EWTN remembers Mother Angelica, 10 years after her death
EWTN is commemorating the 10th anniversary of the death of its foundress, Mother Angelica, on March 27. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome by Father Michael Baggot, LC, at 11 a.m. ET. The network is airing special daylong programming, including a remembrance show and services from the EWTN chapel. Mother Angelica founded EWTN in 1981, growing it from a small studio in an Alabama monastery into the world's largest Catholic media network. The commemorations will be accessible globally via EWTN's television, digital platforms, and streaming services.
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EWTN is marking the 10th anniversary of Mother Angelica's death on March 27, 2026, with a memorial Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.1 2
The Mass, celebrated by Father Michael Baggot, LC, at the basilica’s Choir Altar at 11 a.m. ET, honors her love for the site’s grandeur.1 2
Special programming includes a Mass at 8 a.m. ET, Holy Rosary at 9 a.m. ET, and Stations of the Cross at 3 p.m. ET from the EWTN chapel.1 2
Events air live on television, YouTube, EWTN+ streaming, and ewtn.com for global access.1 2
Born Rita Antoinette Rizzo in 1923, she entered religious life in Ohio as Sister Mary Angelica of the Annunciation.1 2
She founded a Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration monastery in Irondale, Alabama.1 2
Early fundraising involved selling fishing lures and roasted peanuts to support evangelization efforts.1 2
In 1981, Mother Angelica launched EWTN from a garage studio at her monastery.1 2
Pioneering satellite TV religious broadcasting, it grew from local efforts into a global network.1 2
EWTN now runs 11 TV channels in multiple languages, reaching over 160 countries.1 2
It includes radio affiliates, satellite services, digital platforms, and EWTN News.1 2
Mother Angelica died on Easter Sunday, March 27, 2016, at age 92 after stroke aftereffects.1 2
Her funeral at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Alabama, drew thousands.1 2
EWTN CEO Michael P. Warsaw praised her commitment to truth, beauty, and goodness, noting her influence on new audiences via digital platforms.1 2
Kathryn Jean Lopez called her a "joy and inspiration," emphasizing her Eucharistic devotion.1 2
How does Mother Angelica’s legacy shape Catholic media today?
Mother Angelica’s legacy is not directly addressed in the provided sources, so a specific analysis of its shaping influence on contemporary Catholic media cannot be drawn from them.
The available references consist primarily of magisterial documents from Pope John Paul II and Pontifical Councils for Social Communications, spanning 1986–2004, which articulate the Church's vision for social communications as essential to evangelization. These emphasize Catholics' duty to develop and use media—including television, radio, internet, and publishing—for proclaiming Christ, countering secular biases, and fostering a "new evangelization." For instance, they call for "energetic and skilful use" of Church media and creative engagement with secular ones to ensure a religious presence serves the common good.
Key themes include:
These teachings remain timeless, underscoring the need for bold Catholic media presence today amid digital globalization—principles that any legacy in this apostolate would align with, though no source links them to Mother Angelica specifically. Scholarly references (e.g., Newman, Cottier) offer tangential insights on faith witness and new evangelization but lack media focus.
Without direct references to Mother Angelica, her concrete impact—such as pioneering networks or programs—cannot be analyzed here. For deeper inquiry, consult comprehensive Church histories or EWTN archives aligned with these magisterial guidelines.