CHURCH TV IS A BIG HIT
The number of people logging on to view Mass is increasing every week
DURING the Covid-19 crisis, keeping community networks alive is more important than ever.
One business, ChurchTV. ie, run by Iain MacPhee of av acoustics in Enniscrone and Carrick-on-Shannon based Martin Costello of AV Tech, is helping by livestreaming Church masses to congregations around the parishes and further afield.
Since lockdown, ChurchTV. ie has had 4.3 million views of masses streamed, with Mass being shown from churches all over Ireland.
“We’re extremely busy at the moment, putting in high quality livestreams from Churches all over the west and northwest”, explains Iain of Church TV.ie
“We have been providing streaming services for many years, including Knock Bascilica and St. Muredach’s Cathedral, since 2014.
“However, with the lockdown coinciding with Easter, has resulted in a surge in demand from Churches throughout the region’’.
ChurchTV installation teams in Castlebar, Enniscrone and Carrick-on-Shannon have worked together to ensure all requests were met in time for the Easter services.
The most recent local installations include Easkey, Moygownagh, Ballinamore, Carraroe and Enniscrone, and more are planned in the immediate future.
Martin commented: “We are delighted to be able to help in connecting these communities who can no longer gather together.
“This has been very poignant in these times with the restrictions on attendance at funerals, where the streaming of services allows family members near and far to partake, in their own way’’.
The response to these broadcasts has been exceptional according to Fr. Richard Gibbons, Rector, Knock Shrine.
“In these uncertain times, the live stream service from Knock Shrine has become an ever more important part of the everyday lives of our new ‘virtual’ community of parishioners, pilgrims and visitors.
Mass is broadcast live twice daily from the Shrine at 12 Noon and 7.30pm.
Over the past number of weeks, many thousands of people have engaged with ceremonies from Knock Shrine from as far away as Australia, Singapore and the United States.
“We regularly receive messages from all over the world, with expressions of how much this service means to people, especially those who are confined to their homes at present”.
Many priests are hoping this might result in a welcome and lasting surge in congregation numbers.
Outside of churches, other long term streaming installations include Enniscrone beach which is very popular with viewers who can no longer go to the beach themselves.
In more normal times, it’s very handy for checking the tide before going for a walk according to locals.
The easiest way to view the service is by logging on to Churchtv.ie on a smartphone or computer, and select the relevant church.