The Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent Chapel at Villa Maria in Buffalo was transformed to a holiday setting as Daybreak recorded a Christmas Mass for national broadcast on ABC affiliates.

A Christmas Mass taped in Buffalo and set to air nationally on ABC affiliates is the highlight of Daybreak TV Production’s holiday schedule in December. Entitled “Come All Ye Faithful Christmas Midnight Mass” for the Interfaith Broadcasting Commission, the program is set to air locally on WKBW-TV Channel 7 at 12:30 a.m. on Dec. 25.

“I believe we reached our goal of capturing the beauty of Christmas Midnight Mass,” said Claire Rung, executive producer for Daybreak TV Productions.

The Christmas Mass is celebrated by Bishop Edward U. Kmiec at the Immaculate Heart of Mary Convent Chapel at Villa Maria in Buffalo. Taped in early November, the Mass will feature music from the St. Joseph Cathedral Choir.

“Christmas came early for us this year,” Rung said. “Bishop Kmiec celebrated Mass with love and warmth. Deacon Seán Paul Fleming’s chanting of the Gospel was entrancing. The choir sounded angelic. The ministers and congregation represented the Diocese of Buffalo very well and the Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel was stunning.”

In addition to the Christmas Mass, Daybreak programming will be on the air all throughout December.  Daybreak’s monthly cooking show, “Our Daily Bread,” returns with an Advent-themed episode Saturday, Dec. 10. Host Father Paul Seil makes a wreath and is then joined in the kitchen by Father Raymond Palko and his wife Joanne, members of the Ukrainian Catholic Church, to make some treats. In addition, students from St. Bernadette School in Orchard Park share how they’re getting ready to celebrate Christmas. The show airs at 5:30 a.m. and noon on WKBW-TV Channel 7. 

The award-winning Daybreak documentary, “Proving Holiness,” will air Saturday, Dec. 17, at noon on WKBW-TV Channel 7. The 60-minute program outlines the process of becoming a saint in the Catholic Church by examining the lives of four people – St. Faustina, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, Archbishop Oscar Romero and Msgr. Nelson Baker – who are in various stages of canonization. The documentary is narrated by Martin Sheen.

“A Gift of Christmas – Daybreak’s Diocesan Christmas Program” is set to air Saturday, Dec. 24, at noon on WKBW-TV Channel 7. The festive show features a short animated story, “Drop with Faith,” narrated by Mike Randall of WKBW, as well as Bishop Kmiec answering Christmas-related questions from St. Benedict School in Eggerstville. The program will also include holiday reflections and a special recipe from Father Seil.

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