Q. This past Sunday (January 24) it was announced at Mass that we were observing on that day “The Sunday of the Word of God.” What exactly is this celebration? A. On September 30, 2019, Pope Francis instituted “The Sunday of the Word of God” to be held every year on the third Sunday of Ordinary Time, through the Apostolic Letter Aperuit illis, in the form of a motu proprio (a document issued on his own initiative and signed personally). The Pope intends for the day to be dedi

Dear St. Catherine Parish Family, Tomorrow marks the 48th anniversary of infamous supreme court decision, Roe v. Wade, which essentially mandated legal abortion in every state throughout the entirety of a pregnancy. Since that day, there have been tens of millions of innocent babies who have been slaughtered in their mother's womb. This reality is a horrific tragedy that leaves a deep blemish on our national identity. Yesterday, Archbishop Gomez, president of the United Sta

Q. Next week we celebrate the feast of the Conversion of St. Paul the Apostle (January 25). Why is he usually depicted in sacred art with a sword and a scroll or book? A. Christian martyrs are often depicted with the instrument of their martyrdom. St. Paul holds a sword, because according to tradition, he was beheaded, and his executioners would have used a sword. The Apostle is depicted with a scroll or book, representing Scripture, because he wrote more books of the Bible t

This year the theme of the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal is “Our Joyful Return to the Lord.” One way we can show our love to our brothers and sisters in faith is to generously respond to the Bishop’s request for a pledge to the 2021 Appeal. While much of the Church’s ministry takes place in our parishes, we also come together as an archdiocesan Church to carry out critical services and ministries that have an impact beyond any one parish. Your support for the Archbishop’s Annual

Q. Are sacramentals always blessed objects? A. The Catechism of the Catholic Church defines sacramentals as “sacred signs which bear a resemblance to the sacraments. They signify effects, particularly of a spiritual nature, which are obtained through the intercession of the Church. By them men are disposed to receive the chief effect of the sacraments, and various occasions in life are rendered holy. … They always include a prayer, often accompanied by a specific sign, such a

Dear St. Catherine Parish Family, In the wake of the alarming events that occurred today in our nation’s capital, I want to echo the sentiments of several pastors who have expressed deep concern regarding the nature of our civil disagreement and protest. Today's events are yet another instance of violence and a lack of civility that should have no place in our country. And as Bishop Robert Barron articulates in this video, we are in need of a national examination of conscien

Q. We have so many modern Catholic translations of the Bible in English to choose from. Which one do you recommend? A. Each version has its particular strengths and weaknesses, with regard to both the translation and the notes and commentary provided. Anyone who has ever been involved in translation of a text knows that the process is sometimes inexact and subjective. And the quality of the notes and commentary depends both on the scholarship of the editors and commentators a

Please join us as Faith Ablaze returns to Sunday morning from 9:00am - 10:00am in the parish hall. Light breakfast and coffee will be available. Adults are invited to participate in this enriching opportunity of faith formation led by Dr. Paul Thigpen. Class attendees should plan to bring personal chairs. Masks must be worn inside. We will also live stream the sessions on our parish Facebook page. Please direct questions about Faith Ablaze to Dr. Thigpen at pault@stcatheriner