Scheduling Mass Intentions
Parishioners,
Over the last few months, I have received commentary concerning the procedures for assigning mass intentions. It has been noted that some individuals have been able to schedule multiple mass intentions while others are waiting to have their requests scheduled. Further, we have a backlog of requested mass intentions that we need to be offered going back multiple years. To try to clarify scheduling mass intentions, I have created a parish Mass Intention Procedure that was approved by the pastoral council. This procedure is included in this bulletin and available on our website.
Due to the reduction of masses, there are very few masses available for a mass intention to be scheduled for the rest of 2025. We are leaving the few remaining available dates to fill in any requests for the recently deceased.
Prescheduling mass intentions for 2026 can begin on October 1, 2025. We will be following the new Mass Intention Procedures. One new procedure is to annually specify the maximum number of mass intentions a person (requestor) can pre-schedule during a calendar year. Since our mass intention log contains more than 150 unique mass intentions, the maximum number of masses a requester can pre-schedule during 2026 is 2. A requester can submit as many mass intentions as they desire, but those above the annual maximum that can be pre-scheduled will be added to our mass intention log.
Further, please note that the new procedures state that annually, on July 1, the parish will group together all mass intentions requested for the same person or group of people. (ex. Bob Smith or Souls in Purgatory) The parish will retain four intentions and the remaining intentions will be forwarded to the Diocese of Erie to have other priests offer the masses.
I hope these procedures clarify the issues that were raised concerning scheduling mass intentions.
Peace in Christ,
Fr. Johnathan Schmolt
Pastor
