FALL RIVER — Parishioners throughout the Fall River Diocese will be invited to contribute to the Catholic Communication Campaign (CCC) at parish Masses this weekend.

This annual national campaign is designed as a shared collection, meaning half of the proceeds stay in the local diocese and the other half is forwarded to the Catholic Communication Campaign office of the U.S. Bishops’ Conference.

The portion remaining in the Fall River Diocese is used to fund the weekly Television Mass, which airs at 11 a.m. each Sunday on WLNE-TV, channel 6. The annual cost for the Television Mass is $105,171 including production, airtime and closed-captioning –all of which are now handled by different entities.

Since 1963, the diocese has sponsored a televised Mass for the benefit of those who are unable to attend a parish Mass usually because of infirmity or advanced age, and over the years it has been a source of spiritual sustenance and support for countless numbers of area Catholics.

“It’s a wonderful ministry and an important way that we as a diocesan community reach out to and serve our elderly and infirm members,” said Rev. Msgr. Stephen J. Avila, who is director of the Television Mass Apostolate.

“But it doesn’t come without cost,” he added.

In addition to proceeds from this weekend’s CCC collection, the Television Mass is also supported by the Catholic Charities Appeal.

Msgr. Avila expressed on behalf of Bishop Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V., his gratitude to those who support the TV Mass through the CCC collection.  He said that donations may also be sent directly to the Diocesan TV Mass at P.O. Box 7, Fall River, MA 02722.

At the national level, the CCC funds the development and production of a wide range of traditional and new media initiatives that are carried out by the U.S. Bishops’ Conference staff and other grantee organizations.

To learn more about the CCC and the important work is supports, please visit www.usccb.org and search Catholic Communication Campaign.

Diocese of Fall River
Diocese of Fall River
Office of Communications