By Tricia Hempel

ARCHDIOCESE — Like the St. Paul of centuries ago, Paul Smith underwent major conversions in his life before embracing a mission to spread the Good News. He is open about his personal demons and even spent a year visiting a men’s correctional facility on a weekly basis to share with inmates his own story of recovery. And his demons are ones he would not have overcome without God, he emphasized.

Smith, better known to Cincinnati listeners and viewers as Brian Patrick, is a popular former TV newscaster and now hosts a three-hour drive-time morning program on Sacred Heart Radio (740AM), the Son Rise Morning Show. It’s something of a return to his roots as a communicator; he first adopted the name "Brian Patrick" more than 20 years ago when he arrived in the Cincinnati area to host a morning news show on the radio.

CT/E.L. HUBBARD

Paul Smith, a longtime television and radio news anchor and program host who uses the on-air name of Brian Patrick, poses for a photo after receiving the Communicator of the Year award from the Salesian Guild.

"I am very comfortable in radio," he said. "Though the technology has changed, the simplicity of radio suits me very well. Radio is really personal — I am usually one-on-one with a listener in the car with no distractions. I love being able to share prayer, Scripture, personal experience and bits of humor with each listener. The change from secular media has been refreshing, and I look forward to many good mornings ahead."

There have been a few surprises and new insights, however, in the past five months at Sacred Heart, he said.

"I’m surprised that people listen so closely and remember things that were said, things I often don’t remember saying. My guests constantly surprise me with their willingness to openly share things about themselves that are very touching. In particular, we do regular interviews with seminarians and newly ordained priests. These guys have allowed us inside their minds and hearts at a crucial point on their vocational path. It’s something you won’t hear anywhere else."

The fresh message that the show is bringing to local airwaves has not gone unnoticed. On Jan. 23, Smith was honored by the Salesian Guild as its 2008 Distinguished Communicator of the Year at the Schiff Family Conference Center on Xavier University’s campus.

The softspoken and always genial Smith credits the late Father Jim Willig with encouraging him in the endeavor. In fact, GNN’s first project was a 30-minute TV documentary called "Suffering With Grace," in which Father Willig and his family shared their experience with his suffering and death from cancer.

Later, on a 2002 mission trip to Juarez, Mexico, Smith used the opportunity to film the documentary "Familia de Dios" ("The Family of God"). In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, he traveled with Matthew: 25 Ministries to assist with disaster relief in affected areas while chronicling the devastation for local viewers. Smith says he most enjoys telling stories of everyday people that might not seem as newsworthy to others.

"I love talking with the people, those doing parish work that is really important to the church but often goes unnoticed," he said. "Young people on fire with their faith are always refreshing. Of course, the opportunity to spend time with Archbishop Pilarczyk, Father Mitch Pacwa and former Reds Manager Jack McKeon is always a treat." Son Rise hosts a wide variety of guests with varying levels and areas of expertise and faith experiences.

Smith said he is learning "volumes" every day, much from his producer, Matt Swaim, whom he terms "a young convert with an insatiable appetite for the treasures of the Catholic faith."

He also thinks that the lives of the saints "are fascinating. The impact of the church Fathers and the gift of the sacraments are so rich, and this is stuff we discuss on a daily basis. I’ve especially learned many the rich teachings of Pope John Paul II, a man and leader I deeply admire."

He says that his only true goal with the radio show is to "allow the Holy Spirit to use me to reach those God would have us reach."

It’s an exciting change from the world of secular media, where outright evangelization was understandably frowned upon and even the more subtle expressions of faith not always understood. Smith admits that integrating one’s faith with one’s work in most day-to-day situations is not always easy.

"But it’s what we are called to do," he said pointedly. "It also gives us a great opportunity to evangelize. If people are attracted to the way we handle our everyday work situations, calmly trusting God for all of our answers, they may also be drawn to Him. I can’t say that I do this perfectly, but each day, I pray for the grace to do the best I can."

Listening to his guests and reading mail from listeners has given him new insight into the challenges facing not only Catholic communicators, but all Catholics at this time in the church’s history.

"I think apathy is our biggest challenge; we tend to take our great church for granted, Smith said. "We can’t. It is truly a gift from Jesus directly to us through the generations. If we want the church to be there for our children and grandkids, we must be willing to be fully engaged in her today. I see this not as an obligation but as pure joy. We are so blessed to be Catholic Christians. It is a blessing I want to share with everyone, and I have a unique opportunity to do this daily on Sacred Heart Radio."

For the first time in its history, the Salesian Guild also presented a special long-time service award in recognition of outstanding communications in the Archdiocese of Cincinnati. The recipient of this unique honor was Bishop Carl K. Moeddel, who retired last spring as Auxiliary Bishop of Cincinnati. Bishop Moeddel was recognized for demonstrating the guild’s core values of integrity, professionalism, fellowship and idealism throughout his ministry as priest and bishop.

Named for St. Francis DeSales, the patron saint of journalists and of the Archdioceseof Cincinnati the Salesian Guild is an annual gathering of greater Cincinnati Catholics working in various communication fields, including journalism, advertising, and public relations. The group has no dues and no officers, and comes together only once a year to share liturgy, fellowship and current topics of interest.