The Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) announced yesterday that it will begin construction of its first West Coast production facility in the former Crystal Cathedral, which is just outside of Disneyland in California.

AL.com is reporting that the Cathedral, which was once the home of TV Evangelist Robert Schuller and his popular "Hour of Power" broadcast, was purchased by the Diocese of Orange in September 2013 for $57.5 million.

Renamed Christ Cathedral, the diocese began extensive renovations to the 34-acre campus which contains seven buildings, all of which required updating to modern earthquake and energy efficiency standards. The diocese's intention is to use the facility to share its events, liturgical celebrations, and news with audiences in Southern California and around the world, a goal EWTN will now share.

EWTN Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael P. Warsaw and Bishop Kevin Vann, head of the Diocese of Orange, made a joint announcement about the venture at the annual Napa Institute gathering in Napa, California on July 24.

"As we transform the Christ Cathedral campus into a dynamic and inspirational center of Catholic worship and outreach, we are blessed to partner with EWTN to share our community's energy and faithful witness with the world," Bishop Vann said. "EWTN's partnership will profoundly benefit our Church, enabling us to share the love of Christ with millions across the world in multiple languages from the Cathedral campus, here in Orange County."

EWTN CEO Michael P. Warsaw expressed his pleasure at being able to collaborate with Bishop Vann on the new project.

"The studio being developed there will be of great benefit to EWTN's programming efforts around the globe," Warsaw said. "The location of the facility gives EWTN a presence in an area of the country where the Network will be able to execute programs that would be difficult to produce elsewhere, particularly for our Spanish-language channels.

"We are also pleased to develop this West Coast studio in advance of the historic renovation of the Christ Cathedral itself. We will be well positioned and prepared to share news of this closely watched transformation with our viewers."

EWTN will remain headquartered in Irondale, Ala., where it was established by Mother Angelica on August 15, 1981 in the garage of her monastery. It now serves more than  230 million television households in more than 140 countries and territories. With its direct broadcast satellite television and radio services, AM & FM radio networks, worldwide short-wave radio station, Internet website www.ewtn.com and publishing arm, EWTN, is the largest religious media network in the world.

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