In line with my homily on the power and impact of intercessory prayer, I wonder what you would answer to the question: "What is the greatest intercessory prayer that one could offer for someone?" If you answered "The Mass," you are correct. Having a Mass offered for someone living or deceased can show among other things, your love and concern for that person or persons. Whether you are able to participate in a Mass offered for someone or not, the Mass, which always offers intercessory prayer for a variety of people and situations at every Mass, does in fact have a special and particular intention, usually for a specific person.
It has been clear to me in the time I have been pastor here that many people here appreciate this great intercessory prayer and ask for Masses for both living and deceased people of the parish and sometimes outside of the parish. I feel sure you are not aware of the fact that we priests, at least in our diocese, have been instructed that if or when the Mass intentions that are requested back up to three months on the calendar, that we should send some off to be offered elsewhere. This is especially important when the Masses are offered for a person who is recently deceased.
Since I am the only priest in the parish, that means there is a limited number of Masses that can be offered here in a year's time. I would like in the future for you to indicate if you want a Mass for someone offered here or if it can be offered by one of our priests in the diocese who do not have Mass Intentions to offer at every Mass they celebrate, especially those in small communities. I would like to give priority here firstly to Masses for people who are recently deceased or dates that involve anniversaries of death or marriage anniversaries of those couple who are both alive. I realize that this might mean that there could be a limit on how many Masses a person can request for the whole year unless it involves people who are recently deceased.
Please remember again that we can only offer a limited number of Masses here at Sacred Heart every year and we have to allow as many people who want Masses to be offered here to have them done in a timely fashion. Multiple Masses that are asked for the same person (usually someone recently deceased) from a variety of persons may have to accept that their requested Mass may be sent elsewhere to be offered. Any that are sent off will be indicated as so in the bulletin.
All I can say is we will do our best to see that your desire to have this greatest of intercessory prayers, the Mass will be offered for someone, here or somewhere else within a reasonable time period. That, I am sure, will be appreciated most by the person for whom the Mass is being offered.
It has been clear to me in the time I have been pastor here that many people here appreciate this great intercessory prayer and ask for Masses for both living and deceased people of the parish and sometimes outside of the parish. I feel sure you are not aware of the fact that we priests, at least in our diocese, have been instructed that if or when the Mass intentions that are requested back up to three months on the calendar, that we should send some off to be offered elsewhere. This is especially important when the Masses are offered for a person who is recently deceased.
Since I am the only priest in the parish, that means there is a limited number of Masses that can be offered here in a year's time. I would like in the future for you to indicate if you want a Mass for someone offered here or if it can be offered by one of our priests in the diocese who do not have Mass Intentions to offer at every Mass they celebrate, especially those in small communities. I would like to give priority here firstly to Masses for people who are recently deceased or dates that involve anniversaries of death or marriage anniversaries of those couple who are both alive. I realize that this might mean that there could be a limit on how many Masses a person can request for the whole year unless it involves people who are recently deceased.
Please remember again that we can only offer a limited number of Masses here at Sacred Heart every year and we have to allow as many people who want Masses to be offered here to have them done in a timely fashion. Multiple Masses that are asked for the same person (usually someone recently deceased) from a variety of persons may have to accept that their requested Mass may be sent elsewhere to be offered. Any that are sent off will be indicated as so in the bulletin.
All I can say is we will do our best to see that your desire to have this greatest of intercessory prayers, the Mass will be offered for someone, here or somewhere else within a reasonable time period. That, I am sure, will be appreciated most by the person for whom the Mass is being offered.