What happens when Mother Angelica and the founder of Domino’s Pizza come together for a show on Catholic television? A cute, spontaneous moment that becomes unforgettably inspiring and entertaining!
In a resurfaced clip from Mother Angelica LIVE Classics, Domino’s Pizza founder Tom Monaghan talks with Mother Angelica and orders a pizza LIVE on air!
Mother asks Monaghan, “What would happen if you ordered a pizza right now?” So Monaghan picks up the phone and dials the number to the local Domino’s.
“Oh! He’s going to do it!” Mother Angelica says.
“I would do anything my Mother Superior tells me to,” Monaghan jokes.
During the Domino’s phone call, the service representative tells Monaghan the pizza will arrive in about 30 minutes.
The pizza was then delivered–LIVE on EWTN–within 30 minutes!
Here is the EWTN video below:
However, this nearly 40-year-old classic episode is not just about pizza. It’s about Monaghan’s deeply Catholic backstory.
According to Ave Maria University (which he also founded), Monaghan grew up in a Catholic orphanage run by the Felician Sisters, which deeply impacted his faith. The university said the orphanage’s Catholic atmosphere helped inspire his faith life, while Sister Berarda especially encouraged him to “be good”.
During the interview, Monaghan explains his difficult childhood, including his father’s death at only four years old, his time in foster care, and life in an orphanage.
He also shared how he got into the pizza business after buying a small pizzeria with his brother and eventually established one of the most famous brands in the United States.
Upon the pizza’s on-air arrival, Monaghan joked, “Traffic. Traffic. Speed, baby,” after the delivery took just 27 minutes. This beautifully spontaneous, real-life moment makes Mother Angelica so relatable!
Monaghan also spoke honestly about faith, success, and what mattered most to him.
He said he attends Mass and receives Holy Communion “just about” every day, and said his spiritual life comes first. He also said he wants “to get to heaven and take as many people with me”.
Even though this is an old episode, and Monaghan no longer owns Domino’s Pizza, he remains an amazing figure in both Catholic and secular culture.
In a 2024 interview, he said he still attends daily Mass, prays the rosary daily, and goes to Eucharistic adoration regularly.