NEWTON -- CatholicTV in Boston (BCTV) will unwrap its holiday programming beginning the week of Dec. 18. Several new specials will premiere that week and will run through the end of the year.

In addition, a brand new CatholicTV Web site will be launched on Dec. 24 with a Christmas message in English, Spanish and Portuguese from Cardinal Seán P. O’Malley (visit: www.iCatholic.com). Also beginning at midnight on Dec. 24, CatholicTV will air 72 hours of nonstop Christmas specials on its airwaves.

The following is a list of five new specials CatholicTV will premiere this Christmas season and their air times:

“Going My Way” is a Christmas special featuring host Father Christopher Hickey, his mentor-turned sidekick, Father Paul Rouse and special guest, the director of CatholicTV, Father Robert Reed. “Going My Way” is CatholicTV’s newest hit variety show with Father Hickey interviewing a guest priest each week, who also adds a musical performance. The Christmas edition features a half-hour medley of Christmas favorites sung by the three priests. “Going My Way” airs every week on CatholicTV, Monday at 1 p.m., Tuesday at 6 a.m., Wednesday at 5:30 p.m., Thursday at 1:30 p.m., Friday at 11 a.m, Saturday at 2:30 p.m. and Sunday at 6 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

“Christmas with the Black Catholic Choir” is a special with the Archdiocesan Black Catholic Choir under the direction of Meyer Chambers. They celebrate the season with African-American and other cultural music. The show will air Dec. 19 at 6 p.m., Dec. 21 at 1 p.m., Dec. 22 at 7:30 a.m., Dec. 23 at 8 p.m., Dec. 24 at 11 a.m., Dec. 25 at 12:30 p.m. and Dec. 26 at 5:30 p.m.

“Sing We Now of Christmas” presents the Boston Boy Choir, the performing arts arm of the Boston Archdiocesan Choir School, singing the music of the Christmas feast. The show airs Dec. 19 at 3:30 p.m., Dec. 20 at 11 p.m., Dec. 21 at 5 p.m., Dec. 23 at 5 p.m. Dec. 24 at 10:30 a.m., Dec. 25 at 1 p.m. and Dec. 26 at 5 p.m.

“The Wonder of Christmas at St. Columbkille’s” features students from St. Columbkille School in Brighton as they interpret the wonderful story of the coming of God among us. The show airs Dec. 18 at 9:30 p.m., Dec. 19 at 5 p.m., Dec. 21 at 7:30 a.m., Dec. 23 at 11 a.m., Dec. 24 at 11:30 a.m., Dec. 25 at noon and Dec. 26 at 6 p.m.

“The Mystery of Christmas” has Father Lenny Tighe examining the icon of the Nativity, opening a window on the mystery of Christ’s birth. The show airs Dec. 18 at 5:30 p.m., Dec. 19 at 12:30 p.m., Dec. 21 at 9 p.m., Dec. 24 at 9:30 a.m., Dec. 25 at 11 a.m. and Dec. 26 at 3:30 p.m.

Catholic TV is a viewer-funded cable television station that broadcasts a variety of religious, prayerful and educational programs 24 hours a day and can be seen in more than 175 communities in Eastern Massachusetts. The station is carried by Comcast on cable channel 56 on most of its systems (channel 45 in Boston and Brookline) and RCN channel 68 and 85. Internet users can watch Catholic TV online at any time via a link at www.CatholicTV.com. More information about our Christmas programming is available at that Web site or by calling (617) 965-0050.