Though I hesitate to speak for my fellow priests (and hopefully not "about them" unless it is something good), I believe "we" priests are usually not very good at saying "no" when requests are made of us. We are called to serve others in the name of Jesus Christ, and our first inclination is to say yes to people who are asking some-thing of us. Thankfully (most of the time) I don't regret saying yes and hopefully seeing through on whatever I say "yes" to doing, if asked.
When I reflect on our V.I.P. for the month of May, Marian LaVelle, one of the qualities that I most admire and give thanks to God for, is her willingness and tendency to say "yes" to what I and others ask of her and doing it with a smile on her face. It is a blessing to have people around who smile (or even laugh) easily, and who put a smile on others faces, like me whenever Marian says yes to my requests for help. She responded a number of years ago when asked to help Cathy Silk with office duties and was a very welcoming, helpful presence to me and those who came to the office with needs or just to have someone to talk to. She has been serving faithfully as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion at Mass and has been known to do this ministry on more than one occasion on a weekend when needed. She serves as a sacristan who comes early to "set up" for Mass and stays after Mass to clean up and put up. She was one of those I could count on to help out in various ways during our weekly outdoor Masses during COVID. She has been a helpful presence and worker at many social activities in the lower hall when asked to do so. She currently serves on the liturgy committee and took over awhile back on the scheduling of gift-bearers for the weekend Masses and is now serving on the Sacred Heart Pastoral Council representing the liturgy commission. She is a valuable member of our 10:00 a.m. Sunday choir and has recently agreed (to the great pleasure of our organist/choir director, Kathleen Kinney) to become a cantor. She has recently trained to start bringing Holy Communion to our parishioners who are shut-in and cannot attend Mass.
In the bio she submitted to help me with this column (though I can honestly say I didn't really need it as I was already aware of the many things Marian has done and continues to do), she made a remark about her participation in our parish ministries and activities that you can see is so true. She said that since the time her husband Don died after a battle with cancer (5 years ago), she made a conscious choice to make this wonderful parish her main focus. Many (including me) have been blessed by it! God bless you, Marian!
When I reflect on our V.I.P. for the month of May, Marian LaVelle, one of the qualities that I most admire and give thanks to God for, is her willingness and tendency to say "yes" to what I and others ask of her and doing it with a smile on her face. It is a blessing to have people around who smile (or even laugh) easily, and who put a smile on others faces, like me whenever Marian says yes to my requests for help. She responded a number of years ago when asked to help Cathy Silk with office duties and was a very welcoming, helpful presence to me and those who came to the office with needs or just to have someone to talk to. She has been serving faithfully as an extraordinary minister of Holy Communion at Mass and has been known to do this ministry on more than one occasion on a weekend when needed. She serves as a sacristan who comes early to "set up" for Mass and stays after Mass to clean up and put up. She was one of those I could count on to help out in various ways during our weekly outdoor Masses during COVID. She has been a helpful presence and worker at many social activities in the lower hall when asked to do so. She currently serves on the liturgy committee and took over awhile back on the scheduling of gift-bearers for the weekend Masses and is now serving on the Sacred Heart Pastoral Council representing the liturgy commission. She is a valuable member of our 10:00 a.m. Sunday choir and has recently agreed (to the great pleasure of our organist/choir director, Kathleen Kinney) to become a cantor. She has recently trained to start bringing Holy Communion to our parishioners who are shut-in and cannot attend Mass.
In the bio she submitted to help me with this column (though I can honestly say I didn't really need it as I was already aware of the many things Marian has done and continues to do), she made a remark about her participation in our parish ministries and activities that you can see is so true. She said that since the time her husband Don died after a battle with cancer (5 years ago), she made a conscious choice to make this wonderful parish her main focus. Many (including me) have been blessed by it! God bless you, Marian!
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!