Lighting Our Way To God A Historical Narrative of the Catholic Television Network of Youngstown During the 1950's and 60's vigorous Catholic radio and television flourished nationally and within the Diocese. In 1954 the Sunday Mass was broadcasted on radio with the help of a local AM station. In the early 60's the TV Mass for Shut-Ins was first broadcast and continues today. In the early 1970's a Diocesan Director of Communications and producer were named. Programs such as Moving Out, Popcorn Digest, and Gallery were produced. The Catholic Telecommunications Network of Youngstown was begun in 1980 by the Diocese in order to expand the production and delivery of its radio and TV programs. The Gabriel Award winning Wineskins radio program began production along with TV programs such as Reel to Real, Diocesan Spotlight, Jewish Christian Dialogue, Profiles & Issues and more. St. Columba Cathedral is made television ready to provide live and taped broadcasts of liturgical events. In the 1990's CTNY continued to expand it's programming and receive national recognition for its TV and Radio accomplishments. CTNY also serves as the production and network facility for the Ecumenical Channel. History of the Ecumenical Television Channel The Ecumenical Television Channel (ETC), serving Northeastern Ohio and Western Pennsylvania, is a collaboration of Christian denominations and the Jewish Community. The primary purpose is to communicate the word of God who calls, nurtures and unites us. This collaboration shall maintain its ecumenical spirit and purpose, in cooperation with the Catholic Telecommunications Network of the Diocese of Youngstown (CTNY). ETC initially broadcast for one hour a day in 1983 and in 1986 expanded to 24 hour a day, seven days a week of religious and inspirational programming, thus becoming the first Ecumenical Television Channel in the nation. ETC's development and broadcasting are conducted through the combined efforts of CTNY and the Ecumenical Partnership Committee. National programs on ETC are provided by: EWTN, Boston Catholic Television, The Jewish Network, Cornerstone Television, and the Inspirational Network. Local programming includes: Jewish Christian Dialogue, Mass for Shut-Ins, special liturgical events from St. Columba Cathedral and Wineskins, a weekly radio program. Also included are programs sponsored by the Catholic Communication Campaign and National Diocesan Communication Departments. ETC is broadcast over 10 cable systems and 2 hospitals reaching more than 300,000 viewers daily.