How do I join St. Mary’s?

Posted on May 3, 2011 by admin

I just went to one of the masses today at St. Marys and needless to say it was incredible! The church is so beautiful and the mass was just right. not a lot of singing but not dry either. I haven’t felt at home in a catholic church in a very long time. I want my family and I to become members of the church. how do i go about that? on other catholic church sites they sometimes have a link to set up all the information. How do i go about it for St. Marys?

The answer to this question is-
Many thanks for your wonderful note! I’m glad you found your experience at St. Mary Church so rewarding.

Becoming a member of St. Mary Parish is very easy. Simply take a “Newcomer’s Kit” that you will find on a table in the vestibule of the church and fill out the registration form. You may return the completed form to the parish office, to an usher, or give it to me. The Newcomer’s Kits are also available in the parish office.

Also, if you’d like to stop in to introduce yourself and learn a bit more about the parish, please make an appointment (762-5491 X 11), and I’d be delighted to talk with you and give you a tour of our campus.

Fr. Bob

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Baptizing the family

Posted on March 9, 2011 by admin

What is your question?:
How would I go about Baptizing my wife and children? We have no family around to help us out as God parents. Thanks.

The answer to this question:
For this question, it would be good to make an appointment with me. Just call the office at 762-5491 X 11. That is the front desk, and the worker there has my appointment book. I’ll be able to help you. Father Bob

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Ann Street and Clapping

Posted on March 9, 2011 by admin

What is your question?:
I am concerned that Ann Street has become a two-way street; it is narrow and with 2 way traffic I see it as dangerous! Is this a permanent change?

Second question: I attend 5:30 Saturday evening faithfully and enjoy the beautiful voices but I do not feel it is appropriate to clap after some of the songs. Appreciation can be done in another way.

The answer for this question:
Thank you for your message.

As to the first question, yes, the City of Wilmington has decided to make Ann Street a 2-way street. This is part of the master plan to make Ann Street a bicycle path down to the Cape Fear River. Ann Street will be sort of an oasis from heavy traffic thanks to the blockade on Third Street and Fifth Avenue. Third Street blockade has already been done, so only bicycles can cross the medium there. The same will be done on Fifth Avenue.

As for clapping at Mass, this is something the people do when they want to show their appreciation for special talents. There are two ways of thinking of this. The first is the way I grew up. In those days, we were always silent. The theory was that silence showed respect for the Blessed Sacrament. The other way of looking at clapping has its basis in the teaching of the Church Fathers at the Second Vatican Council. In that Council, Catholic Christians were reminded that Christ is really present in four (4) ways at every Mass: (1) in the assembly (the ones doing the clapping); (2) in the presider (the ordained priest or bishop leading the Mass); (3) in the proclaimed Scripture; and (4) in the Blessed Sacrament. If it is true that Jesus is really present in the assembly, the logic goes, isn’t it Jesus who is applauding? Just something to ponder…

Fr. Bob

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Religous significance of games

Posted on March 9, 2011 by admin

What is your question?:
Does games like chess have a religious significance?

The answer to this question:
Great question! Believe it or not, the answer is “yes,” games such as chess do have religious significance. However, when you go online, you’ll discover more information than you can imagine. I’m definitely not an expert–or even novice–in the field of the religious significance of games. Therefore, I suggest that you type in a question on your computer such as “What is the religious significance of chess and other games?”, and you’ll be amazed at all the articles that will appear in this field. Obviously scholars in this field have been very busy. Fr. Bob

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Obedience to the Church rules

Posted on March 9, 2011 by admin

What is your question?:
Fr. Bob, in your answer to holding hands, you state we should do it out of love, however, should it not be more important to be obedient. Rome specifically responded to this practice and said the lay practices should not change the liturgical norms of the church. We as lay folks don’t have a right, and most don’t have the knowledge to do so. Most don\’t even understand that the sacrifice of the mass is really about. So is it wise to specifically go against what the Holy See has said. This seems to contradict unity, the very point you make in talking about one cup versus many cups? Additionally, I would add that we have a duty to be obedient by not only listening to the church, but not doing something we haven\’t specifically been given permission to do. As you probably know, if neither the bishops’ conference nor the Holy See has seen fit to prescribe any posture for the recitation of the Our Father, it hardly behooves any lesser authority to impose a novel gesture not required by liturgical law and expect the faithful to follow their decrees. Lastly, The use of this practice during the Our Father could detract and distract from the prayer’s God-directed sense of adoration and petition, as explained in Nos. 2777-2865 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, in favor of a more horizontal and merely human meaning.
Just a few thoughts. I think obedience runs both ways, doing what we are told and also not doing what we haven’t been expressly given permission to do. Changing the mass is not mine to change.

The answer for this question:
Thanks for your comments. Pastoral practice always takes into account rules, and there is a hierarchy of rules in the church. Changing the formula for Consecration, for example, is non-negotiable. Saying the “I confess to almighty God” or not saying it is up to the priest. Likewise, the priest decides what Eucharistic Prayer to use. The priest is also responsible for safety issues, so if it is too hard for the elderly to stand, he needs to address such thing. Just keep in mind that rules are made for humans, not the other way around. And above all, love trumps rules should there ever be a question.

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Apostels’ Creed Question

Posted on March 9, 2011 by admin

What is your question?:
When I learned the Apostles’ Creed, we prayed:
“He descended into Hell; the third day He arose again from the dead; He ascended into Heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God, the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.”

Recently, while listening to the local Catholic radio station, I heard them praying the Chaplet of Divine Mercy and the leader said “He descended to the dead” instead of hell.

Has the Church changed the wording of the Apostles’ Creed or is this just something the radio commentator did on his own?

Thanks for taking my question.

The answer for this question:
Thanks for the question. Descended into hell refers to Jesus entering into the death of the body. Therefore, saying “descended into death” is saying the same thing, just more clearly. Fr. Bob

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The purpose of baptism

Posted on March 9, 2011 by admin

What is your question?:
When John was baptizing with water, as I read it, he was baptizing to eventually reveal Jesus. But for those other than Jesus whom he baptized, what was the purpose of it, or how were they supposed to be changed by it?

The answer for this question:
Thanks for the question! Actually, many groups practiced baptism before the coming of Jesus. Jesus’ cousin, John, was only one such person.

The different groups that practiced baptism did so as an act of purification, to make oneself clean to engage in temple ceremonies. The act of baptism – or washing – showed an inner disposition for change, for purification. Fr. Bob

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I would like to come back to the Catholic Church.

Posted on March 9, 2011 by admin

What is your question?:
Hello, My first marriage was in the Catholic Church, he did not attend church with me or believe what I did. I however grew up in a wonderful Catholic Community & went to Catholic school from preschool through college. My first husband was verbally & physically abusive, I eventually left him after 3 yrs. I never got an annulment because the diocese wanted me to contact him-at the time I was still very afraid of him. This was 14 yrs ago. I never did, although I have “left” the Catholic Church nothing else seems like “home” I am remarried to a wonderful husband with 2 beautiful little girls. We are Presbyterian, although a nice church-its just not the same. Is it possible for me to get an annulment from my first marriage? I would like to come back to the Catholic Church. Thank you for your time.

The answer to this question:
The best thing to do is to make an appointment with me, and we can sort things out. It’s never too late to get back on track with your Faith. – Fr. Bob

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Hello world!

Posted on March 9, 2011 by admin

Welcome to WordPress. This is your first post. Edit or delete it, then start blogging!

Posted in Uncategorized | 1 Comment