Winter 2014

in this issue . . .

Celebrate!A neWsletter for vieWers And friends of the sundAy tv MAss

The Sunday TV Mass airs every Sunday morning on WDCW-50 at 10:30 a.m.

Production CrewProducer & Director:

John CapobiancoTechnical Director: Stefano Flori

Audio: Nathan BarkCameras: Tom Everly,

John Landers & Gonzalo AccameEngineer: Mike Skehan Editor: Brian Burgess

Floor Director: Bob HemmerichMusic Coordinator:

Garrett Boyer

A look Back at the tv Mass

Continued...A look Back at the tv Mass

A lenten Prayer

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A Look Back at the Sunday TV Massas the Archdiocese of Washington

Celebrates 75 Years

As the Archdiocese of Washington celebrates its 75th anniversary this year, we'll take a look back at the history of the Sunday TV Mass.

By 1955, half of all U.S. households had television sets. A few years earlier, seeing the growing popularity of television and realizing how it could bring the the liturgy directly into the homes of those who could not get to Mass, the archdiocese aired its first televised Mass on Oct. 5, 1952. This momentous occasion - one of the first ventures of its kind in the nation - was the result of the pioneering efforts of Fr. Raymond P. Cahill, then archdiocesan Director of Television Communications.

It broadcast as a public service and aired on WNBW from a specially constructed studio chapel at the Wardman Park Hotel. "Christ comes to a ballroom every Sunday morning for 39 weeks of the year and from there visits the homes and bedsides of the halt and the infirm, the aged and the uninstructed," wrote Fr. Cahill in an article on the Mass for Shut-Ins, as it was then called, in the 1953 fall issue of the John Carroll Quarterly.

"One Washington physician wrote directly to the studio to tell NBC how the new program benefited his patients who were upset because they could not take care of their regular religious duties.

"Having worked with and for the handicapped the past 15 years, I know that the one thing they most want is to be like

everyone else. The priest can take the sacraments to the homebound, but only the modern miracle of television can bring the Mass. This fills a void in the lives of thousands and makes them more 'like everyone else,'" Fr. Cahill wrote.

By 1993, television stations were no longer required to donate hours of airtime as a community service. At that time, the Mass aired on WUSA-TV, which also donated free studio space for the taping. WUSA-TV agreed to

continue broadcasting the Mass for free but wanted the studio space back to house a permanent set for a new daily program.

At Cardinal James Hickey's suggestion, the TV Mass finally found a church home in the Crypt Church at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in 1993. A real altar and wooden pews with kneelers replaced the makeshift altar that had to be moved after tapings and folding metal chairs for the congregation that had been used at the studio.

"It was always our dream to record from a real church, and now

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through the grace of God, we're not just in a church, but in the Basilica of the National Shrine. It is a blessing," said John Capobianco at the time. Capobianco has produced the TV Mass since 1988.

The Basilica had to invest in permanent professional television lighting for the Crypt Church, and the archdiocese had to invest in camera and sound equipment and a crew to implement a professional broadcast. The new location provided room for bigger choirs and enabled church musicians to play a pipe organ during the Mass instead of a piano.

Three years later, WUSA-TV discontinued offering free airtime for the TV Mass. In the fall of 1996, the Mass began airing on Howard University's Channel 32 and remained on that station until 2009 when all PBS stations were prohibited from airing religious programming. That year, the TV Mass found a new home on WDCW-50, where it remains today.

Cardinal James HickeyA Tireless Advocate of the TV Mass

Cardinal James Hickey served as the archbishop of Washington from 1980-2000. He was a champion of the TV Mass, always striving to make the liturgy available to as many Catholics as possible, especially the elderly and physically impaired.

During his 20 years as archbishop, the Sunday TV Mass underwent a series of transformations and challenges, including having to find new recording spaces and new channels to air the Mass. "Cardinal Hickey really saved the TV Mass. When the whole industry was changing, he refused to give up," said Capobianco. "He not only stepped up to the plate, but enhanced the ministry and put it on a solid footing."

During the last year of his life, as his health seriously declined, Cardinal Hickey became homebound and was cared for by the Little Sisters of the Poor. When he was unable to attend daily Mass in the sisters' chapel, he watched the liturgy on a closed-circuit television in his room. Although it was not the Mass televised by the archdiocese, the Little Sisters of the Poor were doing for their residents what Cardinal Hickey had done for the whole archdiocese.

When Cardinal Hickey passed away in 2004, Msgr. Kevin Hart, who had served as one of his priest secretaries, said Cardinal Hickey would rely on the prayers of the area's thousands of homebound Catholics. "The Mass is the best of all possible ways to remember the deceased," he said.

Continued....A Look Back at the TV Mass

Finding your nearest parish will soon be easier than ever!

The Archdiocese of Washington will soon launch a newly redesigned website that makes finding your local parish easier than ever! The new website will have a searchable parish directory to allow you to find your nearest parish by entering your address, so you can more easily contact them to request a Eucharistic Minister to visit you at home.

www.adw.org/parish-directory

Cardinal James Hickey celebrates the first Christmas TV Mass broadcast from the Crypt Church at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in 1993. The Boy's Choir from Mater Dei School and the St. Matthew Cathedral Chorale provided the liturgical music in the Mass's new setting.

"(He) is now in the position to benefit from those for whom he made this Mass available. In keeping the TV Mass going, he can now count on the prayers and spiritual sustenance of the viewers."

Cardinal Hickey's funeral Mass was broadcast live from the Basilica on EWTN, with Capobianco as the broadcast's producer. It was attended by more than 2,000 people and Capobianco described it as a "deeply moving experience."

Throughout the years, Cardinal Hickey was a tireless advocate for the television Mass. "He saw the bigger picture and worked to implement it," Capobianco said. "And now, in a prayerful way, he is still looking out for us in a way he could never before."

Celebrate! Support the Sunday TV MassI would like to make a donation to support the Sunday TV Mass ministry $

Please send me _____ copies of the 2014 St. Joseph Sunday Missal. Suggested donation $7 per copy (includes shipping)

Name _____________________________________________________________________________

Mailing Address ___________________________________________________________________

City, State, Zip _____________________________________________________________________

Phone ___________________________________________________________________

Please make your check payable to 'Archdiocese of Washington' and return this coupon to: Sunday TV Mass - Office of Media and Public RelationsArchdiocese of Washington PO Box 29260, Washington, DC 20017-0260

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Celebrate! is produced by the Archdiocese of Washington.

Editor: Georgina StarkArchdiocese of Washington

For information, contact:Office of Media and Public RelationsArchdiocese of WashingtonP.O. Box 29260Washington, DC 20017301-853-4517

A Lenten Prayer

Your support of the archdiocese through planned giving is an answer to God's calling for us to serve one another.

With thoughtful planning, you can ensure the long-term health of the archdiocese's charitable and educational mission and the fulfillment of your personal financial objectives.

Leaving a bequest in your will to the Church, your parish or school allows you to leave your legacy to an institution that has meant so much to you and thousands of others.

Bequests permit you to make a gift without any loss of comfort or security during your lifetime, while allowing you to take advantage of estate tax savings.

Leave a Legacy

Your Church has been there for you throughout your lifetime;

You can be there for your Church’s future.

To request more information contact:

Edward J. D’AntoniDirector of Planned GivingArchdiocese of Washington

(301) 853-4573 • dantonie@adw.org

A Lenten Prayer

Lord Jesus Christ,your passion and death is the sacrifice that unites earth and heaven and reconciles all people to you.

May we who have faithfully reflected on the Stations of the Cross follow in your steps and so

come to share your glory in heaven where you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit

one God, for ever and ever.- USCCB

Lent is the season where we prepare ourselves to renew and restore our relationship with Jesus and the Church as we prepare to celebrate Easter. It is a wonderful season to take up a new discipline or practice of prayer. Our Catholic tradition includes many ways to pray, to raise our minds and hearts to God. The Church encourages a number of popular prayers to help us walk with Jesus during Lent, these 40 days of fasting and prayer, to prepare ourselves for Holy Week and Easter (e.g. the Examen, prayer before the Blessed Sacrament, Stations of the Cross, the Rosary, Chaplet of Divine Mercy, etc.).

To pray the Stations of the Cross with Cardinal Donald Wuerl, please visit the website for The Light is ON - a Lenten initiative of the Archdiocese of Washington:

http://thelightison.org/prayer

NON-PROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDWashington DCPermit No. 8346

Celebrate!Office of Media and Public RelationsArchdiocese of WashingtonPO Box 29260Washington, DC 20017

Address Service Requested

4Not this person?

Help us update our list. Call 301-853-4517.

Be part of the TV Mass!

Join the TV Mass congregation!

Share the TV Mass with friends and family by asking if they would like to be part of the congregation. Their presence is a wonderful way to bring the Mass to those who are homebound.

7:30 - 8:45 pm Crypt Church

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, 400 Michigan Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20017

(enter through the front lower doors by the gift shop / free parking)

Taping Air dates Liturgy (30 minutes each)

Thursday, March 6 April 6 5th Sunday of Lent April 27 2nd Sunday of Easter

Thursday, March 20 May 4 3rd Sunday of Easter May 18 5th Sunday of Easter

Thursday, March 27 May 11 4th Sunday of Easter May 25 6th Sunday of Easter

Wednesday, April 2 April 20 Easter Sunday

Thursday, May 1 June 1 7th Sunday of Easter June 15 Trinity Sunday

Thursday, May 8 June 8 Pentecost Sunday June 22 Body and Blood of Christ

Thursday, May 22 June 29 St. Peter and St. Paul July 13 15th Sunday in ord time

Send us your email and we will add you to our TV Mass congregation list. Contact Jacquelyn Hayes at the Basilica at jmh@bnsic.org or 202-281-0615.

How to order a DVDcopy of the TV Mass

Watch the TV Mass whenever you like by ordering a particular Mass on DVD! Parish and school choirs who were part of the TV Mass congregation may also want to order a DVD as a keepsake of their experience.

How to order:Email gstark@adw.org or call 301-853-4517 to place your order.Please include the date the Masswas taped or the air date, quantity and your name, address and tel. no.

Cost:1-10 copies - $20.00 each11 or more copies - $15.00 each

Send your check, made payable to'Archdiocese of Washington', to:Archdiocese of Washington,Sunday TV Mass,Office of Media and Public Relations,PO Box 29260,Washington, DC 20017