AskACatholic.com - Who answers your questions?

		Mike Humphrey, Catholic Apologist { e-mail } { web site } Mike Humphrey got publicly involved in Catholic Apologetics when an attempt was made by the Archdiocese of Boston to bring Apologetics to the parish level. I was invited by Mike Del Vecchio to be part of a Catholic Apologetics group with Bob Kirby and Rick Opera under the leadership of David Thorpe, the Director of Evangelization for the diocese at the time. Although the effort didn't come to fruition, I subsequently initiated a support group of lay Catholic Apologists in the Boston area loyal to the Holy See around 1995. { in line with canon law. (215, 216 and 225). } I believe it was the first Catholic Apologetics group in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Previous to my involvement in Archdiocesan apologetics, I had been listening to Scott Hahn audio tapes as well as tapes by other practicing Catholic Apologists. I consider our little group the "Catholic Answers" of Massachusetts. To this day, I'm very disappointed that no bishop, with the exception of Cardinal Sean O'Malley, and very few priests seem interested in supporting Catholic Apologetics at the parish level in Massachusetts. I've been trying to find an interest since the failed attempt mentioned in the previous paragraph. I am a cradle Catholic who grew up in Sudbury, Mass. My CCD, like many others, was very poor. Most, if not all, of my spiritual growth came from Benedictine oblates and eventually the brotherhood I established with the Benedictine religious at St. Benedict Abbey in Still River, Mass. I owe them a lot of thanks for the faith I developed while knowing them and love for the Church and the Eucharist I established while being there. Being single has given me the extra time to keep up on issues in the Church while studying and re-affirming Catholic theology, doctrine and teaching. I have a special love for the Early Church Fathers and Doctors of the Church. My educational background consists of a B.S. in Computer Science and Minor in Mathematics from Framingham State. I also have a Client/Server Development Certificate from Clark University in Framingham. Although I was in the Internet field for a year and a half: at Digital as a Web Page Developer, and at Compaq as a Webmaster, I've been unable to find full-time employment in my field for the past six years. Since then I've been doing freelance web sites for small businesses and non-profits. More recently I've been doing contract work since July 2006. Most of the work is web page content work. [ resume ] I'm currently on contract at CitiStreet in North Quincy while I try to maintain and update the content on the CPATS web site, especially the knowledgebase with new Catholic Questions and their corresponding answers. I'm always trying to come up with new ideas. I've lived in Natick, Massachusetts since 1990.

		Eric Ewanco, Catholic Apologist { e-mail } { web site } Eric Ewanco has been studying Catholic theology and apologetics informally for over fifteen years. A cradle Catholic, he had no interest in religion until the death of his mother at age thirteen. This prompted a search for God which culminated in a conversion experience at seventeen followed by a sojourn in the Evangelical world. He returned to the faith thanks to the witness of the Church Fathers, who revealed to him that yes, it's true, the early church was Catholic. Armed with information from Catholic Answers and supported by patient friends, he studied himself back into the faith and embraced the fullness of orthodox Catholicism. His favorite saint and Father is Ignatius of Antioch.

		John DiMascio, Catholic Apologist { e-mail } John DiMascio was brought up as a nominal Catholic. Like many other Catholics in the immediate post Vatican II era, his religious instruction was clouded by mixed signals and revolved for the most part around the external ritual as opposed to the spiritual reality of the sacraments. During his troubled adolescence, John turned to drugs and eventually became both a addict and dealer. In his late 20’s John was approached by an Evangelical friend who spoke to him about Christ and introduced him to the Scriptures. As a result John had a conversion experience and was immediately and miraculously delivered from a life of addiction when he accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Following his conversion, John began attending a Charismatic Baptist Church and then went on to bible school. He was licensed as minister shortly thereafter. During his ministry, he began to work in the field of apologetics, focusing on outreaches to cults and aberrational groups. His study in this field caused him to dig further into the early Church. He soon began to question the pillars of Protestantism such as Sola Scriptura and Sola Fide. The more he studied scriptures and the Church Fathers, the more he became acutely aware that Jesus Christ only founded one Church and that was the Roman Catholic Church. In 1996 he left the “ordained” ministry to return to the Church as lay Catholic Apologist.

		Bob Kirby, Catholic Apologist { e-mail } Robert Kirby has been playing music professionally for nearly twenty years and has led liturgical and worship music since 1987. Since his first job of directing music for The Truth Will Set You Free ministry by Fr. Real Bourque, Bob has been involved in numerous ministry events, in addition to the performance, recording and production of over two dozen albums of sacred music, ranging from traditional Gregorian chant to the contemporary Christian genre. Bob has studied music at New England conservatory and Berkeley College of Music, where he received an award for outstanding jazz musical performance on saxophone. In 1997, he completed a Masters in theology at Boston College. Finally, Bob's music is made complete by his wife Heather's talent--- a music teacher and co-leader in many shared musical endeavors.

		Mary Ann Parks, Catholic Apologist { e-mail } Mary Ann has a B.A. in theology from the University of Dallas (68), and an M.A.(02) in theology from St Mary's University. She has worked as a catechist, artist, caricaturist, and pro-life activist, and she currently directs the Project Rachel ministry for the Archdiocese of San Antonio. "As for apologetics, I heard once of a study that showed that the people who keep their faith are those who are forearmed with answers to the objections that can be raised against it. Apologetics is a necessary work of reason and charity, and we should always be ready to give a reason for the faith we hold."

		Richard Chonak, Catholic Apologist { e-mail } Richard Chonak, a Catholic convert, was baptized at the age of 21 after an unchurched upbringing and a few years in Evangelical student groups. He liked the fact that the Catholic Church believed in both faith and reason, and had been into the Jesus thing for 2,000 years. As a computer guy, RC has been sharing information about the Faith on the internet since 1991. Now he hosts Catholic-themed web blogs in the stblogs.org domain, and is webmaster for the artists group ARS; he also writes for the group blog Catholic Light. In Boston, he sings in the chant choir Schola Amicorum. An enthusiastic student of languages, he occasionally tries his hand at translating: for example, a booklet of devotional prayers in honor of the Eucharist by theologian Fr. Jean Galot

		Terry Quinn, Catholic Apologist { e-mail } Married with 3 adult children. Lives in England Born 1946. Cradle Catholic into a family consisting of several Diocesan Priests, A Franciscan Professor of Philosophy (he taught in Rhode Island for several years), a Holy Ghost Father missionary, A Sister of Charity who was a missionary in Australia. My own mother and father were also Cradle Catholics and our home was thoroughly Catholic. My father was a Catholic Evidence Guild speaker (that meant he used to have a public platform where duly qualified laymen would speak in the market places of England including the famous London Hyde Park Corner.) From 1990 - 1995 I studied for BA (Divinity) Hons at Maryvale Institute and was awarded the Degree from the Pontifical University of Maynooth. Having a profound devotion to Our Lord through his mother, From 1999 - 2002 I then studied for a post graduate Degree in Theology in Marian Studies and was awarded an MA Theology in Marian Studies by the University of Wales. Although my paid work is in the transport industry, I also do part time Academic Tutoring to Theology undergraduates undergoing Diaconal Formation and for trainee Catechists. All academic staff make a Profession of Faith affirming our commitment to all the Church holds and teaches through her magisterium.
	Our AskACatholic Grammarians

		Rob Coutinho, Grammarian and proof reader { e-mail } Rob (Robert Patrick) was born in California but his family moved east before he was two years old. He grew up in southeastern Massachusetts and was always a practicing Catholic. He graduated with a B.S. in Chemistry and a minor in Physics from Framingham (MA) State College in 1985. He was a lieutenant in the U.S. Army from 1985 to 1988 when he was (honorably) discharged due to knee problems. In 1988 (with two of his four children already born) he moved to Pennsylvania and worked for McNeil Consumer Products (the makers of Tylenol). After five years he moved back to Massachusetts and worked in a biotech company (Hybridon) on a potential cure for AIDS. He started to become sick around this time but continued to work. After working in biotech, he worked for a generic pharmaceutical company (Copley--now owned by Teva Pharmaceuticals) for a little over one year and then had to go on disability for CFIDS/FM (Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome/Fibromyalgia). He still lives in Westboro, MA, where he, his wife, Mary-Jo, and his four children have lived since 1994. He continues to hope for a cure or "at least a little more energy so I can try to keep up with my kids". He garnered his editorial skills in high school, college and two of his three pharmaceutical jobs (professional courses taken for writing). He asks for your prayers for his illness and family.
		Maryellen Jones, Grammarian and proof reader { e-mail } I am a lay Catholic Revert. Married 60 years: 6 children, 12 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, living in Middle Tennessee not far from three children who look after us with loving care. I have no special training in being a Grammarian here. My editorial skills are natural gifts, made stronger by my school-teacher-Mother, and my own love of the language. I’m happy to be able to volunteer my time and efforts here to this important work. It’s a privilege and a pleasure to be able to serve the Lord Jesus in any way, no matter how small.
Ann in her "Grammar Police" uniform		Ann Jones,Grammarian and proof reader { e-mail } Ann Jones was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia... where everybody celebrates the fact that on Dec. 4, 1619 the First Thanksgiving held in the English Colonies was held here in Virginia, near the site of Berkley Plantation. (Sorry, Mike... Ann has a natural affinity for the truth; it seems she also has a natural affinity for stirring up trouble!) The Commonwealth of Virginia is overrun with troublemakers and Anglophiles… Ann is but one. She likes everything English, especially the language. As a matter of fact, members of Ann's family affectionately(?) have called her "The Grammar Police" for years. She was even given a 'uniform' this past Christmas... and to her dismay, was compelled to model it. The nickname, "Grammar Police", was inspired by the comic strip, "Jump Start" (creator, Robb Armstrong), in which the character, "Dot", is a self-appointed grammarian. In uniform. One need only to imagine the raucous laughter that befell Ann's household as soon as she announced Mike Humphrey was looking for a 'volunteer grammarian'. So, on that fateful day in February of 2007, Ann volunteered for the position. Ann was raised in the Episcopal Church (of course!), and remained Episcopalian... until she discovered the truth about its origin. Ann's love for the beauty of the English language, as found in The Book of Common Prayer, made it hard for her to leave the Episcopal Church and become Catholic; her love of and commitment to Truth made it easy.

Other Grammarian and proof reader that have assisted us include:		Nettie Taylor Jean Santoro Karin Bennett SFO

	Our AskACatholic Priest-helpers
Due to the busy schedule of the Holy Catholic priesthood, our priest's e-mails will only be given out on their permission.

		Rev. Fr. Fred (Catholic priest, Archdiocese of Boston) { e-mail } Father Fred in his priestly ministry attempts to draw others into the Mystery of Christ and Christ's Bride, the Church. His love for the Scriptures is complimented by his love for the Tradition of the Catholic Church (in both Her Eastern and Western spiritualities) but especially for the Church Fathers. He is in the tradition of those who seek to continue the Second Vatican Council's vision by returning to the sources and thus renewing the Church, the "program of renewal" espoused by both Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI. Speaking for the team of apologists at CPATS, Fr. Fred, from the beginning, has spent a good deal of time assisting us in those questions that require a priestly input. In order to stay focused on his priesthood while assisting us with orthodox answers that are loyal to the magisterium, he has preferred to remain anonymous. He asks for your prayers for his priesthood. As for his personal preferences, he has said, “I have a weakness for Italian food.”

		Rev. Nicholas Ciccone, Jr. (Catholic priest, Archdiocese of Boston) { e-mail } Fr. "Nick" is a priest of the Archdiocese of Boston, having studied at Pope John XXIII National Seminary for delayed vocations in Weston, MA. Ordained in 1984, Fr. Nick has served at parishes in Haverhill, Milton, Natick, Dorchester and Lowell, MA. Fr. Nick hold's a Bachelor's Degree, Two Master Degrees, and a doctorate in Childhood Education, and has served the Archdiocese of Boston as a parochial Vicar, Pastor, Vicar Forane and as a Deacon Intern Supervisor. CPATS holds a special place in Fr. Nick's ministry, and he feels privileged to be a contributor to those who are loyal to the Holy Father and the Church's Magisterium. He asks for your prayers for his priesthood.