What does SQPN stand for?

SQPN stands for ‘Star Quest Production Network’.

Why ‘Star Quest’?

The quest for the star by the magi illustrates God’s way of communicating with us. With the star of Bethlehem, he triggered the curiosity of the wise men from another culture. The result: they went on a journey together and finally met the savior they were looking for.

With SQPN, we try to do the same. Reach out to people around us that often aren’t familiar with the Catholic faith and culture. We try to connect on common ground and we hope to lead them through the community around our programs to an encounter with Christ.

Why does SQPN produce programs about topics that have nothing to do with the Catholic faith, like Harry Potter or certain TV series?

The word ‘Catholic’ means ‘universal’. The Catholic faith touches upon all dimensions of our human existence. We are called to be present in the world of new media to bring a Catholic perspective to all things around us, including the world of entertainment.

Jesus used metaphors and stories from the culture he lived in to illustrate his views and to clarify his message. At SQPN, we do the same. We connect with millions of Harry Potter fans to talk about the many christian symbols and themes used by JK Rowling in her stories; we talk about the profound moral and theological themes in the science fiction series ‘Babylon 5′; we discuss the choices and dilemmas of characters in popular TV series like ‘Pan Am’ to discuss our own choices in life.

We build bridges between popular culture and the culture of the Catholic faith. This approach brought many people in contact with God, and in countless cases back into full communion with the Catholic Church.

What audience does SQPN target?

Our primary goal is to serve the new evangelization. We respond to the call of blessed Pope John Paul II and of Pope Benedict XVI to engage with modern culture and witness of our faith in a friendly and respectful manner. The new evangelization is directed both towards non Catholics (or ‘not yet Catholics’) and towards Catholics.

Our programs are enjoyed by a mixed audience that spans the globe. Among them people of different faiths and cultures. We have so called ‘threshold’ shows about popular topics like health, entertainment and movies; we also feature a number of ‘community’ programs, that focus on strengthening the personal bond between listeners and the host(s). And finally, we have programs to strengthen the faith of those that have joined the community, like ‘Verbum Domini’, ‘Praystation Portable’ (Liturgy of the Hours) and ‘Health and Holiness’.

Who pays for all this?

SQPN is a non profit organization with a presence in the US and in Europe. It is a network with many volunteers. For most of the hosts, it’s a labor of love. We are fully supported by our audience. Every year, we organize a fund drive, which provides us with a modest budget to work with. Some shows carry advertisements or sponsorships, which partially helps pay for our hosting costs.

Who prays for all this?

We have many people and communities pray for SQPN and for the people it tries to reach. Without these prayers, our work would be futile. But it is through the prayers and sacrifices of many, that God has been able to work wonders. Pope Benedict XVI asked Catholics to ‘give the Internet a soul’. That is done first and foremost through our prayerful presence in the world of new media. And prayer inspires action and creativity!

How can I help or get involved?

There are many different ways in which you can help SQPN. Here are some ideas:

  • remember SQPN in your daily prayers
  • provide feedback on the website, via Twitter or Facebook
  • tell your friends and family about SQPN
  • write something about SQPN in your local parish bulletin or newspaper
  • blog about SQPN
  • think about something you can do in the media: start a blog, begin a podcast, make some YouTube videos.. if you need help, we are happy to give you some advice.
  • connect to other SQPN audience members via social networks and participate actively in the dialogue
  • support us with a donation, one-time or recurring. More information in the menu on SQPN.com
  • sign up for the email newsletter to stay in touch
  • join us in real life during our annual Catholic New Media Conference. Info: http://cnmc.sqpn.com
  • write reviews of our shows on iTunes and elsewhere on the web
  • retweet our tweets, share our Facebook messages, +1 our posts on Google Plus
  • become a volunteer. We are always on the lookout for talented people with some free time and specific expertise

Fr. Roderick Vonhögen
CEO of SQPN inc.