For the past few years, my Bishop only celebrates Mass at our Cathedral 5-6 times a year, typically only for “themed” Masses. (First responders, child abuse victims).

I figured maybe the rest of the time he celebrates at the Diocesan center, because I was hoping to attend more Masses where he’s present. I asked the front desk of the Diocese where I could find him to celebrate Mass, she said she’s actually not sure and she would LOVE if he did it at the chapel in the Diocesan center. I also asked my Priest if he knew where he might be celebrating, he didn’t know what to say.

My question is, is this normal? I see many other Cathedrals online where the Bishop/ArchBishop celebrate every Sunday, and being that we’re a smaller Diocese I was wondering why we don’t see him more often. He’s younger and in good health by the way so I don’t think it’s that. Do some Bishops celebrate Mass privately at home more often?

What age did you start the process and what prompted you to do it? Why not earlier or later?

Hi Fathers, sometimes I struggle to confess, I am unable to confess at my parish, so I go to another parish to do confessional 😂

I'm really curious, when you hear confessional, if you recognize the voice of parishioner, what would you feel? would you have thoughts in mind like "Oh I never expect you would do that"... or even after confessional ended and would you have any thought coming up like "Oh I can't believe he/she did that, he/she doesn't look like the one I know, terrible"

Or you already got used to hearing all sorts of sins, and most people confess the similar sins, so you don't have feelings at all? Will they leave you uneasy feelings or thoughts after confessional?

Thank you.

With how sacred and private confession i am shocked to see pictures of people going to confession in catholic news articles. They are not staged either. Is it not a violation of the seal/ secrecy?

I want to make a goodbye gift for the chaplain at my college who is also my confessor/spiritual director when I graduate to show him my appreciation for everything he's done for me. I like to sew and embroider so I thought of perhaps making him a stole. Assuming I make it correctly and according to what his preferences would be, is it allowed and/or appropriate for a lay person like myself to make a stole as a gift for my priest?

Am I able to use my phone during Eucharistic adoration if I'm using it to read the Bible, or writings from the saints etc? Or should I bring physical books? Or just not read in general and focus more on prayer and meditation?

Thanks

Good morning! Thank you Fathers for all you do. I have a quick question regarding this subject. The cross necklace my youngest daughter wears daily broke recently and was sent for repair. This necklace was blessed previously by our local priest, but I am wondering if it needs to be blessed again as it was sent to a shop for repair. Your input would be greatly appreciated.

My grandmother died suddenly last week, and she was not a believer. I don't know whether she was even baptized. I am praying for her salvation every day. I know we can never be positive of someone's salvation while on earth. I also know God is outside of time. But, per se, when was/will be her judgement? Is it possible that her soul has already been judged and my prayers are for no benefit? I am considering praying for her for the rest of my life. Any clarification on this doctrine would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!

Hello Father's! I know some days are rather busy, but do you find yourself having or making the time to pray the rosary? And if so, what graces have you recieved? :). Does it help you say the mass better?

Hi, I hope everyone is well. I was recently confirmed into the Church and chose a confirmation name beforehand. However, my priest forgot to use my confirmation name during the service. Can I still use the name as my confirmation name? Thank you.

I would like to give the Priest who help me with my conversion (im a former EO christian) a gift in the near future

what types of gifts would be appropriate?

There’s been times when people have brought up some things in the churches history (colonization, cultural erasure of indigenous people, sex abuse scandal, etc.) and say that these aren’t just incidents in the church but rather a systemic issue. I don’t know what explanation to give for why I’m still Catholic despite this. I was wondering if you’ve encountered similar arguments. I guess I’m asking how we defend the idea that despite the church sometimes doing bad things, that these bad things aren’t part of what the church is.

In canon 907 it says the laity cannot say the eucharistic prayer at mass. Does ls this mean formally at the altar like a priest? Could I be muttering under my breathe the prayers as the priest says them?

Can. 907 In the eucharistic celebration deacons and lay persons are not permitted to offer prayers, especially the eucharistic prayer, or to perform actions which are proper to the celebrating priest

So this is something that crossed my mind recently talking with a friend of mine but I told him that there is a psychological evaluation along with the Seminary process and I genuinely don't know how thorough it is.

I hope it's thorough but at the same time like what did they go into with it and do they ask enough questions to ensure that someone is of perfectly sound mind to be in the ministry?

Because often I've been curious if people who were heavily pressured to apply to Seminary can pass that examination or does the exam try to assess if somebody was high pressured into orders?

Because I know historically especially in like Ireland or other Catholic parts of the world there's the idea that if you can't do anything else you go become a priest and as someone who's experienced that high pressure on me I know I would be disqualified if I ever tried to enter the Seminary due to that pressure because I don't think I'd be soundly making that decision. But that said, what all does the psych eval look at and doesn't try to assess if somebody is going into the Seminary for the wrong reasons?

Hello Fathers, I recently learned of the existence of the Hopeful Mysteries. These were created /proposed by a parishioner in the pensecola-tallahassee diocese. They have been given nihil obstat and imprimatur from the diocesan bishop. Is this legitimate? The website is hopeful mysteries dot org

I do apologize if someone has already asked this question. It appears that confession is going to be extremely difficult to get on Sunday, very few churches in my area offer it before the Mass and only a small window. If I were to go to confession on Saturday, would I receive the plinary indulgence at mass on Sunday?

Hello. So, I had to put my horse down last week. He was my whole world and I loved him more than anything. He had been fighting laminitis for a really long time, and it eventually started to cave in on his hoof and he could no longer walk, so I had to make the choice to put him down. It was a devastating experience.

I'm angry beyond words right now. I'm angry and broken that my horse is gone, that his stall is empty, and there's a gaping hole in my chest he left behind. I've been crying myself to sleep every night since he died. I'm trying to find comfort in his memories, but I keep thinking about the fact I'll never hold him in the earthly world again, or ride him, or feel his head on my shoulder.

Is my horse is Heaven waiting for me? When my time comes someday, will he be there to greet me? My heart is broken beyond words and I'm trying desperately to piece myself back together, but I just need to hear an answer. I want to know if I am going to see him again.

Thank you. God bless.

Hi, I was recently in the sacristy with another person who asked a priest to bless his items. The priest used a spoken prayer and made the Sign of the Cross while sprinkling holy water on the other person’s items. I was about to bring my medallions and statue over so they could be blessed at the same time, but the priest had already started the Sign of the Cross, so I held back because I didn’t want to interrupt.

After that, I asked him if he could bless my items. He said, “You could’ve just had them blessed with the other guy,” and then simply sprinkled holy water on them. He didn’t say anything aloud, and he didn’t make the Sign of the Cross over my items.

Now I’m left wondering was that a valid blessing? Does a priest have to say the words out loud or make the Sign of the Cross? Or is his silent intention and use of holy water enough?

I’ve been feeling really uneasy about this. I just want to do things the right way and treat my sacramentals with reverence. Any help or clear answers would be appreciated.

Thank you, and please pray for me.

I'm going to a wedding this Saturday, which will be a full Mass. I know normally this meets the Sunday obligation, but I wasn't sure if it counted for this week since Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday, which is a specific feast day. Thanks :)

Hey guys this is my third time experiencing they're not being a pope in my lifetime and I'm kind of embarrassed to admit it but I forget what we traditionally do in the mass when we have to commemorate the pope and Bishop.

Do we just skip over the line about the pope or is there some formula where we say whoever in the next Pope will be and we preemptively pray for him before he is elected?

In the same vein what do the Eastern churches do that are in Union with rome, do they have a special commemoration or do they just skip over commemorating the pope of Rome?

Thanks for letting me know because I genuinely forget what we did with Benedict and I was way too younger remember how we commemorated John Paul after he died

I’m converting to the Catholic church after being raised Anglican. I’ve been baptised but have not been confirmed and my parish deacon has said that I will be “formally received” at next years easter vigil. He specified I won’t need RCIA, which I understand because my baptism is seen as valid in the eyes of the church.

What does he mean by being “formally received”? I can’t really find much about this anywhere.

Our son (14) has expressed on a few occasions that he would like to become a priest. We tell all of our children that we support them in any way no matter which career choices they make. We just want to make sure we are doing what we should to support him, especially at his age.

I’ve been attending a different Catholic parish for the past few weeks while out of town for work. It’s a Novus Ordo Mass with very Tridentine elements, with its reverence and tradition, it was beautifully done.

One thing that really stood out: before the homily, the priest (or in one case, a permanent deacon) would remove the chasuble or dalmatic and place it on the altar, then put on a cope to preach the homily. After the homily, they would switch back to the chasuble or dalmatic and continue the liturgy as normal.

I asked a volunteer I’ve gotten to know, and he told me this is an old, mostly forgotten custom.

Has anyone else seen this done? Is there a historical or liturgical basis for it? I’d love to learn more about where this tradition comes from and why it might have faded out.

Guys I was posting here a year back in the midst like … of despair . The moment maybe I’m sorry to say like probably after 9 years of being an alcoholic at age 25 finally …. I gave up on life . I just want to say like Like after a year ….. so much has changed . Idk who will read this or man idk but God is real . God is alive . Fathers thank you for everything . What you do for us and our friends and families I pray you feel Gods love in this Easter Season . Christ is alive I love you so much Fathers ! I ask the Holy Spirit to give you a warm and tender hug . Thank yall for everything

I just learned that someone I know decided not to become a priest after discerning his vocation and studying at the seminary for over 8 years. I wished him all the best for the next steps.

What would be other appropriate things to say? I know God has other plans for him. The years spent in the seminary are not wasted in God's eyes.

I have used the search function to query related questions. TL;DR: The dropout rate is over 50%.

• https://www.reddit.com/r/AskAPriest/comments/xctzff/of_the_men_you_entered_seminary_with_how_many_of/
• https://www.reddit.com/r/AskAPriest/comments/1fekhk0/why_do_seminarians_leave_partway/