By Matters India Reporter
Panaji: The Catholic Charismatic renewal Television, or CCR TV, has completed three years of proclamation of God’s Love.
“This is what the Lord wants us to be in this challenging world of ours,” says Robin Francis D’Souza, the television’s CEO.
The CCR TV Channel was inaugurated on December 4, 2017, by Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao of Goa and Daman.
D’Souza, a member of the National Service Team of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal, says their quest has been to build up faith in Christ and relate it to the media and internet in a fast-paced world. They also looked for quality Catholic content on the airwaves.
All this led them to launch the CCRTV channel, he told Matters India.
“Our goal from the beginning was to counter anti-Christian content and to present a viable option by providing wholesome faith-building content to the faithful,” he explained.
“Emboldened by prayer, and with the support of Archbishop Filipe Neri, we set off fully aware that this was going to e a challenging task. The Lord was with us from the start,” D’Souza narrated beginning of the CCR TV Channel 24×4.
The channel has more than 6 million viewers, 39,000 subscribers on YouTube Channel, catering to Goan diaspora in UK, Canada, Australia and Gulf countries besides India.
The channel hosts a variety of faith formation programs besides daily Mass in Konkani and English. The daily programs include daily adoration services, sessions on prayer and worship, catechism for children, discussions on the pastoral letter of the Diocese, intercessory prayer, Christian Bhajan, spiritual music videos, exercises for senior citizens, which keep the faithful; interested and invested in CCR TV.
The third anniversary was celebrated with an online (live) Mass by Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao and a four-hour online concert on 4 December.
In his message Archbishop appreciated the challenging task of the CCRTV in “in giving Good News of reconciliation, peace and joy” and thanked the “legion of people who helped the channel”, “May your tribe increase,” he said with a smile of contentment.
“We are all equal brothers and sisters of one another spreading values of Jesus’ Kingdom,” the prelate said.
Calling it an “Impossible dream” and a “Modern day Miracle, “Iren Rocha praise the channels meticulous and dedicated efforts. She said, “Besides a plethora of beneficial talks on our Catholic faith and education, the channel brings us a wide range of talents from all over Goa, through performances and interviews. It offers valuable and useful information regarding career, health, current news, cuisine, and interesting personalities.
According to her “during the pandemic lockdown the channel helped the Catholic Community with telecast of daily Masses celebrated in Churches at various localities of Goa.”
Neville D’ Souza, a volunteer staff at CCR Tv says, “I have seen the hand of God on CCR TV.We are a bunch of no-bodies according to the world standards. No pomp, no titles, no great finances to boast of, purely the favor of helps us all to do our best to serve him.”
D’Souza points out, “A sign of God’s presence with us is that during the lockout not a day the CCRTV studio was shut. We telecasted mass every day. This channel runs on with the help of well-wishers and we see God’s hand working through them.”
In 1972, the Catholic Charismatic Renewal came into being in India.
According to Joy Antony, the coordinator, National Service of Communion of the CCR in India, “One of the characteristics of CCR is the wide variety of expressions, communities and ministries that from ‘unity in diversity’.”
He added, “Generally CCR focuses on relationships and networks rather than rigid structures. Therefore, patterns of informal relationships can be found at local, regional, national, and international levels. The nature of leadership in CCR is characterized by service rather than governance that demands obedience and conformity.”
Cable TV Distributors in Goa carry the signal all over Goa and there is a simultaneous live stream on an APP downloadable from Google Playstore. Social Media is actively used and we have , at present, besides being on this Website, are on Youtube, Facebook, Twitter and also on Instagram. The Channel is non-profit and is primarily supported by donations from those who wish to be a part of this evangelical effort, informed Robin.
According to Father Joseph Silva, Margao, “CCR TV is indeed a gift of God to all of us. It is proclaiming Jesus and his word to the world. It is helping so many people to experience Jesus, love Jesus and follow him and his values”
Maria Dias, from Porvorim, Goa says, “The variety of programs streamed enhances the knowledge of the viewers to better their life. The teachings are inspirational and easily grasped.”
A very good effort initiated by the laity. A small problem with the CCR is that it tends towards exclusivity, and shies away from social involvement and Vatican Ii teachings.