Mass Intention Policies

At Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish, there are many requests for scheduling Mass Intentions. The following policies have been implemented in order to accommodate the numerous Mass requests in a reasonable and fair manner.

Offering a Mass for a special intention is a long-standing tradition in the Catholic Church. It is usually considered that special graces are obtained for whom the Mass is said. Masses are offered for many reasons; for the souls in purgatory or in remembrance for someone who is deceased, or someone who is ill or having a special occasion.

A Mass Intention may be set for:

  1. A deceased loved one

  2. A living person who is sick or suffering

  3. A living person who is celebrating a birthday, anniversary or other special moment in their life;

  4. In thanksgiving to God (including the Lord Jesus or the Holy Spirit);

  5. In thanksgiving for a favor granted through the intercession of a Blessed or a Saint;

  6. For a prayer intention (so long as the intention does not contradict Church teaching)

A Mass Intention may not be set for:

  1. An unknown or "private" intention;

  2. A prayer intention that contradicts Catholic moral doctrine

Mass Intentions are published weekly in the Sunday bulletin. Mass Intentions are a personal donation, but the suggested amount is $10. This signifies the sacrificial nature of giving of something of yourself to associate more intimately with Christ who offers himself in the Eucharist.


In order to give the opportunity for all parishioners to schedule a Mass Intention for their loved ones and to accommodate recently deceased individuals, the Mass Intention book will be open on a yearly basis. We will not schedule a Mass Intention unless the book is open for those dates. 

Three Mass requests per year are allowed with the following stipulations. Due to the limited availability of weekend Masses, no one person/family may schedule more than ONE WEEKEND MASS PER YEAR. DAILY MASS INTENTIONS may be scheduled 2 per year.

Requests will be honored on a first-come, first-serve basis in the order in which the request is received.

Though the Mass Intention need not be announced at the Mass, the priest will announce, if possible, the Intention within the context of that Mass.

To request a Mass Intention, envelopes can be found at the church and parish rectory.
Or the following information can be sent to the Parish office along with the personal donation:

  • The requested intention of the Mass; if a person - whether they are living or deceased.

  • Date(s) preference for Mass.

  • Person requesting the intention and a contact phone number.

Please read the following guidelines carefully:

  • Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Parish will only have one Mass Intention per Mass to keep us current with Canon Law of the Catholic Church. Each Mass is said for one person or one family.

    • Mass Intentions cannot be scheduled for most holidays. These Masses will be celebrated for the intention most relevant to the holiday.

    • One Mass every week must be scheduled by the Pastor for the intentions of our parishioners known as “Pro Populo” (For the People) as required by Canon Law and diocesan statute.