Q. How is it that Catholic churches choose the names of their churches? Some are named for saints and still others are named for a title like Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

A. When the bishop of a diocese establishes a parish he generally gives it a name.

Bishops I have known generally have consulted with the pastors of those churches and the people themselves to get some ideas as to whom they would like honored as the patron of the new parish.

Catholics have named churches not only for saints but also for mysteries of the life of our Lord and of the Blessed Mother and occasionally for commemorations of the works of Christ, the Blessed mother and the saints.

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