More Lifelines from Carolee McGrath

In these Lifelines, Carolee tells us about a ministry that holds retreats for men & women who are suffering because of abortion, and some teens from her parish who offer their time to pray near abortion clinics.

Rachel's Vineyard

Abortion Clinic Prayer

October: The Pro-Life Month

October is traditionally known as the month of the rosary (and during this month we give special honor to Mary), and so it's fitting that it is also Pro-Life month. The renewal of our prayer lives in this month can well serve an issue which requires a lot of prayer.

In honor of Pro-Life month, CatholicTV is featuring a series of 'Lifelines' with Carolee McGrath. Here are the first two in a series of short reflections by Carolee.

40 Days for Life

God Doesn't Make Mistakes

A Note From Fr. Reed

Great things sometimes come in big packages, but also in small ones as well. Recently, a southwest Florida university unveiled a 54-ton sculpture of the Virgin Mary. Back in the beginning of the spring hundreds gathered at Ave Maria University for the unveiling. It took the sculptor two years to carve the 35-foot-tall, 31-foot-wide sculpture.

He actually started with an 80-ton block of marble that came from the same quarry Michelangelo used for the Pieta and David sculptures. The sculpture was blessed by Bishop Frank Dewane of the diocese of Venice.

This would not be what I would call a blink or a blip on the screen, but a tremendous testimony to the Faith of an artist to the powerful intercession and maternal care of the Blessed Mother of God. This May, we honor Mary who is also our mother, the Mother of the Church.

Our Catholic Faith is so rich and multifaceted. Some years ago we decided that there were many missed opportunities to communicate the message of the Gospel if we were to only produce programs that fit into the typical television schedule. As you know, a typical TV show is usually thirty or sixty minutes with commercials or public service announcements interspersed throughout. So we decided to introduce a new and simple innovation called "Blink." Essentially a Blink is a short program of three to
five minutes which can then be strung together to form a half hour block or run by itself to fill time until the next scheduled program.

These mini-programs, which are sometimes over "in the blink of an eye," have afforded us so many opportunities to highlight one aspect or another of the rich tapestry of our Faith and bring into your home, or onto a smaller screen, a particular individual who might not have otherwise become part of the CatholicTV family.

Under the watchful eye of the Mother of the Church, whom we honor with our particular affection this May, we offer you all that we do, big and small. As always, it's all for you!

Private College Which Wants To “Clearly Proclaim” Its Catholic Identity Will Be Discussed on Live CatholicTV Talk Show

On February 8^th, the renewal and renaming of The College of Saint Mary Magdalen (CSMM) will be discussed on the live CatholicTV talk show “This is the Day”.

Tim Van Damm from CSMM will be interviewed on the set of This is the Day.

“The change in name reflects The College’s desire to clearly proclaim our Catholic identity, to bring greater honor to our patroness, Saint Mary Magdalen, and to stand firmly with The Church in the commitment to the New Evangelization.”, says the CSMM website.

In addition to a new name, The College of Saint Mary Magdalen also renewed the program of studies. George Harne, The College’s Academic Dean stated “we have given Catholic philosophers, theologians, historians, poets, and artists the prominent voice they deserve within any liberal arts program that is worthy of being called Catholic.”

In an interview with The National Catholic Register, CSMM President Jeffrey Karls said, “Through our name change we have sought to place a greater emphasis on our patroness, St. Mary Magdalen, and the original spirit of the college. St. Mary Magdalen had converted to Christ and was the first layperson who witnessed the Resurrection of Christ, addressing him at that first meeting as “Rabboni,” which means “Teacher.” She then became the apostle to the Apostles, announcing the Resurrection.

Investing For Catholics? Priest Will Discuss on CatholicTV Talk Show

On December 3rd, Fr. Séamus P. Finn, OMI will be interviewed on the live CatholicTV talk show “This is the Day”.

Fr. Séamus belongs to the Oblates of Mary Immaculate, a religious order known for its work with the poor and many other ministries.

Fr. Séamus was recently featured on the Nightly Business Report on PBS. During the show, Fr. Séamus discussed how he and his colleagues fought for corporate responsibility and transparency following the Enron collapse. He also discussed how he advocated for increased transparency and regulation at large financial institutions and how their actions directly affect the poorest people in the world.

Father Séamus represents the Oblates at the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility in New York (ICCR www.iccr.org); a coalition of faith-based and socially responsible investors who work together to engage corporations. The coalition’s more than $100 billion is invested to promote the integration of faith-based values into the investment process. Father Séamus also represents the Oblates on the executive committee of the International Interfaith Investment Group (3IG www.3ignet.org).

This is the Day airs at 10:30AM ET at CatholicTV.com and on CatholicTV cable outlets. The show is rebroadcast at 7:30PM and other times during the week.

Fr. Séamus is a leader in faith-based socially responsible investing. He completed his doctorate at Boston University School of Theology in 1991.

Fr. Séamus is also a consultant to Investing for Catholics, a company which provides fee-only advice on passively managed index portfolios screened for Catholic values.

More information is available at http://investingforcatholics.com/

Special Television Programming to Celebrate the Feast of the Assumption on CatholicTV

On Saturday, August, 15th, the Feast of the Assumption, CatholicTV will air special programming in honor of Mary’s Assumption. The special programming will include Mass from the Vatican, children’s programming, teachings about the Blessed Mother, musical videos dedicated to the Blessed Mother, and a modern drama story called “Assumptions” which relates a life or death story with the story of Mary’s assumption into heaven. The schedule for August 15th is below (all times Eastern):

CatholicTV is a nationally-broadcasted television network headquartered near Boston. CatholicTV streams its broadcast simultaneously, 24 hours a day at www.CatholicTV.com

7:30 AM- The Rosary is Alive: An animated version of the Rosary

8:00 AM-9:00 CCC of America presents Our Lady of Lourdes Animated Kids Special

9:00 AM- WOW: The CatholicTV Challenge – A Catholic game show with a special episode with Mary the Mother of God as the theme for the show.

9:30 AM- Daily Mass

10:00 AM- The Rosary

10:30 AM-11:45 AM Mary's House: A show featuring a pilgrimage to Ephesus, a tour of the ruins there, the Blessed Mother's home, the site of the Assumption, St. John's Basilica and the 1st Marian Church - St. Mary's.

11:45 AM- Who Care's About the Saints? The Blessed Mother. Fr. James Martin talks about the Blessed Mother.

12:00 PM- 2:00 PM- Feast of the Assumption Mass from the Vatican

2:00 PM- Tears of Love with Father Pat- Popular Singer Fr. Pat sings songs dedicated to the Blessed Mother

3:00 PM- Divine Mercy Chaplet

3:30 PM- “The Assumptions”- Story based on the Assumption of Our Lady into Heaven. This is the story of a young girl who is thrilled her mother is having a new baby, then struggles as she learns of her mother’s cancer. The mother has a difficult choice to make.