Archbishop William E. Lori’s weekly televised Mass from the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen in Homeland is attracting just as many viewers as the number of people who tune in to catch an NFL football game that does not involve the hometown Ravens.
The Mass is the third most-watched television program of that time slot in the Baltimore market, according to a report provided by Sinclair Station representative Nikki Collier.
“It is essential for the church to meet people where they are in order to evangelize,” Archbishop Lori said. “Seeing their local archdiocese’s Mass broadcast in their own home reminds people that we are here, even in challenging times.”
The hour-long liturgy, which usually streams live at 11 a.m., is televised on Sinclair Broadcast Group Baltimore affiliate stations – Fox, CW and MyTV – on channels 24 (Dish Network), 46 (Direct TV), 45.2 (Verizon) and 803 (Xfinity).
The Sinclair report noted that streaming services increased from 0.35 share of households, when the Masses began to be broadcast through Sinclair in May 2020, to 7.29 share of households in September 2021. Ratings show 7,290 households tuned to the streaming Mass, with an average market household of 2.4 people ages 2+, an equivalent of 17,496 people.
Lauren Robinson, director of marketing for the Archdiocese of Baltimore, said the Mass had previously aired on WBAL’s secondary channel MeTV. It stopped broadcasting there due to contractual obligations for syndicated programming during that time slot, and the archdiocese partnered with Sinclair to continue airing the liturgy on a new outlet.
She said many parishioners are still hesitant about being out in large groups. Whether they are homebound, quarantined, elderly, immune-compromised or experiencing mobility issues, it is a safe, accessible alternative for those who want to view a live Mass while staying at home.
“Because of COVID-19, the spiritual obligation to reach parishioners became apparent,” Robinson said. “Not all parishioners are ‘tech savvy’ and able to go to the computer and watch Mass online.”
Many parishioners called the communications office of the Archdiocese of Baltimore expressing their need for a broadcast Mass after it had been discontinued on its original stations.
Christian Kendzierski, archdiocesan executive director of communication, said he sees an increase of audience in concrete numbers as an achievement for the department of communications.
Kendzierski said TV Mass appeals even to non-Catholics. He said his friend, who is not Catholic, has been watching Mass as an alternative to her Christian faith congregation, which has not been able to provide a service due to the pandemic.
“Streaming TV Mass is essential because it is a tool for evangelization,” he said.
For more information about Live Mass Webcast visit https://www.cathedralofmary.org/about/webcast. Links to online Mass are also available at www.archbalt.org/online-mass
Email Priscila González de Doran at pdoran@CatholicReview.org
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