covID-19
4 March 22, 2020 catholicregister.org
BY MICKEY CONLON The Catholic Register
A health crisis is not how Deacon Mike Walsh envisioned attract- ing more eyeballs to the Daily TV Mass, but that's what is happening to a ministry that serves people who are unable to attend Mass at a church. With daily and Sunday Mass being shut down in many dioceses across Canada due to COVID-19, the numbers who access the Daily TV Mass on its various platforms has risen dramatically. Whereas 54,000 people viewed the March 9 Sunday Mass on YouTube, the final Mass before dioceses across the country cancelled Sunday services, the March 16 Mass was viewed 158,000 times within 24 hours, said Walsh, executive director of the National Catholic Broadcast- ing Council. Several bishops in dioceses that have cancelled Masses have been encouraging people to make TV Mass a part of their weekday and Sunday prayer. It's not ideal that the pandemic has grown the ministry, but it validates its mission. "I think what it does is it shows the value of having the ministry in place," said Walsh. "It's there, it's available, people are finding it. We're promoting it quite heavily on Google, Facebook, all our social media advertising. The Daily TV Mass can be found on numerous television outlets. Salt + Light TV, VisionTV, Joytv, Yes TV and FaithTV all carry the broadcast, both daily Mass and the Sunday service, at various times each day (see dailytvmass. com for schedules). Online, it's available at all times on YouTube, Facebook and through the NCBC Daily TV Mass app. Walsh is quick to note that the Daily TV Mass is not a substitute for your Mass obligation, merely a "Sacred Devotional." "We're here for those who phys- ically are not able to go to Mass," whether from sickness, physical disability or other reasons, said Walsh. "It does not fulfil your Sunday obligation." That said, the dioceses that have cancelled Masses have released Catholics from their Sunday obli- gation for the time being. The Mass is generally filmed with a live congregation but that will not be the case due to measures put in place to deal with COVID-19. It will still be filmed at Loretto Abbey in Toronto. Walsh has already been hearing from new members of the donor- funded Daily TV Mass community who have discovered it since COVID-19 measures have come into place. One comment came from Ralph in Kuwait: "We are in a state of lockdown with all church services cancelled for the last three weeks and will continue in- definitely," said Ralph in an e-mail Walsh shared with The Register. "I reached out to alternative Masses and stumbled on this daily Mass. I was thoroughly impressed with the homily today. Please keep the Spirit flowing."
People turning to Mass in digital world
Daily TV Mass sees a surge in viewers across platforms
The Publisher and Editor of The Catholic Register is stepping down after guiding the award-winning newspaper for 11 years. In a statement released March 11, it was announced that Jim O'Leary intends to retire and will be replaced by The Regis- ter' s managing editor, Michael Simpson. The change will take effect in early May. "We know the staff at The Register will miss Jim's array of talents, supportive demeanour and dedication," said a statement from Catholic Register board member Jim Milway. "His strong news sense paired with a devotion to his faith contributed to the award-winning excellence The Register has enjoyed since he joined the newspaper." Simpson assumes his new role after serving as managing editor since joining The Register in 2016. A native of Toronto, he brings extensive executive management and journalism experience to the position following a career in which he has held senior editorial positions at the Toronto Sun, Toronto Star and Postmedia. "It is an honour to pick up the torch from Jim and carry on the long tradition of quality Catholic jour- nalism that has been the hallmark of The Register ," said Simpson. O'Leary leaves after 42 years in journalism. He has been Publisher and Editor of The Register since 2009. "It's been an honour to oversee a such a dedicated and superb team," O'Leary said. "I've greatly enjoyed my years at The Register, but it's time to pass the reins." Under his leadership, The Register won dozens of awards for writing, photography and design, was regularly named the top Christian publication in Canada and in 2013 was recognized as the best Catholic newspaper in North America. He also oversaw the newspa- per's digital growth as The Register expanded its website, became active on social media, launched a three-times-weekly newslet- ter, created a digital version of the newspaper and digitized every issue of The Register from its inception in 1893 to build an online digital newspaper archive. "Even though The Register is in good hands moving forward, we know Jim will be greatly missed," said Milway. "We are all grateful for Jim's years of service and dedi- cation to The Catholic Register. "
Register 's Editor stepping down
Jim O'Leary Daily TV Mass is filmed at Loretto Abbey in Toronto and is available through various channels, including its website, below.
Previous Page