EWTN will commemorate its foundress with a Vatican Mass and daylong programming celebrating her life of faith and media innovation.

The EWTN Global Catholic Network will commemorate the 10th anniversary of the death of its foundress, Mother Angelica, with a Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome on March 27.

According to a press release, the memorial Mass will be celebrated by Father Michael Baggot, LC, at the basilica’s Choir Altar at 11 a.m. ET, marking a decade since the death of the Poor Clare nun who founded what would become the world’s largest Catholic media network.

“Mother Angelica loved the beauty and grandeur of St. Peter’s Basilica and wanted only the best for her beloved Jesus Christ,” said Michael P. Warsaw, EWTN chair and CEO. “It’s fitting that we honor her memory and commitment to sharing truth, beauty, and goodness with the world at the place that points all people toward the transcendent.”

Special programming

In addition to the Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, EWTN is marking the anniversary with special programming throughout the day, including “Remembering Mother Angelica, 10 Years Later.” Coverage will consist of events from the EWTN chapel, including:

• Mass in remembrance of Mother Angelica from the EWTN chapel at 8 a.m. ET
• Holy rosary in memoriam of Mother Angelica’s passing from the EWTN chapel at 9 a.m. ET
• Stations of the Cross for Mother Angelica from the EWTN chapel at 3 p.m. ET

The network will air these events across its television and digital platforms, including its YouTube channel, the EWTN+ streaming platform, and live and on demand at www.ewtn.com, making the commemorations of Mother Angelica’s life and legacy accessible to viewers worldwide.

Mother Angelica

Born Rita Antoinette Rizzo in 1923, Mother Angelica entered religious life in Ohio as Sister Mary Angelica of the Annunciation and later founded a monastery of Poor Clares of Perpetual Adoration in Our Lady of the Angels in Irondale, Alabama. From there, she launched the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) in 1981, beginning with a small television studio built in the monastery’s garage. 

What began as a small local broadcasting effort developed into a global Catholic media network spanning across television, radio, publishing, print, and digital platforms.

EWTN now operates 11 television channels broadcasting 24 hours a day in multiple languages, reaching audiences in more than 160 countries and territories. Its content is also distributed through hundreds of AM and FM radio affiliates worldwide, satellite radio services, and a range of digital platforms, including one of the most widely visited Catholic websites in the United States.

Warsaw said the nun’s legacy continues to resonate across those platforms and with new generations of viewers.

“While we all still miss her every day, her deep love of Our Lord resonates in the walls of the studios in Irondale still, as much as her laugh on YouTube, social media, and the new EWTN platforms inspire new audiences that encounter her story and advice,” he said.

Mother Angelica died on March 27, 2016 — Easter Sunday — at the age of 92 after long suffering the aftereffects of a stroke. Her funeral was held at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Alabama, drawing thousands of mourners.

Her life was marked by a combination of contemplative religious devotion and entrepreneurial initiative. In the early years of her community, Mother Angelica and her fellow sisters supported their work of evangelization through small fundraising efforts, including selling fishing lures and roasted peanuts, before expanding into media production.

EWTN’s founding in the early days of satellite television made it a pioneer in religious broadcasting in the United States. Over four decades, the network expanded its global footprint and established EWTN News, a multilingual news service, alongside its television and radio programming.

Kathryn Jean Lopez, religion editor at National Review, described Mother Angelica as a “joy and inspiration — a gift to the United States and the world over.”

“I was blessed and honored to be at her funeral Mass at the Shrine of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Hanceville, Alabama,” she said. “The Eucharist was her reason for living — holding on for so long in reparation for her sins and the sins of the whole world.”

This article was originally published by EWTN News English.