St. John the Baptist Catholic Church Mass Intention Policy

The practice of requesting a Mass to be offered for loved ones, living or deceased, is a beautiful and meaningful part of our Catholic tradition. In our parish, there are many requests for scheduling such Mass intentions, and there are only a certain number of available Masses. The following policies are being implemented in order to accommodate the numerous requests in a reasonable and fair manner.

Please note the following guidelines for Mass intention requests:

1. To ensure consistent and fair opportunity for all desiring an intention for a loved one or occasion, we can schedule no more than 3 (three) Masses per year from each donor for an intention. When there are multiple requests for the same intention, they will be scheduled at a frequency of no more than once per month, regardless of donor.
2. Additional Masses may be requested; however, they may be sent out of the parish to the Chancery or Mission Office for distribution to other priests who will be able to celebrate these Masses. This applies to Mass intentions received at the time of a funeral. Canon Law does not permit us to keep Mass intentions beyond those that we are able to schedule in a year’s time (rolling calendar). Consequently, some intentions may have to be sent to the Chancery or Mission Office for distribution to other priests who will be able to celebrate these Masses.
3. Masses may only be scheduled 12 months in advance from date of request, as explained above. Each year’s Mass book will be opened for scheduling intentions on July 1st of the previous year. We will not accept any requests or hold dates for intentions prior to July 1st. Any requests that are submitted prematurely will be returned to the donor.
4. Requests are honored on a first-come, first-serve basis in the order in which the request is received at the Parish Office. Mass requests will be granted as close to the requested date and time as possible. If it is not possible to comply with the primary request, the next closest date and time will be scheduled.
5. As a parish, we will make every effort to accommodate a Mass within 30 days of the passing of a loved one. Our morning Mass on Saturday of each week will be kept open so that the recently deceased can be remembered soon after their death.
6. Requests for Mass intentions may be made in person in the Parish Office, by phone, or by mail. A $5 stipend, as determined by archdiocesan policy, is to accompany each Mass request, and should be dropped off or mailed to the Parish Office. Stipends are not accepted through electronic means.
7. Mass intentions may be requested for Sundays, most holidays and weekdays throughout the year.
8. One Mass every Sunday must be scheduled for the intentions of all Saint John parishioners, known as “Pro Populo” (For the People), as required by Canon Law and diocesan statute.
9. SPECIAL DAYS - Mass intentions cannot be requested for:
   1. Holy Thursday, Easter, and Christmas when the intentions are all “Pro Populo”;
   2. All Souls’ Day (November 2) when the intention will be “All the faithful departed”.
10. If for an unforeseen circumstance a Mass cancellation occurs, the intention for the Mass will be rescheduled to the next available opening.
11. The Mass intentions for each week will be published in our bulletin the weekend prior. Effective January 1, 2027, donor names will be logged in our Mass intentions register but will not be included with the intention in the bulletin, as is customary practice for most parishes in the archdiocese. A Mass card for Living, Deceased, or Special Occasion will be provided upon request for donors who would like to give notice that they have offered an intention for the recipient or their loved one.