EWTN Press Release: 4/30/12

Another EWTN First:
EWTN Global Catholic Radio Network
Now Available on Roku
Radio Programs Available in English and in Spanish

Irondale, AL – EWTN Global Catholic Network is proud to announce that it is the first Catholic radio network to be available on Roku. Now Roku customers can hear the EWTN Global Catholic Radio Network (English) and EWTN Radio Católica Mundial (Spanish) through their Roku streaming players.

EWTN was also the first Catholic television network to launch on Roku in September 2011.

Featuring a starting price of $49.99, Roku players allow customers to stream movies and TV shows, live sports, music, games and more – all instantly on their TVs. EWTN can be found in the Roku “Channel Store” under the “Religion & Spirituality” category. Customers just click on an icon with the familiar EWTN cross and globe logo, below which is written “EWTN Global Catholic Television Network.” EWTN is a free channel.

“More than 2.5 million of these devices have been sold in the U. S. alone, making it very easy for people to stream Internet-delivered EWTN video programs to their television and to listen to EWTN radio,” said EWTN President and Chief Executive Officer Michael P. Warsaw. “This is just one more way for us to use cutting edge technology to spread the Gospel message. And, as always, there is no monthly cost for EWTN’s content. “

EWTN’s diverse radio programs include live call-in talk shows, news programs, teaching series with noted theologians, live coverage of the Pope and important Church events, a live daily Mass, devotions, concerts, music, and much more.

EWTN Global Catholic Network, in its 30th year, is available in over 200 million television households in more than 140 countries and territories. With its direct broadcast satellite television and radio services, AM & FM radio networks, worldwide short-wave radio station, Internet website www.ewtn.com, electronic and print news services, and publishing arm, EWTN is the largest religious media network in the world.

Mother Angelica Jackpot!

A few months ago a beloved uncle died after living a very long and happy life. Recently while cleaning out his house, my mother asked me if there were any items I'd like to keep from my uncle. He was a religious man (though not Catholic), so I was quickly drawn to his (and his deceased x-Catholic wife) collection of religious items...crosses, crucifixes and few statues. Then my father mentioned a shed full of books that I might like to look over. It was in this little shed, safely packed away among hundreds and hundreds of religious books, booklets, missals, novenas and cassette tapes that I hit the Mother Angelica jackpot!


I had read Raymond Arroyo's fantastic book on the biography of Mother Angelica so I recalled the part about Mother's booklets printed by her and her nuns, though I had never seen them- and I've looked believe me!
So imagine my great delight in this final gift my uncle left me in the form of over 30 Mother Angelica booklets printed from the 1960's and beyond! I am just thrilled to have these little gems and I am savoring reading them.

EWTN Press Release: 4/24/12

EWTN: Get to know a modern saint from people who actually knew her, download 18 FREE podcasts, learn how to pray better and more!

Irondale, AL – Get to know a modern saint from people who actually knew her! Tune in to “Love Is A Choice,” a glimpse into the life of St. Gianna Berretta Molla, through interviews with those who knew her, as well as excerpts from several letters she exchanged with her husband. Airs 10 p.m. ET, Friday, April 27 and 2 p.m. ET, Saturday, April 28 – exclusively on EWTN. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder. Watch the show, then purchase the DVD from the EWTN Religious Catalogue at http://bit.ly/Jq7SFn.

Get the lowdown on the New Roman Missal from leading Catholic theologians at the Fourth Fota Liturgical Conference in Cork, Ireland. The theme is “Benedict XVI and the Roman Missal.” Hear Rev. Dr. D. Vincent Twomey, SVD and Mr. Mark Dooley discuss Verbum Domini: Word and Rite in Ratzinger’s Sacramental Theology. Airs 1 p.m. ET, Tuesday, April 24, and 5 a.m. ET, Thursday, April 26 – exclusively on EWTN. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder.

“Mother Angelica Live” never gets old! In this week’s classic episode, Mother talks about a subject of interest to all of us: Living the Holy Life. Airs 8 p.m. ET, Tuesday, April 22 – where else but EWTN! Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder.

Most people who are trying to be holy want to know how to pray better. On this week’s “Threshold of Hope,” Father Mitch Pacwa discusses how we can be drawn into a conversation with the Lord through reading and meditating on the word of God. Airs 10 p.m. ET, Tuesday, April 22 – exclusively on EWTN. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder.

Would you like some irrefutable evidence that Christ’s death and resurrection -- the coming of One whose sacrifice would mean salvation for all -- was awaited throughout history by every people and nation? Then tune into this week’s “Bookmark” for Host Doug Keck’s discussion with Dr. Roy Varghese about his new book. “The Christ Connection: How the World Religions Prepared the Way for the Phenomenon of Jesus.” Airs 5:30 p.m. ET, Wednesday, April 25 – exclusively on EWTN. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder.

On the last episode of a popular but very secular legal drama, a judge asked one of the characters if she believed in hell. She said no. Maybe the writers of this series need to watch “Reality Check: The Last 4 Things” DVD, EWN’s April Home Video Highlight. Get EWTN’s exclusive five-part mini-series on Death, Judgment, Heaven, and Hell, hosted by Fr. Wade Menezes, CPM, by clicking here: http://bit.ly/JlsYAh.

What incredible FREE podcast does EWTN have for you this month? Believe it or not, it’s “Historic Catholic Converts,” an 18-part mini-series (18 episodes!) that traces the lives of British, American, French and German believers who, through God’s grace, made the spiritual and intellectual journey to Rome. Hear Fr. Conner give biographical sketches of these converts as well as their conversion stories. Find it here: http://bit.ly/9ck3Uu.

Find out what’s happening in Rome -- and much of the rest of Europe – in just a few minutes a day by logging onto EWTN Rome Bureau Chief Joan Lewis’ blog, “Joan Rome.” Find it here: http://bit.ly/bFl5ze.
The amazing Joanna Bogle’s blog, “A Catholic Journalist in London,” is always a good read! Find her here: http://bit.ly/h205bw.

Fr. Gerold Langsch visits the set of “EWTN Live” to discuss the important subject of character formation. Watch 8 p.m. ET, Wednesday, April 23 – exclusively on EWTN. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder.

Your Catholic vote matters...eternally.

Did Catholics change the Sabbath?

The following question was asked on one of Connecticut Catholic Corner's Youtube videos...

NadinaFraser29 asked: Is it true that the Catholic's changed the Shabbat from Saturday to Sunday? And if the answer is yes, how does that differ from the Crucifixion. The established word of God in anyway changed by man is the Crucifying of Jesus all over again because He died for the truth which is The Word of God.

Deacon Ron answers: First of all Christ died for the salvation of our souls, not to preserve any particular truth or to make any kind of a statement.

If I understand your question properly you are questioning why Catholics keep Sunday as the Sabbath and not Saturday. I will try to explain.

There seems to be some confusion here about "the seventh day" and "Shabbat". Although often used interchangeably in modern times, the concepts are not exactly identical. Shabbat is the Jewish observance of the seventh day as a day of rest. It does not mean the seventh day itself. "Seventh” is not a direct translation of "Shabbat".

This observance is done in response to the Lord's commandment to keep the seventh day holy. But what is the seventh day? If you consider Sunday to be the first day of the week, then the seventh day is Saturday. But if you consider Monday to be the first day of the week, then the seventh day is Sunday. The ancient Jews considered Sunday to be the first day of the week as a matter of human tradition. It was not ordained so by God.

How would the ancient Jews know on what day to begin the count of the seven days? The bible does not specifically say that the first day of creation was a Sunday. If you interpret the bible literally starting from the day that Christ died, which is known to be a Friday, and count back all the years, months, and days back to the day of creation, then the first day of creation actually calculates out to be a Thursday!

Catholics, in fact all Christians, keep the seventh day as holy, Except for Seventh day Adventist, all Christians begin the count of seven with Monday so that the seventh day coincides with the resurrection of Christ. How fitting that our holiest day of the week coincides with the holiest event in our Christian faith!

It is true that our calendar week begins on Sunday, but so what? Socially and economically our first day of the week is Monday. What day we begin the seven day count on is not specified in scripture and what we call the first day of the week is irrelevant. What matters is the every seventh day we take time to out to take care of our spiritual lives, to rest from our work, and worship God.

If I have mis-understood your question, please clarify.

God Bless, you,

Deacon Ron
[Deacon Ron is a contributor for Connecticut Catholic Corner]

EWTN Facebook Posts: 4/19/12

From the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast to
Rebuilding the Faith in the Ukraine


Irondale, AL – It could be the most important program you watch all year – and you can only see it on EWTN! The Eighth Annual “National Prayer Breakfast” will feature three Catholic luminaries talking about the most important subject in the world – worldwide threats to religious freedom! Airs 9 a.m. ET, Friday, April 20 and 1 p.m. ET, Saturday, April 21. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder.

More than 70 years of Communist rule made open religious training impossible in the Ukraine. In “Rebuilding the Faith – Ukraine – Lviv Seminary,” you’ll learn what the re-opening of this Seminary means to the people of this embattled country. Airs 3 a.m. ET and 6:30 p.m. ET, Friday, April 20 – exclusively on EWTN. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder.

Pope Benedict XVI was born in the German village of Marktl. Find out what happened in the village since Jospeh Ratzinger was elected Pope in April 2005 in the upcoming EWTN special, “Marktl: The Small Village and Its Pope.” Airs 1 p.m. ET, Friday, April 20 and 2 a.m. ET, Saturday, April 21 – exclusively on EWTN. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder.

St. Gianna Berretta Molla is a modern saint. Find out more about her through interviews with those who actually knew her as well as from excerpts from letters she exchanged with her husband in “Love is a Choice.” Airs 2 a.m. ET, Sunday, April 22, 10 p.m. ET, Friday, April 27, and 2 p.m. ET, Saturday, April 28 – exclusively on EWTN. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channefinder.

Love Gregorian chant? Then tune in to “Gregorian Chant from the Choir of the Monks of the Abbey of Solesmes” to hear musical pieces from a Gregorian Mass interspersed with beautiful scenes from different monasteries in Spain. Airs 1:30 p.m. ET, Sunday, April 22 – exclusively on EWTN. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder.

Learn more about the New Roman Missal when EWTN goes on location to the Fourth Fota Liturgical Conference, where the theme was “Benedict XVI and the Roman Missal.” Hear Rev. Dr. Vincent Twomey, SVD and Mark Dooley discuss Verbum Domini: Word and Rite in Ratzigner's Sacramental Theology. This one-hour special airs 10 p.m. ET, Sunday, April 22; 1 p.m. ET, Tuesday, April 24; and 5 a.m. ET, Thursday, April 26 – exclusively on EWTN. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder.

Fr. Werenfried van Straaten became known as ‘The Bacon Priest’ when in 1947 he encouraged the donation of bacon to help feed Rucksack priests ministering to Catholics who had been relocated to exclusively Protestant areas of post-war Germany. Find out more about this amazing cleric in “The Bacon Priest.” Airs 3 a.m. ET and 6:30 p.m. ET, Monday, April 23 – exclusively on EWTN. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder.

Get to know more about the founders of some of the Church’s greatest orders: the Dominicans, the Benedictines, the Franciscans, the Jesuits, and the Cisterians – in “Founders of Church Orders.” Airs 3 a.m. ET and 6:30 p.m. ET, April 25, 26, 27, 30 and May 1 – exclusively on EWTN. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder.

It’s one of the best movies ever made about the young man who would become Pope John Paul II. Don’t miss this airing of “Karol – A Man Who Became Pope.” Airs 1 p.m. ET, Wednesday, April 25, and 8 p.m. ET, Saturday, April 28 – exclusively on EWTN. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder.

If you missed this the first time it aired, you seriously do NOT want to miss it again. “What Every Catholic Needs To Know About the Bible” is one of the most interesting programs you will ever see on this topic! Tape it, watch it, share it – whatever you do, don’t miss it! It’s only one hour – and it’s an hour well spent! Airs 2 a.m. ET, Sunday, April 29; 10 p.m. ET, Friday, May 4, and 2 p.m. ET, Saturday, May 5 – exclusively on EWTN. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder.

Did you know that people throughout history in every nation on earth awaited the coming of “One” whose sacrifice would mean salvation for all! Get the irrefutable evidence when Dr. Roy Varghese visits Host Doug Keck on the set of EWTN’s “Bookmark.” Airs 9:30 a.m. ET and 11:30 p.m. ET, Sunday, April 22; 5 a.m. ET, Monday, April 23; and 5:30 p.m. ET, Wednesday, April 25 – exclusively on EWTN. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder.

Exclusive: EWTN To Air National Catholic Prayer Breakfast

Three Stellar Speakers To Address Threats to Religious Freedom

Irondale, AL – Recent events have made this week’s “National Catholic Prayer Breakfast” the most important in our collective lifetimes – and you will only be able to view it on the EWTN Global Catholic Network.

People of faith know they are faced with a dire situation not only in the U.S. but around the world and the theme of the breakfast – Religious Liberty: Threatened At Home & Abroad – reflects that fact. The two-hour televised event will take place at Marriott Wardman Park in Washington, D.C. and will be attended by delegates from around the world, who will meet for prayer and discussion.

Tune into EWTN television at 9 a.m. ET, Friday, April 20 (or 1 p.m. ET, Saturday, April 21, for the encore) or to the EWTN Radio Network at 9 a.m. ET, Saturday, April 21, to hear about the threats to our religious freedom from the perspective of three luminaries of the Catholic faith.

Archbishop Francis A. Chullikatt, Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations and former Apostolic Nuncio to Iraq and Jordan, will deliver the keynote address. Knights of Columbus Supreme Knight Carl A. Anderson will precede him as the guest speaker, while Mother Agnes Mary Donovan, Superior General of the Sisters of Life, will end the program with a reflection.

Watch or listen on EWTN television (find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder), on the Internet http://origin.ewtn.com/audiovideo/index.asp), on shortwave (http://www.ewtn.com/radio/freq.htm), on EWTN mobile (http://www.ewtn.com/mobi/), on the EWTN Radio Network via our affiliates (http://www.ewtn.com/radio/amfm.htm), or on satellite radio (http://www.sirius.com/ewtn).

EWTN Global Catholic Network, in its 30th year, is available in over 200 million television households in more than 140 countries and territories. With its direct broadcast satellite television and radio services, AM & FM radio networks, worldwide short-wave radio station, Internet website www.ewtn.com, electronic and print news services, and publishing arm, EWTN is the largest religious media network in the world.

Bring on your questions!

Connecticut Catholic Corner will soon have a new feature allowing readers to ask and have questions answered by a member of Catholic clergy- specifically Deacon Ron.

In the past, I have answered assorted questions as a Catholic lay person and I will continue to do that when questions are specifically asked of me. If you'd like to have your question answered by a member of the clergy, please put "Deacon Ron" in the subject area of the email. If you'd like to hear from both myself and Deacon Ron, merely put "question" in the subject area. All emails should go to: CtCatholicCorner@AOL(dot)com

Thanks!
Julie
Connecticut Catholic Corner

EWTN Exclusive

Exclusive:
EWTN To Air Special Divine Mercy Preview/Mass
It Will Change The Way You View Divine Mercy


Irondale, AL – This Sunday on EWTN: Find out what you need to know about a comprehensive new program that will change the way you view Divine Mercy!

During the “Divine Mercy Preview Show,” a one-hour special which airs live from the National Shrine of The Divine Mercy in Stockbridge, Mass., the Marians of the Immaculate Conception, the order entrusted with the Divine Mercy message, will launch their new program, “Hearts Afire.” The program begins at 12 p.m. ET, Sunday, April 15, with an encore at 12 a.m. ET, Monday, April 16. Both airings will be followed by the Mass and Celebration of Divine Mercy.

You’ll hear from a number of outstanding guests including Ralph Martin, Associate Professor of Theology at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit and Director of Graduate Theology Programs in the New Evangelization, who will discuss what Pope Benedict’s recently announced “New Evangelization Synod” means for the universal Church. Other topics include evangelization in the parish and evangelization in the family.

But the heart of the program -- which comes on the 10thanniversary of the late Pope John Paul II’s entrustment of the world to Divine Mercy -- is the introduction of the Marian’s new parish-based program, “Hearts Afire!” The program aims to set you afire with love for Jesus through Mary -- which has been described as “the surest, easiest, shortest, and the most perfect means” of becoming a saint.

So gather your friends for what could be the most fruitful Sunday of your life!

EWTN Global Catholic Network, in its 30th year, is available in over 200 million television households in more than 140 countries and territories. With its direct broadcast satellite television and radio services, AM & FM radio networks, worldwide short-wave radio station, Internet website www.ewtn.com, electronic and print news services, and publishing arm, EWTN is the largest religious media network in the world.

The Catholic View from Catholic Clergy: The Crucifixion of Jesus

Written by: Contributor Deacon Ron

Sin entered the world and came into our lives as a result of the original sin committed by Adam and Eve. Jesus saves us by counteracting or balancing out what, Adam and Eve did.

When Adam and Eve sinned, their motivation was pride. They wanted to be more than they were. In their pride, they thought they deserved to be more. They wanted to be like God. Because of the lie told to them by Satan, they thought they had to eat the Fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil so that they could be just like God. However, being creatures rather than the creator they could never be just like God, but only resemble him.

Knowing the problems that the Knowledge of good and evil would cause the human race, God forbade them to eat the fruit of that tree. To eat the forbidden fruit, they had to put God’s will aside and replace it with their own will, believing it would make them like God. Having replaced God’s will with their own, they committed the Original Sin.

To undo this, Jesus had to do just the opposite. He had to put his human will aside and accept God’s will. This is what he did during the in the Garden of Gethsemane on the night he was arrested. Then to undo the pride of Adam and Eve, Christ had to suffer humiliation. Jesus allowed himself to be arrested, though innocent of any wrong doing. The Roman soldiers stripped him and put a cloak on him, pretending it was the royal robe of a king. Then they taunted and teased him, pretending he was their king, attempting to humiliate him.

The sinful act of Adam and Eve required the use of their hands. They had to pick the forbidden fruit and eat it. The Roman soldiers put a reed in the hand of Jesus. The Romans pretended it was a royal scepter, again mocking him as king. It was no good to Jesus, since it is just a useless weed. The fruit eaten by Adam and Eve also did them no good, instead it brought them sin and damnation.

Then the Romans chained our Lord to a pillar and whipped him without mercy, punishing his body. The sin of Adam and Eve required the use of their bodies. The punishment of their bodies was that they were banished from the Garden of Eden and had from then on had to work for their food.

However, a human being not just a body, for we have mind and spirit, that is to say, a soul. To punish only the body is to punish only half a person. The punishment of the mind and spirit, the soul of Adam and Eve, was that they no longer had such an intimate connection with God. They were now separated from him by their sin. Jesus also experienced a punishment of mind and spirit. For him, it was the Way of the Cross.

This was accomplished as he carried his cross to the place of crucifixion. On the way, he met his mother. Imagine her pain and suffering knowing that her only son was to be executed by the cruelest punishment the Romans could devise. Now imagine Jesus knowing his mothers pain, knowing he was the reason for her pain, and knowing how the sight of him, covered in blood from the whipping, must have made her feel. Jesus knew these things and it could only have been extreme anguish for him. This was his punishment of his mind and spirit.

At the place of the crucifixion, Jesus was nailed to the cross. St Paul called it a tree. It is in fact the Tree of Life. This is because it is through the cross that we have eternal life. By his death on the cross and his resurrection, we have redemption for our sins and therefore eternal life in heaven.

There was a tree of life in the Garden of Eden also. God banished Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden so that they could not eat the fruit of that Tree of Life. This was necessary because salvation could come only through Jesus Christ and only at the time deemed proper by the Lord.

Through the Mass we are present at the crucifixion and experience its salvation. At Mass, the body of Christ is broken and his blood is separate from his body, just as his body was damaged on the cross and his blood then flowed out of him. Thus, every time we participate in Mass, we are present at the Crucifixion of Christ.

Our first motivation for not sinning is that we ourselves do not want to spend eternity in hell. That is a good and valid motivation. However, if we love someone we do not want him or her to suffer. When we truly love someone, we may even wish to take the suffering upon ourselves so that they do not have to suffer. Knowing that it is because of our sins that Christ had to suffer, in our love for him, we want to reduce his suffering. Therefore, our love for Jesus is another motivation to not sin. Ultimately the responsibility for his suffering is ours. If we truly accept that responsibility, then we are motivated to resist temptation and to not sin.

The willingness of Christ to suffer for us is a loud and clear statement of his love for us and the ultimate example of how we are to love one another. Jesus does not hate us because we make him suffer. He wants no revenge and he does not harbor any anger towards us for causing his suffering. He is the perfect example of how forgiving we must be toward one another.

On every Good Friday, let us pause a moment and reflect on how the crucifixion of Jesus atoned for our sins by undoing what Adam and Eve did. But let us also reflect on the love and forgiveness that our savior is showing us, and then let us show it to one another.

-Contributor Deacon Ron-

Reflections of Holy Thursday & Good Friday

Last night was Holy Thursday…one of my favorite days of the entire year and also one of the saddest. It remains a favorite of mine because of what Christ was doing and was about to do for love of mankind. I can’t help but think it must have been a moment of His life on earth that he most looked forward to and most dreaded. He knew soon his work on earth would be complete “It is finished” and he’d return to the Father in Heaven. That must have caused him great joy and happiness. Yet first he would have to suffer in all ways. He was to be humiliated, spat upon, mocked, ridiculed, betrayed, abandoned, whipped, beaten, tortured and nailed to wood suspended into the air for all to watch him slowly give up his life. The horror of that must have been overwhelming...but not more overwhelming than Christ's love for us.

It saddens me to see Holy Thursday parishes with empty seats. Christ went through ALL of that for love of us and some people can’t be bothered to even show up to reflect, celebrate and worship Him. How that must wound Him- again. Has he not suffered enough for us all already?

At the end of Holy Thursday mass Christ in the Eucharist is placed in the Repository (side altar). There the Eucharist is reposed “at rest” until the Easter Vigil. The altar is now stripped bare, during this time people are asked to remain completely silent in honor of Christ (don’t get me started on those who ignore this request), while we adore Him and pray. I love this time- perhaps it is my favorite time of the entire year within the Church as the silence after such a moving and emotional mass gives me great depth in reflection. I am an easily distracted person, so the silence is particularly helpful to me in my worship and prayer time.

Soon parish volunteers silently begin to finish the stripping of the altar until the lights dim and we are left with flickering candles around the Repository and people on their knees adoring, worshiping and praying to Christ. 'What a wonderful time to be Catholic!' my heart is singing as I kneel and thank Jesus for his tremendous suffering! To have Holy Thursday in the Catholic Church is truly an awe inspiring event to look forward to each year.

Reflections on Good Friday

I had never participated in a Way of the Cross walk until I became a Catholic. I could have, it’s certainly not limited to Catholics alone. As a matter of fact in my town we have an Ecumenical Way of the Cross walk at noon each Good Friday. The walk is open to our town and surrounding towns with several churches and Catholic parishes working together to make our way of the Cross starting from one church and ending at another, reading scriptures, praying and singing along the way. My two favorite songs for this are “Lord of the Dance “(which we begin with) and “Were you there when they crucified my Lord?” which we end with.


These photos are from the noon Ecumenical Way of the Cross walk today in the town of Durham, Ct. The walk began at Notre Dame Catholic Parish, stopped in front of the United Churches of Durham and ended at The Church of the Epiphany (Episcopal) in Durham. Middlefield churches also participated in the walk.






But Good Friday is more than cross walking…it’s the day Christ gave up his life, becoming our sacrifice. He took up his cross for us…we must ask ourselves…are we taking up our own crosses for Him?
[ The Way of the Cross ] Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." [Mark 8:34]

National Catholic Register Press Release: April 3, 2012

The National Catholic Register Wins Best Catholic Newspaper Award for Two Consecutive Years

Irondale, AL – The National Catholic Register has won the About.com 2012 Readers’ Choice Award for Best Catholic Newspaper for the second year in a row. Now in its fifth year, the About.com Readers’ Choice Awards honor the best products, features and services across more than a dozen categories, ranging from technology to hobbies to parenting and more, as selected by About.com readers. The Register was nominated in five different categories.

“This year’s Readers’ Choice Awards program had a record number of nominations submitted across dozens of categories and featured hundreds of finalists,” said Margot Weiss, managing editor of About.com. “We are thankful to all our readers for their participation and congratulate the National Catholic Register on their success.”

The National Catholic Register has been under the direction of EWTN Global Catholic Network since February, 2011. “Just over a year ago, the Register became an important part of the EWTN family. This award is a great affirmation that the content of the Register continues to meet the needs of the faithful as they grapple with the challenges of our times,” said Michael Warsaw, EWTN’s president and chief executive officer and the publisher of the National Catholic Register.

“All signs are pointing upwards for the Register,” said Dan Burke, executive director of the National Catholic Register. “We continue to beat our monthly subscription goals, which is remarkable for a print publication in this day and age.”

The Register’s mission is to deliver a measure of hope and confidence in every issue and combat the culture’s aggressive disregard for the sanctity of human life, traditional family values and reverence for our faith. “The impact that the Register is able to have on the Church — by informing and inspiring people about the key issues of the day — is a blessing our entire team is proud to be a part of,” said Warsaw. “We pray that God continues to bless our efforts, as we work in faith to be the newspaper of record for the Church in America.”

To view the the Register’s award please visit http://catholicism.about.com/od/Readers-Choice-Awards-2012/ss/2012-About-Catholicism-Readers-Choice-Awards-Winners_7.htm.

About EWTN:
EWTN Global Catholic Network, in its 30th year, is available in more than 200 million television households in more than 140 countries and territories. With its direct broadcast satellite television and radio services, AM & FM radio networks, worldwide short-wave radio station, Internet website www.ewtn.com, electronic and print news services, and publishing arm, EWTN is the largest religious media network in the world.

About the National Catholic Register:
The National Catholic Register (www.NCRegister.com) provides its readers withtimely news reporting from across the United States, the Vatican, and around the world. As the newspaper of record for the Catholic Church in America, the Register and its online presence, NCRegister.com, have become America’s most complete and faithful Catholic news source. It is published bi-weekly, 26 issues per year. To find out more about the Register, go to: NCRegister.com/info/about_the_register To learn more about Register Radio, go to: NCRegister.com/RegisterRadio

EWTN Press Release: April 3, 2012

Teaching Children About Good Friday, The Value of Suffering, Aiding the Souls in Purgatory

Irondale, AL – Fire up your video recorders and follow the “Passion of Christ According to St. Francis.” In this program, Scriptural meditations on Christ’s sufferings are presented alongside a striking 14th Century fresco cycle of Assisi’s traditional Good Friday Procession. Airs 3:30 a.m. ET, Friday, April 6 – exclusively on EWTN. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder.

Having a hard time finding value in your suffering? Be inspired by our late pope in this wonderful program: “John Paul II and the Sick: The Value of Suffering.” You’ll journey with JPII around the world as he reaches out with the love of Christ to the sick and suffering and calls us, as Jesus did, to do the same. Airs 11:30 p.m. ET, Wednesday, April 4 – exclusively on EWTN. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder.

How can you help the poor souls in Purgatory – and how can they help you? Watch “Bookmark” this week with guest Susan Tassone, author of “Praying with the Saints for the Holy Souls in Purgatory.” Tassonetells Host Doug Keck about the experiences of the saints with the suffering souls, the power of the Mass as the supreme intercessory prayer, and explains such concepts as accidental grace. Airs 5;30 p.m. ET, Wednesday, April 4 – exclusively on EWTN. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder,

Charm your children – and yourself – into learning about Divine Mercy by watching EWTN’s new animated special, “The Divine Mercy Chaplet for Kids.” In this program, St. Faustina teaches her young friends about the Divine Mercy Devotion and how to pray the Divine Mercy Chaplet. Airs 4:30 p.m. ET, Wednesday, April 4 – exclusively on EWTN. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder,

Help your children understand the supreme importance of Good Friday in Catholic life and liturgy! Tune into “Truth in the Heart’ with Sister Mary Joseph. Airs 5 p.m. ET, Wednesday, April 4 – exclusively on EWTN. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder.

Having trouble getting your children to go to Mass? Then tune in to the program, “The Holy Mass,” a reverent animated account of a young man's realization of the meaning of the Mass for him. Airs 9 a.m. ET, Saturday, April 7 – exclusively on EWTN. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder.

It’s brand new – and your kids will love it! Tune into “The Way of the Cross for Kids.” Airs 4 p.m. ET, Thursday, April 5 and 7 a.m. ET, Friday, April 6 – exclusively on EWTN. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder.

On Good Friday, you won’t want to miss “Choral Meditations on the Passion of Christ” straight from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Airs 6 p.m. ET, Friday, April 6. The meditations are immediately followed by the “Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion” at 6:30 p.m. ET. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder.

Watch EWTN during the Easter Triduum as we air LIVE Masses with Pope Benedict from Rome! Here’s the line-up:
Chrism Mass airs 3:30 a.m. ET, Thursday, April 5;
Solemn Mass of the Lord’s Supper airs 12:00 a.m. ET, Friday, April 6;
Celebration of the Lord’s Passion airs 11 a.m. ET, Friday, April 6, with an encore at 2 a.m. ET, Saturday, April 7;
Easter Vigil Mass airs 3 p.m. ET, Saturday, April 7, with an encore at 12 a.m. ET, Sunday, April 8; and
Solemn Mass of Easter Sunday airs 4 a.m. ET, Sunday, April 8, with an encore at 7 p.m. ET.
Hear the Pope’s Easter message to the world! Watch “Urbi Et Orbi: Message and Blessing” on EWTN. Airs 6 a.m. ET, Sunday, April 8, with encores at 6 p.m. ET, Sunday, April 8, 2 a.m. ET, Monday, April 9, and 6 p.m. ET, Saturday, April 14 on EWTN. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder.

How do you know that your Catholic conscience has been properly formed? Watch “EWTN Theology Roundtable” with EWTN Vice President of Theology Colin Donovan and his staff as they discuss how to form a Catholic conscience. Airs 10 p.m. ET, Sunday, April 8; 1 p.m. ET, Tuesday, April 10; and 5 a.m. ET, Thursday, April 12 – exclusively on EWTN. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder.

Don’t miss the “Catholic Action Insight” interview with Archbishop Raymond Burke in advance of the nationwide elections in the U.S. The Archbishop encourages voters to select candidates using Catholic moral principles. Airs 2:30 p.m. ET, Wednesday, April 11; and 9 p.m. ET, Friday, April 13 – exclusively on EWTN. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder.

Join the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word on Good Friday for the Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion at 4 p.m. ET, and for Easter Sunday Mass at 8 a.m. ET – exclusively on EWTN! Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder.

Don’t miss “Choral Meditations and Solemn Mass of the Lord’s Supper” live from the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception with Archbishop Carlo Maria Viganò. Airs 5:30 p.m. ET, Thursday, April 5 – exclusively on EWTN. Find EWTN at www.ewtn.com/channelfinder.

Were you there, when they crucified my Lord?

I have gotten several requests from churches for permission to use my "Were you there, when they crucified my Lord?" Youtube video. I am happy to allow churches to share this video with their parishes and congregations.


Happy Holy Week and God bless!