AWESOME! Glory to God!
I searched out Deacon Bill's information for someone and thought it might be interesting here too.
Deacon Steltemeier blessed to help Mother Angelica, EWTN
Fran Rajotte, Tennessee Register
When God calls there is no turning back.
Deacon Bill Steltemeier learned this lesson while attending a legal convention in Chicago during the winter of 1978. He had no idea that this would become a turning point in his life that would lead to the Eternal Word Television Network.
Steltemeier was making a visit at the downtown cathedral next to the convention center when he noticed a flyer in the vestibule that said “Mother’s Sounding Call to Holiness” at St. Margaret Mary Church in the Chicago suburbs.
“There was a blizzard outside but yet I started out in my rental car to try and find it,” said Steltemeier.
About an hour later, after he skidded past accidents and hazy interstate signs, he ran out of gas and rolled into the nearest service station at the bottom of the hill. He was planning to get gas and go back to the hotel. Angry and tired, he asked the service station attendant about St. Margaret Mary Church and was told it was just a block away.
“It was divine providence,” said Steltemeier, who was ordained a deacon in 1975 as part of the Diocese of Nashville’s first class of permanent deacons. “I took my seat up front, and after a few minutes, Mother Angelica looked at me right in the eyeball and the Lord said, ‘Until the day you die.’ It scared me to death. That interior voice was so strong, you couldn’t miss it.”
Steltemeier tried to ignore the call he was hearing. “I kept thinking, I’m not going to get involved,” he said. “I knew what God wanted me to do, but I couldn’t change my life.”
At that time Steltemeier was a successful attorney and senior partner in the Nashville law firm of Steltemeier & Westbrook, a real estate and commercial practice. He liked his life and the two Cadillacs he drove. Yet, he couldn’t get the experience out of his mind.
About three months later, Steltemeier drove to the Poor Clares monastery in Irondale, Ala., near Birmingham, where Mother Angelica served as Mother Superior, and knocked on the door.
“This nice nun answered the door and was so kind to me, it made me mad. Then Mother came to the door and smiled and said, ‘I wondered when you were coming!’”
Ever since, Steltemeier has given his life in service to Mother Angelica and the monastery. He began as a friend and attorney, and in 1978 passed out some of the 85 mini-books Mother Angelica had written on spiritual life to his attorney friends asking them for donations to promote her mission to spread the word of God.
When Mother Angelica shared her inspiration with Steltemeier to form a television network, he agreed to help, though neither of them had any experience in this line of work.
The Eternal Word Television Network aired for the first time on Aug. 15, 1981. “Mother slapped me on the back and said ‘Congratulations, you are now president of a TV network!’” said Steltemeier.
Mother Angelica served as chair of the board and chief executive officer, and Steltemeier as president.
EWTN’s mission is to “communicate the teachings and the beauty of the Catholic Church and to help people grow in their love and understanding of God and God’s infinite mercy.” The programming includes daily Mass and devotionals, global Catholic news, documentaries and dramas, music, exploring the faith, call-in talk shows, young adult and children’s programming, church and papal events, and Spanish language programming.
The network reaches more than 123 million homes in 144 countries and territories worldwide with programming 24 hours a day.
Mother Angelica admits that building a network was never in her plans, but she says, “Since its founding, the Network’s mission has been to spread the ‘Eternal Word,’ and to teach others that Jesus Christ is the Way, the Truth and the Life.”
Using all the facets of modern media, including television, radio, the Internet and publishing, EWTN reaches the entire globe with the message of the Gospel.
In 1989 EWTN was once again inspired to go to Rome to start a short wave radio network in Rome. Steltemeier and Mother Angelica traveled to Rome every three to four months between 1989 and 1991, and worked with a staff of 14. It was during one of those trips that Steltemeier had the privilege of serving as deacon at one of Pope John Paul II’s Masses.
Pope John Paul II “was very fond of Mother,” said Steltemeier. “During one of our audiences with the pope, he looked at me and said, ‘You work, she pray.’” With that, Steltemeier knew without a doubt he was doing God’s work.
After much effort, Steltemeier and Mother Angelica concluded that it would be best to build the radio network in Irondale, Ala. The EWTN Global Catholic Radio network went on the air in 1992 and continues to broadcast 24-hours daily. It began with short wave, then AM/FM, and now airs on SIRIUS® Satellite Radio (channel 160).
In the spring of 1996, Mother Angelica began building a new monastery and the shrine of the Blessed Sacrament.
“It is a huge 18th century Roman Gothic building that seats 480 people and adjoins to the monastery,” Steltemeier stated. The monastery and church needed to expand to accommodate the increasing numbers of pilgrims each year. The nuns moved into their new home on Dec. 12, 1999.
During those years, Steltemeier continued to travel from Nashville to Birmingham each week, as he had been doing since 1978, working side-by-side with Mother Angelica to spread the Word of God via the airways.
“I would say that Bill Steltemeier was loyal, faithful and trustworthy. He was never too tired to do anything I asked him and his fidelity to the Church has been praiseworthy,” said Mother Angelica. “I thank the Lord God that he was a vital part of our lives for so many years and continues to remain so. Only God Himself knows how to repay him for his goodness to our community and to EWTN.”
In 1998, Mother Angelica stepped down as the head of EWTN and Steltemeier was appointed chairman and CEO. In December 1999, Mother Angelica suffered a severe stroke.
Steltemeier and his wife Ramona moved from Nashville to Hanceville, Ala. in 2002 to be closer to the EWTN offices.
He sees the future of EWTN reaching more and more people by way of television and radio. “EWTN’s expansion possibilities are endless,” Steltemeier said.
The network celebrated its 25th anniversary in August 2006. Steltemeier and his staff spent the year holding conventions in Denver, San Francisco, San Antonio, St. Louis and Philadelphia.
“In thanksgiving for 25 years on TV, and in honor of the prayers and support of the EWTN family, the network decided to travel to these five major cities simply to say ‘thank you,’” said Steltemeier.
The format consisted of an informal reception on Friday evening, followed by a series of talks featuring renowned speakers all day on Saturday, and concluding with a Liturgy on Sunday morning. Speakers included Father Mitch Pacqua, Mother Assumpta, Scott Hahn, and Benedict Rochelle. The conference was attended by cardinals and bishops as well as friends and supporters in each locale.
“In 2007 EWTN will hold an open convention in Birmingham to continue thanking our supporters,” said Steltemeier.
As the “man in charge,” Steltemeier now spends five hours a day in prayer. “My life has totally changed,” he said.
He added that his prayer time is what helps him to make the necessary decisions. “It is what God wants, not what we want,” Steltemeier said.
“Our world is not aware of the presence of God. EWTN has been the light in the Church throughout the world,” said Steltemeier. “It has truly been a blessing.”
http://www.dioceseofnashville.com/article_steltemeier.htm 
