Tag Archives: Ask Fr. J

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Ask Fr. J – How can I spread God’s word at school?

By | May 21, 2010

…it’s not that hard to get people’s attention. It’s what you do with it that matters. You can either be silly or give something to them that matters. When St. Francis of Assisi, “Preach the Gospel always, and when necessary use words.”

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Ask Fr. J – Is premarital sex adultery?

By | May 14, 2010

Q: Is premarital sex “committing adultery?” Where in the Bible does it say that sex is wrong?

A: Okay let me begin with the good news, sex is not wrong…if done in the union of a husband and wife in the Sacrament of Marriage.

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Ask Fr. J – Is underage drinking wrong?

By | May 7, 2010

Q: I am a freshman in college and was wondering how the church feels about drinking. If I do it in moderation is it wrong?

A: Your question actually has two parts to it. The first teaching is the proper use of the things of this earth.

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Ask Fr. J – Was it wrong for me to date an athiest?

By | April 30, 2010

Q: I just recently ended a relationship with an atheist. Was I wrong for going out with him in the first place? While I dated him, I totally felt like I could convince him that Catholicism is a wonderful thing. Instead, I felt like I was offending the Lord. Was I wrong for going out with my atheist boyfriend?

A: Not in the least. Please, don’t feel guilty about that choice in your life. If your intent was to show yourself as a person of faith and to maybe try to encourage him to see beyond the narrow, lonely view of the world atheism professes, then I don’t see anything you should be guilty about.

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Ask Fr. J – How can I help my son believe again?

By | April 23, 2010

My suggestion to you is this…first, be the best witness of your faith that you can for your son…remember what St. Francis said, “where there is doubt, let me bring faith.” As a parent, you (whether you know it or not) are always going to be your son’s first and finest teacher of the faith.

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Ask Fr. J – How do I start a prayer meeting?

By | April 16, 2010

Q: Eleven kids from church also attend my high school. We are thinking of starting a daily prayer meeting. We’re not sure what we should be doing. Any words of wisdom?

A: Man, that is so cool! From what I have seen at schools where prayer groups of Bible studies have been formed there is always a growth in the presence of the Holy Spirit that flows all over the school campus. If you and your friends truly feel called to do this…go for it!

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Ask Fr. J – I had sex, will I go to hell?

By | April 9, 2010

It is serious what you have done, but don’t live in guilt…go to the Sacrament of Reconciliation and heal this wound on your soul. Then find the time to talk to someone you trust, a priest, a nun or a youth minister and let them help you find a way to keep yourself from falling back into this kind of pattern in your relationship.

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Ask Fr. J – Is it wrong to date a black guy if you’re white?

By | April 2, 2010

Q: Is it wrong date a black guy if you are white?

A: There is nothing morally wrong about dating someone from another race.

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Ask Fr. J – What "word" heals us in Mass?

By | March 19, 2010

Q: In the part of the Mass when the priest says something along the lines of, “When I say the word, I shall be healed.” What “word” are they referring to?

A: Actually the priest is praying for God’s grace and mercy.

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Ask Fr. J – Should I kneel at Mass?

By | March 12, 2010

My suggestion to you is follow the example of the Holy Father and listen to your Bishop.

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Ask Fr. J – I went to my first Adoration, what now?

By | March 5, 2010

Q: I went to Adoration for the first time the other night, what should I do?

A: That is so cool! I love my times when I can be in Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. As far as what you should do, in some churches there are guide books for Adoration.

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Ask Fr. J – I'm scared of Confession.

By | February 26, 2010

Q: I haven’t been to Confession in a long time and I’m scared to go back, cause I’m gonna do it wrong. What do I do?

A: First…don’t wait anymore, just get a priest and tell him that you haven’t been to Confession for a long time and you have to go now.

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Ask Fr. J – Can you explain the Our Father?

By | February 19, 2010

The Our Father contains all possible petitions; we cannot conceive of any prayer not already contained in it.

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Ask Fr. J – What's the deal with Stigmata?

By | February 12, 2010

The word stigmata comes from the Latin phrase “stigmata” which meant “brand a slave or criminal.”

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Ask Fr. J – What Are Indulgences?

By | February 5, 2010

Q: “I have a few related questions: What are indulgences? What do they do for you? What is the difference between a plenary and partial indulgence?”

A: I have this friend who is convinced that indulgences were when she was able to skip classes, go to the mall, and buy a dress that she would never wear and then spend the rest of the day watching “soaps” and “Oprah.” That would be more indulgent than an indulgence. An Indulgence is the remission of punishment for sins that that have been committed or confessed.

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Ask Fr. J – Does the Bible contradict itself?

By | January 29, 2010

Q: “You know the Bible contradicts itself all the time, like when it says ‘an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth’ – but the whole idea Jesus preached was to forgive. How do we know which bits to believe? And how can we trust it?”

A: Well I am probably going to get into a bunch of trouble for not referring a bible question to the “Bible Geek,” but I am answering this question.

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Ask Fr. J – What’s the Church’s stance on dinosaurs?

By | January 22, 2010

Q: What is the Church’s stance on dinosaurs?

A: They’re extinct.

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Ask Fr. J – Why can't Catholics marry outdoors?

By | January 15, 2010

And now for the real answer.

That is that you can be married outside as long as the priest who is doing the ceremony gets permission from his Bishop.

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Ask Fr. J – Can a Catholic disagree with the Church?

By | January 8, 2010

It is certain the choice of anyone to disagree with the personal teachings of the Church, but let me just say this…why?

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Ask Fr. J – Did Adam come from an ape?

By | January 1, 2010

Q: Did Adam come from an ape?

A: In asking this question you actually have brought two issues that the Catholic Church has been dealing with in recent years.

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