Catholics in the Media

By: Charleen Mae Ho

What makes Mo. Angelica’s feat all the more awe-inspiring is the fact that she is a cloistered nun—she does not go out of the convent. EWTN started in the garage of their monastery with the generous help of her sisters. Mo. Angelica also founded the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word (MFVA) to see to the needs spiritual and otherwise of EWTN and its apostolate.

For most of us, our faith is manifested by how lovingly we do each act no matter how simple or complicated it is. However, some people were given this gift and duty to literally make disciples of all nations. In these modern times, the power of media makes this edict of Our Lord seem easy given the right opportunity as we’ll see in these two stories.

One of the most respected and popular Catholic “media personality” around the world during the last two decades is Mother Angelica. For those who do not know her, Mo. Angelica is the foundress of Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), the largest Catholic television network in the world. EWTN is currently in its 28^th year and is transmitting programming 24 hours a day to more than 148 million homes in 144 countries and  territories on more than 4,800 cable systems, wireless cable, Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS), low power TV and individual satellite users.

The Philippines, being a predominantly Catholic country, has some homegrown talents so to speak. Bo Sanchez has been a household name for most people Catholics and non-Catholics alike. Bo Sanchez is the author of 9 bestselling books and publisher of seven magazines. Bo also has a weekly TV show on ABC 5, Tuesdays, 10:30pm; a daily Radio program on Radio Veritas from Monday to Saturday, 5am, and Sunday, 8am; and a daily internet TV show called www.preacherinbluejeans.com. He travels the world to speak about the faith. Moreover, he has founded a number of NGO’s to walk his talk of Jesus, to help his less fortunate brothers and sisters.

Sources:
http://www.olamshrine.com/mother_ewtntext.htm
http://franciscanmissionaries.com/charism.html
http://bosanchez.ph/about