Roger Childs, the Commissioning Editor of Religious Programmes for RTÉ, with some of the ‘thank you’ cards and letters sent to the
broadcaster following its decision to broadcast daily Mass on RTÉ News Now during lockdown. Jason Osborne
The head of religious programming at the national broadcaster has said he has been moved by the many people who have written to thank the station for broadcasting daily Mass while churches were closed due to Covid-19.
Speaking to The Irish Catholic, Roger Childs, the Commissioning Editor of Religious Programmes at RTÉ, said: “I’ve been amazed by the response, really.
Restrictions
“We knew that, back in March when the restrictions were first put in place, we twigged pretty quickly that that was going to cut off a lot of people from their families and their Faith communities, just at the time when they most were in need of moral, practical, spiritual support so we put in place weekday Masses on RTÉ News Now,” he said.
Mr Childs said: “We’re getting lovely, affirmative letters and cards, and Mass cards, and postcards, and goodness knows what else from people just saying how much they valued it during a very stressful time. It’s quite humbling.”
Opening a letter, he related the contents: “‘It’s meant so much to me in these difficult times. It’s like a lifeline to Heaven. My daily dose of spiritual nourishment. Much appreciated’”.