Q: I am intrigued.   You did not mention at all what we have been doing here in our Diocese — or

Q: Is it permissible to baptize infants at the Easter Vigil? == A: Not only is it permissible, the Order

Q: Can the Exsultet be accompanied to assist a deacon who has difficulty singing it a cappella? == A: There’s

Q: Good Afternoon Fr. Paul.   I’m not certain if this subject has been discussed, on your FB page, during Essentials

Q: Many thanks for your insights and pastoral approach to the Sacred Liturgy. As a Director of Liturgy for my

Q: I belong to a deacon page on Facebook.  The question was posted concerning the Exsultet and proper preparation.  This

Q: I have a question. I and another Deacon had two Ash Wednesday services to handle the overflow of our

Q: I suspect you’ve already treated this question, but do you have something to say about the custom (which seems

Q: Please suggest resources to assist our Parish Bible Study Group to explore the scriptural references and scriptural allusions throughout

Q: At daily Mass, is the reader supposed to introduce the responsorial psalm the same as a reading: “Today’s Responsorial

Father Paul Turner responds to NPM’s Amanda Bruce as she poses questions about the origins of the Exsultet: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V9rtwveUYVw

Q: I have someone who wants a funeral on Easter Monday. I said OK (to the date), then realized it

Q: Thanks for all your great work, you’re a tremendous resource to many of us! I have a question for

Q: I so appreciate your wisdom as liturgical conundrums arise! We have an odd set up in our church where

Q: One of our pastors is reading your Ars Celebrandi – and there he found your instruction that when it comes to

Q: In the Mass after the first and the second readings our lector still says “this is the Word of

Q: Can we wash the feet of women on Holy Thursday Mass? I don’t know the guideline of my diocese. I

Q: What is the answer, and where is it stated clearly about: 1.  whether or not a wedding can be

Q: Love to get your items; they are so fascinating.  Regarding the Chrism Mass, here are some suggestions re a

Q: I’m presuming that you have received  questions asking about the recent news stories about the  invalidity of a baptismal

Q: I have been wondering what is “allowed” in Catholic tradition and liturgy for distribution of ashes. There is a

Q: One of my catechumens is honestly too shy to stand up in front of everyone at 3 Sunday Masses

Q: When a  jubilee is celebrated in the Octave of Easter or Christmas, on a solemnity or on a Sunday,

Q: Can one person serve as a godparent or sponsor for more than one person being baptized or confirmed in

Q: People are asking me to preside for a “teaching Mass” when I’ll interrupt the service at times to explain

Q: I’ve been working on the local roll-out of USCCB’s “Eucharistic Revival” and have dome some research on various questions

Q: I wonder if you might help me with the interpretation of two directives that pertain to the Universal Prayer

Q: In the resources being prepared around the appointment of a new bishop to a diocese, to be put on

Q: The program we planned with our Parish School of Religion for the Blessing of Candles for the Feast of the

Q: I participated at Mass recently when you were a concelebrant. I noticed at the end, when the bishop gave

Q: Would like your comments about the practice of publicly praying the Rosary before a Sunday mass.  I’ve wondered, since

Q: I have a question about Good Friday.  In Catholic liturgy, is it permissible to have the choir singing the

Q: We use a large mounted TV screen to project the lyrics for songs during the Liturgy. We also stream

Q: I come to you with a question on liturgy. One of our deacons mentioned, in preparation for a school

Q: Thank you for the opportunity this blog provides!  Is it possible to celebrate an evening mass on Friday, March

Q: Any suggestions about a practical way to do the Blessing of Candles at a school mass for the Presentation

Q: The anniversary of the dedication of my parish church is coming up soon. My rectory is owned by the

Q: Can you provide any insight as to why the gospel readings for the 2nd Sunday in ordinary time come from

Q: Over the years as a Presider, I have really come to love praying the Communion Antiphon at Weekday Mass.

Q Over the past couple of years, the pandemic has really affected the participation of our kids at weekly School

Q: Could you provide any historical context or liturgical documents regarding the placing of two angels near the tabernacle? It

Q: Watched the YouTube video of Pope Francis baptizing 16 babies in the Sistine Chapel on the Baptism of the

Q: I teach a 30 minute religion class to 6th graders 4 days a week. What is the difference between

Q: Happy New Year! Thanks for providing us with interesting ongoing liturgical education. The covid pandemic caused some adaptations to

Q: I’m trying to track down the musical notation for the three alternative Latin dismissal texts but it has been

Q: When should the statue of the Christ child be placed in the Nativity scene?  I noticed at the 5:00

Q: I seem to recall reading somewhere that any saint in the Roman Martyrology may be celebrated liturgically, if the

Q: Yet another question concerning the liturgy. Actually, this question isn’t about the liturgy so much as a question about

Q: Thank you for your ministry to the Church with this blog.  I have a question regarding the “procession” for

Q: This is after the fact now but still would like to know for next year. As you know, there

Q: I have two questions about “The Announcement of Easter and Movable Feasts” (Appendix I) chant that is available for

Q: I’m wanting to do a blessing of the church doors this coming weekend. As an Associate Pastor the past

Q: Dear father Turner,I have a question for you. I would like to have incense blessed by a priest I

Q: Regarding your recent post about finding a public way to laicize a bishop – https://paulturner.org/laicized-bishop/, there used to be one. The

Q: Normally we have two candles to process in, but for the Epiphany of the Lord, how many candles can

Q: When I preside at Mass during the Christmas Octave, how do I add the special Communicantes to Eucharistic Prayers II and

Q: Since Jan. 1 is not a Holy day of obligation this year, if I celebrate a mass on Dec.

Q: I’ve been asked to preside as a deacon for a wedding on a Saturday during Lent. Do the readings

Q: Has there been any discussion for creating a ritual when a bishop is laicized? If we believe in the

Q: I know how much you love these random Church trivia questions, so here’s one for you: my home parish

Q: Am I supposed to change my hand positions when I lead the preface dialogue at Mass? == A: Yes.

Q: Blessed Advent! If a parish has a fixed cross with a crucifix, does the processional cross need to have

Q: I was wondering if you could comment on a question that came up in our parish. Last Easter, we

Q: We have always had the tradition that during Advent and Lent the organ is only used to accompany the

Q: I noticed in an upcoming Parish Bulletin that the Christmas Eve and day Masses this year are in memory

Q: This year Christmas falls on a Saturday. If we have a Saturday afternoon or evening Mass, what do we

Q: I do a Holy Hour in my rectory everyday. I have been doing Adoration because I use a chapel monstrance inside

Q: We are going to have the Rite of welcoming and acceptance this weekend for our RCIA. I know it

Q: We have a college here and several college students regularly worship with our Parish at the Sunday mass. I

Q: I have had a particular parishioner who has been a successful thorn in my side when it comes to

Q: Just prior and though out the month of November we have displayed the Book of the Names of the

Q: When are people supposed to sit after communion? When the tabernacle closes? When the priest sits? == A: GIRM

Q: My brother-in-law and niece have celiac disease and the low gluten host still has more gluten than they can

Q: Hi Fr. Paul! Thank you for your priesthood! I have a question about when to do the blessing of

Q: Several deacons from various diocese are discussing what a group of deacons at Mass should be doing if they

Q: Is praying the Divine Office (prior to Vatican II) still considered a prayer in communion with all others praying

Q: A priest friend of mine recently asked me if I had heard anything about the bishops wanting to change

Q: I had an RCIA question that has come up and thought of you and your vast knowledge. In my

Q: You recently pointed out a theological error in the collect for December 8, the Immaculate Conception. The prayer concludes

Q: Our pastor has a huge collection of religious art. He believes it should be shared with the faithful at

Q: Will the revised Liturgy of the Hours restore the psalms that condemn enemies, such as 58 and 109? ==

Q: What’s the practice on the use of the music of David Haas? I know our GIA/World Library missalette service

Q: Our diocese requires Eucharistic Ministers to attend a two hour update session every four years. I am a volunteer

Q: We spoke briefly at a conference about re-purposing old altar stones in new altars (in short, OK within the

Q: I hope that all is well with you and with those to whom you minister. I thought you might

Q: December 7th is the anniversary of the dedication of my parish church. If I were to offer mass in

Q: In the new translation of the Liturgy of the Hours: 1. Are they planning to restore the usual translation

Q: Your recent blog entry caught my eye. We discussed this in our Diocese and it seems like from the

Q: When a priest finishes Mass by opening up Exposition for extended time of Adoration, what is the proper position

Q: Given that Masses for Various Needs are allowed on the day before Thanksgiving, may the Thanksgiving Day Mass itself

Q: When a church uses screens, what are your thoughts regarding what text should be posted on the screens? For

Q: I enjoy your blog, and thank you for all that you do for the Church.  At my parish, we

Q: For Christmas Midnight Mass, is it permitted to have a candlelight Mass? I can’t find any text that says

Q: Outside of a Holy Year designated by the Holy Father, such as the Year of Mercy, can parishes erect/open

Q: My bishop asked me recently about the custom of blessing people using relics by making the sign of the

Q: I appreciate your responses the connections you make with good resourcing from our liturgical documents. I’ve a question about

Q:  We are involved  in some discussions on the Revised Order of Christian Initiation and  at this moment are wondering

Q: I just had a question about Mass times on  Christmas Eve . . . Is it permissible to have

Q: A neighboring parish has automatic “Touchless Holy Water Dispensers” for parishioners use when they enter church to sign themselves

Q: The Pastor of my parish will not allow the faithful to walk in procession and present the gifts.  This