In a Feb. 3, 1989 edition of The Torch, the weekly campus newspaper at Valparaiso University, freshman class “cub reporter” Phil Potempa (that’s me) had a byline story interview with “shock jock” Kevin Matthews.
Matthews was age 33 at the time and the top radio personality on WLUP-AM “The LOOP” broadcasting from downtown Chicago while also dabbling in stand-up comedy, touring on nights and weekends. For Feb. 10, 1989, he was booked to perform his comedy act on stage at the VU Student Union with tickets priced at $5 for the community and $3 for students.
As described in my story from nearly four decades ago, at the time, Matthews was billed and branded as “outrageous,” and my interview details: “He is known for his impersonations of everyone from Pee Wee Herman, Led Zeppelin and Barney Fife to his own creations such as Jim Shorts and Mr. Stupid.”
He reminded me during our phone chat that before his time at WLUP (where he started in March 1987 and eventually stayed for 12 years), that station had originally been under the “call letters” of WCFL-AM and programmed as a religious music station. “Kev” christened his devoted followers, fans and groupies as “Kev-Heads.” My story noted that proceeds from his show would benefit Lutheran Family Services of Northwest Indiana.
Fast forward 37 years.
Matthews, who turns 70 in a couple weeks on March 12, seems like a new man.
He has stepped away from radio broadcasting the past few years to devote his time as an executive producer to star in his own documentary focusing on his faith journey titled “Broken Mary: The Kevin Matthews Story.” He released the film to limited distribution in theaters around the country last year on Oct. 7, 2025. A month early, a 112-page companion print paperback ($14.99) with the same title was authored by Aeliana Veyra and included Matthews’ life pivot after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis in December 2008.
The catalyst Matthews credits for his life and career transition (the latter aimed now with focus as a popular booked speaker on the lecture circuit) is from his 2010 encounter with a “broken” statue of the Virgin Mary that he noticed discarded in a city alley. He retrieved the statue and began to repair it while embracing it as a symbol that it was also time for him to repair his own life and faith connections.
Earlier this month, on Feb. 11, Pope Leo XIV met with Matthews at The Vatican and blessed the “Broken Mary” statue, which, when not traveling with Matthews, resides at Matthews’ hometown parish, St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Mark your calendars for Matthews to be in Northwest Indiana this summer with the statue, his presentation and a documentary screening on June 13 at St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church, 1506 Washington St. in Michigan City, with details at https://ststanschurch.com/ or call 219-879-9281.
POPE ‘NO AI’
The day after Ash Wednesday mass at the Basilica of Santa Sabina, Pope Leo XIV held a closed-door meeting Feb. 19 with top clergy from the Diocese of Rome and beyond to give the dictate “urging priests to not to use artificial intelligence (AI) to write their homilies or to seek ‘likes’ on social media platforms, specifically mentioning TikTok,” according to a report published on Feb. 21 by The National Catholic Reporter.
The Pope said priests should resist “the temptation to prepare homilies with artificial intelligence.”
“Like all the muscles in the body, if we do not use them, if we do not move them, they die,” he said, as also quoted by The Vatican News on Feb. 20.
“The brain needs to be used, so our intelligence must also be exercised a little so as not to lose this capacity. To give a true homily is to share faith, and artificial intelligence will never be able to share faith.”
DINNER INVITATIONS
When I had Chef Gabe Rosado of Hartsfield Village on my weekly Of Notoriety radio show on WJOB 1230 AM earlier this week, he announced the good news that tickets for this year’s 25th Annual Meals on Wheels NWI Dine with the Chefs on Sunday, March 1, have sold out at a record capacity of 450 guests. Last year’s event generated more than $178,000 for the nonprofit organization.
But there’s still time for the Valparaiso University International Students’ Association’s 46th annual World Banquet Sunday. The event is hosted in the Harre Union Ballrooms from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and this year is themed “enchanted forest.” In addition to a sampling of international cuisine favorites, the night includes a variety of performances and cultural activities. Tickets for the general public are $15 and must be purchased in advance, available at the Harre Union Welcome Desk or by calling 219-464-5333 or https://vivenu.com/event/visa-world-banquet-2026-lq24jv.
‘BERNADETTE’ BUS
The Militia of the Immaculata of the Carmelite Shrine in Munster is hosting a Lenten excursion to Chicago next month to see “Bernadette, The Musical” for the matinee performance Saturday, March 14. The two motorcoaches will depart at noon from the Carmelite Fathers Monastery, 1628 Ridge Road in Munster, for the 2 p.m. performance at Chicago’s Athenaeum Center and will return at approximately 5:30 p.m. Suitable for all ages, the musical stars French actress Eyma in the title role, and the show is co-produced by actor Kelsey Grammer. Billed as “a powerful and deeply-moving theatrical production,” it brings to the stage the extraordinary story of Bernadette Soubirous, the young girl whose Marian apparitions she encountered in Lourdes in 1858, which “forever changed the spiritual landscape of the world.” The cost is $65 per person and includes transportation and one balcony ticket. For more information or to make reservations, call Joe Cascone at 708-560-7767 or email him at casconejoe@outlook.com.
Philip Potempa is a journalist, published author and radio show host on WJOB 1230 AM. He can be reached at PhilPotempa@gmail.com.
