Bishop Talks Hurricanes and Helping Others During Television Interview

Bishop Sam Jacobs from the Houma-Thibodaux diocese in Louisiana will be featured in an interview on the CatholicTV talk show “This is the Day” on March 3rd.

Bishop Jacobs will be on “This is the Day” discussing disaster response ministry and how one person has the ability to make a difference.

Bishop Sam Jacobs has been the spiritual leader of the Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux since October 2003. Prior to that, Jacobs, 70, served as bishop of the Diocese of Alexandria, LA for 14 years.

When asked about prayer recently, Bishop Jacobs replied, “Prayer is a lifeline for me. I pray to God but at the same time I ask for Mary and the saints to intercede for me before the throne of God. For instance, if I want something from you, I would ask for something from you. But, I may still go to your mother and ask if she will put in a good word for me. It’s the same idea. ... My prayer before the Lord is for the needs of the diocese and personal concerns.”

In a letter written in 2008, Bishop Jacobs encouraged women in his diocese to become spiritual mothers to individual priests by committing to daily prayer for a particular priest, to pray for him at each Mass they attend, to offer sacrifices for him, etc.

“This is the Day” can be seen on Tuesday, March 3rd live at 10:30AM (EST)

Jewish Rabbi hosts New Series on CatholicTV

Starting in March, CatholicTV will premiere a new series called “Exodus” which is hosted by Rabbi Samuel Chiel.

Each week, CatholicTV airs an episode of “Exodus” with Rabbi Chiel. Rabbi Chiel is the Rabbi Emeritus of Temple Emmanuel which is one of the largest Jewish congregations in Massachusetts. Rabbi Chiel is also an author. He wrote the book “The Healing Power of the Psalms”.

In the new “Exodus” series, Rabbi Chiel makes common sense out of the story of Moses, Pharoah, the Israelites, and the ten commandments.

Thus far, Rabbi Chiel has received positive feedback regarding his show both from Catholics and Jews alike.

During a previous series by Rabbi Chiel on CatholicTV, viewers contacted Rabbi Chiel to thank him for the show. “One Catholic viewer contacted me for advice. I advised her regarding her job, her mother, and other issues. She was very happy to talk to me” said Rabbi Chiel.

Rabbi Chiel met CatholicTV employees during a pilgrimage to Israel. The pilgrimage included both Christians and Jews. A year after the pilgrimage, someone at CatholicTV contacted Rabbi Chiel and the rest was history.

Starting in March, “Exodus” will air each week on CatholicTV at the following times:

Monday noon; Thursday 2:00PM; Friday 4:30PM; Saturday noon; Sunday 10:00PM

New Season of "We've Got To Talk"

Starting in March, we will air a new season of the show “We’ve Got To Talk” starring Fr. Dan O’Connell. Fr. Dan O’Connell is known for his energetic and creative preaching, his sweater-wearing during the summer, and his preaching in front of incredible backgrounds.

The new episodes of “We’ve Got to Talk” will start airing in March. Themes from a few of these episodes are listed below:

LOVE IS FREE: This episode begins with a story of how Fr. Dan was approached by a high-priced fortune teller on the street who wanted to sell her services to Fr. Dan. Fr. Dan takes this experience and uses it to explain how God’s love is free and how we shouldn’t spend our time or money on things which fail to satisfy.

UNCONDITIONAL LOVE: Fr. Dan notices a puppy that is overjoyed at seeing his friend, a 12-year girl at the airport. The occurrence reminds Fr. Dan about the unconditional love of the Lord. Fr. Dan talks about how St. Paul was able to love the Lord even though St. Paul’s preaching had sent him to prison.

HIS YOKE OUR SALVATION: Fr. Dan talks about how God is always with us. He remembers how one of his splashguards came loose from his car and was dragging on the highway, and a couple of motorists got his attention and warned him by pointing at the front of his car. Fr. Dan likens this situation to God’s desire to constantly be there for us and to help us.

“We’ve Got to Talk” can be seen each week at the following times: Monday- 5PM; Tuesday- 11PM; Wednesday- 12:30PM; Thursday- 10:30AM; Friday- 8:30PM; Saturday- 12:30PM; Sunday- 2PM. All times are Eastern Standard.

The show is viewable on CatholicTV where available and is also streamed live (simultaneously) at www.CatholicTV.com. Shows are currently offered in the archives and are viewable full-screen now for free. Click here or post this URL into your browser to view archived episodes. http://www.catholictv.org/shows/default.aspx?seriesID=77.

CatholicTV To Air New Episodes of "The Future Depends on Love"

Starting in March, CatholicTV will air new episodes of the show on marriage called “The Future Depends on Love.” The new episodes will feature a variety of guests.


Here is a list of the guests and themes of the new episodes which will start in March.

March 2- Erika Bachiochi: Marriage and Social Justice
March 9- Father Mark O’Connell: The Metropolitan Tribunal and Annulments
March 16- Katie Dardis: Healthy Marriage Begins with Chastity
March 23- Bishop Robert Hennessey: Marriage and Immigrant Vitality
March 30- Marianne Luthin and Allison LeDoux: Project Rachel - Healing Families After the Trauma of Abortion

The show is hosted by Dr. David and Dr. Angela Franks who are both professors at St. John’s Seminary in Brighton, MA. With divorce statistics higher than ever and teenage pregnancy rates up for the first time in 15 years (source:CNN.COM), Catholic parents and young people are concerned about the messages that Catholics receive from the media and their friends regarding sexuality and marriage.

In response, the Catholic bishops of Massachusetts, being well aware of the rise in divorce, sexual immorality, adultery, and abortion began a new initiative from which this television show sprung forth.

The show is viewable each week on Monday-5:30P.M., Tuesday-1:30P.M., Wednesday-3:30A.M., Thursday 11:30A.M., 8:00P.M., and Sunday-3:30P.M.

“The Future Depends on Love” show can also be seen at the same times online at www.CatholicTV.com. The show can be viewed on the website full-screen. Paste this into your browser to view past episodes. http://www.catholictv.org/shows/default.aspx?seriesID=74

Watch "This is the Day" live on Friday!

Watch "This is the Day" live on Friday at 10:30 AM at Your Catholic Broadband Network: CatholicTV.com

Archbishop Wuerl Takes to YouTube to welcome Catholics back!

The Archdiocese of Washington is kicking off a major initiative this Lent to invite back those who have drifted away from the church, with a YouTube video invitation from Archbishop Wuerl plus 50,000 invitations available at all 140 parishes for parishioners to give to friends, neighbors or others who may miss being part of the Catholic community.



“Lent, as we prepare for Easter and reflect on what our faith means to us, is a time to invite others who are not at Mass any more to rejoin our Church family,” Archbishop Wuerl said in explaining the initiative.

The “Longing for Something? Maybe it’s God” campaign is being promoted through the video invitation recorded by Archbishop Wuerl (see above), a website (www.Maybe-its-God.org), blog about faith (to launch on Ash Wednesday), hundreds of Metro ads, radio ads, a billboard and more. Ads are running in 220 Metro cars and over 125 buses in Washington, DC and Maryland starting the week of March 1, along with radio ads and a huge billboard on Route 301 in Charles County. The ads read, “Longing for Something? Maybe it’s God” and encourage Catholics to find out more at www.Maybe-its-God.org.

The www.Maybe-its-God.org website includes the video and printable invitation (in English and Spanish), blog and a pastoral letter by Archbishop Wuerl, Belonging to God’s Family. In it he tells Catholics “Each one of us knows someone, perhaps many, who have simply drifted away from the practice of the faith…To be a Catholic is to share the joy of our faith with them by inviting them once again to reconnect with their Church and with the life-giving sacraments.”
Lent, the 40-day penitential period before Easter (April 12 this year) and the celebration of Christ’s resurrection from the dead, was chosen for the campaign because it is a time when Catholics place an extra focus on reflecting on what their faith means to them. The initiative follows a highly successful campaign in past years to invite people back to confession, which now is being replicated in dioceses across the nation.

The Archdiocese of Washington is home to 580,000 Catholics living in Washington, DC and five Maryland counties: Calvert, Charles, Montgomery, Prince George’s and St. Mary’s.

Ash Wednesday Mass from Rome

CatholicTV is presently broadcasting the Ash Wednesday Mass from Rome this Ash Wednesday. The procession will begin at the Basilica of San Anselmo and will conclude at Rome’s Basilica of Santa Sabina.

Prior to Mass, the Holy Father presided at brief prayer in the nearby Church of San Anselmo on Rome’s Aventine Hill. This is also where the ashes are blessed.

During the Mass at Santa Sabina, the Pope will also preside over the traditional rite of blessing and imposition of ashes.

The Vatican pointed out in a communiqué that the day’s activity will continue an ancient Lenten tradition, long held by the Church in Rome of celebrating Mass in designated "station" or churches, which change each year.

All of this is airing on CatholicTV and a live stream at CatholicTV.com on Wednesday, Feb 25th and will include English translation. The airtimes will be 12:30PM and an encore presentation at 8:00PM.

Mothers are a gift

I had just hung up the phone with my mother and went to sit down and watch some television. I began to think of what it must have been like for her to watch her children grow and struggle through the challenges and embrace the joins that come with being a parent. I know now how quickly time goes by when you have children and how your life becomes wrapped up in your children’s needs. Everyday I think about Amelia, James and Ethan and hope that the other children were kind to them, that they had fun at school, and that they are enjoying life. I love when they laugh and am hurt when they cry. They and Shirley are my life and I am so happy to be with them. After I got off the phone it finally hit me that my mother feels the same way about my sisters and me. She was there for our first steps, first day of school, the proms, weddings, and the birth of our children. She was beside us for both the good times and the bad. She had to bury her oldest daughter which I cannot fathom. I had forgotten getting the care packages while at college filled with food. How I looked forward to receiving them. Not just because of the content but because of what they signified. My mother loved me and cared about me. Put this is perspective of what Jesus mother Mary endured. She stood beside Him when almost all others hid. She watched people hurt and kill him, the little boy she loved. She never abandoned Him! I would like to wish all mothers and especially my mom a happy mother’s day this month. What a gift mothers are! Jay

Father Reed on The Catholics Next Door on Monday 2-23

On Monday, February 23rd, the Director of Catholic TV, Father Robert Reed, will appear on The Catholic Channel show "The Catholics Next Door" Jennifer and Greg Willits are the hosts of the show. Also, they are the producers of That Catholic Show which airs on CatholicTV.

Join us for Mardi Gras in the CatholicTV livingroom, this Tuesday LIVE on CatholicTV.com

We all hope you can join us for Mardi Gras in the CatholicTV livingroom, this Tuesday LIVE at 10:30 AM on CatholicTV.com