Church TV will let emigrants watch Mass in their home parish

No excuse for not getting Mass with new Irish website

KATE HICKEY,

IrishCentral.com Editor

Published Friday, May 13, 2011, 7:42 AM

Updated Friday, May 13, 2011, 7:42 AM

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Church Service TV

A new Irish website, Church Services, will give the Catholic Church in Ireland massive boost in Mass attendee figures as it allows viewers all over the globe to watch Mass in their parish church. Now there's really no excuse for missing out on Mass or a special occasion.

The new site allows parishioners to view a daily Mass from various Churches around the country via their smart phone or laptop. The site also allows the viewer to watch the Mass, in a streamed form, a la YouTube or to download the Mass for later.

Also the site will stream funerals, weddings, baptisms and novenas live on request which means that emigrants won't have to miss any major family and community events in Ireland.

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The site describes its mission on the site. It reads "We believe the family is the basic unit of society and the parish is the basic unit of the Christian society. Our mission is to create an accessible and user friendly service to our customers so they can enjoy all services from anywhere in the world and from all modern devices."

Currently the Catholic Church-funded charity has links to 15 parishes. These include Dublin's Mount Argus, John's Lane and Ballygall Parish Church in Finglas. There's also a link to the Augustinian Priory in Cork City.

Prior of the Augustinian Priory in Washington Street, Cork, Father Pat Morgan is delighted with the new technology. ""[Last monthl] we had 11,500 views from all over the world — 54 different countries…We get tremendous feedback — it really brings people together."

Speaking to the Irish Examiner Danny Bolger, from Church Services TV described the service as a "mini YouTube for each parish".

He said "The Drumcondra- based Redemptoristine Nuns — who are known as the Red Nuns — are an enclosed order and don’t communicate with the outside world. However, there has even been a surge in vocations since they went online TV."

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jacersagain | Jun 04, 2011, 10:56 AM EDT

In Ireland, the thinking is that Mass broadcast on TV is primarily intended for sick people to watch and listen to. Since physical consumption of Holy Communion is not possible, a prayerful spiritual communion suffices. After Mass in my parish, two lay people are given boxes containing Holy Communion and they then leave to distribute it to the sick in their homes throughout the parish. Mass is then complete for them.

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mrkennedy | May 13, 2011, 11:38 AM EDT

How do people receive communion when this part of tha Mass is the major one, "RECEIVING THE BODY & BLOOD OF JESUS!" Of course if you do not care about this major event then why watch the mass.

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IAPRINCESS | May 13, 2011, 11:30 AM EDT

In the U.S. only very ill people get a benefit from mass on TV It does not count as attendance in person. Get off your duff and go!

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IAPRINCESS | May 13, 2011, 11:28 AM EDT

In the U.S. watching mass on TV does not count at all unless you are TOO SICK TO ATTEND.!!!!!

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