Parish of the Precious Blood

                    The Mass Offering

 When I was teaching, a parent of one of my students passed away after a tragic and long illness. Many of my students struggled with how to express their grief or condolences appropriately. I suggested to a few of my students that having a Mass offered for the dead is always a beautiful and appropriate way to express one's solidarity with the grieving. Most, if not all, looked at me as if I had something growing out of my head. It occurred to me that many really did not understand the value of offering a Mass for the dead. And I would guess that there are many people out there - while they recognize the Mass as something important - do not fully understand why offering a Mass for someone, especially the dead, is so important, not only for those who grieve, but for the person who died.

The Catholic Church teaches that the effects of the Mass bring certain benefits or fruits. Generally, the fruits of the Mass are bestowed upon the entire Church - to the living faithful and those souls in purgatory. That is why in the Eucharistic Prayer you might hear a special mention remembering both the living and "those who have died and have gone before us marked with the sign of faith." But the special ministerial fruits of the Mass are applied to the particular intention of the Mass, i.e. "for whom the Mass is offered." That is the reason why the priest or commentator might mention the name of the person "for whom the Mass is offered" or you see a person's name recorded in the bulletin for a particular Mass. Most of the time, it's for a deceased person, but it could also be for a person living who might have a special intention (anniversary, thanksgiving, illness, etc.)

In our diocese, a stipend of ten dollars is requested - it's not a payment for the Mass (I've often heard people say "I want to buy a Mass" - as if God's graces can be bought!), but rather it serves as a symbol of one's offering or sacrifice.  And, out of justice for the priest, it also serves as his "daily wage."

Some churches in our parish have a backlog of Masses. That is a good and heathy sign of devotion of the faithful. Some churches are in need. Therefore, Mass offerings requested at Holy Rosary, for example, will be said, but not necessarily at the church in Caribou but in another church in the parish that is in need of masses. We are one parish.  Also, sometimes it is necessary to send Masses away to be said in the missions around the world.

We will give priority to our recently deceased and to anniversaries of death so that masses can be said in the church where the deceased worshiped. But let’s say that large numbers of masses are requested for one person. Some may be said in other churches in our parish, sent to the missions or sent to a priest in our diocese who needs masses. This way Masses can be offered on
a timelier basis.
                                                                                 
                                                                                   Blessings,
                                                                                   Fr. Dave

      Click here to access the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young Adults.                                            

 

                                                            

                       Click here  to access the Diocesan Code of Ethics (Rev. 2016).

Follow this link to access a variety of useful material and resources including:

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·         A variety of safe environment forms and applications for parishes, parents, schools, employees and volunteers

·         How to file a sexual abuse report

·         Information about the Office of Professional Responsibility

·         Diocesan policies on counseling assistance

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   BISHOP DEELEY'S STATEMENT ON       
        VACCINES AND EXEMPTIONS:
                      September 2, 2021

   In recent weeks, I have received correspondence from individuals both objecting to Governor Mills’ mandate requiring health care workers to receive a COVID-19 vaccine and asking the diocese for a “religious exemption” from doing so.
I am of the opinion that the vaccine is an effective way to deal with a virulent virus which is causing great destruction. In this, I follow the moral guidance given by the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith in 2005 in assessing that the moral good which comes from protecting us from this virus makes the use of these vaccines morally permissible. That teaching is repeated in the Notes published by the same Congregation on December 21, 2020. In that document, in No. 5, it states that “the morality of vaccination depends not only on the duty to protect one’s own health, but also on the duty to pursue the common good.” That common good “may recommend vaccination.” Three separate documents have been released by the Holy See that address the question of a cell line derived from a fetus being used in the development or testing of the vaccine. They conclude to the moral permissibility of those taking the vaccine. As such, I have no reason to take exception to Governor Mills’ mandate for health care workers. I conclude that receiving the COVID-19 vaccine does not violate Catholic moral teaching.
Following the examples of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI and Pope Francis, who have both taken the vaccine, I see the vaccine as a valuable aid. In fact, Pope Francis, as recently as August 21, urged people to get the vaccine as an act of care for the other. It needs to be pointed out, as well, that in Maine law there is no longer an allowance for philosophical or religious exemptions from vaccines, only medical exemptions.
Catholics care about the common good, and the Gospel calls us to care for each other. Receiving a COVID-19 vaccine protects and preserves the dignity of many in need. Join me in continuing to pray for a swift end to the pandemic and the serious harm caused by this terrible virus.
 

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