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 to ensure that all requests are handled fairly and thoughtfully.

How to schedule a mass intention

• Contact Terese in the Parish Office by phone at (262) 691-1535 or in person during office hours.
• Mass intention envelopes are also available at the church entrances. Please include your contact information and Terese will inform you of the dates.
• 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 October 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.

REQUESTS LIMITS

• A maximum of three (3) Mass intentions per year may be requested for any one living or deceased individual or family members from a particular family.
• One (1) of these must be scheduled for a weekend Mass (Saturday 5:00 pm or Sunday 8:00 am/10:30 am).
• Two (2) must be scheduled for weekday Masses (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday at 9:00 am).
• No individual or family may request more than three (3) total Mass intentions per year.
• To ensure fairness, we will monitor that different individuals are not requesting multiple Masses for the same deceased person.

Special feast days & holy days

• To allow all parishioners the opportunity to have Mass intentions on special liturgical days (Christmas, Easter, etc.), families who receive a Mass intention on a particular feast day will be asked to allow other families the opportunity for that same feast day in the following year.

When mass intentions cannot be accomodated at our parish

• Universal Church discipline (Canons 945-958 of the Code of Canon Law) permits parishes to keep only those Mass intentions that can be celebrated within the calendar year.
• If our parish cannot accommodate your requested intention within twelve months, we will forward your request and stipend to the Archdiocese or another approved organization where a priest will celebrate the Mass for your intention.
• This ensures that every Mass intention is fulfilled, even if not at our specific parish.

what may be requested

• A Mass intention may be requested for:
• A deceased loved one or family members (e.g., Living and deceased of the _______ family or families)
• A living person who is sick or suffering
• A living person celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or other special occasion
• In thanksgiving to God (including our Lord Jesus Christ or the Holy Spirit)
• In thanksgiving for prayers answered through a Blessed or Saint
• Any prayer intention that does not contradict Church teaching

bulletin listings

• To maintain brevity in our bulletin, intention listings are limited to two names or one group.
• Please indicate clearly if the person is living or deceased.
• Middle initials and titles may be omitted.

days when mass intentions cannot be scheduled

• Mass intentions cannot be scheduled for:
• Holy Thursday
• Good Friday
• Easter Vigil
• All Souls Day (November 2)

Stipend

• A stipend of $20 per Mass intention, as determined by the Bishops of Wisconsin, accompanies each request.
• Know that we will accept any amount, including no donation.
• Payment must be made at the time of booking by check or cash.
• Intentions will not be recorded until payment is received.
• 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.
• While we understand this may be an adjustment for some parishioners, these policies ensure that our entire parish community—especially those grieving recent losses—has access to this profound spiritual gift.

Questions?

• Contact Terese in the Parish Office by phone at (262) 691-1535.