Staff Report

Since 1977, Atlanta has produced a Mass on television. This Mass has never been an arm of the “electronic church.” It has not been a “TV Ministry.” It has been, mainly, a program for the sick and those who for some reason cannot be present for the Sunday liturgy.

Now that Sunday Mass, which began once each month, then went to twice each month, will be aired each Sunday of the year. And it will be aired at the Sunday morning prime religious time of 10 o’clock. It will appear on Atlanta’s newest television station--WVEU, Channel 69.

“Over the years,” says Msgr. Noel Burtenshaw, Director of Communications for the Archdiocese, “this program has been most popular with the Catholics who have been shut-in. We send them a missalette free each month and we really have a little parish going around the Television Mass.”

Others are reached too. Letters come to the Communications Office from prisons, institutions and hospitals. “And of course, we hear from non-Catholics all the time,” says Msgr. Burtenshaw. “Usually they want material on the Church that we are glad to forward. All around the nation, the Catholic Mass on television has been a great success and attraction.”

WVEU is a new commercial station that has opened in the Atlanta area. It is Channel 69 on the UHF band. “If you get channels 17, 30 and 46, then you can get this one,” says the Monsignor who offers the Masses on television. “It will also go on cable soon. It is new, so it is going to take a little time to properly set it up.”

The new weekly Mass will begin on Sunday, Oct. 4. Some of the priests have offered to help Msgr. Burtenshaw with the weekly apostolate and the music is supplied by different parish choirs.

“The choirs and lectors have been really great,” says Msgr. Burtenshaw who also edits “The Georgia Bulletin” and has a weekly radio show on WGST. “They are all so willing to give their time and beautiful talent to this effort for our sick.”

Msgr. Burtenshaw sends a monthly missalette service to all shut-ins who request it. A newsletter also goes with the missalette. Shut-ins can get on that free mailing list by writing: P.O. Box 54424, Atlanta, Ga. 30308.

“We started this apostolate on WSB in 1977,” says the Monsignor, “and we are most grateful to them. But for this apostolate to go weekly is the breakthrough we needed. Let us all pray that we will be successful.”