Passionist priest hosts ‘Live with Passion!’ on TV
February 11, 2014
HOUSTON — Father Cedric Pisegna, C.P., can be seen locally on TBN (KETH-14 cable; Digital antenna 14.2, Dish 260, Direct 372, ATT 14, 560).
“Live with Passion! is about reaching out beyond the walls of the Church trying to invite all to a personal relationship with Jesus,” Father Pisegna said. “The program was designed to capture the attention of those not attending Mass with the intention of bringing them back.”
His programs reach inside prisons and, due to the significant response, he has developed a “pen pal” ministry with volunteer laity corresponding with people in prison.
In addition to television, Father Pisegna’s programs air on many radio stations around the country. His television and radio programs are all about the new evangelization called for by Popes John Paul II, Benedict XVI and Francis.
Father Pisegna, a Passionist priest originally from Agawam, Mass., has lived in Houston since 2001. He resides at Holy Name Retreat Center on the west side of Houston with seven other Passionist priests and a brother in religious community. His full-time ministry is to preach parish “missions” — five-day retreats for the entire parish.
Father Pisegna has preached these retreats in many of the churches in the Archdiocese. The majority of his missions are preached in other states in the U.S. and Canada.
Besides living in religious community and traveling the U.S. preaching, Father Pisegna has written 18 books on spiritual topics. In 2006, Father Pisegna developed a program called “Live with Passion!” for television.
Some of this preaching is recorded at a parish mission in front of people. Other episodes are done in the Passionist chapel in Houston.
At first his programs aired on Catholic stations in cities such as Boston, New York and San Antonio. As Father expanded, he bought time on secular stations.
Then he continued reaching out by buying time on Trinity Broadcasting’s Church Channel. The owner of TBN saw his programs and invited him to air nationally on TBN Sunday’s at 7 a.m. Live with Passion! currently has a weekly presence in every city in the U.S. as well as in countries such as New Zealand, Australia and Saudi Arabia due to TBN’s international outreach.
Father Cedric will be preaching at Notre Dame Church in Houston the fourth week of Lent and Sacred Heart in Conroe the fifth week of Lent. Visit www.frcedric.org for more information and free resources.