radiotv-mass

One hour program every Sunday
A channel of healing and solace to the sick, the aged and the handicapped
Uplifts human and spiritual health
Chosen homilists preside and animate the celebration

ABS-CBN 8:00 a. m. Cebu - Christ, the Healer
RPN 9 7:00 a. m. Cagayan de Oro - Pan sa Kinabuhi
PARASAT 7:00 a. m. Cagayan de Oro - Pan sa Kinabuhi
RMN 7:00 a. m. Cagayan de Oro - Pan sa Kinabuhi
ABS-CBN 7:00 a. m. Davao - Banquet of Love

Your Mass on TV
A televised Mass is of great help to the sick, the aged, the handicapped, and the lonely.
Fr. Ramil Marcos

When I asked some of my parishioners about the televised Mass, they told me the following comments: they hear good sermons which usually touch them, they are touched by the healing prayers, they get good lessons from the homily, they can ask the priest-celebrant to personally pray for them privately, etc. In short the observations are all positive, and encouraging.

Is Mass on TV recommended?

The use of mass for evangelization and in promoting worship has always been recommended by the Church. Therefore the Church is open to the possibility of a televised Mass. Televised liturgies are means of spreading the Gospel, of bringing the Lord's healing and comfort to those who cannot be in Church for the regular prayer and worship. It is intended for members of the worshipping community who are physically impeded from being present in the actual worship in the church due to sickness, imprisonment or other physical limitations.

The late Pope John Paul II, of holy memory, in his New Apostolic Letter on the Media - The Rapid Development says: "Communication permeates the essential dimensions of the Church which is called to announce to all the joyful message of salvation. For this reason, the Church takes advantage of the opportunities offered by the communications media as pathways providentially given by God to intensify communion and to render more penetrating the proclamation of His word" (Art. 6-b).

"...If, as has already been noted, the communications media take into account different aspects of the expression of faith, Christians must take into account the media culture in which they live:from the Liturgy, the fullest and fundamental expression of communication with God and with one another, to Catechesis, which cannot prescind from the fact of being directed to people immersed in the language and culture of the day." (Art 8).

Advantages of a televised Mass

The choice of a charismatic celebrant who will be acceptable to the viewers is one advantage in a televised Mass. Not just any ordinary priest can hold the attention of TV viewers. The viewers, therefore, are assured of beautiful sermons and a well-planned liturgy.

When it comes to acoustics, the television has an advantage over the church setting as the sound is clear and can be adjusted to the viewers' hearing capacity. Furthermore, with the use of the camera, there are a variety of angles seen and the viewers see only the most essential. This means less distractions from unnecessary scenes or people entering the church
any time during the celebration.

The limits of a televised Mass

The Constitutions on the Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium) instructs us that we are members of the worshipping community of God. Therefore we are called to join the offering of Christ's sacrifice with full, conscious and active participation, which means that we must be present in the assembly together with our brothers and sisters in faith. We participate in the worship with our mind, will and heart through our sentiments, prayer, physical movement, singing and responses. The TV Mass do not allow all these.

Due to the lack of participation, viewers run the risk of being merely spectators of the Mass. In fact, the viewing can be interrupted easily since it is just on the screen.

Televised Mass is an opportunity given to those who, for grave reasons mentioned above, are not able to attend worship in the church. Those who are able enough to go to church must attend another Mass. TV Mass is not a substitute for the Mass in a designated place of worship which is the church. In other words, it does not fulfill the Sunday precept. Neither is it a substitute for the Church's pastoral care of the sick, whom ministers visit for healing and comfort. Nonetheless, let us take advantage of the good that the TV Mass offers us.