Ask a Franciscan

When will St. Joseph receive from Catholics the respect that he clearly deserves?

This year Christmas falls on Saturday and the next day is the Feast of the Holy Family. Is it permitted to have a vigil Mass for that feast in the late afternoon or evening of Christmas Day?

Can a practicing Catholic marry a Protestant in that person’s church, before his or her minister? Regarding the Baptism and education of children from that marriage, may the Catholic party accept either Catholic or Protestant Baptism?

What caused other Christian groups to become separate? For example, who was John Calvin and what did he teach that a denomination is sometimes called “Calvinist”?

In Romans 3:23, St. Paul writes, “For... all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God.” The New Revised Standard Version reads, “have fallen short of the glory of God.” Does this include Mary, the Mother of Jesus?

Saint Pope John Paul II several times spoke about a “new evangelization.” What did he mean by that term? When is this supposed to begin?