Mass Intentions
Request a Mass Intention
Those wishing to honor a loved one during the celebration of Mass, living or deceased, or for prayerful remembrance of anniversaries, birthdays, and other special intentions, may request a Mass Intention by visiting the Parish Office. Masses are scheduled Tuesdays thru Fridays from 8:00 am to 11:30 am, and 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm. Schedules are planned up to one year in advance, so please plan early. Mass requests are limited and the typical Mass stipend is $5 per Mass. If you would like to request more than just a few Masses for a special intention, please consider sending your requst to Hilda Neira Luna at 956-682-4238.
Mass Intentions Explained
Meaning of "Offering a Mass" What does it mean to have a Mass "offered" for someone? An individual may ask a priest to offer a Mass for several reasons, including in thanksgiving, for the intentions of another person (such as on a birthday), or, as is most common, for the repose of the soul of someone who has died. One must never forget the infinite graces that flow from the Sacrifice of the Mass which benefit one’s soul. Please keep in mind that the tradition of offering Masses for others, particularly the dead, originated in the very early Church. Given this understanding, we can add some specifics. When a priest offers Holy Mass, he has three intentions, as follows: first, to offer the Mass reverently and validly in accord with the norms of the Church; second, to offer the Mass in union with the whole Church and for the good of the whole Church; and third, to offer the Mass for a particular intention, such as the repose of the soul of someone who has died. The special personal fruits of the Mass benefit the celebrating priest who acts in the person of Christ in offering the Mass and to the people who are in attendance and participate in the offering of the Mass. These fruits are both extensively and intensively finite, since each of us is finite. Therefore, the more a Mass is offered, the more benefit is conferred. Finally, a person may ask a priest to offer a Mass for a particular intention. Usually a stipend is given to the priest for offering the Mass, which thereby in justice creates an obligation which must be satisfied. When we face the death of someone, even a person who is not Catholic, to have a Mass offered for the repose of his soul and to offer our prayers are more beneficial and comforting than any other sympathy card or bouquet of flowers. To have a Mass offered on the occasion of a birthday, anniversary or special need is appropriate, beneficial and appreciated.