AN innovative service will ensure there is no longer any
excuse for not attending the Christening, wedding or funeral of your
nearest and dearest.
A Church TV service will allow people to "attend"
all the above and even daily Mass online from the comfort of their
smartphone or laptop.
The service streams live footage of
services via the local parish church website and has a novel
YouTube-style playback and download facility for people to review later.
The service is being provided by Church Service TV, a
Catholic Church-funded charity, and has been rolled out in 15 parishes
including Dublin’s Mount Argus, John’s Lane and Ballygall Parish Church
Finglas.
The service is also available in the Augustinian Priory in Cork
city.
Danny Bolger of Church Services TV described it as a "mini-YouTube for each parish".
"The Drumcondra- based Redemptoristine Nuns — who are known as the Red
Nuns — are an enclosed order and don’t communicate with the outside
world. However, there has even been a surge in vocations since they went
online TV," said Mr Bolger.
Fr Pat Moran, prior of the Augustinian Priory in Washington Street, Cork, is delighted with the new technology.
"[Last monthl] we had 11,500 views from all over the world — 54 different countries.
"We get tremendous feedback — it really brings people together," he said.
Parishioners who wish to stream a funeral or wedding live must request it first.