I’ll take Catholicism for $1,000, Alex.
The answer is:
“A division of the church headed by a bishop.”
Yes, Watson?
“What is a diocese?”
Correct!

OK, that scene didn’t play out this week as the IBM-created artificial intelligence supercomputer named Watson impressed viewers in soundly defeating two Jeopardy champions and earning a $1 million prize.

But should it bother us that the technological marvel would likely “know” much more about the Catholic faith than we do?

Not really. There are enough ways we can “beat” Watson in Catholic living, such as being in a loving relationship with Christ and one another, experiencing the sacraments, and even singing along at Mass. (Can Watson sing?) So what if Watson would probably know, and most Catholics probably don’t, the name of the outer vestment worn by a deacon at Mass.

“What is a dalmatic?”
Correct again, Watson.

What should bother us, however, is if we’ve quit trying to learn about our faith. And the Diocese of Peoria is certainly offering no excuse for that.
Young adults can attend Theology on Tap sessions now drawing crowds in Galesburg, Bloomington, and Champaign. The Office of Catechetics’ “Let My People Come” Catholic education series is continuing in many communities. A series of talks explaining the Mass is under way at St. Mary’s Cathedral. Bible studies are offered at parishes throughout the diocese. And anyone who wants to learn about their faith should drop by an RCIA session at almost any local parish and share an evening with those studying to become our newest Catholics.

There is no one, and certainly no machine, who can say they’ve gone as deep as they can into the Catholic faith. God always invites us deeper. So we’ll put it again in the form of a question:

Are you still learning about your faith? — Thomas J. Dermody