Our People

Launch of Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) in Australia

By Most Rev. Julian Porteous
Auxiliary Bishop of Sydney
1/3/2006

We live in a media age. It penetrates our daily life in a multitude of ways. Communication of information, ideas, attitudes is critical for governments, business, sports and the entertainment industry. The Church is in the business of communication. It has been so since its beginnings. In the final chapter of St Mark’s Gospel the Lord says: “Go out to the whole world; proclaim the good news to all creation” (Mk 16, 16).

New forms of communication provide new opportunities for the Church. Way back, the invention of the printing press offered wonderful possibilities for placing the printed word in people’s hands. Bibles and prayer books were some of the first mass produced printed materials.

Vatican Radio was one of the earliest radio stations seizing the potential of this new medium. As television has developed the Catholic Church has been involved but not as successfully as it has in other media, particularly here in Australia.

Tonight marks a significant step forward for Catholic communication through the medium of television.

EWTN has been a great pioneer in Catholic television for twenty five years. It has set benchmarks in programming, proving the marketability of a clear and straightforward presentation of Catholic culture and beliefs.

Mother Angelica, the founder of Eternal Word Television Network has become somewhat of a legendary figure, not only through her own inimitable television style, but more particularly in her extraordinary determination and vision to set up what has become a vast cable and satellite network. Given its humble beginnings, few predicted EWTN would survive, let alone become the world’s largest religious media Network. With no television experience and $200 in the bank, Mother Angelica began EWTN in her monastery garage. Now it reaches millions of people throughout the world.

Tonight marks a new phase for EWTN in Australia as it now has its own dedicated satellite link for Australia. It will be so much more accessible and affordable, and, what is more significant, able to begin providing homegrown Australian material.

I congratulate all those involved in this venture. Those who have the foresight and courage to enter this highly technical, expensive and competitive area.

I pray that it will be successful and fruitful in serving, particularly, the Catholic community, with material to enrich their faith. And that it will serve the more general Australian community with materials that inspire and ennoble.

And now I am pleased to officially announce and to launch EWTN available through its own dedicated satellite.