How can I pray for you today?
Padre here… Sometimes, the present trials, human sufferings, or life situations are too hard to carry by ourselves. Sometimes, we cannot bear what is going on alone and are in need of others to lift us up spiritually. Sometimes, we just need to be nourished and strengthened by the communal prayers of the Church and those who are around us.
We all need prayers.
If there is something that I can pray for you, please let me know. It is my honor and duty as a priest to do so! I ask that you keep me in your prayers as well. Please pray that I am kept safe from evil, have enough strength and wisdom for the journey, as well as humility and a servant’s heart to serve the Holy Mother Church as a priest of the Lord Jesus Christ.
From the very beginning of the Church, it has been customary for the faithful to offer gifts of bread and wine for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. This developed into a monetary donation instead of bread and wine. Monies given in excess of the cost of actual bread and wine for the Mass were then applied to assist the poor and, eventually, the clergy. Through this voluntary offering, the faithful seek spiritual benefits that God may bestow upon the persons or concerns, especially held in prayer at Mass.
The Code of Canon Law notes that: “Christ’s faithful who make an offering so that Mass can be celebrated for their intention contribute to the good of the Church, and by that offering, they share in the Church’s concern for the support of its ministers and its activities.” (no. 946)
An individual or family may ask the priest to offer a Mass intention for the living or the dead, for a special intention, in thanksgiving, or for a soul’s repose. Please fill out this form to make a request. Requests will be honored on a first-come, first-served basis. Mass intentions can only be accepted through and for the current calendar year.
- Unlike a civilian parish or religious community, where the priest(s) look forward to a stipend for their livelihood or supplementary income, there is NO required (monetary) Mass stipend for military members, dependents, or civil servants attached to the military installation where I am serving.
- God has blessed me with more than I need with my military service, serving as a priest and chaplain in the United States Air Force.
- You are more than welcome to donate to a Catholic charity or religious organization on my behalf or as you wish to support the Church‘s works of mercy.
- Your Mass intention will join with other requests from military personnel and their families.
- Canon Law obliges one Sunday Mass each weekend to be offered for parishioners as a whole (Missa pro populo). This Mass will rotate among the available Sunday Masses.
- Holy Day Masses sometimes have required and/or appropriate intentions that will take precedence over an individual’s intention request.
- The Archdiocese for Military Services will ask priests to offer Mass(es) for the repose of a priest or his immediate family members. Those requests will be joined with our parishioners’ Mass intentions.
- The intention will not be specially dedicated or publicly announced at Mass. It is in my heart and mind, and will be in union with the Holy Sacrifice of Christ at the altar.
- Mass is offered “for the praise and glory of His name, for our good, and the good of all His holy Church,” which can include the faithful’s particular petitionary intention(s).
- Mass intention is a petitionary request. It is in no way “buying” or demanding that Mass be totally dedicated to a person’s wants or needs.
- If the Mass intention is for the living, it will show as “special intention” in my altar card.
- The Mass intention for the deceased will show “(+)” when listed in my altar card.
— Books
— Spiritual Reading Recommendations
— Why I am a Military Chaplain
— I Thirst (John 19:28) Spiritual Reflections
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viet nam | united states of america | kansas | texas | congregation of the most holy redeemer | diocese of fort worth | archdiocese for the military services | united states air and space forces | english – español – tiếng việt | may 22 – june 29 | holy trinity seminary | st. mary’s seminary | ba – gcsf – ma – mdiv – stb | university of dallas – creighton university – university of st. thomas – st. mary’s seminary and university
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