Heart Of The Nation

What Heart Of The Nation does

Heart of the Nation is a Catholic media ministry operated by Santa Fe Communications, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (Tax ID 39-1420941) founded in 1984 and headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Its core product is a weekly televised Catholic Sunday Mass produced with a multi-camera setup at Sacred Heart Croatian Parish in Milwaukee since July 2020. The broadcast is distributed across more than 100 CW affiliate channels and several cable and satellite networks including FETV, FMC, GREAT, WeTV, The Word Network, DISH Network, and DirecTV, reaching tens of millions of U.S. households, with supplemental streaming on the organization's website, Facebook page, and YouTube channel and audio carriage via Catholic radio stations in select cities.

The organization surrounds the televised Mass with a portfolio of supplementary faith resources: the large-print Prayer & Worship Guide (published seven times per year since 2011), a Monthly Bulletin, an annual Catholic Wall Calendar, an Online Rosary with four mystery series, Prayer Videos, Daily Prayers, Weekly Reflections, a Catholic Mass Tutorial for newcomers, the Bugtime Adventures children's DVD series, Common Catholic Prayers, themed Prayers for Special Times, Music for Mass PDFs, a Prayer Line phone ministry, and an online Prayer Request submission form. Distribution channels include the heartofthenation.org website (top-of-funnel content marketing), organic social on Facebook and YouTube, weekly reflection articles, and affiliate referrals through Catholic radio stations.

The ministry operates with 7 employees and a large volunteer base and is funded entirely by donations: one-time gifts, recurring monthly pledges through the Circle of the Heart giving club, planned/legacy gifts through charitable lead and remainder trusts, and non-monetary gifts of property (art, jewelry, automobiles, stock, securities, real estate). All viewer-facing services are free. Bruno John serves as Executive Director. The organization has no disclosed funding rounds, no institutional investors, no M&A activity, and no AI/ML capabilities, consistent with a mature, donor-supported nonprofit media ministry.

Name

Heart Of The Nation

Legal name

Santa Fe Communications, Inc.

Website

https://heartofthenation.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Heart of the Nation is a Catholic media ministry that produces and broadcasts a weekly televised Sunday Mass from Milwaukee to tens of millions of U.S. households via 100+ broadcast, cable, and satellite channels plus website, Facebook, and YouTube streaming, serving homebound Catholics and faith seekers free of charge and funded entirely by viewer donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Religious Broadcasting

NAICS

Religious Organizations (8131)

SIC

Television Broadcasting Stations (4833), Radio Broadcasting Stations (4832)

akta.pro primary industry

Catholic Broadcasting (MPABALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Christian Broadcasting (TV & Radio) (MPABALAA), Religious/Faith-Based Cable Networks (MPABAFAK), Religious/Faith-Based Radio Networks (MPABABAC)

Keywords

• Catholic media ministry
• Televised religious broadcasting
• Faith-based programming
• Religious publication services
• Devotional prayer resources

Headquarters

HQ city

Milwaukee

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, Heart of the Nation relies entirely on donations from viewers and supporters. Revenue comes from one-time gifts, monthly recurring donations through the Circle of the Heart giving club, and planned/legacy gifts. TV airtime is the ministry's largest expense.
2. Gifts of Property: Accepts non-monetary gifts including art, jewelry, automobiles, stock, securities, and real estate to support the Catholic TV Mass ministry.
3. Planned Giving: Charitable trusts including Charitable Lead Trusts and Charitable Remainder Trusts that benefit both donors and the ministry.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Heart of the Nation is a Catholic media ministry that produces and broadcasts the Sunday Catholic Mass via television (CW affiliates, cable networks, and satellite TV) and online streaming (website, Facebook, YouTube), reaching tens of millions of households nationwide. The ministry supplements the televised Mass with an extensive set of free prayer and educational resources, including a large-print Prayer & Worship Guide, Monthly Bulletin, Online Rosary, prayer videos, and the Catholic Mass Tutorial. All content is provided free to viewers, and the ministry is funded entirely by donations, gifts of property, and planned giving.

Product overview

Heart of the Nation is a Catholic media ministry of Santa Fe Communications that provides a unified platform of religious media and prayer resources centered around televised and online Catholic Mass. The core offering is the Sunday TV Mass, broadcast since 1984 on broadcast, cable, and satellite channels nationwide, complemented by online streaming through its website, Facebook, and YouTube. The product portfolio includes the Prayer & Worship Guide (large-print publication with seven issues per year) and Monthly Bulletin as primary publications, alongside the Online Rosary with four mystery series and Prayer Videos including a four-minute retreat experience. Supporting resources encompass Daily Prayers, Weekly Reflections, the Catholic Mass Tutorial for faith education, and the children's Bugtime Adventures DVD series. Donation services include the Circle of the Heart monthly giving club and multiple Ways to Give options. The ministry also operates a Prayer Line and accepts Prayer Request submissions for Mass inclusion. Music for Mass PDFs and Common Catholic Prayers complete the prayer resource offerings.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Sunday TV Mass Heart of the Nation's primary televised Catholic Mass broadcast on over 100 broadcast, cable, and satellite channels nationwide, reaching tens of millions of homes for individual viewers who cannot attend parish Mass in person.
• Online Mass Streaming Streaming video of Sunday Masses available on the organization's website, Facebook page, and YouTube channel for national and global viewers unable to watch on broadcast television.
• Prayer & Worship Guide Large-print publication containing scripture readings, prayers, responses, weekly reflections, and seasonal prayers for homebound and elderly Catholics and other viewers; published seven times per year and provided at no charge through subscriptions.
• Monthly Bulletin Full-color monthly bulletin providing inspirational and informative articles, timely prayers, and news from Heart of the Nation for viewers and supporters.
• Catholic Wall Calendar Annual Catholic wall calendar featuring religious art masterpieces, prayers, and Scriptural thoughts for each month, distributed to supporters.
• Online Rosary Video-based Holy Rosary resource with guided instructions and contemplation of the Glorious, Joyful, Sorrowful, and Luminous Mysteries for online viewers.
• Prayer Videos Video prayer content including a four-minute retreat video taking viewers to inspirational locations such as the Sea of Galilee and Christ King Chapel.
• Daily Prayers Daily prayer content including Today's Prayer for You and archived daily prayers covering various intentions and occasions for online visitors.
• Weekly Reflections Weekly reflection articles based on Sunday Mass readings, providing spiritual guidance and meditation themes for viewers, published every Sunday.
• Bugtime Adventures Children's animated cartoon series available on DVD that teaches Gospel lessons through animated adventures for Catholic families and children.
• Catholic Mass Tutorial Educational content explaining Catholic Mass structure, prayers, and practices for individuals discovering or rediscovering the Catholic faith.
• Prayer Request Submission Online service allowing viewers to submit prayer intentions that are prayed over at Mass and included in the TV and online broadcast.
• Music for Mass PDF sheet music and song lyrics for Sunday Masses enabling viewers to follow along with liturgical music.
• Ways to Give / Donation Platform Donation service offering multiple giving options including online donations, gifts of property, legacy giving, and planned giving through charitable trusts to support the ministry.
• Circle of the Heart Giving Club Monthly recurring giving club where members pledge recurring donations to support TV airtime and Prayer & Worship Guide subscriptions, with members remembered in prayer during Mass every Sunday.
• Where to Watch / TV Channel Finder Searchable directory by ZIP code and TV market to find broadcast, cable, and satellite channels airing the Heart of the Nation Mass in the viewer's area.
• Prayer Line Prayer ministry phone line available weekdays 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. where Heart of the Nation prayer ministers pray with callers.
• Way of the Cross Pamphlet Printed devotional pamphlet addressing the hopes and challenges of the faithful seeking closeness to the Lord.

Quantifiable outcome

• Tens of millions of homes reached coast to coast
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Sacred Heart Croatian ParishcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1984Since July 2020, Sacred Heart Croatian Parish, a Roman Catholic church in Milwaukee, has opened its doors for production of the Catholic Mass. The parish provides the physical space and church art (stained glass, etc.) that creates the immersive liturgical viewing experience for televised Mass.
• CW Network (100+ Local Affiliates)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOver 100 CW Channels broadcast Heart of the Nation's Sunday Mass nationally at 10 a.m. ET/PT and 9 a.m. CT/MT.
• Family Entertainment Television (FETV)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCable and satellite channel broadcasting Heart of the Nation Catholic Mass at 6:30 ET / 5:30 CT / 3:30 PT.
• Family Movie Classics (FMC)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCable and satellite channel broadcasting Heart of the Nation Catholic Mass at 8:30 ET / 7:30 CT / 5:30 PT.
• GREAT (formerly GetTV)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCable channel including AT&T, Optimum, Spectrum, Verizon, and Xfinity; DirecTV ch. 373, broadcasting at 8:30 a.m. ET / 7:30 a.m. CT / 5:30 a.m. PT.
• WeTVcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCable channel broadcasting Heart of the Nation Catholic Mass at 8 a.m. ET / 7 a.m. CT / 5 or 8 a.m. PT.
• The Word NetworkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCable and satellite channel including DirecTV ch. 373, broadcasting at 4:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. CT / 1:30 p.m. PT.
• DISH Network and DirecTVcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSatellite TV providers broadcasting Heart of the Nation Sunday Mass nationally to satellite subscribers.
• Catholic Radio StationsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCatholic radio stations graciously broadcast audio of the Mass to expand reach beyond television and digital viewers in some cities.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Salt + Light Television: A Canadian Catholic broadcaster producing Mass and faith programming primarily for Canadian audiences via cable and online. Comparable Catholic media ministry with televised Mass, but its core distribution is geographically distinct (Canada).

Broad incumbents

• Daystar Television Network: A major Christian broadcast network carried on cable, satellite, and digital platforms with faith-based and devotional content. Comparable in distribution model and faith-audience targeting, though evangelical rather than Catholic in orientation.
• CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network): A Christian broadcaster operating The Super Channel and digital platforms with faith-based programming and ministry outreach. Comparable as a faith-based broadcast and digital ministry but operates across broader Christian denominations.
• Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN): One of the largest Christian broadcast networks in the world, offering faith-based programming across multiple U.S. cable and satellite channels. Comparable as a large-scale religious broadcaster but with broader Christian (not specifically Catholic) programming.
• The Word Network: A faith-based cable and satellite network that actually carries Heart of the Nation's Mass on its channel. Comparable as a religious broadcaster in the same distribution ecosystem, though broader in denominational scope.

Direct peers

• Ave Maria Radio: A Catholic radio network broadcasting catechetical programming, devotions, and Mass across multiple U.S. markets. Comparable as a Catholic audio broadcaster with a donation-driven nonprofit model and similar homebound/faithful audience.
• Relevant Radio: A Catholic radio network broadcasting talk, devotional, and liturgical content including Mass across hundreds of U.S. stations. Comparable as a Catholic audio broadcaster that shares a faith-based audience and donation-driven nonprofit model.
• EWTN Radio: The radio counterpart of EWTN broadcasting Catholic programming including Mass via affiliates and SiriusXM. Comparable as a Catholic audio broadcaster and a natural extension of the televised Mass peer set.
• EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network): The largest Catholic media broadcaster in the world, offering televised daily and Sunday Mass along with catechetical and devotional programming. Directly comparable as a Catholic TV Mass broadcaster, but operates at substantially greater scale with its own global cable channel and production facilities.
• CatholicTV: A Catholic media ministry that broadcasts Mass, devotions, and educational programming on cable and digital platforms. Highly comparable in mission and product (televised Catholic Mass) though it distributes via its own dedicated cable channel rather than affiliate partnerships.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCnHLKnTrG8vC-cLrTQTn1QA
• Facebookfacebook.com/Heart-of-the-Nation-Catholic-Mass-101630848263
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/heart-of-the-nation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Heart Of The Nation