Bring a small pad and paper for him to write any questions he has. That way he isn’t asking during Mass, but he isn’t forgetting either. Encourage him to load it up.
Also, any questions he asks that you don’t know the answer to, be honest and say so. “You know, I don’t know the answer to that but it is an interesting question. I’ll let you know by Friday.” Then follow up with him. Be sure to show any enthusiasm you have in learning more about the faith.
And the above suggestion on showing the Biblical aspects of the Mass is a great one. It doesn’t come across as preaching or apologetics, so it doesn’t put him on the defensive. It is directly related to his inquiry about the Mass. It speaks to him at his current level. It has the ability to be built upon over time to include all other areas of the faith. Overall, it is a great suggestion for a starting place. And, if he never shows interest again, it is the best thing for him to know about. Sure, they like to argue Mary with us, or the papacy. But if you had only one chance to talk to someone, wouldn’t it be great if they wanted to talk about the very center of our faith: the Mass?
