Familiar faces from the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) will be in Toronto on Sept. 7 to celebrate this year's EWTN Family Celebration alongside thousands of Catholics from across the globe.

The annual gathering of various network personalities, priests, missionaries, fellow clergy and laypeople has long been the network’s premier celebration of the Catholic faith, with the family celebration set to further proclaim the love of Christ here in Canada. 

Delta Hotels Toronto Airport & Conference Centre is expected to be packed for presentations from EWTN favourites such as Fr. Chris Alar, Fr. J. Raymond de Souza and Johnnette William, Holy Mass celebrated by Cardinal Thomas Collins and opportunities for confession and adoration of the Blessed Sacrament being offered throughout the day.

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The celebration’s loaded schedule is fitting for EWTN, which has become a staple of Catholic broadcasting over the years since first taking to the air in August of 1981. In its four-plus decades, the impact the around-the-clock network has shared with Catholics on a global scale is cherished. 

“EWTN is not only the largest Catholic outreach but also the largest of any religious-based network. They have been around for 40 years and of course, myself and many others remember when they first came out with Mother Angelica,” said Alar, Provincial Superior of the Marian Fathers and host of EWTN’s Living Divine Mercy. 

“They were instrumental in many Catholic vocations and in bringing many Catholic people back to their faith. They have played quite an important role within secular society in bringing the true, authentic teachings of the Church.”  

This year's theme borrows inspiration from 1 Corinthians 16:13 — “Stand Firm in the Faith.” According to Alar, the theme’s underlying message of resistance in bending to the secular world’s needs could not have come at a more important time.

“The secular world right now is becoming increasingly antagonistic to living the Gospel, whether it is being cancelled on social media, being ostracized at work or even losing our jobs. Remaining firm in our faith and ensuring that we maintain a united front as Catholics to witness the Gospel is crucial because you could argue that it is being challenged now more than ever,” he said. 

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That message will likely be discussed in even greater detail during the event with Michael P. Warsaw, EWTN chairman of the board and chief executive officer set to kick off the celebration at 9:30 a.m. He will be followed by addresses from the Archdiocese of Kingston's de Souza (host of The Seven Last Words of Christ), Williams (host of Women of Grace) and Alar himself ahead of a special panel show live from the venue. 

Children in attendance will be able to learn about their faith at a dedicated “EWTN Kids” booth while others will have the chance to meet some of EWTN’s best-selling authors at a “Meet the Author” station. 

One of the overarching draws of the EWTN Family Celebration is the opportunity to meet in person with some of the various personalities from the network that many Catholics watch every day. Apart from strengthening the bond between the network and the consumer, it gives hosts the chance to receive feedback on their programs directly from the source. 

“It helps me to get a sense of what the lay faithful are looking for. Sometimes they want more content focused on catechesis, how to evangelize, how to live the virtues and so the event gives us ideas of what to talk about and what to provide for them in terms of how I teach the faith,” Alar said. 

The Saturday is expected to wrap up with prayers of the Rosary with the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word and Holy Mass with Collins. 

Although EWTN last held its family celebration in Canada in Ottawa in 2017, Alar shared his excitement about bringing the observance to Toronto for both personal and professional reasons.

“I love Toronto and being from Detroit myself, I used to go up to watch the Red Wings when they would play the Maple Leafs and I loved watching those games at the old Maple Leaf Gardens,” he said with a smile. “Apart from that, it truly is a beautiful metropolis, one with a very big Filipino population and a lot of people who are strong in their faith, what a perfect place to have it. 

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“I was at the celebration last year in Alabama and no matter where you are you feel a part of a family when you come. So many people attend and it is always something beautiful to see.” 

Limited registration for EWTN’s 2024 Family Celebration in Toronto is open now and can be found at https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/ewtnevents/2024-ewtn-family-celebration.