Mass Intentions 

“What can we do to pray for a loved one, living or deceased, or how can we do something to honor or memorialize them at the Cathedral?” This is a common question for us, especially after the death of a loved one.

To have a Mass or several Masses offered for a person who is deceased is an ancient and commendable practice.  A Mass is offered to pray for a person that he/she may be at peace in heaven.  Since each Mass is of infinite value, requesting one or several Masses is of tremendous benefit for the person prayed for as well as for the family, knowing that their intention is joined with the prayer of the Church.

Every Mass is a wonderful gift of God to us.  It is the center of the Church’s life, “the source and summit of the Christian life” because, in the celebration of the Mass, we are brought back to Jesus’ Last Supper, the first Mass celebrated.  We consciously recall the love of God poured out for us in the life, death and resurrection of His only Son, Jesus Christ.  At each Mass, all the intentions of all God’s people, both living and dead, are included.  Yet, “in the established tradition of the Church, the faithful, moved by an ecclesial and religious sense, join to the Eucharistic sacrifice a kind of sacrifice of their own, as a way of taking part more intensely.  They thus do their share to provide for the Church’s needs, especially the support of its ministers…” (Pope Paul VI, motu proprio “Firma in Traditione”)

This Policy for Mass Intentions is issued so that this parish’s practice of Mass Intentions and Mass Offerings will be in conformity with the universal law of the Church and the “General Policy for Mass Intentions” of the Diocese of Shreveport.  Though no policy can fully address all the spiritual, theological and practical issues associated with Mass Intentions and Mass Offerings, the following will regulate all Mass Intentions requested at the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans for Masses:

1. Anyone may request a Mass Intention for:

• a person who is living,
• a person who is deceased,
• members of a given family (not all names will be listed or mentioned from the altar),
• a special intention appropriate to the celebration of the Eucharist, e.g., World Peace, Vocations, Respect for Life, etc.

2. The Church allows only one intention per Mass. In each parish, however, one or two Masses per week may have Collective Mass Intentions.  The faithful are free to combine their intentions and offerings for the celebration of a single Mass, as long as they have been previously informed and have freely consented to combining their intention and offering with others in a single offering of Mass.  The Collective Mass Intentions also accommodate the immediate needs that come up for which a person wishes to request a Mass Intention, for example, the death of a loved one, an impending surgery, etc. At St. John’s, the Masses with Collective Mass Intentions are normally the Saturday evening Mass and the 12:10 pm Wednesday Mass.

3. At this Cathedral Parish many people request Mass Intentions. Therefore, when requesting intentions, an individual can request a maximum of twelve (12) Masses per calendar year per intention, four of which may be requested for specific dates for any particular person or need per calendar year.  If the specific date and time is already taken, a different time must be chosen.  The other Mass Intentions will be scheduled based on the needs of the parish and may be included with Collective Mass Intentions.    A total of forty (40) Masses may be requested for a person, living or deceased, in a calendar year.  Additional Mass intentions and their offerings may be sent to a priest of another parish of the diocese or outside the diocese who will be able to satisfy the request in a timely manner.
4. A Mass Intention can only be requested for a Mass that will be celebrated within twelve (12) months from the date of the request.
5. Mass Intentions are filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
6. The date of a Mass Intention is subject to change.
7. One Mass Intention per week may be requested for the same intention and will be scheduled if available.
8. As per diocesan policy: The suggested offering is  $5.00  per Mass.  A Mass Offering may be more than the suggested offering and it may be less, if the person requesting the Mass is not in the financial position to make the customary Mass Offering.
9. Mass Intentions (scheduled at least three weeks before the Mass) are usually published in our bulletin.
10. 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.
11. The one requesting the Mass Intention may request that a card be sent to notify a person that the Intention has been requested and the date and time of the Mass (one card per intention).
12. The name of the person(s) requesting the Mass is not listed in the bulletin or announced at Mass.

If you have any questions regarding Mass Intentions, please feel free to call the church office.

Steps to Request a Mass

1. Read our Mass intention policy in left column)
   Come by the Church Office
2. Mail in your request/offering donation
3. Donate your offering online (select support/other) – then email your request.

PDF printable Mass intention policy, 2024

Memorials

Suggestions for ways to remember your loved ones, living or deceased:

Gift to the Cathedral Memorial Fund – donations help with the cost of items needed at Mass such as vestments, altar cloths, sacred vessels, etc.

Flower Arrangements on the Cathedral Altar can be placed in Honor or Memory of a person – $100 donation and Memorial is published in our Bulletin

Sanctuary Candle in the Cathedral – $10 donation and Memorial is published in our Bulletin

Sanctuary Candle in St. Michael Chapel – $10 donation and Memorial is published in our Bulletin

Cathedral Building Fund – all gifts help with the maintenance of church facilities and grounds

Student Scholarship Fund – donations help our students whose families need tuition assistance

Note: You may request that notification of your gift be mailed to the student’s family.