How to Book a Mass Intention
Anyone may request a Mass to be offered for various reasons. These may include thanksgiving, praying for someone’s intentions (such as on a birthday), for the repose of the soul of a deceased person, for the well-being of someone who is ill, or any other intention.
To book a Mass intention, simply fill out a Mass intention envelope, which can be found at the back of the church. If you prefer to keep the intention private, you can write “private intention” on the envelope.
Please return the completed envelope to the parish office. You can also leave it in the letterbox.
We will do our best to accommodate your preferred dates and times, but please understand that this may not always be possible. Also, note that a Funeral Mass will always take precedence over any previously scheduled Mass.
Understanding Mass Offerings for Your Intentions
The custom of offering Masses for specific intentions is an ancient tradition in the Church. The Mass is the perfect prayer of Christ and the Church, and it is considered the greatest possible prayer of intercession. This is because the Mass makes present the paschal mystery of Christ’s death and resurrection and offers it to the Father.
When the faithful request a Mass, they generally make a donation called a stipend to the priest, who then celebrates the Mass according to their intention. This offering allows the faithful to associate themselves more closely with Christ by parting with something of their own. Additionally, the stipend helps support the clergy.
To ensure that this practice remains sacred, the Church regulates the receiving of stipends. Normally, a priest may only accept one stipend per Mass, even if he is offering the Mass for several intentions.
It is important to understand that offering a stipend does not mean “buying a Mass,” which is impossible. Rather, the priest is committing to celebrating a Mass for the specific intention requested by the person making the offering. Masses can be offered for various intentions, such as thanksgiving, anniversaries, memorials, or petitions.