ACTION ALERT: UPDATE . . . Future is more "hopeful" for the live Sunday morning broadcasts of the TV Mass in central Minnesota, but not assured! We still need you to show your support, and help SAVE the TV Mass! Why is the TV Mass in danger? The Diocese of Saint Cloud learned Tuesday, October 22, that WCCO TV in Minneapolis has decided to close its current KCCO TV studios in Alexandria, laying off most of its staff there, putting the building up for sale, and relocating to a small news bureau space in downtown Alexandria. WCCO TV general manager, Rene LaSpina, has now given the diocese greater assurances that the TV Mass will be allowed to continue until at least "January." LaSpina has also pledged that WCCO TV will work with the diocese to seek a way to continue the TV Mass on a permanent basis. Options may include moving the production to a location in St. Cloud. These positive indications give us hope, but nothing is certain at this point. The diocese has produced live TV broadcasts of the Roman Catholic Mass from KCCO TV studios almost every Sunday morning for 44 years! In fact, the Diocese of Saint Cloud has the distinction of producing one of the first and longest running live TV Masses in the country. The TV Mass is an important ministry to more than 30,000 people who are homebound, in nursing homes or hospitals throughout the 16-county diocese, and even into portions of northern Minnesota. Pope John Paul II has called the TV Mass "a precious help" to so many who are no longer able to get out of their homes. The Roman Catholic Church has a strong preferrence for live, local TV Masses because celebration of the Mass is shared among presider, ministers and participants at the same time and as community. Also, the consecration of the Holy Eucharist happens at one moment in time, not every time someone puts a video tape in the VCR. These TV Mass broadcasts are also celebrations of the local people, and Bishop Kinney strongly supports continuation of the diocese's TV Mass ministry. Some have asked "Why not simply rely on EWTN Masses, or other national Mass broadcasts?" The simplest answer is that most of those who benefit from our TV Mass live in rural areas of our diocese where they do not have access to cable TV, and therefore cannot receive those other Masses. Again, the Church also expresses a strong preferrence for live and local TV Mass celebrations. Again, WCCO TV, which is a CBS affiliate based in Minneapolis, has indicated a willingness to explore how the TV Mass might continue on KCCO/KCCW, and we remain hopeful. However, this remains a very important time to show WCCO how important this ministry is to tens of thousands of people throughout central and northern Minnesota. What can I do to help save the TV Mass? We encourage you to sit down today and write a personal letter explaining to WCCO in your own terms how important the TV Mass ministry has been to you and/or your loved ones. Please be polite and personal, but emphatic. You can mail your letter directly to: Rene LaSpina WCCO TV 90 South 11th Street Minneapolis, MN 55403 You can also contact others you know who appreciate the TV Mass, and encourage them to send letters. We remain hopeful that with all of us working together we can find a way to continue this important TV Mass ministry. Diocese of Saint Cloud Office of Communications © 2002 Diocese of St. Cloud. All rights reserved.