Our Retired Priests

Father O'Regan and his sister

It's the week of retired priests at CatholicTV!

Today retired priest Fr O'Regan came all the way from Centerville to celebrate Mass with us. Father O'Regan remembered Monsignor Frank MacFarland in his Mass and for that we are so greatful! Here he is with his sister who joined him for Mass, pictured with Msgr Frank's rosary.

Yesterday we were joined by Fr Cunney who lives over at Regina Cleri, the Archdiocesan residence for retired priests. He was a joy to have and gave a wonderful homily about the significance of fragrant oils, which is perfect for today, the day of the Boston Chrism Mass!


You will see Fr Cunney again on tomorrow's Mass, when Father Reed concelebrates with several priests from Regina Cleri for Spy Wednesday. Watch on CatholicTV and CatholicTV.com LIVE at 9:30am ET, and again at 7pm and 11:30pm.

On Holy Thursday we will premiere a special new Triduum rosary, shot entirely at Regina Cleri, and that will air throughout the Triduum.

Please keep the retired priests of Boston in your prayers! In the Archdiocese of Boston, the Easter collection will be for the sick and retired priests of Boston, and I urge you to consider giving what you can to support these men who have given their lives to serve all of us in the Church.

God bless!

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

Author of Book About Rosary For Teens Will Appear on CatholicTV During Marian Month of October

Author of Book About Rosary For Teens Will Appear on CatholicTV During Marian Month of October

On Oct 19th, Maureen Provencher, author of “Mysteries in My Hands” will appear on the live CatholicTV talk show “This is the Day”. Maureen will discuss her book about the Rosary which she wrote for teens.

Her interview comes during the Marian month of October, which is dedicated to the rosary.

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.

Mysteries in My Hands is a book for teens who want to learn how to pray the rosary. The book discusses how the rosary came to be and includes scripture references and quotes from Pope John Paul II's Rosarium Virginis Mariae. The prayers of the rosary are also in the book as well as a detailed outline of the beads.

The book also includes reflective writings from adults and young people, which introduce readers to the importance of the rosary today.

Maureen P. Provencher has served professionally in the young ministry field in New England for more than fifteen years, in parish, regional, and diocesan settings. She contributed to "A Listening Session for Young People" in the book Creating Safe and Sacred Places (Saint Mary's Press) and to the Saint Mary's Press Web site with an article called "Walking with Teens in Hope." In addition, she has contributed to several issues of the World Youth Day resource manual (National Federation for Catholic Youth Ministry) and has been a presenter at various events, institutes, and conferences. Maureen holds a degree in religious studies from Saint Michael's College, Colchester, Vermont.

On October 3rd, Pope Benedict spoke of the Rosary and prayed that “daily meditation of the mysteries of Christ in union with Mary, the 'praying Virgin', might fortify us all in faith, hope and charity."

Rosaries For Soldiers and Policemen? Creator Will Discuss on CatholicTV Talk Show

On September 24th, Dede Laugesen, will be interviewed on the live CatholicTV talk show “This is the Day”.

Dede and her husband Wayne are the creators of the Holy Baby! DVD series, which are Baby Einstein-style videos for babies and children except that they feature Catholic prayers.

On This is the Day, Dede will discuss rosaries which are meant for military, law enforcement, firefighters, healthcare workers and priests/religious which she and her husband sell online at therosaryproject.com.

The Rosaries are constructed using military-issue parachute chord, and are highly durable. The website says, "Run over it with a tank. It probably won't break...it being the tank."

The Holy Baby! series broadcasts on CatholicTV as part of the CatholicTV Kids Club programming block. Holy Baby! Won the 2005 Videographer Award of Distinction and a 2005 Telly Award.

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.

A Spiral-Bound Rosary? Booklet Version of Catholics’ Most Popular Devotional Prayer to Be Discussed on CatholicTV Talk Show

After being inspired by a dream she had, Gigi Taylor created a unique way to pray the rosary using a small prayer booklet called “The Illustrated Rosary, Page by Page and Bead by Bead ”. On August 24th, Gigi will discuss the rosary and her booklet on the CatholicTV talk show “This is the Day”.

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

The idea of The Illustrated Rosary originally came to Gigi Taylor from a dream she had shortly after the death of her 11-year-old son. Gigi’s son, Will, was non-verbal and Gigi had previously programmed the Rosary into Will’s electronic communication device. Gigi and Will would then pray the Rosary together.

The Illustrated Rosary reminds Catholics that the Rosary is a prayer rooted in scripture. In the Illustrated Rosary, the various mysteries of the Rosary are accompanied by scriptural texts associated with each mystery and accompanying images which can be used to assist during prayer.

More information about the Illustrated Rosary can be found at: http://www.gigitaylordesigns.com/RosaryPage.html

Former Miss America Ali Landry , Eduardo Verastegui, Mike Sweeney, and Immaculée Ilibagiza To Pray The Rosary on CatholicTV®

During the week of July 21th-26th CatholicTV will air “Rosary Stars”. “Rosary Stars” is a production which features young adult celebrities praying and reflecting upon the Rosary.

“Rosary Stars: Praying the Gospel” features champion athletes, actors, film directors, TV hosts, recording stars, authors and lecturers who emphasize the power of daily prayer of the Rosary and encourage viewers to live the Mysteries of the Rosary daily.

This uplifting series features such stars as 2006 World Series pitcher Jeff Suppan; five-time Major League All-Star Mike Sweeney; actor Matthew Marsden (Rambo and the upcoming Transformer sequel Revenge of the Fallen; actress Jessica Rey, TV host Matt Gallant (Animal Planet’s The Planet’s Funniest Animals); humanitarian, author and Rwandan genocide survivor Immaculée Ilibagiza; and Ali Landry, actress and former Miss America.

“Rosary Stars: Praying the Gospel” is a produced by Family Theater Productions. Father Patrick Peyton,CSC, through Family Theater produced more than 700 radio and TV programs that had some 10,000 broadcasts. He died on June 3, 1992, and his cause for sainthood was announced on June 1, 2001. Family Theater Productions, a division of Holy Cross Family Ministries continues Father Peyton’s media mission as a member of Holy Cross Family Ministries, Easton, Mass., sponsored by the Congregation of Holy Cross. Holy Cross Family Ministries serves Jesus Christ and His Church throughout the world by promoting and supporting the spiritual well-being of the family.

“Rosary Stars” will air at these times (Eastern): Tuesday-11:30AM; Wednesday-5AM; Friday-8AM; Sunday-10:30PM

Both Jessica Rey and Immaculée Ilibagiza have been featured on the CatholicTV talk show “This is the Day”. Click below to view the episode featuring Power Ranger actress, Jessica Rey. http://www.CatholicTV.com/shows/default.aspx?seriesID=72&videoID=89

CatholicTV Now Broadcasts Rosaries in High Definition From Around the World

Catholics can now watch the Rosary in High Definition (HD) on the internet and on television. We are offering the Rosary in high definition on our website CatholicTV.com and on CatholicTV where available.

The new HD rosaries were filmed at the following locations:

Notre Dame Cathedral – Paris

Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral - Los Angeles

Basilica of the Sacred Heart - Notre Dame Campus (Indiana)

The Blue Hills of New England

Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception – Washington D.C.

The Eternal City – Rome

Basilica of St. Thérèse - Lisieux, France

Rosaries are prayed by Father Robert Reed, Director of CatholicTV and priest of the Archdiocese of Boston. Each Rosary begins with a brief reflection by Father Reed and various imagery of the location. In many cases, the scenery is related to the mysteries. For example, while reflecting on the first sorrowful mystery in Los Angeles, cameras pan across the beautiful gardens there which are reminiscent of the Garden of Gethsemane.

CatholicTV’s HD broadcasts of the Rosary are also unique in that Father Reed reflects not only on the Rosary, but on the saints and people associated with each respective filming location. For example, Father Reed mentions the life of St. Thérèse of Lisieux during the Rosary episode at the Basilica of St. Thérèse in Lisieux, France. St. Thérèse is the patron saint of the new studios at CatholicTV.

Starting May 10th, all of these Rosary episodes will be archived at CatholicTV.com. Click on “HD Devotion” on the website or this link to view archived Rosaries now: http://www.CatholicTV.com/features/default.aspx?featureStoryID=23

At CatholicTV.com and on CatholicTV, the Rosary airs each day at these times (EST) 3AM, 10AM, and 7PM.

Holy Hot Boy to Appear on Catholic Talk Show Along With Rosary Singer

“Holy Hot Boy” Ansel Augustine and Catholic musician Susan Bailey will appear on the CatholicTV talk show “This is the Day” on Friday, March 20th. Susan recently released a CD and meditation guide which features her singing the Rosary while playing her acoustic guitar. Ansel is a hip youth minister with a Master’s Degree from Loyola University of New Orleans. Susan is the editor of Grapvine Magazine; it's mission is to support the community of Catholic artists throughout the US.
CatholicTV is a nationally-broadcasted television station headquartered near Boston.

According to Ansel Augustine, a “hot boy” is someone “who is about handling their business, and is full of courage and is known to have a big heart” among other things. Ansel tweaked the “hot boy” image a little to develop the “Holy Hot Boy”. Ansel claims to be a “Holy Hot Boy”, which means he considers himself an ambassador for Christ. Ansel claims that “he is willing to die for what he believes.” He is a coordinator for Black Youth & Young Adult Ministry in the Archdiocese of New Orleans and also works with the Campus Ministry at Xavier University of Louisiana.

He is also on the Faculty for the Institute for Black Catholic Studies. Ansel has also published various articles related to ministry and has done various workshops, conferences, and retreats around the country.



Also featured on the show, will be Susan Bailey. Susan is a singer/songwriter/recording artist, speaker, and publisher and editor of “GRAPEVINE”, the magazine devoted to Catholic performing artists. Susan has been actively sharing her ministry locally, nationally and internationally. She has made appearances at World Youth Day 2002 in Toronto, on EWTN and on the Catholic Family Network. Susan also serves on the Commission for Women of the Diocese of Worcester, Massachusetts.

Susan believes her mission is to encourage, inspire and uplift Catholics in their faith. She also feels called to minister to the dying and to those in mourning.

Ansel and Susan can be seen on Friday, March 20th live at 10:30AM (EST) on CatholicTV where available (rebroadcast at 8PM).

Great happenings at CatholicTV

I am so amazed at all the wonderful work that Catholics all over the world are doing to promote the Good News. In just the past half hour I spoke with Thomas Wykes who is hosting Springfest 2009 in the Nashville area, in late May. There will be great speakers like Deanna Favre and musicians for a celebration of Catholic faith. ( www.springtimeoffaith.org) Bishop Colby of Nashville will celebrate Mass.

Then I spoke with Jessica Rey who will be on This is the Day, you might know her as the White Power Ranger, Jessica is writing a book called "Decent Exposure." and she has an incredibly elegant, and modest swimwear line inspired by Audrey Hepburn movies. You can learn more about that at http://www.jessicarey.com/. Jessica appeared in Rosary Stars which was produced by Family Theater -we aired it on CatholicTV.

There are few more people that I spoke to in the past half hour but more on that later......