Requesting MASS INTENTIONS:

1. Mass Intentions should be requested at least six months before the date desired.
2. The date of the anniversary (A) of a person’s death is an annual event and can be set a year in advance.
3. The request a Month’s Mind (MM) – the monthly day of a person’s death can also be requested well in advance.
4. If the date is already taken, a date closest to the requested date can be chosen.
5. Mass Intentions come not only from parishioners, but from the priest’s own private intentions and from anyone who asks the priest for a Mass to be offered on a certain date.
6. The Diocese, Catholic Agencies, and other parishes send smaller parishes like St. Michael’s Parish, a list of Mass Intentions. When these Mass Intentions are placed on the calendar, they should normally not be removed for another intention out of a sense of justice in honoring each request made.
7. Only one Mass Intention is allowed by Canon Law for a daily Mass during the Church Year with the exception of November 2nd, All Souls Day, when a priest is privileged to offer three Masses.
8. A donation is normally given for each Mass Intention requested. For your information, the Diocesan guidelines for a Mass Intention are $10 for a regular Mass, $10 or $25 for an anniversary Mass.
9. The requests should be made in writing – and the name should be “typed” or “printed” so as to not upset the family when the name is misspelled by mistake because the hand writing could not be read or over the phone a miscommunication happens.
10. Mass Intentions for the deceased will be marked with a cross; Mass Intentions can also be requested for the Living for various occasions: birthdays, wedding anniversaries or special intentions. The name(s) is normally the only thing printed in the listing of Masses in the bulletin – obviously space is the issue.

All this being said, it is important to make your requests as early as possible, to prevent disappointment. The only person who can make an exception is the pastor.