Religious shows on TV offer many options for Catholics

* The Albany diocesan Media Office produces a weekly televised Mass, shown at 8:30 a.m. on Sundays on ABC-10. Priests and parishioners from different parts of the Diocese participate in the liturgy.

* Catholic Charities of the Diocese produces a bi-monthly program, "Catholic Charities at Work," about its programs and people. It also airs on ABC-10. Announcements of dates and topics appear on the Calendar page of The Evangelist.

* That show alternates with "Christopher Closeup," an interview program produced by The Christophers, a New York City-based ecumenical media effort.

* The New York State Catholic Conference produces "Capitol Compass" about public policy issues and the Church. Announcements about the show, which airs on ABC-10, can be found on the Calendar page.

* Time Warner Cable, which is available in several parts of the Diocese, offers its subscribers the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), an Alabama-based network headed by Mother Angelica. Its daily schedule includes talk shows, lectures about Catholic teaching, children's programming, coverage of papal events, the Mass and biographies of saints.

* Other cable and satellite systems in the Diocese carry the Odyssey Network, which carries ecumenical and interfaith programming as well as family shows, including Hallmark Hall of Fame specials and, in April, "Mary, Mother of Jesus," which was recently seen on NBC.

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