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How to Become Catholic, from Catholic Central

Have you ever wondered how to become Catholic? Looking for a resource to share with a friend who's learning more about the Catholic faith? Start your journey with How to Become Catholic, a series that takes you step-by-step though the OCIA process, the Sacraments of Initiation, and what it's like to be Catholic.

Episode 91

Church Is Boring | Catholic Central

Why is church so boring sometimes? Why do Catholics go to Mass every week, and what is actually happening during the Catholic Mass? If you have ever sat through a homily checking your watch, struggled to pay attention, or wondered why Catholics keep saying the same prayers week after week, you are definitely not alone.

In this episode of Catholic Central, we ask an uncomfortable question: Why is Mass boring?

Maybe we are looking at the wrong things.

It is easy to judge Mass by the music, the homily, the people around us, or whether we feel entertained or inspired. But Catholics believe something much bigger is happening beneath everything we can see.

Mass is not about entertainment. It is about encounter.

At every Catholic Mass, heaven and earth meet. Catholics believe that through the Eucharist, Jesus Christ becomes truly present -Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity. Communion is not simply a symbol or a way of remembering something Jesus did 2,000 years ago. It is an encounter with the Real Presence of Jesus Christ.

When Jesus said at the Last Supper, “Do this in memory of me” (Luke 22:19–20), He gave the Church something extraordinary. At Mass, Catholics do not simply remember the Last Supper, Crucifixion, and Resurrection. We participate sacramentally in the mystery of the sacrifice of Christ.

And when Jesus says in John 6:51, “The bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world,” Catholics take Him seriously.

That is why Catholics go to Mass.

The music may not always be great. The homily may not always grab you. The person behind you might sing off-key. A kid might send Cheerios rolling under your pew.

But none of those things is the reason we are there.

The real question is not whether Mass entertained us. It is whether we recognize Who is present.

In this episode, Catholic Central explores:

• Why Catholics go to Mass every Sunday
• Why Mass can sometimes feel boring
• What really happens during the Catholic Mass
• The meaning of the Eucharist
• The Real Presence of Jesus in the Eucharist
• Why Catholics believe Communion is more than a symbol
• The Last Supper and the Mass
• Why Catholics receive Holy Communion
• How to get more out of Mass
• Why the Mass matters even when we do not “feel” anything

Catholic Mass is not a show, and we are not supposed to be spectators. We are invited to participate in something much bigger: a moment where time and eternity intersect and Christ gives Himself to us.

Mass is not about performance. It is about Presence.

The God who created the universe is present at Mass. The question is: Will we notice?

Watch the Episode

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Nicholas Vicinanzo – "Nick"

Originally from New Hampshire, Nick attended Franciscan University of Steubenville, where he received a BA in Theatre and an MFA in Acting from Brown University. He acted professionally on stage in New York and Providence Rhode Island, earning union membership in AEA. Apart from acting, he's an avid Boston sports fan, athlete, singer and cooking/baking enthusiast – just like Gabby!

Gabby Estey – "Gabby"

Originally from Sacramento, California, Gabby Estey ended up in LA to attend the University of Southern California and has been in town ever since. When she’s not hosting Catholic Central, you can find her planning her next international trip or trying a new restaurant. She is still on a mission to discover the best cupcake in Los Angeles and will happily take recommendations!

Katia Villanueva

How to Become Catholic's Katia Villanueva is an actress originally from Chihuahua, Mexico. She eventually moved to Los Angeles and attended UCLA where she studied Biology while pursuing her love for theatre. Raised Catholic, she strengthened her personal relationship with Jesus through the representation of the Lord’s Life and Passion on stage which she has participated in for over 15 years! God has led her from teaching math and science at Catholic schools to now the media where she continues to practice her love for acting and spreading the Good News.

Roberto Arrizón

How to Become Catholic's Roberto Arrizón is an actor, host, and marketer with more than five years of experience working in the film and television industry. He was born in Tucson, Arizona, and raised in Sonora, Mexico. Roberto has more than 30 credits across a wide variety of projects, both in front of and behind the camera. He brings his energy, charisma, and desire to share his faith to the Catholic Central and Lente Católico teams, following the example of his mother, who has dedicated more than half her life to serving the church in her community.

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