How do I have a Mass said for my intention?

If you would like to have a Mass offered for your special intention, please contact the parish office.  While particular dates or times may be requested, dates are assigned on a first come first served basis and may not be available as requested.  We ask for your understanding and flexibility in scheduling Mass intentions.  It is customary to offer a donation when requesting a Mass to be said; the parish suggests a five dollar donation.

What does it mean to have a Mass said?

Offering a Mass for a specific intention is a tradition that is almost as old as the Church itself. Records dating back to as early as the year 180 show evidence of early Christians having a Mass said for a loved one.  To arrange for a Mass to be said for your intention, please contact the parish office, as dates must be set in consultation with records of other intentions already on file.  Please Note:

It doesn’t cost anything…but if you’re able to give, an offering is appreciated.

There is no price tag on the Mass, however, it is customary to give an offering when requesting a Mass for an intention. That said, money should never be the reason for deciding against this beautiful tradition. Our parish suggests a donation of just five dollars per Mass.

A Mass can be offered for many different intentions.

Though we often think of having a Mass said for those who have passed away, Masses can be offered for those who are still alive. The Council of Trent says that Mass may be said “for the living and the dead, for sins, punishments, satisfactions, and other necessities.” In other words, if you know someone who could benefit from the spiritual graces that come with having a Mass said on their behalf, there is no need to delay in doing so.

Again, most people remember to have a Mass said for the death of a loved one and a few may think to have a Mass offered for a special intention or friend who is suffering, but rarely do we think of having a Mass offered for a celebration! Is there a better way to show our gratitude to God? Masses can be said for birthdays, anniversaries, in celebration of the reception of the sacraments, or for prayers that have been answered!

Because the Mass is the highest form of worship on Earth, there are many fruits and graces that result from having a Mass said.

The reason that this tradition has been passed on for centuries is because of the many spiritual fruits that result from this form of prayer. The celebration of the Eucharist is the highest form of worship in the Catholic Church because we unite ourselves with Christ’s sacrifice on the cross in worship of his Father.

St. John Paul II emphasized the graces that come when a Mass is offered. “The Church believes that she will be heard, for she prays in union with Christ her Head and Spouse, who takes up this plea of His Bride and joins it to His own redemptive sacrifice.”