT LAKE CITY—It was December 12th, 2006, and his first radio show was airing live. People were calling to congratulate him. But, Father Omar Ontiveros was still nervous: he was sweating and was short of words. Nowadays, Fr. Omar is confident and knowledgeable in the radio station. He seems relaxed whether he is the interviewer or the interviewee. A couple of weeks ago he interviewed Dulce María, a member of RBD, an internationally acclaimed music group. "I try to reach the young members of our community," he said. "And I thought it was a great idea to have her on the show because she is part of a youth phenomenon. Sometimes young people think fame and material things equal happiness. So, she talked about her family and religious values and about how important they are to her," he said. Fr. Ontiveros also has other plans to reach the youth. "I want to form a music ministry for the Hispanic congregation. I play the guitar, the music keyboard, and the flute. I believe that music is a creative and attractive way to evangelize," Fr. Ontiveros said. "The Office of the Hispanic Ministry, Father Manuel Cerón, and I are bringing Martín Valverde, a famous Christian singer, in September." A Hispanic youth group in the cathedral, in which members can have fun and grow spiritually, is also on his list. " I want them involved in sports and the media," he said. "These two things always seem to attract young people." But Fr. Ontiveros’ radio show is a method of evangelization for everyone, on which topics of faith, family, and the Gospel are discussed. "People want to listen to a message of faith and hope, in a world that sometimes does not have faith, hope, or love," he said. The show airs every Sunday at 9 a.m. through Magia 106.1 FM. It is a combination of modern Christian music and uplifting homilies. "The name of the program is ‘Buena Nueva,’ Spanish for Good News. And the good news is that God is love, and that he has come to free us from the slavery of sin." Fr. Ontiveros enjoys his ministry with the media; but he is also a young parish priest with a kind face and a cheerful personality, which might make parishioners feel at ease in the reconciliation room. "There have been people who tell me they’ve felt comfortable with me. It is a hard job, though, because it is emotionally exhausting; but it is also satisfying because you experience how God’s love is healing someone through his forgiveness during confession." However, he gets his greatest gratification during Mass. "It is very special to celebrate Mass because I spread the Gospel but I also give people their spiritual food composed of the Body and Blood of Christ. This is the medicine for their souls," he said. Fr. Ontiveros has known of the importance of the Eucharist since he was back in his hometown, Obregón, Sonora, México. "My parents were not very religious, but my grandmother was. She used to bribe me with breakfast, so I would go to Mass in the morning," he said. "I was 10 years old and I hadn’t made my First Communion yet. Then, I read a book called ‘Venid y Comed,’ (which would translate to ‘Come and Eat).’ After reading the book, I wanted to make my First Communion," he said. Fr. Ontiveros studied about 100 questions for a test that would consist of only 10 questions, asked by a nun. "Guess how many I answered correctly?" he asked. "Just one," he answered as he chuckled. The nun told him she was sure he knew the answers, but he was probably too nervous to remember them. Then she let him make his First Communion anyway. "I’m still very proud of this because the desire to receive Jesus was born from within me," he said. About 10 years after he began receiving the Eucharist, Fr. Ontiveros was invited to a vocational retreat. He was not very interested, but some friends convinced him to go. "They talked about priesthood. About how priests live and serve others," he said. Back then, Fr. Ontiveros was studying to be a chemical engineer, but decided to change careers. "My older sister was not very happy. She was the one helping me pay for school. But I wanted to try to go to the seminary and learn more about it." He was ordained in Salt Lake City after studying for five years in Sonora, México, and three in Mount Angel, Oregon. He will have served the church as a priest for two years in May. "If I weren’t a priest, I would probably be working as a chemical engineer and I would have a healthy and united family," Fr. Ontiveros said. "But the priesthood is a calling from God to help people come closer to him, to find strength." Pope Benedict XVI is coming to the United States April 15-20, and Fr. Ontiveros will be among the one thousand priests concelebrating Mass with the Bishop of Rome. Fr. Ontiveros was very excited to talk about this opportunity and how it came about. "All the priests that were interested in doing it, were invited to apply," he said. "Then, the Bishop’s office sent all the applications to the Archdiocese of D.C., where a lottery took place." Father Ontiveros has visited the Vatican twice and has received the Pope’s blessings from far away, but has never concelebrated Mass with him. "This is something very special because he is the representative, the Vicar of Christ on Earth, the successor of Peter. This will strengthen my vocation and my will to serve the Church."
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