Mass Intentions – Holy Trinity Church

When we come to Mass, we often hear that there is a specific intention—that prayers are being offered for a particular person, usually someone who has passed away. But why do we do this?

We include intentions in the Mass to unite our personal needs with the sacrifice of Christ and to offer communal prayer for the living, the sick, and the deceased. This is an ancient tradition in the Church, dating back to the early centuries. We gather to pray for the deceased, and our prayers assist their souls, especially the souls in Purgatory, by commending them to Divine Mercy. We also pray for the living—whether they are sick, celebrating an anniversary or birthday, or simply offering thanksgiving for a blessing received. Furthermore, our prayers provide communal support, allowing the entire parish family to unite in prayer for a particular person or intention. Holy Trinity Church is no exception. We gather to pray for all these intentions whenever we celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Eucharist. Please be sure to familiarize yourself with our parish guidelines when requesting a Mass for your intentions.

Guidelines for Mass Intentions

A cherished part of our Catholic tradition is requesting that a Mass be offered for loved ones. The following guidelines are put forth in an effort to ensure that all requests are handled fairly and thoughtfully.

Scheduling a Mass Intention

Contact the parish office by phone at (585) 265-1616 or stop in during office hours.

We will grant requests as close to your preferred date as possible; if unavailable, we will offer the nearest alternative date.

Booking Schedule

The Mass Intention book opens annually in the second week of September for the entire following calendar year.
Requests are honored on a first-come, first-served basis in the order received.

One Mass each weekend (Saturday evening or Sunday morning) and one Mass on each Holy Day of Obligation must be reserved as Pro Populo (“For the People”) as required by Canon Law.

Request Limits

No individual or family may request more than five (5) total Mass intentions per year.
Only one (1) of these may be scheduled for a weekend Mass (Saturday, 4:30 pm or Sunday, 8:30 am/10:30 am).
The remaining four (4) must be scheduled for weekday Masses (Monday – Friday at 8:30 am).
A maximum of three (3) Mass intentions per year may be requested for any one (1) living or deceased individual or family members from a particular family.

To ensure fairness, we will monitor that different individuals are not requesting multiple Masses for the same deceased person.

Mass Intentions May Be Requested For The Following:

A deceased loved one or family members (e.g., Living and deceased members of the _______ family or families).
This will be indicated by a cross before their name when listed in the bulletin.
A living person who is sick or suffering.
This will be indicated as “The special intention of ___________.”
A living person celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or other special occasion.
This will be indicated as “The Special Intention of ______________ on the occasion of their birthday, anniversary, etc.”

What Should Be Written In The Book of Remembrance

Intentions for The Souls in Purgatory.
Intentions in thanksgiving to God (including our Lord Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit)
Intentions in thanksgiving for prayers answered through a Blessed or Saint

Any prayer intention that does not contradict Church teaching

Stipend

A stipend of $10 per Mass intention accompanies each request.
Know that we will accept any amount, including no donation for those who cannot afford the stipend.
Payment must be made at the time of booking by check or cash.

Canon Law requires that all stipends be used exactly as designated.

Important Notes

The schedule of Mass intentions is subject to change due to priest illness, diocesan obligations, or schedule adjustments. We will attempt to contact affected parties in advance, though this is not always possible.

Remember, The Parish that we dream is the parish that I help to build!

God bless you, and may the Blessed Virgin Mary be with you.

Fr. Jorge Ramirez

Holy Trinity Church… 165 Evangelizing!