Why do Easter and Lent fall on different dates each year?
Easter is determined by the full moon and the vernal equinox (Spring). Easter falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon after the first day of Spring.
For example:
This year Easter is April 20th.
The first day of Spring is March 21st. The first full moon after March 21st is on Wednesday, April 16th. The first Sunday after April 16th is April 20th, Easter Sunday.
Next year Easter Sunday is on April 11th.
That’s because the first full moon after March 21st is on Monday, April 5th and the first Sunday after that is April 11th

I have noticed that some people take the host back to their pew to consume. I always thought that you should consume the host as soon as you receive it. What’s the correct way?
The host should be consumed before you move away from the priest. As Catholics, we are to believe that this is the Body and Blood of Christ. We are to take every care to respect that this is Christ we are holding in our hands.

What do I do if I drop the host?
You should pick it up immediately and consume it or bring it back to the priest so that he may consume it and give you another host. Never, ever, leave it on the ground in case someone steps on it.

Can I bring the host to someone in their pew or to someone at home?
If you are with someone in church who cannot go in line to receive the host, please see Father before Mass and let him know where you are sitting. He will come and give that person Communion or will send one of the ministers. If you wish to bring Communion to someone who is ill or infirm at home, then see Father before Mass to let him know that you are doing this, as there is a receptacle called a pyx that is needed to carry the host. You only need to see Father the first time you are bringing someone the host for home. However, you must always use the pyx to do this.

Can I receive the host right after a meal or a snack?
The laws concerning receiving Jesus are very easy. You must fast from food and drink, except for water, for one hour before Mass. This rule also includes gum. If you are chewing gum during Mass, you should not receive Communion.

If someone who lives with is a baptized Catholic and doesn’t want to go to Mass, because of unbelief, should you force him/her to go?
It depends on their age and what you mean by unbelief. Certainly if the person is under the age of 18, your child, and living with you, they should be brought to church. It would be a good idea to seek counsel from a priest to discuss the basis of the unbelief.

Why is Confession important?
Confession is one of the seven sacraments that Christ gave to His Church to help us on the road to salvation. Every time that we sin we strain our relationship with God. Confession, being a healing sacrament, helps us to heal our bond with God.

What does the sign on our tabernacle mean?
The Α (Alpha) and the Ω (Omega) are the first and last letters of the Greek alphabet. Christ is the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end.

When did you know you had to become a priest and what age did you become a priest?
I can’t remember when I felt called to be a priest. Since I was an Altar boy, I guess, I needed to be close to the Church. I was 32 years old when I was ordained a priest.

Let’s say Mother Teresa, for example, the world is voting for her to become a saint. Shouldn’t God decide?
The world does not vote for a saint. It is a long process of investigation, where many things are taken into account, one of which is 3 miracles attributed to that person. After that process, the Holy Father (the Pope) declares a person a Saint, according to God’s will.

Did God create the devil?
God created the angels. However some of them rebelled or sinned against God and were thrown out of heaven, where they became devils.

How many miracles does it take for a person to become a saint?
During the three stages of becoming a saint they are called: (1) Servant of God; (2) Blessed; (3) Saint. Three miracles must be attributed to the person who is waiting to be named a Saint.

Do we still kiss a Bishop’s ring?
In some countries we still do. We kiss the Pope’s ring all the time to show obedience.

How do we address the Bishop?
We can address him by his name, Bishop Cyr, or call him Your Excellency.

Why do we do kneel and sit at different times during the Mass?
Body Language says a lot about what is happening at Mass. We sit to listen; we stand to praise; and we kneel as a sign of sacred moments or special prayers.

Do you need to be baptized in order to get married?
A Catholic can marry a non-baptized person – with a good reason – and with the proper dispensations.

Did Jesus have a brother?
Jesus was an only child. At that time they would often call close relatives, brother or sister.

Is there such a thing as hell?
Yes, there is a hell – what it is like we really don’t know (or want to find out).

Why do we do the Sign of the Cross?
This practice began in ancient times. The Sign of the Cross is a reminder of our Baptism and a statement of our faith in the Trinity.

Why are the bells rung?
Sometimes we are distracted during Mass. The bells are rung at sacred moments, when we need to pay attention to what is taking place.

Why is it important to go to Mass every Sunday?
When the Ten Commandments were given to us in the Old Testament, we were called upon to set aside one day for God. In the New Testament, because of the Resurrection, Sunday is declared a Holy Day of Obligation. The best way to keep it Holy is to come as a family to God’s house to be strengthened by God’s Word, and sustained by the Eucharist. This gives glory to God and keeps His day Holy.

When are children obliged to attend Mass every Sunday?
Generally speaking, once your children are actively studying for their First Communion they should be attending Mass every Sunday and when they have made their First Communion, they are obliged to attend every week. As parents, it is necessary for us to show our children that Mass is important to us. If it is important to us it will be important to them.

I have noticed that we are having Baptisms at Mass. Is this something new?
Since Vatican II, we have incorporated the celebration of the sacraments within the context of Mass (e.g. Confirmation & Marriage). The sacraments are to be celebrated in "community". Community can mean anything from family; to family and friends; to family, friends and the parish. One of the effects of celebrating Baptism during Mass is the visible sign of support from the parish community. It has always been the decision of the family and the priest as to when the Baptism would be celebrated (privately or at Mass). As nuclear families are getting smaller and extended families are not always able to attend, the idea of celebrating Baptism during Mass has become more popular.

Why can’t priests marry?
Originally priests were allowed to marry. Peter, our first Pope was married. However, over the years it was abused (priests having more than one wife and mistresses) which of course created scandals. The Church was also worried about losing valuable property through inheritance laws because unscrupulous families of priests would claim property owned by the church. The church also worried that a priest with a family might worry too much about the needs of his family and not enough about the needs of his flock (Parish). Therefore the Pope of the time declared that all clergy would be celibate and this is the way it has remained for centuries.

During Mass people stand; some kneel; others sit. This is particularly noticeable during the Eucharistic Prayer. What is correct and when?
Since Vatican II, there has been a deviation from the norm as to standing and kneeling. What the Church teaches is that the congregation kneels after the Sanctus (the Holy, Holy) until after the Great Amen and then we stand for the Our Father. Since Vatican II, individual priests have taken upon themselves to restyle the rubrics of the Mass without authorization. Therefore it is improper to stand after the Consecration when we say the Memorial Acclamation (Christ has died etc.).

Why do some people kneel in the aisle before they go in their seat and after the Mass when they leave their seat? Should everybody do this?
The answer to your second question is: yes, everyone should genuflect (kneel on one leg). The reason we genuflect is to acknowledge and to show reverence (respect) to the Divine Presence (Jesus) in the Tabernacle. The proper way to genuflect is: Facing the Tabernacle, you kneel on your right knee and rise to a standing position. The right knee must touch the floor. We genuflect before entering the pew and again when we leave the church. We also genuflect when we are walking across the church and crossing in front of the Tabernacle.

Does it really matter which hand my child uses to make the Sign of the Cross?
The proper way to make the Sign of the Cross is with the right hand. Children need to visualize and standing in front of them to show them how to make the Sign of the Cross is not the best way as they see things in mirror image. The best way is in front of a mirror. Stand beside your child or behind them. Both of you face the mirror and ask your child to follow what you do by watching your movements in the mirror. When they make a mistake, gently remind them how to do it properly.

What should I do if I come in late for Mass?
Be aware that Mass has begun so as not to distract anyone. If the first reading has begun, wait at the back of the church until the responsorial psalm has begun. If the second reading has begun, wait until everyone stands fro the gospel acclamation. If the gospel has begun, you have missed the entire liturgy of the word and half the Mass. You might consider coming back for the next Mass.

When is the proper time to stand for the gospel?
One should stand as soon as the first Alleluia is sung. If it is not sung, then we should stand as soon as the Priest stands.

When the priest says "May Almighty God have mercy on us" etc. just before the Kyrie, do we make the Sign of the Cross? I notice that some people do and others do not.
Before Vatican II, when the priest said the Mass facing the Altar, he said the opening prayers at the foot of the Altar. When he said, "May Almighty God..." he made the Sign of the Cross. Now it is not necessary but not wrong either.

Why is Confession important?
Confession is one of the seven sacraments that Christ gave to His Church to help us on the road to Salvation. Confession is the healing sacrament. Because of sin, we strain our relationship with God. Confession helps us to heal our bond with God.

What exactly do you mean by "Holy Day of Obligation"?
A "Holy Day of Obligation" is a day that as a Roman Catholic, we are obliged to attend Mass under the pain of serious sin. Each Sunday is a Holy Day of obligation, as are Christmas Day & New Year's Day in Canada. The Conference of Bishops of each country petitions Rome for the days that they wish to be Holy Days of Obligation. That is why the number of Holy Days vary from country to country.

What is the proper way to receive Communion?
When we approach to receive Communion, we either (1) make the Sign of the Cross, (2) bow, or (3) genuflect. Then we may receive the host, while standing or kneeling, and on the tongue or in the hand. We answer "Amen" when the priest or minister of the Eucharist says "The Body of Christ".