Proclaim!

Proclaim! is a Catholic news and discussion broadcast aired on FOX affiliate WWCP-TV in the Johnstown/Altoona/State College PA Television Market since December 2, 2001. They also produce Johnstown-Altoona Diocese Mass live from St. John Gualbert Cathedral in Johnstown. The Mass telecast has aired on local television since September 11, 1988. It is the only locally produced Catholic television Mass in the United States to air live on commercial broadcast television on a weekly basis. The Proclaim! news show airs Sundays at 5:30 AM & 10:30 AM, followed by the Live Mass at 11:00 AM. (The mass is replayed on local Public Access at 9:00 PM)

Proclaim! discusses news from in and around the Roman Catholic Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown as well as national and international religious based stories from Fox News National. The news segements are hosted by Rev. Chuck Bridges, pastor of St. John Gaulbert Cathedral in Johnstown, and a former local news broadcaster. Other segments are hosted by Bishop Joseph V. Adamec of The Altoona-Johnstown Diocese, and Crispin Havener.

History

The St. John Gualbert Television Ministry dates back to 1988 when Deacon John Sroka pitched the idea of a live hour long mass and launched it on Public-access television in Johnstown. Over time, the church underwent renovations to make the Cathedral better suited for the Mass telecast. WWCP-TV picked up the broadcast in 2001, allowing the entire television market to see the broadcast and witness the creation of the Proclaim! news show. The mass continues to be one of the only produced Mass broadcasts to air live every Sunday in the United States on television.

Proclaim! raises most of its funds through public support by way of their "Minute-A-Month" program. They also raise funds from parish and commercial sponsorship.

Currently Proclaim! boasts more than 20 Parish Sponsors from throughout the Diocese of Altoona - Johnstown...

Saints Gregory and Barnabas (Johnstown, PA)
Sacred Heart(Altoona, PA)
Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton (Windber, PA)
Saint Mary, Immaculate Conception (Altoona, PA)
Our Lady, Queen of Angels (Central City, PA)
Our Lady of Victory(State College, PA)
Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (Portage, PA)
Saint Mark (Altoona, PA)
Saint Mary (Hollidaysburg, PA)
Saint Agnes (Cassandra, PA)
Saint Bartholomew (Winder, PA)
Saint Michael (Saint Michael, PA)
Prince of Peace (Northern Cambria, PA)
Saint Stephen (Johnstown, PA)
Basilica of Saint Michael the Archangel (Loretto, PA)
Saint Augustine (Saint Augustine, PA)
Saint Monica (Chest Springs, PA)
Saint John Vianney (Mundy's Corner, PA)
Saint Francis of Assisi (Johnstown, PA)
Saint Joseph (Portage, PA)
Saint Nicholas (Nicktown, PA)
Our Mother of Sorrows (Johnstown, PA)

Proclaim! Segments

Teen Talk

Teen Talk was originally hosted by Aaron Lemmon and Mindy Hartfiel when Proclaim! began in December 2001. The segment revolved around a wide variety of issues that matter to teens and how they related to the Catholic Church. Mindy left the show soon after, and Aaron hosted solo until he went on to attend Boston College in 2004. Mike Amenti took over soon afterwards. Proclaim! and Teen Talk was granted an interview with Aaron Carter at the Palace Theater in 2005. However, this was the last produced episode of the original Teen Talk as the segment would go on hiatus until August 2007 when Proclaim! was granted an interview with The JOnAS Brothers moderated by Crispin Havener. Aaron Lemmon returned for a 6 week mini-series the following month with Nick Gregorchik, discussing his study abroad experiences in Australia.

Following the success of the interview and the mini-series, Teen Talk returned full time on November 11th, 2007, Teen Talk as the Teen Talk Round Table With Crispin Havener. The segment revolved around weekly guests (Either from the Proclaim! Crew, or home viewers who write in to the show to join the segment) who join Crispin to discuss teen related topics, and current events. Many of which are supplied by home viewers. During the Summer of 2008, Crispin conducted "Special Report" segments, giving his opinion on teen issues in the news, or conduct an interview with a special guest.

Since November 2008, Teen Talk has dropped the "Round Table" as a weekly segment to focus on the "Special Report" format full time.

Can We Talk?

Bishop Joseph V. Adamec hosts this segement, and is joined by a wide variety of guests to discuss matters of theology, faith, ministry, and service.

Guests have included church and school leaders, as well as heads of charities, and leaders of upcoming events in the diocese. Bishop Adamec also has church parishoners from local parishes talk AbOUT their church and faith life in "People in the Pew" segments. Bishop Adamec also appears on his own once a month (Formerly, the current Teen Talk host interviewed him, though still done occasionally) to discuss church issues and upcoming events.

Live Diocese Mass

WWCP-TV continues to air the Live Mass as the Johnstown-Altoona Diocese Mass (Also known as The Catholic Mass from St. John Gaulbert Cathedral) at 11:00 AM each Sunday. The Mass continues to be produced by an all-volunteer television crew that makes up the Proclaim! TV Ministry, which is led by Executive Producer Dino Tessari. The Mass is celebrated by priests from local parishes, as well as the parish clergy of St. John Gaulbert, Rev. Msgr. George Flinn, and Rev. Chuck Bridges. Bishop Adamec presides over the Mass on Easter Sunday, Christmas, and other special occasions.