The subject matter this week is Mass intentions and how they are handled when requests are made through our parish.
There is evidence that specific and general intentions were offered from the early days of the church as the Eucharist was celebrated. Tertullian (200) wrote that he offered "prayers and sacrifices" for a deceased one's spouse on the anniversary of their death. Historically, the faithful have given a monetary gift for a specific intention that normally is given to the priest for his support and as a means for the person asking for a "Mass Intention" to make a sacrifice. Please note that since it is a "gift" there is no requirement to give anything for a Mass intention. Neither the Church nor the priest is "charging" for the Mass to be offered for that intention.
The challenge for our parish is to try to satisfy the many requests we get for Mass intentions for living or deceased persons or for specific needs. While we want to try to satisfy requests for a certain date for the death anniversary of a person or a birthday remembrance for a person who has died or is deceased (or a wedding anniversary of a living couple), we have to allow for other Masses to be said by a variety of people who ask for them. We may have to send some of those intentions to other priests in Arkansas who are needy for intentions for the daily Masses they celebrate. The Church also says that we MUST send Mass intentions off if that can't be said in a timely manner (within four months of when they are requested) especially when it is offered for the happy repose of someone's soul. Death anniversaries might be the exception to this. If more than one "anniversary" is requested, we can do both intentions at that one Mass and the priest can only accept one donation with the other being sent to the Diocesan Clergy Welfare Fund which supports our sick and retired priests. Gina, our parish secretary will not be able to tell you when the Mass being requested will be offered (except if it is for an anniversary or birthday) or even if it will be offered here if multiple Masses are being requested. Finally, our diocese has approved $10 as a suggested gift for a Mass intention though more or less can be given for that intention. If you want to give let's say $50 and have 5 Masses for the same person, then expect that some of those may have to be sent (with the corresponding monetary gift) to other priests.
I am impressed that so many Masses are requested at our parish. It speaks to and about those who recognize the spiritual benefits that are afforded to those for whom Masses are being offered. We ask your patience and understanding as we try to satisfy the requests that are made here.
There is evidence that specific and general intentions were offered from the early days of the church as the Eucharist was celebrated. Tertullian (200) wrote that he offered "prayers and sacrifices" for a deceased one's spouse on the anniversary of their death. Historically, the faithful have given a monetary gift for a specific intention that normally is given to the priest for his support and as a means for the person asking for a "Mass Intention" to make a sacrifice. Please note that since it is a "gift" there is no requirement to give anything for a Mass intention. Neither the Church nor the priest is "charging" for the Mass to be offered for that intention.
The challenge for our parish is to try to satisfy the many requests we get for Mass intentions for living or deceased persons or for specific needs. While we want to try to satisfy requests for a certain date for the death anniversary of a person or a birthday remembrance for a person who has died or is deceased (or a wedding anniversary of a living couple), we have to allow for other Masses to be said by a variety of people who ask for them. We may have to send some of those intentions to other priests in Arkansas who are needy for intentions for the daily Masses they celebrate. The Church also says that we MUST send Mass intentions off if that can't be said in a timely manner (within four months of when they are requested) especially when it is offered for the happy repose of someone's soul. Death anniversaries might be the exception to this. If more than one "anniversary" is requested, we can do both intentions at that one Mass and the priest can only accept one donation with the other being sent to the Diocesan Clergy Welfare Fund which supports our sick and retired priests. Gina, our parish secretary will not be able to tell you when the Mass being requested will be offered (except if it is for an anniversary or birthday) or even if it will be offered here if multiple Masses are being requested. Finally, our diocese has approved $10 as a suggested gift for a Mass intention though more or less can be given for that intention. If you want to give let's say $50 and have 5 Masses for the same person, then expect that some of those may have to be sent (with the corresponding monetary gift) to other priests.
I am impressed that so many Masses are requested at our parish. It speaks to and about those who recognize the spiritual benefits that are afforded to those for whom Masses are being offered. We ask your patience and understanding as we try to satisfy the requests that are made here.
In the year 2002, I was in my fourth year as pastor of St. Boniface Church in Ft. Smith. After the bishops of the United States decreed that the unity of posture during Holy Communion was standing, I was pleasantly surprised at the large number who willingly observed this standing posture throughout Communion. The reality of a song being sung by the congregation while Communion is being given out and received is a communal "thank you" to Jesus as is captured in the second verse of the song "Gift of Finest Wheat" which says "With joyful lips we sing to you, our praise and gratitude, that you should count us worthy Lord to share this heavenly food." We are not only in the closest communion with Jesus that we can be on earth when we receive His Body and Blood, but we are, at the same time, in communion with each other not only in our posture, but also in our singing songs which speak about this heavenly food and the nourishment Jesus gives each one of us during this special time. It is after we have all received Holy Communion and the singing ends that we all (including the priest and deacon) kneel or if that is not practical for health reasons, sit and have a period of quiet time when we speak to Jesus in praise, thanks and/or petition from our hearts or just glory in his presence within us. When we all stand and the priest says the "Prayer After Communion" we all say "Amen" which brings an end to the Communion Rite with the blessing and dismissal bringing an end to the Mass. I still strongly urge those who have gotten into the bad habit of leaving the Mass soon after receiving Holy Communion to overcome that practice and stay at least until the blessing and dismissal, if not also the closing hymn. While it is a blessing to all that we stay in union with prayers, postures and gestures throughout all of Mass (and save individual actions of piety when we come for personal prayer time), so we should start the Mass together and conclude the Mass together until we are sent off to "announce the Gospel of the Lord."
After giving everyone time to soak in what I have shared with you in my pastor's column this and last week, I would like us to begin standing again throughout Communion beginning on Pentecost weekend (May 18-19) and assure you that anyone who chooses to do differently (whether it be kneeling for a minute or two after returning to their pew and then standing OR kneeling throughout the time after returning to their pews) should not and hopefully will not be criticized for doing so.
To those who say they don't see any other parish doing it this way, I say, in many, if not most things, it takes more courage and conviction to be a leader and not a follower when we know and appreciate the reasons the Church has for us to do such things as a sign of the unity in Jesus that we strive to have at all times!
After giving everyone time to soak in what I have shared with you in my pastor's column this and last week, I would like us to begin standing again throughout Communion beginning on Pentecost weekend (May 18-19) and assure you that anyone who chooses to do differently (whether it be kneeling for a minute or two after returning to their pew and then standing OR kneeling throughout the time after returning to their pews) should not and hopefully will not be criticized for doing so.
To those who say they don't see any other parish doing it this way, I say, in many, if not most things, it takes more courage and conviction to be a leader and not a follower when we know and appreciate the reasons the Church has for us to do such things as a sign of the unity in Jesus that we strive to have at all times!
During my time as your pastor (almost 14 years), not surprisingly I have witnessed a turnover in some areas of ministry here and new additions that have been a help to the ones who remain in that ministry and a blessing to those that they serve. In one particular ministry, that of our choir ministry, I am really thankful for those who have been in our two choirs a long time and who stay with it not only because of their beautiful voices but also the reality that our choirs have had attrition and not too many additions in the time I have been here.
Our V.I.P. for this month, Barb Potter is one of those that is a long-time member of our 10:00 a.m. Sunday choir which means a consistent once a week practice session in addition to faithfully singing at the 10:00 a.m. Mass. and special liturgies such as Holy Week and Thanksgiving Mass to name a few. Soon after she and her husband Horace moved to Hot Springs Village in 2007, she joined the Ladies of the Sacred Heart where she has been actively involved in their fundraising efforts and in leadership positions as co-captain of the St. Anthony Guild for three years, vice-president of LOSH and then as president the next year. In 2015 she became a member of the welcoming committee and remains a part of this important ministry of welcoming and providing information to new members of our parish. She served two terms (4 years) on the pastoral council as a member of the social justice and charitable outreach commission. She coordinated the baby shower for the last two years which involved sorting through and delivering baby items to three pregnancy help centers in the area. She served as the chair of the pastoral council and put in extra time outside of the meetings, especially in recruiting volunteers to run for parish council positions as well as coordinating the elections and compiling bios of the candidates. She has put in extra effort as well in compiling information about our VIPs for each month and in getting information on this to the Village Voice. Finally, Barbara is an active person not only in church activities, but also in the community as she has volunteered at Potter's Clay and Jackson House and is a monthly tutor at Mountain Pine School along with other members of the St. Anthony Guild.
Personally, I want to say thank you to Barb for all the work she did in her role as the Pastoral Council president, and all of us should be grateful for the time and gifts she has given over the years to so many, including those blessed by her voice and that of her fellow choir members. Let us all sing to the Lord!
Our V.I.P. for this month, Barb Potter is one of those that is a long-time member of our 10:00 a.m. Sunday choir which means a consistent once a week practice session in addition to faithfully singing at the 10:00 a.m. Mass. and special liturgies such as Holy Week and Thanksgiving Mass to name a few. Soon after she and her husband Horace moved to Hot Springs Village in 2007, she joined the Ladies of the Sacred Heart where she has been actively involved in their fundraising efforts and in leadership positions as co-captain of the St. Anthony Guild for three years, vice-president of LOSH and then as president the next year. In 2015 she became a member of the welcoming committee and remains a part of this important ministry of welcoming and providing information to new members of our parish. She served two terms (4 years) on the pastoral council as a member of the social justice and charitable outreach commission. She coordinated the baby shower for the last two years which involved sorting through and delivering baby items to three pregnancy help centers in the area. She served as the chair of the pastoral council and put in extra time outside of the meetings, especially in recruiting volunteers to run for parish council positions as well as coordinating the elections and compiling bios of the candidates. She has put in extra effort as well in compiling information about our VIPs for each month and in getting information on this to the Village Voice. Finally, Barbara is an active person not only in church activities, but also in the community as she has volunteered at Potter's Clay and Jackson House and is a monthly tutor at Mountain Pine School along with other members of the St. Anthony Guild.
Personally, I want to say thank you to Barb for all the work she did in her role as the Pastoral Council president, and all of us should be grateful for the time and gifts she has given over the years to so many, including those blessed by her voice and that of her fellow choir members. Let us all sing to the Lord!