Most, if not everyone has heard or read the term, "Mass Intention." It firstly refers to the priest's intention to celebrate the Mass according to the rubrics (or ways) the Church provides for how to say (or really PRAY) the Mass. The second "intention" is to apply the grace of that Mass toward a specific need or for particular people who are either living or deceased. These "special Intentions" are offered to God as prayers of intercession or thanksgiving. It is important to note that while a priest may only accept one stipend per Mass (which is an optional monetary gift given to the priest which our diocese suggests be $10), he may have other intentions not attached to a monetary offering. When this happens through requested intentions where an offering is given, the second stipend is sent to the Diocesan Clergy Welfare Fund, which supports our sick, infimed and retired priests.
I tell you all this, not only for information sake, but also for the practical purpose of letting you know that in our parish, where we have so many requested Masses for deceased and living people, some of which are desired on dates of anniversaries of death, anniveraries of birthdays of deceased people as well as special days for those who are living, we are now going to try to honor all Mass Intention requests for certain dates on the calendar for special remembrances or celebrations which may mean more than one "Mass Intention" that will be published in the bulletin and mentioned at that particular Mass. I want to try to honor specific date requests for the purposes I just mentioned which will also free the calendar for Mass Intentions for those who have recently died. Also, you do have the option if we already have two special requests for a particular day to have a Mass offered on that day by a priest (usually of our diocese) who is in ministries in which they do not have Mass Intentions requested of them on a regular basis (like Msgr. Scott Friend our vocations director who is not assigned to a parish), or smaller parishes where they don't receive many Mass Intention requests.
Also know that our secretary, Marian LaVelle has been given directions on accepting Mass Intentions from me, and therefore, it's me that you need to speak to if you are not satisfied with whatever has been offered by Marian to fulfill your request. Among the many reasons that I believe this parish is one of, if not the best in the diocese, is that our parisioners appreciate the power of the Mass and its graces for them and both living and deceased parishioners, family and/or friends for whom a Mass Intention has been requested. Drop by the office or call to have your Mass Intention requests accepted and hopefully offered soon (for recently deceased) or for anniversary or other needs.
I tell you all this, not only for information sake, but also for the practical purpose of letting you know that in our parish, where we have so many requested Masses for deceased and living people, some of which are desired on dates of anniversaries of death, anniveraries of birthdays of deceased people as well as special days for those who are living, we are now going to try to honor all Mass Intention requests for certain dates on the calendar for special remembrances or celebrations which may mean more than one "Mass Intention" that will be published in the bulletin and mentioned at that particular Mass. I want to try to honor specific date requests for the purposes I just mentioned which will also free the calendar for Mass Intentions for those who have recently died. Also, you do have the option if we already have two special requests for a particular day to have a Mass offered on that day by a priest (usually of our diocese) who is in ministries in which they do not have Mass Intentions requested of them on a regular basis (like Msgr. Scott Friend our vocations director who is not assigned to a parish), or smaller parishes where they don't receive many Mass Intention requests.
Also know that our secretary, Marian LaVelle has been given directions on accepting Mass Intentions from me, and therefore, it's me that you need to speak to if you are not satisfied with whatever has been offered by Marian to fulfill your request. Among the many reasons that I believe this parish is one of, if not the best in the diocese, is that our parisioners appreciate the power of the Mass and its graces for them and both living and deceased parishioners, family and/or friends for whom a Mass Intention has been requested. Drop by the office or call to have your Mass Intention requests accepted and hopefully offered soon (for recently deceased) or for anniversary or other needs.
We have all heard or said the following in certain situations. "Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes." First of all, I am not going to "judge" anyone who has decided for various reasons not to come back to Mass in church. The bishop has laid out reasons why it is still okay for a person after serious thought and prayer not to return to church for Mass with the pandemic still going on. I will still not hesitate though to strongly encourage trying our outdoor parking lot Mass which now takes place on Sundays at 11:30 a.m. and is the safest way, I believe to attend Mass and receive the precious gift of Holy Communion as the Eucharistic celebration (with reception of Holy Communion) it is all times "THE SOURCE AND SUMMIT OF OUR CATHOLIC FAITH."
Getting back to walking a mile in another's shoes, I believe I did something like that last weekend when Fr. Ron Hoye, our parish mission director was the main Celebrant of our Masses in church and I wore a mask as the con-celebrant and therefore now know what it's like to wear a mask (not for a mile, but for 40-45 minutes at a weekend Mass). After doing so, I want to say how much I appreciate those who have been coming to Mass in church wearing a mask for the entire time they are in our parish building. I can not attest that it's not an easy thing to do. I see, however, people who are mostly seniors and some with medical conditions, following the protocols that are keeping us safe from the coronavirus at church, and attending and participating in Mass on the Lord's Day and at other times. Like places in the Middle East where some Catholics have been attending Mass regularly even before the coronavirus with the real threat of death from those who would do them harm, there are more than a few in our parish who still are coming to Mass in spite of the possible harm and life threatening effects of the coronavirus if they contract it while in church (or really anywhere).
And of course there are those who continue to keep their Holy Hour in our Adoration Chapel so as to help keep our Perpetual Adoration ministry going (and I pray growing)! God bless you for the inspiration you give to me and others in this difficult, pandemic times. I truly believe that we are not only giving witness to our faith and trust in the Lord, but also we are growing in our union with the Lord who is ALWAYS ready to give us strength and hope in good times and in hard times as well! I and the community of faith look forward to our brothers and sisters in the faith returning to us whenever they choose to do so. Let us ALL continue to pray for an end to this pandemic and the fear it brings that in some cases is paralyzing many people's lives!
Getting back to walking a mile in another's shoes, I believe I did something like that last weekend when Fr. Ron Hoye, our parish mission director was the main Celebrant of our Masses in church and I wore a mask as the con-celebrant and therefore now know what it's like to wear a mask (not for a mile, but for 40-45 minutes at a weekend Mass). After doing so, I want to say how much I appreciate those who have been coming to Mass in church wearing a mask for the entire time they are in our parish building. I can not attest that it's not an easy thing to do. I see, however, people who are mostly seniors and some with medical conditions, following the protocols that are keeping us safe from the coronavirus at church, and attending and participating in Mass on the Lord's Day and at other times. Like places in the Middle East where some Catholics have been attending Mass regularly even before the coronavirus with the real threat of death from those who would do them harm, there are more than a few in our parish who still are coming to Mass in spite of the possible harm and life threatening effects of the coronavirus if they contract it while in church (or really anywhere).
And of course there are those who continue to keep their Holy Hour in our Adoration Chapel so as to help keep our Perpetual Adoration ministry going (and I pray growing)! God bless you for the inspiration you give to me and others in this difficult, pandemic times. I truly believe that we are not only giving witness to our faith and trust in the Lord, but also we are growing in our union with the Lord who is ALWAYS ready to give us strength and hope in good times and in hard times as well! I and the community of faith look forward to our brothers and sisters in the faith returning to us whenever they choose to do so. Let us ALL continue to pray for an end to this pandemic and the fear it brings that in some cases is paralyzing many people's lives!
If you did not come to the Saturday evening Mass last weekend, you didn't hear the homily that included talking about a dear parishioner, Pat Dunne whose Mass of Resurrection was held on September 24. In that homily I talked about the fact that I called her a "miracle woman" because she survived a "code blue" in the hospital three times in one day and lived for another 5 years! Pat, was a faithful participant at Mass every weekend and often at daily Masses, was an eager and humble Eucharistic Minister at Mass, and was a charter member and faithful adorer in our Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration ministry. She also encouraged the start of Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration here with confidence that our parish could do it since she moved from a smaller parish in Cherokee Village, Arkansas that was successful in starting and maintaining Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration. When she told me a few years ago that she was somehow functioning with only 15% of her heart pumping like it should, I was very surprised that she was able to do what she was able to do for so long, until I pondered her frequent encounters with the Lord at Mass and in Eucharistic Adoration and concluded that it was through the power of the Holy Eucharist in her life, that she was given the "added" time she had in this world.
I didn't mention or hear it mentioned at her funeral Mass or at last Saturday evening Mass that she was always happy to tell people that "Elvis Pressley" actually visited her home many years ago. Much more so and with even greater zeal would Pat have shared with anyone and everyone how happy and blessed she was to welcome Jesus Christ into the home of her heart every time she received Holy Communion and when she spent time with him in the adoration chapel.......and now we pray for an eternity in the kingdom of heaven. I hope the same goes for all of us who are privileged to encounter Jesus personally in Holy Communion at Mass and in the Monstrance in our chapel!!
I spoke at all the weekend Masses in Church about the IMMEDIATE need for weekly adorers who will answer the call of Jesus to be with him, especially during hours that don't currently have a regular adorer (on more than a few days 12:00-1:00 a.m; 1:00-2:00 a.m. and 2:00-3:00 a.m.). Please call one of our leaders to sign up (their numbers are in an announcement in this bulletin or listed on our website) and let the Lord help to keep you going and growing, as he did for Pat Dunne and as he does for so many of us in our lives through his presence in Holy Communion!!!!
I didn't mention or hear it mentioned at her funeral Mass or at last Saturday evening Mass that she was always happy to tell people that "Elvis Pressley" actually visited her home many years ago. Much more so and with even greater zeal would Pat have shared with anyone and everyone how happy and blessed she was to welcome Jesus Christ into the home of her heart every time she received Holy Communion and when she spent time with him in the adoration chapel.......and now we pray for an eternity in the kingdom of heaven. I hope the same goes for all of us who are privileged to encounter Jesus personally in Holy Communion at Mass and in the Monstrance in our chapel!!
I spoke at all the weekend Masses in Church about the IMMEDIATE need for weekly adorers who will answer the call of Jesus to be with him, especially during hours that don't currently have a regular adorer (on more than a few days 12:00-1:00 a.m; 1:00-2:00 a.m. and 2:00-3:00 a.m.). Please call one of our leaders to sign up (their numbers are in an announcement in this bulletin or listed on our website) and let the Lord help to keep you going and growing, as he did for Pat Dunne and as he does for so many of us in our lives through his presence in Holy Communion!!!!