Pull Up a Pew #8 Meet Fr Mike Schmitz

A couple of months ago when yet another great YouTube video from Fr Schmitz was shared on the Catholic Mothers' wall I said to myself... 'He is the next on my list! I am going to interview him on behalf of my Mothers group!' 

Although I was sure he'd be too busy I tried. God granted for this to happen through the help of a great friend and thanks to Fr Mike's kindness.

As a mother of two growing boys I always wonder where God will lead them and what He will ask of them as men. I pray for them, as I do for all our children, that they may say Yes to God when he calls and that they may respond positively to whatever plan He has for them.

Our duty as parents is to lay the foundations of our children's Faith so that growing up they will clearly recognise the voice of the Lord and will leave their nets to follow Him to whatever He asks of them.

A phrase that Pope St Pius X said often comes to my mind: 'A vocation comes from the heart of God, but goes through the heart of the mother'.

Whenever we watch and listen to any of Fr Mike's YouTube videos with my children, my sons especially are full of admiration for him, as for me, all I can think of is how blessed his mother must be.

In the Interview below, Fr Mike Schmitz, answers some of the questions our Catholic Mothers from around the world asked him about his own vocation, the role that his family and in particular his mother played in his vocation and much more.

In our virtual conversation I was touched by Fr Mike's openness, humility and willingness to serve a stranger... I'm full of gratitude to Fr Schmitz for taking the time to give me this interview and share his insights on making a home that nurtures the next generation of priests!

Can I Receive Communion at a Non Catholic Service?

Sometime ago someone asked this question on our Catholic Mothers' Facebook page:

If you are going to a funeral in a Methodist church, what are the rules of a catholic person receiving communion and vice versa?


Here is a quick answer:

Canon law (The law of the Church) and the Catechism (which explains what the Church teaches and believes) are clear that as Catholics we are not allowed to take communion at Protestant services. The very name communion points to the fact that we share a common belief with those with whom we share the one bread. That is just not true in so many areas with for example Methodists: we have differing beliefs about the church, the Pope, the priesthood the Eucharist and areas of moral teaching too so to take communion is a symbolic act which wouldn't be true or coherent. Of course we can go to the funeral and pray for the living and the dead but not receive communion.