Suggestions to Improve EWTN -- sign up here

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Suggestion: EWTN has taken a part of the Mass, the general intercessions, and for the most part, they’re “boiler plate” – always praying for the Pope, bishops, priests, deacons, and professed religious. Almost never do they pray for the many people who support EWTN with prayers and contributions, or for their intentions, or for the intentions of those who are watching from around the world. It seems that they should be more sensitive to include many more people in the prayer intentions. After all, the pope, bishops, etc. are singled out and prayed for already in the Eucharistic prayer.

You know? It’s like they’re always praying for Mother Angelica and the nuns, and nobody else, like missionaries, for example, are ever, ever mentioned in prayer.
 
I totally agree. Its sad that I have grown bored with EWTN and its format. It is STALE. As much as I do not like Pat Roberston, one would think by now that EWTN would have followed or adopted SOME OF the model used in the 700 Club format.

This station mainly suffers from no focal point since Mother Angelica’s illness…she wasnt the “star” but WAS a focal point.

There’s just too much to list… repetitive reruns…way too old programming…Imagine a teen at home during the day or even an adult and flipping on EWTN and coming upon one of those inanly church produced “movies” from the 1940s and 50s…or the Italian stuff lamely telling the bible stories…faded color, drop outs in image, etc…plus…not enough new content…

World Over only running NEW on Fridays (I havent watched EWTN in a while so if I am wrong…sorry) and then repeating the show over and over and over til I use to wanna tear out my eyeballs…700 Club realizes news happens DAILY…at EWTN if its not almost soley dealing with a catholic issue, its not news…or only good to be NEW once a week.

EWTN is simply not exciting…everything needs a “hook”…even Jesus knew that when he went public and was performing miracles to go along with his message…without the miracles? He would have fallen flat. EWTN needs “oompf” and better pacing. I have experience in stuff like this like a few other posters do…but I am not willing to relocate to Alabama nor work for free. So yeah…I just complained and didnt offer a solution…just some whine to go with my cheese. 😃
 
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m134e5:
Those bug me too. I will not watch papal Masses for that reason. The news crew treat them like they’re just another story. Someone so much as genuflects and the commentator is telling everybody what he just did.
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Actually, I find the papal Masses with Vatican Radio commentators (particularly Archbishop Foley) to be done particularly well. They typically tell you what you need to know in translations and other tidbits while not being overly obtrusive. Now, when major Masses have occasionally been televised on local television outlets (or even network TV), their commentators can be excruciating painful by failing to stay out of the way and allowing you to follow/pray with the Mass. They seem to think that anytime anything is happening which seems even a tad bit slow or uninteresting that they have to jump in and provide some opinion or reflection or discussion or controversy.
 
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Jennifer123:
Wow - I love this idea too! It’s being done here in the Bay Area. I haven’t seen it but a local am talk-radio duo, Armstrong and Getty, broadcast their am radio show on cable. It sounds like it’s doing pretty well. I know Imus did it on MSNBC - is it still on? :confused:

:twocents:
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Bruce DuMont does that with Beyond the Beltway.
 
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Ace86:
How about a Liturgy makeover show? Kinda like a home-improvement show. You know, take a parish that has bad music, art and architecture, and then show how to build a Church that uplifts the soul and celebrates beauty! (Obviously the parishoners would have to be willing to contribute). And it would be serious, and also hopeful. It would help with (orthodox) renewal, and most parishes in the US need that.
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LOL, I like it! maybe they could also start a series called Pastor Swap.
 
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Troy7:
This station mainly suffers from no focal point since Mother Angelica’s illness…she wasnt the “star” but WAS a focal point.

. 😃
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when I started this thread, I just couldn’t think of all the things I wanted to say. But, this comment from Troy7 hits one of my buttons.

I think that it was obvious that Fr.Pacwa was a natural to become the anchor of the ‘live’ programs. It is very curious to me that the nuns just faded away out of the picture so fast. They did have very beautiful music and singing for Mass. Boy, we sure had to go cold turkey without that.

I was surprised, not that it is my business, that no other sister was being groomed to help Mother Angelica or to take over her mantle on EWTN. But, duh, that’s what the purpose of the order of brothers and priests was to do. Even there, sadly I don’t think we see the excellence that we were hoping for. I think the network needs a lot of prayer.

I think that marketing is such a focus today because the survivors at EWTN are worried about the survival of the network.
 
The other curious problem I see on EWTN is the emphasis on abortion.

I once managed to get a question in, to Mother Angelica on one of her Wednesday night ‘live’ programs, and I asked her about that.

In particular, I said, of course abortion is a big problem and attention should be there, but wasn’t the underlying problem one of a lack of evangelization? And, why wasn’t EWTN more focused on that?

Her reply was that abortion was the biggest problem, period. She didn’t want to even hear anything else. In my situation as a middle aged man, abortion is not even on my radar screen as a temptation to sin. So, I don’t need to watch a lot of that stuff.

Suggestion: I think there should be a couple minutes of prayer each hour, with an appropriate amount of time directed at the various aspects of the abortion problem.

I just don’t think that’s the only problem Catholics face.

For example, they don’t really talk about Islam so much. Can’t they even get a moderate Muslim to talk about it, for example?
 
I like the show “web of faith” with Frs. Levis and Tragilio. But, I get lost in the wordy questions that viewers send in. I think that they should try to urge their viewers to limit their questions to 50 words or so.
 
Hmm… I wonder why the US bishops aren’t very supportive of EWTN?? Does anyone know?? It seems like they could have a say in some things, and maybe offer some suggestions. In any case, I’m sure there are a few that would make good programing, kinda like Archbishop Sheen.

Crumpy: “but wasn’t the underlying problem one of a lack of evangelization? And, why wasn’t EWTN more focused on that?”

I’d have to agree with you there. But think about it. Being vocal about the lack of faith in the US would certainly attract the ire of certain US bishops (hint: those that have not done their duty in preaching the Gospel, and/or teaching heresy). The consequences of speaking out against those that like to water down the faith could be disasterous (or miraculous). So yes, the primary problem is that bishops and some priests have not been vocal on what the Church teaches in regards to abortion. I’ve heard maybe one or two homilies against abortion, and while I don’t want to hear it every Sunday, I think they should preach about it more often.
 
In my opinion voice over for Papal Masses should be done only for
  • The Readings
  • The Homily
  • The Prayers of the Faithful
For the rest of the Mass there should be subtitles for the prayers and during communion voice over can also be done as well as during offertory. Spiritual communion can also be prayed.
During the Papal Mass for Epiphany I can say that this was the best Papal Mass I have ever seen on TV because the voice over was only when needed or as appropriate and I could hear the Latin and the hymns without distraction. I think no commentary should be given to the Gloria, Sanctus, Pater Noster etc… because they should assume that we Catholics already know what it is.The same applies to the Eucharistic Prayer. They should perhaps either say which prayer it is or give subtitles.

However the Vatican commentators each have their own style and they all do a good job.
 
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RPConover:
Wow, that’s pretty crazy! Living in Alabama sounds kinds horrible though :hmmm: I’m from New York…
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I thought the *same *thing until I went to visit EWTN and that is probably the nicest part of Alabama I’ve ever seen.
 
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Crumpy:
I was surprised, not that it is my business, that no other sister was being groomed to help Mother Angelica or to take over her mantle on EWTN. But, duh, that’s what the purpose of the order of brothers and priests was to do. Even there, sadly I don’t think we see the excellence that we were hoping for. I think the network needs a lot of prayer.
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The nuns are also, technically, part of a “coistered” order and after EWTN was strong enough to carry itself and Mother Angelica’s job was done, they built a new monestery (nunery?) away from the studio.
 
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mike182d:
The nuns are also, technically, part of a “coistered” order and after EWTN was strong enough to carry itself and Mother Angelica’s job was done, they built a new monestery (nunery?) away from the studio.
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It’s called a convent. 🙂
 
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Crumpy:
In particular, I said, of course abortion is a big problem and attention should be there, but wasn’t the underlying problem one of a lack of evangelization? And, why wasn’t EWTN more focused on that?

Her reply was that abortion was the biggest problem, period. She didn’t want to even hear anything else. In my situation as a middle aged man, abortion is not even on my radar screen as a temptation to sin. So, I don’t need to watch a lot of that stuff.
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I just wanted to add my point of view on this. I feel that the abortion issue is the main issue because it shows how we view life. If this was World War II and we knew Jews, Slavs, Gypsies, priests and nuns were all being stripped naked, gassed, and then their corpses dumped in a mass grave, would we say, this isn’t a main issue because I’m not tempted to join the Hitler Youth? I think the issue was then that these were people that were all worthy of life and dignity. With abortion, the unborn are all worthy of life and dignity. On one front, we need a change in laws to save the unborn who are currently at risk for this terrible death. On the other, we need a change in hearts, minds and souls to remove the demand for abortion. EWTN is a lone voice (on television) crying out and advocating for the unborn. I went to a Sunday Mass before the last presidential election, and the priest, in his homily, told us we all had a moral duty to vote for the candidate that would provide for a living wage and vote to protect the environment. But, this priest made no mention of voting to protect the unborn. I think EWTN needs to keep putting the abortion issue out there because it’s obvious many parish priests are reluctant to do so.

God Bless EWTN!
 
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CathMass:
I think no commentary should be given to the Gloria, Sanctus, Pater Noster etc… because they should assume that we Catholics already know what it is.The same applies to the Eucharistic Prayer. They should perhaps either say which prayer it is or give subtitles.
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What about for the blind who can’t read subtitles? And wouldn’t some find that distracting, also?

I think that part of the problem, however, is that not all Catholics DO know the Latin and need the assistance of the voiceover to help them pray though it. Further, not everybody watching is Catholic, and they would need things better explained. Realize that coverage of these events is not only to conjoin the faithful in prayer. It is also something of a news event for general consumption.
 
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irena:
If this was World War II and we knew Jews, Slavs, Gypsies, priests and nuns were all being stripped naked, gassed, and then their corpses dumped in a mass grave, would we say, this isn’t a main issue because I’m not tempted to join the Hitler Youth? I think the issue was then that these were people that were all worthy of life and dignity.
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Well, actually, there was a very strong isolationist sentiment in the U.S. before Pearl Harbor. So often people are only truly moved by self interest. But, with that in mind, this reality might go to reinforce your greater point about the service which EWTN has offered in regard to it’s focus on abortion.
 
For those that want to follow the Missa Normativa (Novus Ordo) in Latin as well as the hymns used by EWTN, I suggest you order the Adoremus Hymnal from Ignatius Press. That’s the Hymnal in the pews at EWTN and it has the Latin on the left page with the English on the right. The hymns are old standards. Who knows, maybe you could even talk your local parish in to buying them - then you could have Latin used in your local church - with the translation for those who do not know Latin. Another bonus is that the Adoremus Hymnal also has the rubrics - everyone’ll know when something is not done right.

Maybe if more folks knew the kiss of peace were optional more folks would ask their priest to omit it!
 
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m134e5:
Those bug me too. I will not watch papal Masses for that reason. The news crew treat them like they’re just another story. Someone so much as genuflects and the commentator is telling everybody what he just did.
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Just so you know, the Papal Masses are a feed from Vatican TV…the British Voice who you hear on that isn’t from EWTN. If you want that voice to go away (as do I) direct your concerns to the Vatican Television/Radio. The British Voice on the EWTN commercials is from Alabama–it’s one of the Nuns.
 
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Dominica33:
I think the chapel needs serious improvements: it’s quite banal and uninspiring on the inside.
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I totally agree. I have never understood why they don’t broadcast Mass from their beautiful church instead.
 
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