In Praise of Christian Media

A silver lining of the current lockdown is the increased focus that it has placed on Christian media and internet resources and an increased appreciation of the contribution that they make.

Long before the lockdown, of course, Christian papers like the Irish Catholic or magazines like this one or the Sacred Heart Messenger and Christian radio stations like Radio Maria and Spirit Radio had a significant outreach but this outreach has now arguably become more important than ever. In the case of newspapers and magazines, full or digital subscriptions represent a workable alternative where it is no longer easy to access the printed copy in shops or churches.

A major international player in the world of Christian media is the US-based Eternal Word Television Network or EWTN (ewtn.com). Founded by Mother Angelica on a shoestring in 1981, it has grown into a major global network. I very much appreciate its presence at major moments in the life of the Church, such as the Good Friday celebrations from Rome or those times when the Pope goes on pastoral visit or pilgrimage around the world.

Having once lived in France, I have a strong interest in Catholic media there, some of which are quite advanced in their development and represent an interesting model for other countries, particularly as they were developed in a secularised society. Thus, the Catholic broadcaster KTO (ktotv.com), which was established in 1999, provides highly professional coverage of major Masses from across France and from the Vatican as well as the Prayer of the Church from various monasteries and a host of other programmes.

The Catholic radio station, Radio Notre Dame (radionotredame.net), which was founded by Cardinal Lustiger in the 1980s, has an extensive daily schedule, including Mass and other religious services as well as an impressive cultural output, covering travel, cinema, history and many other spheres. Both stations also cover current affairs in a highly professional way – I recall in this context the fair but searching interviews with the leader of L’Arche on both channels at the time of the recent Jean Vanier report.

France is also blessed with many high-quality periodicals like the monthly magazine, La Nef (lanef.net), the fortnightly, L’Homme Nouveau (hommenouveau.fr) and the weekly magazine, Famille Chrétienne (famillechretienne.fr).

While this article is focusing on specifically Christian media, the national broadcaster also deserves a mention. At times in Ireland, in recent decades, one has had an impression of parallel universes at play – for example, there was, on the one hand, the world according to RTÉ and, on the other,  the day-to-day life of the Catholic population. To be fair, one should acknowledge here the excellent coverage on RTÉ over the decades of Mass on Sunday or Holy Days or of major Masses from Rome. Nevertheless, it has also been true in Ireland in my lifetime that thousands might attend a Novena in Knock or Clonard or Galway and that this would pass largely unnoticed by the national broadcaster.

A pleasing aspect of the current crisis is that the day-to-day life and practice of many people have received more attention from the State broadcaster. One should mention here specifically the very welcome and very professional coverage of daily Mass during the lockdown on the RTÉ News Now channel. This has clearly met a strong need of people around the country to pray and stay in contact with the Mass even where physical attendance is impossible.

Finally, this lockdown writer would like to express appreciation for the wonderful work of the website, Church Services TV (churchservices.tv), which was established as far back as 2005 to stream Church services over the Internet and to expand the reach of parishes and other religious organizations.  It could be said to have come into its own in the current crisis and it now makes available Mass and other religious services from across Ireland and the UK.

While my parish also has its own website, the churchservices.tv website has facilitated my virtual attendance at Mass in my own parish and in many other parishes throughout the country. I have drawn nourishment, for example, thanks to this website, from “virtually” attending Night Prayer from Letterkenny Cathedral, led by Bishop McGuckian, which has been a source of nourishment and support during the lockdown.

One has had a strong sense at this Night Prayer, as well as in many other services accessed through the same website, of being part of a community of prayer and worship, even when one cannot see one’s fellow-worshippers!