EWTN specials of interest to ECs

[5Loaves]

November EWTN specials of interest to ECs

Sun 11/07/10 1:00 AM EST (remember the time change Sat. night/Sun. morning) 1 hour
PARISH PRIEST OF MAJDANEK “ABOUT SAINT OMELIAN KOVCH”, Ukrainian Greek-Catholic] Documentary about Father Emilian Kowcz. He died in Majdanek, a German Nazi concentration camp on the outskirts of Lublin, Poland, and which was established during the German Nazi occupation of Poland. He served in the country town of Przemyslany, which is in the western part of the Ukraine on the Polish border. He was known for treating well all who lived there, including the Poles, Ukrainians and Jews. His standing up for the Jews, including welcoming them into the Church during World Ward II, led to his deportation and ultimately his martyrdom. Like St. Maximiliam Kolbe, he prepared many for death. Pope John Paul II beatified him in 2001

Sun 11/14/10 2:00 AM EST 1.5 hours
SACRED CRAFT This is a very informative and engaging lecture on Eastern Church Iconography. Using examples of multiple icons, Fr. Brendan McAnerny explains the theology of icons and examines the distinct characteristics and traits of the practice of the art. [Fr Brendan O.P. is a bi-ritual priest Latin and Melkite in Sacramento CA]

Wed 11/10/10 0:00 PM EST PAKISTAN’S CHRISTIANS 1 hour
This program focuses on the Catholic Church in Pakistan, covering recent issues in that country such as progressive Islamization and the persecution and killing of Catholic Christians falsely accused of religious blasphemy.
*

In Dec. one episode from the old but still excellent intro series Light of the East 1/2 hour
12/19/2010 3:30 AM EST, 12/23/2010 6:30 AM, 12/26/2010 8:30 PM
LIGHT OF THE EAST II Liturgical Year: The Nativity Father Michael Sopoliga and Fr. Joseph Bertha talk about preparing for the Feast of the Nativity in the Byzantine Church. They discuss the Byzantine Christmas traditions such as the Holy Supper and the Midnight Mass. Father Sopoliga sings the Christmas Tropar.

Wed 12/22/2010 10:30 PM 7:30 PM EST ICONS: WINDOWS ONTO HEAVEN 1/2 hour
An insightful look at icons of the Nativity, providing an awesome meditation on the spiritual power of the Incarnation.

Sun 12/26/2010 5:00 AM EST ICONS: WINDOWS ONTO HEAVEN 1/2 hour
Three Epiphanies The Nativity, the Baptism of the Lord and the Wedding Feast of Cana are the three Liturgical Epiphanies depicted in the Icons on this program. The heart of these Epiphanies is Christ’s sacrifice, by which we are redeemed.*

 

[countertenor]

Looking at the broadcast times, I have to wonder if this is token programing, so that they can claim they try to represent the Eastern Churches as well as the Latin Church. While I think it’s great that they are showing them, I have to ask, who is really going to see them at those hours?

 

[5Loaves]

Looking at the broadcast times, I have to wonder if this is token programing, so that they can claim they try to represent the Eastern Churches as well as the Latin Church. While I think it’s great that they are showing them, I have to ask, who is really going to see them at those hours?

I can’t argue with you on that… My suggestion is always to write them, express appreciation for the programming, ask that it be carried at a better time locally (I don’t know what time it’s showing in the UK, looks like 7am for the documentary about Father Emilian) , and ask for more EC/OC programming.
The Suffering Church*, the TV program of Aid to the Church in Need, comes on at 2:30am Tu in my area and their radio program Where God Weeps at 6:00AM Sat on radio. These frequently have news of the problems facing our ECCs and OCCs in their homelands.

I thought they had another email address but this is the only one I’m seeing that would likely be used for feedback: viewer@ewtn.com

I dusted off my old VCR last year to copy some programming they had. I keep thinking I’ll get a DVD recorder, also to transfer old videos I have including the old Light of the East series which was sold on VHS but never made it to DVD.

If we never let them know what we want to see there is no chance ECs will get more time on the schedule.

 

[chaldobyzantine]

Other than the time the Pope visited the Ecumenical Patriarchate, has EWTN ever shown any eastern Divine Liturgy or matins? There are 22 other catholic sui iuris churches and I have yet to see one service other than the Extraordinary and Ordinary mass of the Latin church.

I’m sticking to NourSat

 

[malphono]

Wed 11/10/10 0:00 PM EST PAKISTAN’S CHRISTIANS 1 hour
This program focuses on the Catholic Church in Pakistan, covering recent issues in that country such as progressive Islamization and the persecution and killing of Catholic Christians falsely accused of religious blasphemy.
**

Yes, they’re Latin Church. The community in Pakistan is small and has its roots mainly in the Goan migrations of the 19th century. Those few that I’ve known over the years have had Portuguese-sounding surnames.

 

[ChadS]

Other than the time the Pope visited the Ecumenical Patriarchate, has EWTN ever shown any eastern Divine Liturgy or matins? There are 22 other catholic sui iuris churches and I have yet to see one service other than the Extraordinary and Ordinary mass of the Latin church.

I’m sticking to NourSat

About two years ago they broadcast a Ukrainian Catholic service that marked the close for a bishop’s conference or something similar that occurred in New Jersey. But, yes your point is well made in that EWTN virtually ignores the Byzantine Catholic church.

I used to enjoy watching the Light of the East programs, but those always seemed to be on different times during the week (usually when I was at work or asleep) and the days they were aired were never consistent. I definitely think they could do a better job with that programming.

ChadS

 

[5Loaves]

I used to enjoy watching the Light of the East programs, but those always seemed to be on different times during the week (usually when I was at work or asleep) and the days they were aired were never consistent. I definitely think they could do a better job with that programming.
ChadS

ChadS -
Note the upcoming 12/19, 23,26 episode of Light of the East. Like you I used to enjoy watching the series which ran every week, same episodes over and over. They stopped showing the series ongoing several years ago. Now they pull out episodes relevant to specific topics, usually for the Feast covered in the episode, hence the episode which features the Nativity of Our Lord.

I think this is prime time to be giving them our feedback. viewer@ewtn.com There is an increased awareness of our Churches at the moment because of the most recent massacre of our people in Baghdad. EWTN radio and TV have had interviews with Eastern clergy and with Joan Lewis on a significant number of their programs this past week, talking about the situation in the Middle East for Christians.

At any time the only way there might be more programming is if we speak up. Ask your fellow parishioners to email their desire for more focus on our Churches.

Strangely enough on the way home from church last Sunday, probably somewhere between 2:00PM and 3:00PM I heard a repeat of Fr. Loya’s radio program Light of the East, a repeat of the same show I’d heard driving to church at 8:30AM, LOL. I have no idea why it was rebroadcast in the afternoon, but likely would have reached a different audience. It didn’t appear on the schedule. Anyway I sent them a “thank you” and the request for more radio programs on the ECCs.

Fr. Tom’s program does have many listeners from the Latin Church. Most of the Latin folks I run into who know something about us heard about it on Fr. Loya’s show. Praise God it looks like he will be returning here next year to talk to our Latin Church seminarians! He recently helped lead the annual Men’s conference for the Oakland Diocese and spoke to college students at UC Berkeley and Stanford. I doubt there was anyone in these places who’d come into contact with an Eastern cleric before, except the Chancery staff who helped set it up.

We have a Byzantine priest teaching the class in Holy Mysteries/Sacraments for the 3 year non-degree program for adult formation the Diocese of Oakland offers. Exposing these students, mostly in some kind of parish leadership role including RCIA, to Eastern sacramental liturgical world view and our praxis etc., is significant. So we have little inroads on the ground here.

 

[ChadS]

ChadS -

Strangely enough on the way home from church last Sunday, probably somewhere between 2:00PM and 3:00PM I heard a repeat of Fr. Loya’s radio program Light of the East, a repeat of the same show I’d heard driving to church at 8:30AM, LOL. I have no idea why it was rebroadcast in the afternoon, but likely would have reached a different audience. It didn’t appear on the schedule. Anyway I sent them a “thank you” and the request for more radio programs on the ECCs.

Fr. Tom’s program does have many listeners from the Latin Church. Most of the Latin folks I run into who know something about us heard about it on Fr. Loya’s show. Praise God it looks like he will be returning here next year to talk to our Latin Church seminarians! He recently helped lead the annual Men’s conference for the Oakland Diocese and spoke to college students at UC Berkeley and Stanford. I doubt there was anyone in these places who’d come into contact with an Eastern cleric before, except the Chancery staff who helped set it up.

We have a Byzantine priest teaching the class in Holy Mysteries/Sacraments for the 3 year non-degree program for adult formation the Diocese of Oakland offers. Exposing these students, mostly in some kind of parish leadership role including RCIA, to Eastern sacramental liturgical world view and our praxis etc., is significant. So we have little inroads on the ground here.

I listen to Fr. Loya’s “Light of the East” and his “Theology of the Body” podcasts. I find them incredibly informative and it’s very nice to get an Eastern perspective on different traditions, feast days and liturgy. Plus, it’s good to know it’s in communion with the Holy See since I’ve listened to a few Orthodox podcasts where a few things come across as anti-Catholic or it sounds good but somewhere in the back of my mind I know it’s not quite Catholic theology.

ChadS

 

[yaHalyna]

Looking at the broadcast times, I have to wonder if this is token programing, so that they can claim they try to represent the Eastern Churches as well as the Latin Church. While I think it’s great that they are showing them, I have to ask, who is really going to see them at those hours?

I agree. I have been watching EWTN since it began. Over the years I have contacted them about news and such regarding the Eastern Rite. They have an excuse for everything.
Now, I am a UGCC raised in a very strict EasternRite church, and went to a RC high school (even to become a Franciscan - later to be kicked out because of their ignorance of the Easter Rite spirituality) though their very teachers were from my very church.

I learned in RC High school the Franciscan sisters, their ignorance was apalling. (1st day of school, when you are nervous already, the Principal put us down in front of all because we crossed ourselves wrong - WHEN IN FACT THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CROSS THEMSELVES WRONG) but there is still no excuse for this behavior. This is not Catholic but plain old-fashioned Christian.

When I contacted EWTN regarding the Univeral, Apostolic church, and requested an occasional Eastern Rite mass (instead of RC 3 times a day) I was told because of the iconostasis, it was too expensive. You gotta be kidding me! You can still celebrate the ER mass with icon on a stand or pedestal.

This all returned to me as the Roman Catholics still refusing to accept the universality of the church. But then, you would not be on this forum if they had accepted such.
Is that the sin of pride or the humility of ignorance?

 

[OrdinaryMelkite]

I listen to Fr. Loya’s “Light of the East” and his “Theology of the Body” podcasts. I find them incredibly informative and it’s very nice to get an Eastern perspective on different traditions, feast days and liturgy. Plus, it’s good to know it’s in communion with the Holy See since I’ve listened to a few Orthodox podcasts where a few things come across as anti-Catholic or it sounds good but somewhere in the back of my mind I know it’s not quite Catholic theology.

ChadS

I also occassionally listen to Good Ole Father Loya.

Great (and eloquent) Defender Of Eastern Catholicism. And just plain Common Sense, period.

His Podcasts should be better known.

 

[Cecilianus]

Other than the time the Pope visited the Ecumenical Patriarchate, has EWTN ever shown any eastern Divine Liturgy or matins? There are 22 other catholic sui iuris churches and I have yet to see one service other than the Extraordinary and Ordinary mass of the Latin church.

I’m sticking to NourSat

They played a Syro-Malabar (or perhaps it was Malankara) Liturgy sung in their chapel about five or six years ago.

 

[OrdinaryMelkite]

I can’t argue with you on that… My suggestion is always to write them, express appreciation for the programming, ask that it be carried at a better time locally (I don’t know what time it’s showing in the UK, looks like 7am for the documentary about Father Emilian) , and ask for more EC/OC programming.
The Suffering Church*, the TV program of Aid to the Church in Need, comes on at 2:30am Tu in my area and their radio program Where God Weeps at 6:00AM Sat on radio. These frequently have news of the problems facing our ECCs and OCCs in their homelands.

I thought they had another email address but this is the only one I’m seeing that would likely be used for feedback: viewer@ewtn.com

I dusted off my old VCR last year to copy some programming they had. I keep thinking I’ll get a DVD recorder, also to transfer old videos I have including the old Light of the East series which was sold on VHS but never made it to DVD.

If we never let them know what we want to see there is no chance ECs will get more time on the schedule.

I occassionally watch the “Suffering Church” program. I like their occassional take on EC issues and EC countries.

 

[ConstantineTG]

How about Orientale Lumen TV?

oltv.tv/index.html

 

[leonteiosen]

I agree. I have been watching EWTN since it began. Over the years I have contacted them about news and such regarding the Eastern Rite. They have an excuse for everything.
Now, I am a UGCC raised in a very strict EasternRite church, and went to a RC high school (even to become a Franciscan - later to be kicked out because of their ignorance of the Easter Rite spirituality) though their very teachers were from my very church.

I learned in RC High school the Franciscan sisters, their ignorance was apalling. (1st day of school, when you are nervous already, the Principal put us down in front of all because we crossed ourselves wrong - WHEN IN FACT THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CROSS THEMSELVES WRONG) but there is still no excuse for this behavior. This is not Catholic but plain old-fashioned Christian.

When I contacted EWTN regarding the Univeral, Apostolic church, and requested an occasional Eastern Rite mass (instead of RC 3 times a day) I was told because of the iconostasis, it was too expensive. You gotta be kidding me! You can still celebrate the ER mass with icon on a stand or pedestal.

This all returned to me as the Roman Catholics still refusing to accept the universality of the church. But then, you would not be on this forum if they had accepted such.
Is that the sin of pride or the humility of ignorance?

I follow the eastern rite also and know this is an old post but the people you are attacking are roman catholic and they are not going to change their traditions or way just to make you happy. And you went a roman catholic school why wouldnt you expect them to teach you their ways? Roman Catholic is amazing and so is Eastern Rite so lets not go against each other. and EWTN is roman Catholic and their is nothing wrong with them not showing eastern rite masses although yes they should show discuss more eastern traditions.

 

[30miller]

I must say after reading this thread - what a list of lazy whiners. “…I want what I want and I want it WHEN I want it or else I slam a 100% voluntary organization for not giving it to me…waaaahhhhh…I want it and I want it NOW…waaahhhhh…”.
Get off your duffs and simply get an old VCR (most people are giving them away for nothing nowadays) and tape the off-hour shows you would like to see - just as I tape Fr. McCloskey and Harry Crocker’s series which just ended this past week!

 

[LoyalViews]

I agree. I have been watching EWTN since it began. Over the years I have contacted them about news and such regarding the Eastern Rite. They have an excuse for everything.
Now, I am a UGCC raised in a very strict EasternRite church, and went to a RC high school (even to become a Franciscan - later to be kicked out because of their ignorance of the Easter Rite spirituality) though their very teachers were from my very church.

I learned in RC High school the Franciscan sisters, their ignorance was apalling. (1st day of school, when you are nervous already, the Principal put us down in front of all because we crossed ourselves wrong - WHEN IN FACT THE ROMAN CATHOLIC CROSS THEMSELVES WRONG) but there is still no excuse for this behavior. This is not Catholic but plain old-fashioned Christian.

When I contacted EWTN regarding the Univeral, Apostolic church, and requested an occasional Eastern Rite mass (instead of RC 3 times a day) I was told because of the iconostasis, it was too expensive. You gotta be kidding me! You can still celebrate the ER mass with icon on a stand or pedestal.

This all returned to me as the Roman Catholics still refusing to accept the universality of the church. But then, you would not be on this forum if they had accepted such.
Is that the sin of pride or the humility of ignorance?

There is only one Catholic Church. The Church breathes from two lungs, the Eastern and the Western. We should never criticize and bash the other rite from which we belong. We are both Catholic, with our own traditions. The Catholic Church is universal, and neither the Roman or Eastern Catholics reject this universality. Just because EWTN doesn’t show the Divine Liturgy, it doesn’t mean they are against the Eastern Church. They often have Eastern Catholic Priests on talking, and giving lectures. A few years ago they did show a Divine Liturgy, from the Syro-Malabar rite. EWTN is a lovely network full of pious and orthodox Catholics. And to add, Roman Catholics do not bless themselves wrong, and neither do the Eastern Catholics.

 

[Formosus]

There is only one Catholic Church. The Church breathes from two lungs, the Eastern and the Western. We should never criticize and bash the other rite from which we belong. We are both Catholic, with our own traditions. The Catholic Church is universal, and neither the Roman or Eastern Catholics reject this universality. Just because EWTN doesn’t show the Divine Liturgy, it doesn’t mean they are against the Eastern Church. They often have Eastern Catholic Priests on talking, and giving lectures. A few years ago they did show a Divine Liturgy, from the Syro-Malabar rite. EWTN is a lovely network full of pious and orthodox Catholics. And to add, Roman Catholics do not bless themselves wrong, and neither do the Eastern Catholics.

There are 23 churches that are all in union together. It is not just one church. We are not members of rites of one church. Just to provide a slight correction.

With that said, I think the tone of this thread over all has not been that respectful towards EWTN. EWTN is a good network and we Eastern Catholics do have to realize that the programs they show most likely reflect the interest of their viewers. Since most of their viewers are probably Latin Catholics, they are more likely play shows that interest Latins.

 

[5Loaves]

There are 23 churches that are all in union together. It is not just one church. We are not members of rites of one church. Just to provide a slight correction.

With that said, I think the tone of this thread over all has not been that respectful towards EWTN. EWTN is a good network and we Eastern Catholics do have to realize that the programs they show most likely reflect the interest of their viewers. Since most of their viewers are probably Latin Catholics, they are more likely play shows that interest Latins.

I just re read the posts. Up until the thread had died out Nov 20, 2010 to me all but one of the posts were basically objective statements. One person had some very heated comments. (And we all get fed up from time to time and may sometimes express it here.)

It’s just a fact that the while there are 23 Catholic Churches EWTN is focused on the Latin Church and when there is programming about the ECC/OCCs it’s typically at midnight or beyond. It’s not disrespectful to state the obvious.

There has of course been more coverage of our Churches in the past months because they’ve been making “news”-- beginning in Oct. with coverage of the historic Synod of Bishops for the Middle East a very bright light, and then more recently with the horrors for our Churches in Iraq and Egypt, which are not new horrors but have reached more shocking levels.

I consider Joan Lewis’ reporting also a turning point. She was utterly candid that as someone who has reported on the Church for many years and is EWTN’s Rome Bureau Chief, until the bishops begged her to come to Iraq to see what is happening to the Churches there she had no knowledge of our Churches. She courageously went to Iraq and there fell in love with the people and gained deep friendships with clergy and laity. She’s become a passionate voice for our Churches in the Middle East.

Again, I think it’s important to let EWTN (and Catholic Radio) know we value programs that include traditions from the 22 other Catholic Churches. Not only Eastern Catholics and Oriental Catholic value these programs. When they come on at times when people are asleep they’re not going to be exposed to them… unless they’re made aware of the programs being on.

As I mentioned a few days ago “Light of the East” segments on Great Lent and “Ancient Roots New Soil”, an excellent program on the Maronite Church in America are being broadcast again in March. I think that is part of our job to get these dates/announcements into your (Latin and EC/OC) parish bulletins and Diocesan papers. I submitted these to my Latin parish bulletin and the Diocesan paper. (I also included the invitation to celebrate Great Lent in the Byzantine tradition of the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts Wednesdays and Fridays.) In doing so we are bringing the message His Holiness John Paul II spoke of when he said it is “the first need for Catholics is to be familiar with that [venerable and ancient tradition of the Eastern Churches], so as to be nourished by it and to encourage the process of unity in the best way possible for each.”

With the greater number of Liturgies and services during Great Lent it is to me the ideal time to be encouraging people, Latin Catholic or other, to come experience that “venerable and ancient tradition of the Eastern Churches”.

 

[Formosus]

I apologize , the use of “over all” was an unfair exaggeration.

 

[LoyalViews]

There are 23 churches that are all in union together. It is not just one church. We are not members of rites of one church. Just to provide a slight correction.

With that said, I think the tone of this thread over all has not been that respectful towards EWTN. EWTN is a good network and we Eastern Catholics do have to realize that the programs they show most likely reflect the interest of their viewers. Since most of their viewers are probably Latin Catholics, they are more likely play shows that interest Latins.

Thank you for correcting me

What I meant, though, all the Eastern churches, are sui iuris church, as are the Roman churches, but we all make up One church, with our Holy Father as head on earth.