In the know with Father Joe
Dear Father Joe: Every Year, Lent Comes and Goes and I Always Feel Like I Somehow Miss it or Blow it
How Can I Make Lent be What it is Supposed to be This Year?
Dear Fr. Joe: Is Everyone a Racist?
My priest said that everyone is racist, and I think that’s nuts. What am I supposed to do about it anyway?
Dear Fr. Joe: It Feels Like the World is Falling Apart
As a person who struggles with anxiety at times, I have some sense of what you are enduring.
I Felt Abandoned During the Pandemic
Unlike in most parishes, my priest did not appear to minister during the COVID pandemic. I feel abandoned, so why should I go back to my parish?
Dear Fr Joe: How Do I Deal With the Anger I See on Social Media?
Dear Fr. Joe: I am constantly seeing vitriolic posts about politics on social media from my friends — and even my priest.
What Does a Priest Do all Day?
Prayer, Mass, homilies, visiting the sick, administrative duties and more.
Dear Father Joe: How Much Do I Have to Love My Enemies?
To love our enemies does not mean we are their friends. It does not mean that we are to continue to put ourselves in a position to get hurt. That’s important to remember.
Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People
So many good people I know have suffered horribly in the last month, and I’m really struggling to hold on to my faith.
Can non-Catholics go to heaven?
Dear Father Joe: I got into a pretty heated discussion on a Catholic website the...
Do I need to confess the same sins over and over?
Every time I go to confession, I seem to say the same things.
Father Joe’s Mailbag
Why do we pray for the sick?
How Should I be Grateful?
Dear Father Joe: I know we’re supposed to thank God, but some days I don’t feel a lot of gratitude. How do I feel thankful when I’m not?
Will our pets be with us in Heaven?
Dear Father Joe: My dog died and my priest told me that pets don’t go to heaven....
Is Christ really and truly present in the Eucharist?
Dear Father Joe: I’ve read a lot of talk online that, according to a recent stud...
How do we teach our children about purity?
Dear Father Joe: My wife and I have children approaching “that age,” and we wond...
What is love?
Words for love from the Bible teach us all the ways that God loves us.
Why are there so many different Bibles?
OK, let’s get right to this one!
First of all, we need to remember that the B...
Dear Father Joe: Why do Catholics oppose abortion?
Each time our culture attempts to normalize an evil, we, as Catholics, need to take the time to see why something is good or bad, right or wrong, moral or immoral.
Why can't non-Catholics receive Communion
They are, for the most part, not at all trying to be disrespectful, but they just see a piece of bread.
In the wake of the sex abuse crisis, how can I explain why I’m still Catholic?
Father Joe reflects: I am not Catholic because of bishops or priests. I am Catholic because it is true.
How can I follow Christ in these dark times?
An action, a commitment and a discipline to help you shine in the darkness
In The Face Of The Abuse Scandals, What Can You Say To Restore My Faith?
DEAR FATHER JOE: I am sickened by the news reports I’ve been reading about the c...
Why do I need a relationship with Jesus to be happy?
How faith and happiness are first about embracing and maintaining a relationship with God
I really don't understand the Trinity
The Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit as a single majesty and power is a difficult, yet awe inspiring, mystery.
How do I love someone I can’t stand?
Father Joe's step-by-step guide to figuring out how to love a co-worker you don't even like