Mass Intentions
As we enter the new liturgical year, I think it is a good idea to revisit the guidelines for Mass intentions. When I first arrived here there was much confusion about Mass intentions. The Code of Canon Law guides our decisions and policies regarding Mass intentions and, in effort to help ensure that most everyone who desires a Mass intention can schedule such an intention, we limit the number of Mass intentions from any one individual to 6 per year with no more than 2 for a weekend Mass. The policies we implemented three years ago can be found below:
Guidelines for Mass Intentions
Universal Church discipline as contained in canons 945 – 958 of the 1983 Code of Canon Law strictly regulates the offerings made for the celebration of Mass.
The Mass Intention Book will only be opened one year in advance from the date the request is being made. For example, if one comes to the parish office to request a Mass intention on August 17, 2026, the Mass Intention Book will only be opened through August 17, 2027.
A Mass intention may be requested for: an individual who is deceased; a living person who is sick or suffering; a living person who is celebrating a birthday, anniversary or other special moment in their life; in thanksgiving to God (including the Lord Jesus or the Holy Spirit); in thanksgiving for a prayer from a Blessed or a Saint; or for a prayer intention (so long as the intention does not contradict Church teaching).
A Mass intention may not be requested for a prayer intention that contradicts Catholic moral doctrine.
Lengthy intention listings cannot be published in the bulletin and must be edited for the sake of brevity. Since the purpose of publishing the intention in the bulletin is to notify the parish of the intention, we suggest the omission of middle initials, titles, etc. Each intention is limited to either three names or one group. Please be sure to indicate if the person for whom the Mass is requested is living or dead.
A maximum of six (6) intentions per year from any one individual may be scheduled at the parish with no more than two (2) scheduled for a weekend Mass.
Requests will be honored on a first-come, first served basis in the order in which the request is received at the Parish Office.
A $10 stipend, as determined by the provincial bishops, is suggested for each Mass request. Canon Law requires that all stipends taken for Mass intentions be said for the intention as designated.
Please note that Mass intentions may be requested for Sundays, most holidays, and weekdays throughout the year. Mass intentions cannot be scheduled for Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Vigil, or All Souls Day (November 2). One Mass every Sunday and on Holy Days of Obligation must be scheduled for the intentions of our parishioners known as pro populo (for the people) as required by canon law. Scheduling of multiple ‘stipend’ intentions for one Mass is prohibited by canon law.
Mass intentions will be granted as close to the requested date and time as possible. If it is not possible to comply with the primary request, the next closest date and time will be scheduled.
The schedule of Mass intentions is subject to change according to the Mass schedule and there is no promise that they will be said on the scheduled day due to priest illness, schedule change, diocesan obligation, etc. Attempts will be made to contact the concerned parties ahead of time, but that is not always possible.
Gospel Reflection
In our Gospel today we hear the familiar exhortation of St. John the Baptist, “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” Like the season of Lent, Advent is a kind of penitential season. I use the phrase kind of because the Universal Norms on the Liturgical Year and the Roman Calendar say that the season of Advent is a period of devout and expected delight. That being said, in John Grondelski’s 2019 article in the National Catholic Register titled Is Advent a Penitential Season?, he gives a theological reasoning for penance during the season of Advent.
Quoting St. Anselm, he asks the question, “Why did God become man?” He points to the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed that we profess each Sunday - for us men and for our salvation. The speculative theological question that is still debated amongst theologians is would the Incarnation have happened if man had not sinned? Answering that question is not the point of this reflection. Perhaps another article…
God became man because man had indeed sinned. Man was in need of something - salvation. In order for heaven to be opened up to us, God entered the realm of humanity to draw us back to himself. He pursued us…and continues to pursue us. The incarnation was God’s great rescue mission to pay the debt that humanity could not pay on its own.
The point is Advent prepares us for Christmas - the celebration of the Incarnation - and for Christ’s second coming which, at that time, each of us will be judged. So, there is a theological basis for the season of Advent being a penitential season.
John the Baptist exhorts each of us to, “Repent, and believe in the Gospel for the kingdom of Heaven is at hand!” In the Act of Contrition that we recite in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, we pray, “I firmly resolve with the help of your grace to sin no more and to avoid the near occasion of sin.” I think the questions before us are, for what am I in need of repentance? What are my particular sins? Let’s take that a step further. Am I really willing to try to avoid those same sins or those occasions that might lead me into sin?
I recall years ago meeting with someone who said they aren’t really trying to stop their particular sins. As we continued the conversation and processed everything, this person realized that they did not actually believe what they had said. They did, in fact, want to stop sinning in particular ways. There were, however, underlying emotions, thoughts, feelings, and even past trauma that led them to seek out particular sins and behavior. This was a moment of real grace because this realization and insight gave the Lord a chance to speak truth into the person’s heart. The truth that this person longed to hear, know, and understand was that they were loved - that they mattered. You see, our sins are just symptoms of something deeper.
These remaining weeks of Advent can be for us a period of that same real grace. St. Paul writes, “We know that the law is spiritual; but I am carnal, sold into slavery to sin. What I do, I do not understand. For I do not do what I want, but I do what I hate” (Romans 7:14-15). I think we can all relate to St. Paul.
As we move through these remaining weeks before the great solemnity of Christmas, let’s try to cast our nets out into the depths of our hearts. Let us ask the Lord for insight into why we do the things we do not want to do. Where are those places deep within ourselves that we are afraid to go? Why are we afraid to go there? Perhaps we’re afraid that we will judge ourselves too harshly. The Lord wants to speak truth into the depths of our very beings. The truth is we are loved so much that God became one of us and paid the ultimate price - the debt that we could not pay ourselves.
May these remaining weeks of Advent be life changing for us. May we rend our hearts before the gentleness of God who longs to bring healing through our repentance and our continued conversion.
Know of my prayers for you all!
Fr. Ryan