Marcus Peter will host 'Ave Maria in the Afternoon' from 4-6 p.m., carrying on Kresta's 'work for the salvation of souls'
ANN ARBOR — Catholic journalist and radio host Al Kresta was an evangelist on a mission from God.
For decades, the veteran Ave Maria Radio president and host of the station's flagship "Kresta in the Afternoon" program kept listeners engaged through thoughtful, faith-infused commentary on everything from literature to politics, catechesis to culture, helping countless souls better understand and apply their Catholic faith.
Kresta's mission became an eternal one June 15, when the 72-year-old succumbed to liver cancer after a brief diagnosis. But his fiat, carried out over the decades through the radio ministry he helped found, is not skipping a beat.
On July 15, Ave Maria Radio launched a new program, "Ave Maria in the Afternoon," from 4-6 p.m., in the spot formerly reserved for Kresta's program, both a tribute to and a continuation of the Catholic radio giant's zeal for evangelization. Marcus Peter, Th.D., host of the weekend program “Unveiling the Covenants,” now hosts the new program, which is a natural successor to the iconic Catholic radio show.
"Ave Maria in the Afternoon" joins a program lineup that includes popular programming such as "Catholic Connection" with Teresa Tomeo, "More 2 Life" with Dr. Greg and Lisa Popcak, and "Epiphany" with Vanessa Denha Garmo.
Peter, who spoke with Detroit Catholic July 31, joined Ave Maria Radio five years ago while working as a high school theology teacher, and almost immediately became Kresta’s mentee.
“I met Al the first day I came to the station,” Peter said. “I made an appointment to tour the station, and Al was still producing that day’s episode, and (he) had one segment (to fill). Al said, ‘What are you teaching at that high school?’ and I said, ‘Well, I just finished (Pope Benedict XVI’s) Regensburg address.’ And he goes, ‘Would you like to talk about it?’
“So at my first meeting, I hopped on the radio with him, and little did both of us know it would begin this five-year-long journey of being mentored by him in different ways,” Peter added.
For the last five years, in addition to hosting his own show, Peter worked alongside Kresta — filling in when he was out and appearing as a guest on Kresta’s show and others.
Kresta continued hosting “Kresta in the Afternoon” through Thursday, April 4, executive producer Bryant Schoenle told Detroit Catholic.
“We wrapped up, (Al said), ‘See you tomorrow,’ and then Al texted me that night and said, ‘I'm not coming in,’” Schoenle said.
After a week of being out, which included missing the station's annual membership drive, the team became concerned. In addition to playing reruns of Kresta’s show, Peter began to step in as interim host. Kresta was officially diagnosed with cancer on May 2 and passed away June 15.
By the following Monday, the team began to plan for the station’s future without Kresta. Peter was the natural fit to take over Kresta's time slot, a decision that was seemingly blessed by Kresta both during his lifetime and after his passing.
“I fully expected Al to be here well after I retired,” said Mike Jones, who became president of Ave Maria Radio after Kresta’s passing. “It was a very big deal when Al passed away, but it was also obvious why Marcus was here — the transition from ‘Kresta in the Afternoon’ to ‘Ave Maria in the Afternoon' was natural at that point. It was not my plan, not Al’s plan, not Marcus’s plan, but the Lord’s plan, and we are thrilled to say yes. All of Ave Maria Radio is the result of Al Kresta saying yes.”
Like “Kresta in the Afternoon,” Peter’s show includes a variety of guests and takes calls from listeners across the country. Peter said his strong suit is the Scriptures, adding before passing away, Kresta challenged Peter to use his knowledge of the Scriptures and speak it into what is happening in the world today.
“The way Al described it was there is a gap in the culture for which the Gospel of Jesus Christ needs to be spoken, and the Scripture is the key to that,” Peter said. “At the end of the day, what’s driven me since my conversion is the salvation of souls; I wake up every day, and the only thing I think about is, ‘I need to work for the salvation of souls, and nothing else matters.’ And Al saw that. Al shared that.”
Like Kresta, Peter’s history includes a dramatic reversion to the Catholic faith. Born in Malaysia, Peter was baptized Catholic before becoming a staunch atheist. As a gifted orator, Peter shared his beliefs with others and became well-known in like-minded circles. Similar to Kresta, Peter was a musician, although rather than rock ’n’ roll, he was a break dancer and part of a famous Malaysian rap group.
After experiencing what he called a stunning conversion “overnight,” Peter began his faith journey, first joining the Assemblies of God, where he was a praise leader and preacher. He spent his time praying and learning as much as he could.
In his search for the truth, Peter encountered the early Church fathers.
“I said a prayer: ‘God, I need you to lead me to the Church that’s teaching your truth — not the truth I want, but your truth — and whatever it is, I will give my life to it,’” Peter recalled. “I was convinced it wouldn’t be the Catholic Church, but it was the Catholic Church, and so I had to become Catholic.”
Peter said it's a blessing that his past life in many ways mirrors Kresta's own faith journey, which Peter said is a consolation.
“We came from where we were to be in the bosom of the Church now, and because of that, we saw this faith from the outside, and we saw the hunger we had for this faith,” Peter said. “I spent 20 years of my life outside of the banquet, and I starved, so I am spending every moment appreciating it, but also inviting people to the banquet, and Al did the same thing.”
Peter said he and Schoenle have “hit the ground running” with the new program, which has been both a blessing and an adjustment for himself, his wife Stephanie, and their three children, ages 3, 2 and 10 weeks. Peter speaks glowingly about Stephanie, whom he affectionally refers to as “my bride,” and says she provides valuable insight that helps him do the show.
“Stephanie has been this outstanding source of prayer and support,” Peter said. “She and the children listen to the program every day, and she shares her insights. If you listen to the program, you’ll realize that my marriage and my life as a father really inform how I view the world, and that comes out in how I teach.”
Jones likened the Peters family's commitment to that of Kresta and his wife, Sally, who raised five children and have numerous grandchildren.
“Marcus and Stephanie, they are on mission here, and Al and Sally were on mission together," Jones said. "Not only does that bring a radical experience with the Lord and models it (in the program), but it also helps them have a good Catholic household and raise good Catholic children.”
Peter and Schoenle said Sally Kresta and the rest of the Kresta family have been "incredibly" supportive of the station and the new program. Peter hopes and prays Al Kresta is pleased with the work they have done, also.
“When I went to see Al before he died, and we finally had that time, it was just a chance to say goodbye to him and thank him for everything. I left the house, and three minutes later, he died,” Peter said. “I just want to hope that was his way of saying Bryant and I had his blessing to continue. I want to believe he is proud of us. I want to believe that he knows that this work is going to continue and it is in good hands, and most of all, I want to believe that he is interceding for us.”
Jones and Peter both emphasized the legacy being carried forward is not Kresta’s, but Christ’s. And that is exactly how Kresta would have wanted it.
“This is Jesus’s mission that he put on Al’s heart, and Al always saw it that way. What we are carrying forward is not the legacy of Al Kresta; we are carrying forward the great commission, the mandate from Jesus Christ to bring his Gospel to the ends of the earth,” Peter said. “That was what Al is all about. That’s what I am all about, and that is what everyone here is all about.”
Jones said he and Kresta agreed long ago that God brought Peter to the station, but he doesn’t view the new program as one that “fills Al’s shoes.”
“The idea of filling shoes is one of gravity, that this is an important responsibility, but Marcus really isn’t filling in shoes. He is standing in his own shoes, because I don’t need another Al Kresta — what I need is Marcus Peter,” Jones explained. “The reason I say that is because the Lord has brought Al home, and He’s given us Marcus."
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