Category Archives: Parish Life

Is Confession Still an Easter Duty? (Repost)

(Lately, given the season, there have been quite a lot of web-searches for “Easter duty” leading readers to this site–so it seems feasible to repost this piece again for everyone.  A blessed Easter to all!) Q: When I was a … Continue reading

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Refusing a Funeral Mass to a Non-Parishioner

Q: At our parish the priest is very strict.  If you aren’t registered as a parishioner, he won’t say a funeral Mass for you.  However, he will let you have a funeral service with the deacon if you pay hundreds … Continue reading

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Eastern Catholic Children Receiving Latin Catholic Sacraments

Q: The Syro-Malabar Eastern Catholic Church confers all sacraments of initiation [Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist] to infants.  But many Syro-Malabar couples in the United States have their children baptized at their local Latin parishes—which would just be limited to baptism … Continue reading

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How Can You Obey a Law, If You Don’t Even Know It Exists?

Q:  Our Archbishop issued a Decree requiring the St. Michael prayer be prayed after all scheduled Masses.  For a variety of reasons, not every parish implemented the Decree and some don’t pray the prayer as directed. Now, after four years, … Continue reading

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What’s the Difference Between a Pastor, and a Parish Administrator?

Q: I read your piece about the pastor of a parish having to be a priest, not a layperson.  That leads me to ask another question, what’s the difference between a pastor, and a “parish administrator”? The pastor of our … Continue reading

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