Q. What event do we commemorate when we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (November 21)? A. An early Christian text called The Protoevangelium of James (or Gospel of James), dating from around the year A.D.150, was not included by the Church in the canon of Scripture. But its influence on the Christian tradition was extensive, especially with regard to the understanding of Mary. The book claims to describe events surrounding her conception, he

Q. The Solemnity of Christ the King (November 22) was instituted relatively recently in Church history. Why was it instituted? A. In 1925, in his encyclical Quas Primas, Pope Pius XI instituted the Feast of Christ the King to be celebrated throughout the universal Church. He believed that the growing denial of Christ as King had contributed to the rise of secularism throughout much of Europe and beyond. Many had come to doubt Christ's authority and the Church's power to exerc

Dear St. Catherine Parish Family, This past weekend, as part of our Stewardship as a Way of Life program, we focussed on Stewardship of Vocations, and in my homily, I highlighted some of the resources we have available in and outside of our parish to help support priestly and religious vocations and vocations to marriage. I have included several links to these and other resources below. Additionally, if you know someone who you think may have a vocation to the priesthood or r

Q. This week we celebrate the Memorial of Pope St. Leo the Great (November 10). How many saints have the title “the Great,” and how is that title assigned? A. Three saints who were popes customarily carry the title “the Great”: Pope Leo I (reigned 440-461), Pope Gregory I (590-604), and Pope Nicholas (858-67). The Church has never officially granted the title “Great” to any of these saints; they have been designated such by popular acclamation at the time of their deaths and

Q. What is a “double genuflection,” and when should it be performed? A. A single genuflection is the bending of the right knee to touch the place where the right foot stood, while head and back remain straight. It’s the customary act of adoration of Our Lord performed in the direction of the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle. A double genuflection, also an act of adoration, involves kneeling briefly on both knees, reverently bowing the head with the hands joined. Traditiona