MASS INTENTION RULES FOR 2022
Mass Intentions Rules for the New Year
The Church states about Masses intentions, “It is recommended earnestly to priests that they celebrate Mass for the intention of the Christian faithful.” The practice of offering Mass for both deceased and living loved ones is a well-known and beloved practice for many Catholics. The Church has a few rules for parishes to follow in receiving Mass Intentions. The rules will affect the way Sacred Heart and St. Mary’s will receive Mass intentions in the future.
1. The first of these rules that we would like to highlight is that every parish should offer one Mass for the people of the Parish at one of the Weekend Masses, and this intention for the people of the parish should be the only Mass intention during that Mass. Since Saint Mary of the Pines and Sacred Heart share a pastor, the two churches are able to alternate the Mass with the intention for the people of the parish each week. Thus, every other week, either St. Mary or Sacred Heart will have a Mass scheduled for the weekend with the sole Mass intention being for the people of both St. Mary of the Pines and Sacred Heart.
2. The second rule that we would like to highlight is that only two Masses in a given week can have more than one Mass intention. This means that St. Mary of the Pines will only be able to assign multiple Mass intentions at only two of the weekly scheduled Masses, and we have decided that those two Masses for multiple Mass intentions will be one of the weekend Masses and the Wednesday Mass.
Likewise, Sacred Heart will only be able to offer two of its weekly Masses for more than one intention, and we have decided that those Masses will be one of the weekend Masses and the Wednesday Mass. These rules about Mass intentions will affect the number of intentions that both churches will be able to take in a single week. We hope that you understand and are patient with us as we navigate the application of these Mass intention rules to our Mass schedules.