BCTV plans special programming for Catholic Schools Week

NEWTON — To recognize Catholic Schools Week in the Archdiocese of Boston, Boston Catholic Television (BCTV) will air a week of special Masses along with three half-hour programs the week of Jan. 30. Beginning with BCTV’s Sunday Mass on Jan 30, each day, students from different archdiocesan schools will be in the congregation for BCTV’s televised Masses. During the week, three shows that focus on the central theme of the week “Catholic Schools — Building Minds, Changing Lives” will be aired on BCTV Cable.

The televised Mass lineup for Catholic Schools Week begins with Msgr. Cornelius McRae and students from St. Catherine of Siena School in Norwood, who will attend BCTV’s Sunday Mass. It is aired each week from the studios of WHDH, Channel 7 in Boston at 7:30 a.m. It is one of the longest-running, continuous, live “programs” in television history, airing every Sunday since Jan. 1, 1955.

The Catholic Schools Week Masses continue with Father Michael Steele and students from St. Joseph School in Wakefield. They will come to the BCTV studios for Daily Mass on Tuesday, Feb. 1 at 9:30 a.m. Daily Mass can be seen live each weekday on BCTV Cable and WBPX, Channel 68, as well as other PAX-TV affiliates. It is rebroadcast at 7:30 each weeknight on BCTV Cable.

On Wednesday of Catholic Schools Week, Father Kevin O’Leary and students from St. Peter School in Cambridge will be on BCTV’s Daily Mass. On Thursday, Arlington Catholic will be represented with Father Brian Flatley and on Friday, Father Kevin White and students from Boston College High School will close out the week.

Also during Catholic Schools Week, a special series of programs focusing on the theme for the Catholic Schools Week will air on BCTV Cable. The first program is called “Educating the Whole Child” and is hosted by BCTV’s Kevin Nelson. It focuses on the Catholic Schools Connect Program that is taking place at St. Anthony in Allston and St. Columbkille in Brighton. Nelson talks with administrators, teachers, parents and students who are involved in this program to learn more about it. Viewers will learn how successful learning not only takes place in the classroom, but also when programs like this one address challenges in children’s lives that occur in the outside world. “Educating the Whole Child” will air Monday, Jan. 31 at 11 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 1 at 9:30 p.m., and Wednesday, Feb. 2 at 6 p.m.

The second show in the Catholic Schools Week series is hosted by BCTV’s director, Msgr. Paul McInerny and is called “New Directions in Education.” This show takes a look at two successful methods in education that have been incorporated at North Cambridge Catholic, Cristo Rey, and Cathedral High School, distance learning. Msgr. McInerny interviews the principals and students from each high school to find out more about these two concepts. The Cristo Rey model involves high-school students participating in an internship program to earn money towards their tuition. They work five full days a month through this work-study program that gives them real-life experience beyond the classroom. Distance learning is a program that utilizes video conferencing between Cathedral and Bunker Hill Community College. In essence, it is like Cathedral students taking college classes with Bunker Hill professors without having to leave the high school. “New Directions in Education” can be seen on BCTV Feb. 3 at 2:30 p.m., Feb. 4 at 11 a.m. and 9 p.m.

The third show in the series highlights two expanding schools in the Merrimack Valley and is called “Growing and Prospering.” BCTV’s General Manager, Jay Fadden, went on location to Central Catholic High School in Lawrence and St. Michael School in North Andover to host this show. At Central Catholic, Fadden met with parents, students and administration, as they told the story of the new addition to the high school. Viewers will see some of the building’s new features including its modern science lab, computer facilities and classrooms and meet some personable students. Meanwhile, at St. Michael School, Fadden toured their school as well and interviewed administration, faculty, staff and students, who told the story of the growth of St. Michael School to the point where it is at capacity even after building an addition in 1998. “Growing and Prospering” will air Feb. 5 at 7:30 p.m., Feb. 6 at 11 a.m., and Feb. 7 at 2 p.m.