By Katie Ascough - 03 April, 2020
Bishop Alan McGuckian of Raphoe
Bishop Alan McGuckian SJ, Bishop of Raphoe, has encouraged viewers to participate in daily Mass broadcast by RTÉ News Now at 10:30 a.m. from Monday to Friday.
Bishop McGuckian said, “As people throughout Ireland are complying with the restrictions that are required to arrest and reverse the spread of Covid-19, the broadcasting of Mass is even more important at this time. The daily broadcast is facilitating a spiritual communion of worshippers who, while not physically present within the church, are digitally united in faith.
“On behalf of the hundreds of thousands of people who would love to attend daily Mass, but who can’t get to Mass these days and who don’t have access to the internet, I wish to thank RTÉ News Now for broadcasting Mass. May I ask people to spread the word to those not aware of this special broadcast but who would love to participate at Mass on television. Do tell them that Mass is broadcast at 10:30 a.m. Monday to Friday.”
According to the independent audience measuring service Nielsen, there has been an average audience of 34,600 television viewers since the first broadcast of Mass on RTÉ News Now on 19 March, up to and including 31 March. This figure is in addition to the approximately 2,300 for live streams each day on the Cathedral of Saint Eunan & Saint Columba’s own webcam.
Currently this RTÉ broadcast of Mass is taking place from the Cathedral of Saint Eunan & Saint Columba in Letterkenny, Co. Donegal, but the venue may change. The broadcast is a response to the Covid-19 related restrictions on public gathering. Bishop McGuckian, the cathedral administrator Monsignor Kevin Gillespie, and other members of the cathedral clergy are the celebrants.
RTÉ News Now is RTÉ’s news channel and can be received on Saorview channel 21; Virgin Media 200; Sky 521; Eir 500; and on the RTÉ News Now App.
A number of other platforms broadcast daily Mass, Rosary and Divine Mercy via television, internet and radio, including:
Vatican Television: During these days, Pope Francis has arranged for his celebration of Mass to be televised from the Vatican. The broadcast is simultaneously translated into the English language. For access, click here.
Diocesan and parish webcams in Ireland: Around the country, some parish churches and cathedrals live-stream Mass and other liturgies on webcams, which can be accessed here.
Radio Maria Ireland: Radio Maria Ireland facilitates the broadcast of Mass each day of the week at 10 a.m. from its studio in Dublin. Mass can be listened to in one of four ways:
– on www.radiomaria.ie
– on the digital terrestrial television channel Saorview on channel 210
– on the Radio Maria Ireland mobile app
– on the Radio Maria-Ireland Facebook page.
EWTN: Eternal Word Television Network is a Catholic television station which broadcasts from the USA. Some programmes are produced or presented by Irish priests and religious, including daily Mass. EWTN is available on Sky television and free to view online.
Shalom TV: Shalom TV is a Catholic television station which broadcasts live from Rome including daily Mass celebrated by Pope Francis. It is available free to view on some digital television networks and via the internet.
