Church 101

Faith formation is an ongoing process that should happen to everyone regardless of age. Church 101 is an attempt to answer simple questions that people ask. Most time the simplest question is the best. If you have a question that you would like answered, just put it on paper and drop it in the collection basket or at the parish office.

• Why do Christians talk so much about faith?
• What do Catholics believe?
• What is the meaning of the Mass?
• What is the Bible?
• How do Catholics interpret the Bible?
• How does the Church choose saints to honor?
• Why is Mary so important to Catholics?
• Why do we no longer use the name Yahweh for God?
• What happened to the bells during Mass?
• What are the symbols that we see in a church?
• What is the difference between a “sermon” and a “homily”?
Is Sunday Mass still an obligation?
• What is the difference between a brother and a father?
• Some churches use the color purple for Advent. Why do we use blue?
• What is the significance of the Jesse Tree?
• What does “Adoramus Te Domine” mean?
• Where does the name “Jesus”come from?
• How do we know that Jesus was born on December 25?
• Where did the law about not eating meat on Fridays originate? When was it
• changed?
• There is a cry room in the church. Why don’t people use it?
• Is there some reason the church does not talk about indulgences anymore?
• Do you need to have made your First Communion to be an Altar Server?
• What is the role of a deacon?
• Why did the Catholic Church once forbid cremation and now allows it?
• What changed and do I have to bury the ashes?
• What is the sacrament of penance?
• What are sacraments and why are they important?
• Why do we sing so much at Mass?
• Why is there no American flag in the church?
• Why two godparents at Baptism and only one sponsor for Confirmation?
• What does it mean to have a Mass said for an intention?