Frequently Asked Questions

I have been away from practicing regularly, why should I come back to church?

There are many meaningful reasons to return to the Catholic Church. While God's presence is central to every personal journey, each person's path back is unique. You might be seeking a deeper purpose in life, a way to make peace with past mistakes, or healing from spiritual or emotional wounds. Perhaps you want your children to grow up with a strong spiritual foundation, or you long to be part of a supportive community of faith. You may feel called to serve others, or you might simply be drawn by a desire to receive the grace of the Eucharist once more.

Whatever draws you back, know this: the Church is your spiritual home, and returning can bring a renewed sense of hope, peace, and belonging.

The Church also invites the faithful to participate in the Sunday Eucharist. According to Canon Law (Canon 1247):
"On Sundays and other holy days of obligation, the faithful are obliged to participate in the Mass."
This obligation stems not from duty alone, but from the deep spiritual value of gathering as a community to celebrate the Lord’s sacrifice and receive His grace.

No matter how long you've been away or why you left, you are always welcome. Come home to a place where mercy, truth, and love await.

What does "Eucharist" mean?

The word "Eucharist" comes from the Greek word eucharistia, which means "Thanksgiving"- but not just ordinary gratitude. It's a profound, soul-deep expression of thankfulness for the ultimate gift: God giving Himself to us.

The Eucharist is not merely a symbol. It's the living presence of Jesus Christ, given under the appearance of bread and wine. When we celebrate the Eucharist at Mass, we are not just remembering an event from 2,00 years ago- we are mystically entering into the very heart of it. We are standing at the foot of the Cross. We are witnessing the Resurrection. We are seated at the table of the Last Supper.

It is a sacrament of unity and love, where heaven and earth collide. In Holy Communion, we don't just remember Jesus-we receive Him. His body, His Blood, His soul, His divinity-all enter into us. It's not just about us consuming the Eucharist- it's about being consumed by Him, drawn into divine life.

This is why early Christians called it the "source and summit" of the Christian life. Because in that moment-when we receive Christ into ourselves-we are as close to heaven as we can possibly get this side of eternity.

Think of it this way: the Eucharist is the burning heart of the Church. It is the love of God made tangible, made tasteable, made real. It nourishes our souls like no earthly food can. It forgives venial sins, strengthens us against temptation, and makes us more like Christ—bit by bit, grace by grace.

So yes, it's Vitamin "C" for the soul—but it's more. It’s the fire that rekindles hope. It’s the presence that heals brokenness. It’s the feast where God invites us to communion not just with Him, but with each other, as one body, one Church.

To receive the Eucharist is to say with your whole being, “Lord, I believe. I love You. I receive You. And I give myself to You.”

I’m not Catholic, is it okay for me to participate in communion?

Communion, or The Eucharist, is the most intimate expression of our faith. Catholics believe that the host is literally the body of Christ, transformed from bread by the priest presiding over the service. Most evangelicals think of Communion as symbolic, so it makes sense that they are not as strict about having the right relationship to it as Catholics and Orthodox Christians who believe it is a sacrament and the true presence of Christ. So, if you are not Catholic, we ask that you not receive communion. However, those not receiving the Body of Christ and Precious blood are invited to come forward with their hands crossed over their chests for a special blessing.

What should I wear?

We want you to feel comfortable. After all, we are thrilled that you're joining us and want you to be more focused on the service than what you're wearing. In the summertime, it's not uncommon to see people wearing sandals, shorts, and a shirt. Others prefer to still put on their "Sunday best," and that's fine too! However, we do request that shorts be of a conservative length (no “short-shorts”) and that in general, clothing be respectable and conservative.

What is Eucharistic adoration?

Eucharistic Adoration is not just an act of worship. It is an encounter—a sacred meeting between your soul and the living, breathing presence of Jesus Christ.

When we kneel before the Blessed Sacrament—before what appears to be simple bread—we are kneeling before God Himself, veiled in humility. The same Jesus who calmed storms, healed the blind, wept at the tomb of Lazarus, and offered His life on the Cross—that Jesus is there, silently waiting for you.

Adoration is not about doing, it’s about being. Just being with Him. Looking at Him, and letting Him look at you—with eyes full of mercy, love, and longing. It is an intimate, personal conversation where words often fall away, and presence becomes prayer.

In a world full of noise, distraction, and restlessness, Adoration is a sacred pause. It’s like entering a quiet chapel in the middle of a battlefield, where the chaos of life melts away, and you are held in peace. Not because your problems vanish, but because you are no longer carrying them alone. You are placing them at the feet of the One who says, “Come to Me, all you who are weary, and I will give you rest.”

Adoration is an act of love, of trust, and of surrender. It is saying, “Lord, You are enough.” It is choosing to waste time with the One who never wastes a moment of love on you. It is choosing to sit in silence with the Beloved—just as Mary did at the feet of Jesus—because His presence is the only thing that truly satisfies the hunger of our hearts.

And sometimes, in those quiet hours of adoration, grace slips into our souls unnoticed. Wounds begin to heal. Fears lose their grip. Hearts start to soften. You might not see it immediately, but He is at work. Always.

So when you step into that chapel and see the monstrance, remember: you’re not looking at bread. You’re looking at Love. A Love that has never left, never stopped pursuing you, and never will.

That’s Eucharistic Adoration—heaven touching earth, and God waiting for you in the silence.

Why do we worship Mary?

To understand Mary is to stand at the doorway of the mystery of God's love, because everything about her points us to Jesus. She is not the destination—she is the radiant signpost leading us straight to the heart of her Son.

Catholics do not worship Mary—only God is worshiped. What we give Mary is something entirely different, yet profoundly beautiful: veneration, or in theological terms, hyperdulia. It's the highest honor given to any human being, but it is still infinitely below latria—the adoration reserved for God alone.

So why venerate her?

Because God Himself honored her first.

He chose her—out of all women, out of all time—to be the mother of His Son. The angel Gabriel didn’t just say, “Hi Mary.” He hailed her: “Hail, full of grace, the Lord is with you.” God filled her soul with grace in a way no other person had ever known. Catholics believe Mary was immaculately conceived—preserved from original sin by God’s grace—not because she was divine, but because she was called to carry Divinity in her womb.

And when Mary said yes to the angel, when she uttered those sacred words—“Let it be done to me according to your word”—she became the gateway through which salvation entered the world. Her yes reversed Eve’s no. Her womb became the first tabernacle, holding the Word made flesh.

But Mary is not only the Mother of Jesus. She is, by grace, our mother too.

At the foot of the Cross, as Jesus gave His last breath, He gave us one last gift: “Behold your mother.” In that moment, Mary’s motherhood was extended to all of humanity. She becomes a spiritual mother who watches over us, intercedes for us, and leads us ever closer to her Son.

Think of it like this: if you were invited into a king’s palace, you would bow before the king—but you would also show deep respect to the queen mother, not because she has power apart from the king, but because of her intimate closeness to him. Her honor reflects his glory.

That is Mary.

She does not steal glory from Christ—she magnifies it. Just like she did at the wedding feast of Cana, when she gently turned the servants toward her Son and said, “Do whatever He tells you.” That’s still her message today. Always: “Do whatever He tells you.”

So we honor Mary because she was the first to believe, the first disciple, the first to carry Christ into the world. We honor her because she loved Him perfectly, and she loves us with a mother’s heart.

To venerate Mary is not to take away from Jesus—it is to fall more in love with Him through the eyes of the one who knew Him best.

Mary is not the end. She is the moon to the sun—reflecting, never replacing, the light of Christ.

Why is the Church always asking for money?

Because the Church is not just a building. It’s a living body—a family—and like every family, it needs care, commitment, and resources to flourish.

But let’s start with the deeper truth: giving is not about obligation—it’s about love.

God doesn’t need our money. He owns the stars, the oceans, every heartbeat. But He desires our hearts, and what we do with our treasure reveals what we truly value. Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Luke 12:34). Giving isn't about God taking from us—it’s about us learning how to give back. It’s a spiritual act of trust, a declaration that God comes first in our lives—even before comfort or convenience.

When the Church asks for money, it’s not a spiritual sales pitch—it’s an invitation to participate in the mission of Christ. It’s about more than keeping the lights on or fixing the roof (though that matters too). It’s about feeding the hungry, educating children in the faith, offering healing through the sacraments, ministering to the sick, the lost, the lonely. It’s about making Christ present in the world today.

Think of it this way: every dollar you give becomes a seed. A seed of grace. A seed of hope. A seed that can grow into something eternal. Your gift might help a struggling single mother keep her children in Catholic school. It might help a teenager encounter Christ at a retreat. It might fund a funeral Mass for someone who had no family left. It matters.

The early Christians understood this. In Acts 2, they shared everything—time, food, property—so no one was in need. They gave not because they were told to, but because they believed in what they were building: the Kingdom of God.

Today, we’re still building it. And the Church can't do that on prayers alone—it needs your resources, your time, your talents, and yes, your treasure. Not as a tax, but as a gift. A gift given freely, joyfully, in gratitude to the One who gave everything for us.

So the real question isn’t, “Why is the Church asking for money?”
It’s, “What kind of Church are we willing to build together?”
A Church that simply exists—or one that transforms lives, for generations to come?

That’s the kind of Church your giving makes possible.
And that’s something worth investing in.

Why is the parish always asking for volunteers?

It’s not because the Church is desperate.
It’s because you matter, and the Church can’t be fully alive without you.

Every time the parish asks for volunteers, it's not just a request for help—it’s a call to mission. It’s the Church saying, “You have something unique and unrepeatable to offer. And we need you.”

The truth is, we were made to serve. God has written it into our spiritual DNA. Jesus Himself—the King of Kings—said, “I came not to be served, but to serve.” (Mark 10:45) If He bent down to wash feet, to touch lepers, to feed the multitudes, then surely our Christian life cannot just be about sitting in a pew. It has to be about pouring ourselves out, like He did.

When the parish invites you to volunteer, it’s not just to “get things done.” It’s an invitation to step into your God-given purpose. Your hands become Christ’s hands. Your time becomes holy. Your smile at the welcome table, your voice in the choir, your presence with youth or the elderly—it’s not ordinary. It’s sacred.

And here’s the deeper mystery: when you serve, you’re not just giving—you’re receiving. God works through your giving to transform your own heart. You grow in compassion. You find joy. You discover gifts you didn’t know you had. You become more like Jesus.

Without volunteers, the Church cannot function. Masses don’t flow. Ministries wither. The lonely go unseen, the poor unheard, the young unguided. But with volunteers—with you—the Church becomes what she was always meant to be: a living body, where every person has a role, a purpose, and a place to belong.

Volunteering is more than filling a need. It’s answering a deeper question:
“Lord, how can I love You back?”

So the parish will keep asking—not out of obligation, but out of hope.
Hope that you’ll hear the quiet whisper of the Spirit saying:

“You were made for more. Come. Be the hands and feet of Christ. Build something eternal.”

And one day, you’ll hear those most beautiful words:

“Well done, good and faithful servant. Come, share your Master’s joy.” (Matthew 25:23)

Why should you be a Catechist?

Because when you step into that classroom, that small group, that circle of restless children or searching adults—you’re not just filling a role.
You’re stepping into the Upper Room.

You are joining in the very mission that Jesus entrusted to His disciples when He said: “Go and make disciples of all nations” (Matthew 28:19). That’s not a suggestion—it’s a calling. And if you feel even the smallest pull in your heart, that’s the Holy Spirit whispering, “Come. Teach them about Me.”

But don’t worry—you’re not expected to be perfect, or to have all the answers. God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called. What He needs is a heart that is willing. And when you say yes, everything begins to change.

You start to see the faith not as words in a book, but as a fire that burns in the lives of others—and in your own soul. You begin to realize that God is using you, in all your simplicity and imperfection, to plant seeds of eternal truth in someone’s life.

A Catechist isn’t just someone who explains doctrine. A Catechist is a witness, a spiritual mentor, a lighthouse for someone else’s journey. You may be the reason a child first realizes that Jesus loves them. You may be the one who helps a struggling teen understand grace. You may be the first voice of hope for an adult who’s carrying hidden wounds.

And as you pour out your heart, your own faith comes alive in ways you never imagined. Teaching the Gospel forces you to wrestle with it, to live it, to love it. You begin to experience Scripture not as something you read, but as something you are living out loud. Your prayer deepens. Your understanding expands. And your witness grows stronger—not just for the students, but for your own family, your community, and yourself.

The Church calls Catechesis one of its most sacred duties, because it shapes souls for eternity. What you say, how you love, how you reveal the mercy of God—it echoes into forever. And there is no joy greater than hearing a child say, “I want to follow Jesus,” and knowing you helped lead them there.

So why be a Catechist?

Because the Gospel is not just a message to be believed.
It’s a gift to be passed on.

And Jesus is asking—through His Church, through the restless hearts of the next generation—

“Will you be My voice? Will you be My hands? Will you tell them who I am?”

If your heart says yes, even with trembling—
then you’re already ready.
And heaven rejoices.

When can I worship with you?

Weekday English Mass-

Monday, Wednesday & Friday-7:30am

Weekday Spanish Mass-

Thursday & Friday-7:00pm

Weekend English Mass-

Satuday-4:30pm

Sunday-7:00am & 11:00am

Weekend Spanish Mass-

Satuday-6:30pm

Sunday-9:00am, 1:00pm & 6:30pm