Our Lady of Belen Catholic Church

As many head back to school and religious education, we welcome back friend of the show Joe Paprocki to help catechists teach God’s word in the modern world. Joe serves as National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press and is the author of the newly updated book, “The Catechist’s Toolbox 2.0: Building Today's Missionary Disciples.”

A listener named Jesús wonders about a Mass ritual and asks, “Why do priests and deacons kiss the altar before Mass?”

Scammers can often target those in the Church, and Father Dave welcomes Theresa Payton to help others protect themselves from fraud. Theresa is the former White House Chief Information Office for President George W. Bush, as well as the CEO of the cybersecurity firm Fortalice Solutions. Her a new initiative, "Protecting the Faithful," helps Christians spot scams before they are victims. 

Father Dave answers a listener’s question about Church donations. Shonda asks, “I always go to Mass on vacation. If I'm a visitor at a parish, should I give in the collection, even if I'm still giving at home?”

A listener named John asks Father Dave about correct postures when receiving the Eucharist. “I've seen an increase of people kneeling to receive communion. I've heard Father Dave comment on this before, but I'm wondering if he can address this.” John begins. “Every week, our priest calls out people for leaving after communion [before Mass ends]. Why not correct those who kneel to receive when that's not an option given to us by the Church, when not in a traditional Latin Mass setting?”

As Father Dave begins his 30-Day Challenge to instill healthier habits, we welcome Chase Crouse to discuss how faith and fitness are connected. Chase is the founder and CEO of Hypuro Fit, a Catholic-based personal training and nutrition coaching company, and the co-author of “The God of Endurance: A Practical Guide for Incorporating Exercise and Nutrition into your Spiritual Journey.”

A listener named Brittany asks Father Dave about the Eucharistic Prayer. She wonders, “Is there an easy way to know what Eucharist Prayer is going to be used at Saturday night or Sunday Mass? I like to follow along in a prayer book throughout Mass, and I have a hard time at this point figuring out which prayer is being read.”

Following the devastating floods in Texas, Father Dave welcomes friend of the show Kathryn Whitaker to discuss helping others after a tragedy. 

A listener named Kathleen asks Father Dave about the saint-making process in the Catholic Church. “If someone asks for the intercession of a person that the Church recognizes as venerable, and the request is granted, how does one prove that the [venerable] person actually granted it?”

We may know how to pray with our hearts and minds, but Father Dave welcomes Dr. Ansel Augustine to discuss what it means to put that prayer into action. Dr. Augustine currently serves as the Assistant Director of African American Affairs for the USCCB Secretariat of Cultural Diversity in the Church, and his new book is called, “Praying With Our Feet: Encountering God in the Margins.”