'We started the channel without even INR 100,000 (around US dollar 1,640) in our bank account'

New Catholic Charismatic television channel set to take North America by storm

  On April 27, two former popes (John Paul 2nd and John 23rd) will be declared saints by Vatican. On the same day, another historic event will take place. Shalom Television will launch its Catholic services in North America, covering the US and Canada. It's not a mean achievement for a small Syro-Malabar Catholic group from a developing country like India to launch a television channel in the most advanced country in the world.

 

To top it all, it's going to be the first English-language Catholic Charismatic television station offering high definition programming with eight production houses in the US and four in Canada. Operating 24/7, the network will be bolstered by prayer teams interceding around the clock before the Blessed Sacrament and receiving prayer intentions from faithful viewers. 
  Shalom TV is a miracle of God. "When we started the channel, we didn't even even have INR 100,000 (around US dollar 1,640) in our bank account," said Chevalier Benny Punnathara, Chairman of Shalom TV. "Many people tried to dissuade us from getting into this venture. They said we will lose money. But we trusted in God's word... not man's word. Now Shalom is the second largest television channel in Kerala State," he said while addressing a convention in Bangalore.
  "I learned Shalom World Ministries was rooted in a remote village in Kerala (India). Young Catholics in prayer received this Holy Spirit message: Global troubles stem from a lack of peace within families and human hearts. The world needs Christ’s peace, spread through every means of modern communication. This echoes the call of our beloved Pope John Paul the Great, who urged Catholics to not be afraid, to step out into the deep in spreading the light of Christ to the world, using every modern means," wrote journalist and writer Marianna Bartholomew in finerfields.blogspot.com.
  Shalom says it's not going to restrict with the US. "Eventually, once we launch the Shalom World Channel on April 27, the same day Pope John Paul II becomes a saint, we will be starting to broadcast through cable TV in Europe. Once we get permission in Europe, we will next be broadcasting in Western Canada if we get the customer support," Varkey Kalapurayil, Shalom Media's regional coordinator for Edmonton, was quoted as saying by Western Catholic Reporter. 
  He said the network is based on charismatic Catholic faith themes, but everyone can access it. It's for families, individuals, everyone. There will be spiritual talks, Masses, the rosary, and anything to help people upturn their faith.
  We cannot forget that evangelization is first and foremost about preaching the Gospel to those who do not know Jesus Christ or who have always rejected him. Many of these are quietly seeking God, led by a yearning to see his face, even in countries of ancient Christian tradition. "All of them have a right to receive the Gospel. Christians have the duty to proclaim the Gospel without excluding anyone," Pope Francis says in his apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium.
 In short, the pope says nobody -- you and me included -- is excluded from evagelisation. It's not that North America has no Catholic channels now. Catholic TV Network and EWTN are quite active in the US. There's space for more in a country like the US which is teeming with Indian immigrants.
  The Word of God constantly shows us how God challenges those who believe in him “to go forth”. Abraham received the call to set out for a new land (Gen 12:1-3). Moses heard God’s call: “Go, I send you” (Ex 3:10) and led the people towards the promised land (Ex 3:17). To Jeremiah, God says: “To all whom I send you, you shall go” (Jer 1:7). 
  Shalom has heard the call. I believe it's God's work.
  "A great spiritual movement has been possible in the US through the entry of Sunday Shalom and Shalom Television. Many blessings have been obtained by the Catholic Church in America and the Christian communities from Kerala, through Shalom ministries," said Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos, Head of Malankara Catholic Church, part of Roman Catholic Church, said in a message to Shalom.
 Shalom is a Hebrew and Jewish word meaning peace.

THE 25-YEAR JOURNEY

  Shalom's journey started as a small prayer group in the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in 1989. This group of young men, based in Peruvannamoozhi Dam area in the district of Calicut, Kerala, sought to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ using the modern means of communication to spread the word of God. The group, led by Chevalier Benny Punnathara, set up Shalom Media. 

Shalom TV chairman Benny Punnathara

  Shalom, a non-profit organization entered the media field with its three publications namely Shalom Times, Shalom Tidings and Sunday Shalom, intending to bring to the viewers the answer to their day to day problems and pressures of life; to bring solace and healing from the One who is always available to all who search for Him.
  Shalom Television, a Christian value-based channel, caters to every cross-section of the society. Shalom broke new ground in 1998 and as part of its mission through half-hour programmes named "Samadhanam Nammodukoode" (Peace be with us) in the "Asianet" channel. With a relentless passion to start a 24-hour television, Shalom launched its official television channel in March 2005. Shalom television broadcasts a new breed of original Christian programming around the world reaches widely in the Asian continent, UK, Europe and the US.
  By providential grace Shalom has got the privileage to associate itself with Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN), the largest Catholic Television network in the world, transmitting programming 24 hours a day.
  "Their aim is to bring true and lasting shalom -- which means "peace" -- to individuals and families through prayer, guidance and spiritual messages delivered through all forms of media, including print, TV and Internet," writes Chris Miller of Western Catholic Reporter.
  It's Shalom (peace) to all in North America.