Q's from the Pews
What is the Origin of the Stations of the Cross? April 6, 2025
During Lent, the pious practice of the Way of the Cross is a common devotional. This very Catholic form of Liturgical worship - though not…Should I Contemplate or Meditate? YES! April 13, 2025
“God calls each person to an encounter (with Him) known as prayer.” (CCC 2567) This “mysterious encounter” is fundamental to our spiritual life. Two…Q’s from the Pews: How does a virtuous life lead to freedom? July 20, 2025
St. Thomas Aquinas listed four cardinal virtues: prudence (caution), temperance (balance), justice (fairness), and fortitude (perseverance). These virtues, espoused by ancient Greek philosophers, were explored…
Q: What is the difference between Catechism and Canon Law? December 14, 2025
Two major works emerged from Vatican II: the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC) and the revised Code of Canon Law. The Catechism presents the…Q’s from the Pews: What is a Roman Catholic? August 3, 2025
The descriptor “Roman Catholic” is quite commonly used to describe Catholics in the Western world. However, you might not know that the Catholic Church does…Q’s from the Pews: Why did Cardinal Dolan Retire? January 4 , 2025
In our last “Q’s from the Pews,” we talked about the difference between Canon Law and Catechism. The recent retirement of Cardinal Dolan, Archdiocese of…Chag Pesach Sameach!! April 20, 2025
Happy Passover! Today is Easter so why would I wish you a Happy Passover in Hebrew? Both the Eastern and Western Churches initially referred to…Q’s from the Pews: Documents of Vatican II (Snippets –Vol 1/9): August 10, 2025
July 28th began our formal study of the Documents of Vatican II suggested by Pope Francis. Since many of you cannot attend the formal classes,…
Rest With the Lord, Francis!
This week we laid to rest Jorge Mario Bergoglio, Pope Francis, who was the 266th successor of Peter, Vicar of Christ, Bishop of Rome,…Q’s from the Pews: What is the Gift of Self? January 11, 2025
The Gift of Self is a foundational concept in Pope St. John Paul II’s Theology of the Body. It shapes Christian marriage, personal relationships, the…Q’s from the Pews: Documents of Vatican II (Snippets –Vol 2/9): August 17, 2025
Volume II: Lumen Gentium or LG (translated as: Light to the Nations) was the first document worked on, but the second published. This document, along…Q’s from the Pews: What is the Catholic Challenge? January 25, 2026
Each month in the bulletin we suggest a “Catholic Challenge.” Scripture calls us to spread the Gospel by living it. As St. James puts it,…Q’s from the Pews: How can I be friends with God?
Pope Leo began his “catechesis on Vatican Council II,” on January 14 by reminding us that friendship is exactly what God wants. "No longer do…Q’s from the Pews: Documents of Vatican II: August 24, 2025
(Snippets –Vol 4/9) Sacrosanctum Concilium: The Constitution on the Liturgy has four goals: “(1) to impart an ever increasing vigor to the Christian life of…Conclave… Not the Movie! May 4, 2025
The recent fictitious movie “Conclave” does little justice to the actual working of a Papal Conclave. I thought a brief explanation may be of…Q’s from the Pews: How does one become Catholic?
Full communion in the Catholic Church requires the Sacraments of Initiation: Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Communion. Someone who has received these three sacraments is Catholic.…Who is Saul / Paul? May 11, 2025
Historical and archeologic records have shown a large Jewish population living in the region of Cilicia (Turkey) in the 1st century AD. The capital of…Q’s from the Pews: Documents of Vatican II (Snippets –Vol 4/9): September 1, 2025
Dei Verbum (DV), the Second Vatican Council's Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation, “(sets) forth authentic doctrine on divine revelation and how it is handed on.”…Q’s from the Pews: Vol (5/9) What is the focus of Gaudium et Spes? September 8, 2025
Gaudium et Spes (Joys and Hopes) begins: “The joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the men of this age, especially those…
Flame of Love Rosary, Confession and Adoration
On Tuesday evenings from 6:00 p.m.–7:30 p.m., we have adoration, confessions (when Father Mowery is available), and the Flame of Love Rosary. This is a…Q’s from the Pews: Why do we need to Fast? February 15, 2026
The disciples of John the Baptist pose this question to Jesus: “Why do we and the Pharisees fast, but your disciples do not fast?” (Mt…Where’s the Joy? May 18, 2025
Remember the iconic fast-food ad Where’s the BEEF? This week’s question is Where’s the JOY? I was asked why we seem to concentrate more on suffering than God’s mercy…Q’s from the Pews: What is the origin of purgatory? February 22, 2026
The word purgatory entered the language of the Catholic faith in the 12th century. Peter Lombard, Bishop of Paris, wrote a four-volume book that became…
It is time to update our Parish Census
It is time to update our Parish Census: We are asking for a few minutes of your time to review the data we have on you…Q’s from the Pews, Vol (6/9) What is the Apostolate of the Laity?
Apostolicam Actuositatem defines the “apostolic activity of the people of God.” This decree of Vatican II, known as the Apostolate of the Laity, calls us…What are Religious Orders? June 1, 2025
Pope Leo XIV is the 35th person from a religious order elected to the Chair of Peter. Though you likely have heard the names of…Q’s from the Pews, Vol (7/9): Documents of Vatican II (Vol 7/9) How should we relate to non-Catholic Christians? September 21, 2025
Unitatis Redintegratio (the decree on ecumenism, UR) addresses the divisions that have developed within Christianity. UR notes that anyone validly baptized under the formula prescribed…Q’s from the Pews: Does the Catholic Church differentiate between a Catholic baptism and a non-Catholic baptism? March 1, 2026
Q’s from the Pews: Does the Catholic Church differentiate between a Catholic baptism and a non-Catholic baptism? Catholic baptism is only one of the three…Get to Know the Augustinian Order – June 8, 2025
Pope Leo XIV is an Augustinian. The Rule of St. Augustine of Hippo, one of the earliest guides for religious life, was written about 400…Weather-Related Decisions Concerning Mass Attendance
Regarding our weather projections for Sunday-Masses at St. Columba will occur regardless of weather, but given the forecast, we recommend that parishioners attend Saturday, January…Q’s from the Pews, Vol 8/9: Documents of Vatican II: September 28, 2025
What is our missionary task in the world? The Second Vatican Council’s decree Ad Gentes (“To the Nations”) reminds us that the entire Church is called to…Q’s from the Pews: How does inculturation spread the Gospel? March 8, 2026
When Jesus said, “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Mt 28:19), He sent His followers into cultures very different from their own. These nations…
Our Catholic in Recovery Group meets Tuesday evenings at 5:30
Our own Catholic in RecoveryGroup meets, open to everyone, on Tuesday evenings in the Geis Room upstairs in the parish center. Catholic in Recovery serves…Pope Leo XIII and Catholic Social Teaching: June 15, 2025
Modern Catholic Social Teaching began in 1891 with Pope Leo XIII’s encyclical Rerum Novarum (translated as: Of New Things). Written as the Industrial revolution was…Q’s from the Pews: How do we “repent” during Lent? March 15, 2026
Scripture calls us again and again to repentance, and Lent is the season when this call becomes especially urgent. Many of us say “I’m sorry”…The Council of Nicaea: June 23, 2025
“I Believe in one God...” are the opening words of the Profession of Faith or Nicene Creed. June 19, 2025 marked the 1700th anniversary of…CYE Registration is open for Fall 2026!
It is time to register for CYE! Here is the link for new student registration Here is the link for recurring student registrationQ’s from the Pews, Vol 9/9: Documents of Vatican II
What Is the Church’s View on Other Religions and Religious Freedom? The Second Vatican Council’s declaration Dignitatis Humanae (The Dignity of the Human Person, DG)…What is a Dean in the Church? June 29, 2025
The structure of the institution of the Catholic Church has evolved in response to a changing world and the growth of the Church (“the evolving…Q’s from the Pews: Is OCIA different from RCIA? March 22, 2026
OCIA—the Order of Christian Initiation for Adults (and Teens)—is the current process for entering the Catholic Church. It replaced the older RCIA in 2023 and…Register for Vacation Bible School: Rainforest Falls-August 3-7 – 9:00 am- 12:30 pm
August 3-7 - 9:00 am - 12:30 pm Step through the mist into Rainforest Falls, overflowing with wild waterfalls, towering trees and colorful creatures. Beneath…Q’s from the Pews, What is the Universal Church, a particular church and a Parish?
The word church, derived from the Greek ecclesia, literally means “an assembly gathering.” However, it has come to be applied to many things: groups of…Q’s from the Pews: How should I end Lent? March 29, 2026
This Sunday marks the last Sunday of Lent. Wow, 40 days are almost over! This is a good time to ask: what now? How should…Q’s from the Pews: Does belief in evolution contradict creation? November 2, 2025
Genesis describes the creation of the world as occurring over seven days. The Hebrew word yom, translated as “day,” can refer to a 24-hour period…Men’s Night: Steak and Beer with God on June 22
All men are invited to STEAK AND BEER WITH GOD: Men's Night of Faith and Fellowship with Fr. Alexander Brown, Parochial Vicar of St.…Leo XIV’s Christocentric View: July 6, 2025
In recent comments to Italy’s Bishops, Pope Leo XIV affirmed his Christ-centered (Christocentric) view of the Church in the world. This follows the theme of…Q’s from the Pews: What Does ‘Preferential Option for the Poor’ mean? November 9, 2025
On October 4, 2025, Pope Leo XIV issued his first Apostolic Exhortation titled Delexi Te (“I have loved you”). In completing this document, Pope Leo…Q’s from the Pews: Is the use of Latin at Mass just a Lent thing?April 12, 2026
Short answer: Latin is permitted at any time of the year. During Lent, the Church invites us to a spirit of simplicity so we can return…Vatican II’s Christocentric View: July 13, 2025
Last week’s article explored Pope Leo’s commitment to a Christocentric Church, a central theme of Vatican II. In declaring the Jubilee of 2025, Pope Francis…Q’s from the Pews: What actually happens during the consecration?November 16, 2025
The consecration of the host and wine is one of the Church’s greatest mysteries. In this sacred moment, the bread and wine— “fruits of the…Q’s from the Pews: Why So Many Readings at the Easter Vigil? April 19, 2026
The Easter Vigil includes seven scripture readings during the Liturgy of the Word, each rich in meaning. There is a very special significance to both…Q’s from the Pews: What are the 3 ways that a person may be baptized? November 23, 2025
The Church recognizes three ways a person may be baptized: baptism of water, baptism of desire, and baptism of blood. The sacrament of baptism is…Spaghetti Dinner, Sunday May 17
Come join us for a delicious meal on Sunday May 17, 2026 here at St. Columba Church, 12-6 pm. We are offering a homemade spaghetti…Q’s from the Pews: How do I actively participate in Mass? April 26, 2026
The Second Vatican Council’s Sacrosanctum Concilium called all the faithful to active participation in the liturgy. The Mass is not a performance to watch, but…Raffle tickets for sale for a vacation in the Outer Banks!
First prize is a vacation (August 2-9, 2026) at the Outer Banks, NC, with accommodations for 8 Second prize is $500 Tickets are $50 The…Wine, Women, and Faith – May 11
Ladies, you are invited to come gather for a special night of faith, friendship, and Fellowship. Charcuterie and wine will be provided. We Welcome Radio…