SUNDAYS, 5pm

The Biblical Story of the Mass

EWTN In this new 13-part series, Father Wade Menezes of the Fathers of Mercy and theologian Thomas J. Nash, author of Worthy Is the Lamb: The Biblical Roots of the Mass (Ignatius Press, 2004), cite Old Testament antecedents of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, clear up misconceptions, and explain Catholic doctrine. Re-airs 2:30am Fridays.

SUNDAY, Sept. 26, 10:30pm

Yellowstone: Land to Life

PBS This scenic 2009 documentary, filmed over two years, shows how Yellowstone National Park’s geologic history and current landscape affect the area’s more than 60 species of wildlife, including bison, elk, black and grizzly bears, and wolves. A re-airing.

MONDAY, Sept. 27, noon

Catholic Saints and Lay People: St. Vincent de Paul: Charity’s Saint

CATHOLICTV St. Vincent de Paul (1580-1660), whose feast day is today, is beloved for his life of charity and his lasting legacy of charity. He preached missions, began charitable groups, founded hospitals for galley slaves, established the Congregation of Priests of the Mission and the Daughters of Charity, opened seminaries, aided war refugees and exiles, and ransomed Christian slaves of the Turks. Re-airs 5am Wednesday, 8am Friday and 10:30pm Sunday.

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 29, 9pm

How the States

Got Their Shapes

HISTORY This documentary recounts the geographical, political, military, economic and other factors that gave our 50 states their final boundaries. Advisory: TV-PG.

WEDNESDAY, Sept. 29, 9pm

Trash Inc.:

The Secret Life of Garbage

CNBC This new special documents waste management, a $52 billion industry in the U.S., and explores its every facet, including curbside pickup, transfer stations, transport, recycling, landfills, and the use of garbage to generate energy. Re-airs 10pm.

SATURDAY, Oct. 2, 2:15pm

Along Came Jones

TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES Catholic actress Loretta Young (1913-2000) and Catholic convert Gary Cooper (1901-1961) star in this pleasant 1945 Western about a naive cowboy who is mistaken for an outlaw and ends up winning the bad guy’s girl. TV-G.

SUNDAY, Oct. 3, 3:30pm

International Rosary for the Protection of the Unborn

EWTN For Respect Life Sunday, this half-hour show features pro-life parishioners at St. Mary’s Church in Metamore, Ill., praying the Joyful Mysteries in 14 languages.

TUESDAY, Oct. 5, 8pm

Nova: AstroSpies

PBS This 2009 special discusses U.S. and Soviet top-secret military manned space programs of the 1960s. A re-airing.

Dan Engler writes from Santa Barbara, California.