TV Picks 06.26.16

SUNDAY, June 26, live

Pope Francis’ Apostolic Visit to Armenia

EWTN On the final day of his visit, the Holy Father will meet with the Armenian Catholic bishops; take part in a liturgy in which Karekin II, the Catholicos of All Armenians, will preach; and tour the ancient monastery of Khor Virap. See EWTN.com for times closer to the date.
 

WEDNESDAY, June 29

Solemnity of Sts. Peter and Paul

EWTN At 3:30am, in the Solemn Mass and Blessing of Pallia, Pope Francis will celebrate Mass and bless the pallium/woolen vestment worn around the neck that each metropolitan archbishop receives annually (re-airs noon) at home. At 8am is the Mass for the Solemnity at Our Lady of the Angels Chapel in Irondale, Ala., (re-airs 6:30pm, midnight).
 

THURSDAY, June 30, 9pm

Nuclear Sharks

DISCOVERY This show, part of the annual “Shark Week” (June 26-July 3 this year), asks how reef sharks were able to repopulate themselves after nuclear tests devastated Bikini Atoll in the South Pacific from 1946 to 1958. Advisory: Scenes of shark feeding.
 

SATURDAY, July 2-SUNDAY, July 24, nightly

Tour de France 2016

NBC SPORTS NETWORK The 103rd Tour de France professional bicycle race will begin in Normandy at Mont-Saint-Michel and proceed counterclockwise around picturesque France for 2,186 miles in 21 stages, including 28 climbs and two time trials, before finishing up, as always, on the Champs-Elysees in Paris. Times to be determined.
 

SUNDAY, July 3, 6pm

Secrets of America’s Favorite Places

DISCOVERY FAMILY CHANNEL This new eight-part series will take viewers to well-loved spots such as Mount Rushmore, Central Park and the Golden Gate Bridge to reveal little-known facts and stories about them. Tonight’s premiere episode tours the Statue of Liberty. Re-airs 11pm Tuesday.
 

SUNDAY, July 3- SUNDAY, July 10, 6:30pm, 2:30am

Catholic Beginnings in Maryland

EWTN In this eight-part series, Father Charles Connor and Msgr. John Brady visit early Catholic Maryland’s historic sites, including St. Clement’s Island; the Maryland Dove and St. Mary’s City; St. Inigoes; Newtown Manor and St. Francis Xavier Cemetery and Church; St. Ignatius Church in Southern Maryland; and the Carmel at Port Tobacco.
 

MONDAY, July 4, 8pm

A Capitol Fourth

PBS On America’s 240th birthday, military bands and choruses will join entertainers and the National Symphony Orchestra on the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol to celebrate our nation’s independence and to salute all those who won it for us. Re-airs at 9:30pm.

Dan Engler writes from
Santa Barbara, California.