Donna McSoley, founder of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Radio, will be the keynote speaker at the next meeting of Vermont Catholic Professionals.

The first Catholic radio station in Vermont, Our Lady of Perpetual Help Radio 105.5 FM was established five years ago by McSoley with the support of Archbishop Christopher Coyne and the Diocese of Burlington.

“Radio was something entirely new to me so each step was a challenge, but I learned to turn to prayer and to have great faith in God to sort it out,” she said. “With faith, we can do anything.”

In prayer and gratitude to God for helping her through a difficult time, McSoley wanted “to return the favor,” she said. She had received a letter from the Catholic Radio Association to spread the word that the Federal Communications Commission had announced an opportunity to apply for space on the FM dial. “As I read the letter, I was 100 percent clear that the Lord wanted me to do this. Radio was brand new territory, but God led me through every detail.”

McSoley will speak to members of Vermont Catholic Professionals on Oct. 18. The group will gather at 8:30 a.m. at diocesan headquarters at 55 Joy Drive in South Burlington; the speaker will begin her presentation at 9 a.m.

The purpose of Vermont Catholic Professionals is to join Catholic men and women and others with shared values from the business and professional communities to encourage intellectual discussions, to foster professional and faith-based relationships, and to inspire service and charity to the community in Vermont. The group hosts quarterly events that offer networking and a professional development speaker that is relevant to the business and professional communities in Vermont.

Past speakers have included doctors, businesspeople, educators, and non-profit directors.

The meetings take place in person and on Zoom.

For more information, go to vermontcatholic.org/vcp.

—Originally published in the Sept. 16-22, 2023, edition of The Inland See.