September 3, 2015 - Holy Mass of Thanksgiving for the 450th Anniversary of America’s First Church*

WATERTOWN, Mass. (September 4, 2015) - On Tuesday September 8th, CatholicTV will air the Holy Mass of Thanksgiving for the 450th Founders Day of the City of St. Augustine and the establishment of America’s first Church. His Eminence Seán Cardinal O’Malley, the Archbishop of Boston will serve as principal celebrant and homilist; as well as Special Envoy of His Holiness, Pope Francis.
 
 In an interview with Catholic News Service, Bishop Felipe Estevez of the Diocese of St. Augustine called the founding of the city providential. "The founding of St. Augustine is all about evangelization, the sharing of Christianity with the Native Americans”
 
 The Mass will celebrate the 450th anniversary of the primary settlement of Europeans in the continental United States as well as the establishment of America’s first parish. In 1565 Don Pedro Menéndez de Avilés set out on an expedition from Spain and on August 28th, landed on the coast of Florida (formerly, “La Florida”). Since August 28th marks the Feast Day of St. Augustine of Hippo, Menéndez decided to name this new community “St. Augustine”.  On September 8th a secular priest heard of Menéndez’s arrival  and presented the General with a cross. Everyone who followed Menéndez knelt and kissed it; thus marking the foundation of St. Augustine the city and St. Augustine the parish. For more information on St. Augustine please visit: http://www.dosafl.com/our-history/. 
 
 
The Mass will air LIVE from the Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine in St. Augustine, Florida at 11 a.m. and rebroadcast at 8 p.m. (ET).  To watch this special event LIVE please visit www.CatholicTVLIVE.com 
 
About the CatholicTV Network:  The CatholicTV Network is a national cable television network also streaming a live feed 24 hours a day at CatholicTVLIVE.com. The CatholicTV Network represents a cable TV station available in more than 14 million homes, an interactive website with television-like live and video-on-demand, mobile apps and a monthly printed and digital magazine.