Documentation

Mass Intentions

Track and fulfill Mass intention requests in your parish.

Overview

The Mass Intentions module helps you manage the important ministry of receiving, tracking, and fulfilling Mass intention requests from parishioners and families. Mass intentions are specific prayers or remembrances for which a Mass is offered, and this module ensures every request is properly recorded and honored.

What is a Mass Intention?

A Mass intention is a specific person or intention for whom the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass is offered. The practice of offering Mass for specific intentions dates back to the early Church and is a powerful way to remember loved ones and pray for special needs.

Common Types of Mass Intentions

  • For the Deceased - Most common; offering Mass for the repose of the soul of someone who has died
  • For the Living - Prayers for healing, thanksgiving, birthdays, anniversaries
  • In Thanksgiving - Gratitude for blessings, answered prayers, special occasions
  • Special Intentions - Marriage, vocations, family needs, guidance
  • Anniversaries - Death anniversaries, wedding anniversaries, ordination anniversaries

Theological Understanding

  • Mass is the greatest prayer the Church can offer
  • The infinite merits of Christ's sacrifice benefit the person or intention
  • Offering Mass for someone is a profound act of charity and love
  • Stipends (donations) support priests and the Church's mission

Creating a Mass Intention

Step 1: Basic Information

1. Navigate to Mass Intentions in the sidebar

2. Click Create Mass Intention

3. Enter the following information:

- Mass Offered For - Name or description of intention (required)

- Status - Requested, Confirmed, Fulfilled, Cancelled

- Date Requested - When the request was made

- Date Received - When payment/stipend was received

Step 2: Requester Information

Record who is requesting the Mass intention:

  • Requested By - Select person from parish directory or create new
  • This helps track requests from families and individuals
  • Important for thank-you notes and confirmation

Step 3: Stipend

Track donation associated with the Mass intention:

  • Stipend - Amount donated (e.g., $10.00)
  • Parish typically has a suggested or fixed stipend amount
  • Some requests may be without stipend (special circumstances)
  • Helps with financial tracking and reports

Step 4: Assign to Mass

Link the intention to a specific Mass:

  • Mass - Select from upcoming Masses or leave unassigned
  • Can be assigned immediately or scheduled later
  • Some parishes assign intentions as Masses are scheduled
  • Multiple intentions may be assigned to one Mass (check diocesan policy)

Step 5: Template Selection

Choose the appropriate template:

  • Template - Select ceremony template for the Mass
  • Different templates for different liturgical contexts
  • Helps generate appropriate Mass scripts

Step 6: Notes

Add any additional information:

  • Notes - Internal notes for staff
  • Special requests (specific date, specific Mass time)
  • Family circumstances or context
  • Follow-up needed

Mass Intention Workflow

Request Phase

1. Receive Request - Family or individual contacts parish

2. Create Record - Create Mass intention in Outward Sign

3. Record Payment - Note stipend amount and date received

4. Initial Status - Mark as "REQUESTED"

Scheduling Phase

1. Review Calendar - Check available Mass dates

2. Assign to Mass - Link intention to specific Mass

3. Update Status - Change to "CONFIRMED"

4. Notify Requester - Confirm date and time with family

Fulfillment Phase

1. Prepare Mass - Intention appears on Mass script/bulletin

2. Celebrate Mass - Priest offers Mass for the intention

3. Update Status - Mark as "FULFILLED" after Mass is celebrated

4. Record Keeping - Archive for parish records

Managing Mass Intentions

View All Intentions

1. Navigate to Mass Intentions list

2. See all intentions with their status

3. Filter by:

- Status (Requested, Confirmed, Fulfilled, Cancelled)

- Date requested

- Assigned Mass

- Search by name or description

Pending Intentions

Track intentions that haven't been assigned yet:

1. Filter by status "REQUESTED"

2. Review waiting list

3. Assign to upcoming Masses as they become available

4. Prioritize by date requested or special circumstances

Fulfilled Intentions

Archive and review completed intentions:

1. Filter by status "FULFILLED"

2. Verify all intentions were honored

3. Generate reports for parish records

4. Review for anniversary reminders (next year)

Mass Intention Report

Generate comprehensive reports on Mass intentions:

1. Navigate to Mass Intentions > Report

2. Select date range

3. View summary showing:

- Total intentions by status

- Intentions by month

- Stipend totals

- Unfulfilled intentions

4. Export to CSV for further analysis or record keeping

Report Use Cases

  • Monthly Financial Reports - Track stipend income
  • Pastoral Planning - Understand demand for Mass intentions
  • Annual Review - Year-end summary for parish records
  • Follow-up - Identify unfulfilled or unassigned intentions

Printing Mass Information

For Parish Bulletin

1. Filter Mass intentions by upcoming week/month

2. Generate list showing:

- Date and time of Mass

- What the Mass is offered for

- Requested by whom (optional)

3. Publish in weekly bulletin or website

For Presider

When assigned to a Mass, intentions automatically appear in:

1. Mass Script - Generated from the Mass record

2. Includes all intentions for that Mass

3. Priest announces: "This Mass is offered for [intention]"

4. May include multiple intentions if permitted

Best Practices

Communication

  • Confirm Requests Promptly - Acknowledge receipt within 1-2 days
  • Notify of Assignment - Let requester know when Mass is scheduled
  • Send Reminders - Remind family a few days before the Mass
  • Thank Donors - Express gratitude for stipends

Scheduling

  • Plan Ahead - Schedule intentions 2-4 weeks in advance
  • Popular Dates - Manage waiting lists for Christmas, Easter, Mother's Day, etc.
  • Balance Distribution - Spread intentions across available Masses
  • Respect Requests - Honor specific date requests when possible

Record Keeping

  • Accurate Records - Record all details carefully
  • Financial Tracking - Keep careful stipend records for accounting
  • Archive Completed - Maintain records for years (diocesan requirements vary)
  • Annual Summary - Generate year-end report for pastor

Pastoral Care

  • Anniversary Reminders - Follow up with families on death anniversaries
  • Special Occasions - Suggest Mass intentions for birthdays, wedding anniversaries
  • Grief Ministry - Offering Mass intentions is part of bereavement support
  • Education - Help parishioners understand the beauty of Mass intentions

Common Scenarios

Funeral Mass Intention

When scheduling a funeral:

1. Funeral record is created in Funerals module

2. Mass intention is automatically linked to funeral Mass

3. Intention: "For the repose of the soul of [Name]"

4. May include additional intentions from family

5. Stipend may be waived or reduced for funerals

Anniversary Mass

For death anniversaries:

1. Review upcoming anniversaries (Outward Sign can help identify)

2. Contact family 1-2 months before anniversary date

3. Offer to schedule anniversary Mass

4. Create Mass intention: "First Anniversary of Death - [Name]"

5. Note in bulletin: "In Loving Memory..."

Multiple Intentions for One Mass

When multiple intentions are requested for the same Mass:

1. Check diocesan policy on multiple intentions

2. Some dioceses allow, others restrict to one primary intention

3. Record all intentions on the Mass record

4. Priest announces: "This Mass is offered for [intention 1] and for [intention 2]"

5. Distribute stipends appropriately (if multiple)

Special Requests

When someone requests a specific date/time:

1. Note the request in the intention record

2. Try to honor the request if possible

3. If not available, suggest nearest alternative

4. Communicate clearly with requester

5. Confirm final assignment

Walk-In Requests

When someone requests a Mass intention in person:

1. Create record immediately in Outward Sign

2. Record stipend if given

3. Provide receipt if requested

4. Give estimated timeframe for scheduling

5. Provide contact information for follow-up

Financial Management

Stipend Tracking

  • Mass intentions module tracks stipends in cents (accurate)
  • Convert to dollars for display ($10.00)
  • Generate financial reports by date range
  • Provide totals to parish bookkeeper/finance council

Stipend Guidelines

  • Most dioceses have suggested stipend ($10-$25 typical)
  • Some parishes have fixed amounts
  • Never refuse intention due to inability to pay
  • Special consideration for multiple intentions from same family

Accounting Integration

  • Export CSV report for accounting system
  • Include date received, amount, requester
  • Cross-reference with other parish income
  • Maintain separation for restricted funds (if applicable)

Integration with Other Modules

Masses Module

Mass intentions are linked to specific Masses:

  • View intentions when viewing Mass details
  • Intentions appear on printed Mass scripts
  • When Mass is marked "Completed", intentions are fulfilled

Funerals Module

Funeral Masses automatically generate Mass intentions:

  • Linked to deceased person
  • Intention pre-filled: "For the repose of [Name]"
  • Streamlines funeral planning process

People Module

Mass intentions reference people:

  • Requester is linked to person record
  • Can view all Mass intentions requested by a person
  • Helps track family relationships and pastoral care

Calendar

All assigned Mass intentions appear in context:

  • When viewing Mass on calendar, see intention
  • Helps with scheduling and coordination
  • Exports to external calendars (if configured)

Reports and Statistics

Generate insights about Mass intentions:

By Status

  • How many requested vs. fulfilled?
  • Identify backlog or unassigned intentions
  • Track fulfillment rate

By Time Period

  • Monthly trends in requests
  • Seasonal variations (more around All Souls, Christmas)
  • Year-over-year comparisons

By Type

  • How many for deceased vs. living?
  • Thanksgiving vs. special intentions
  • Helps understand parish needs

Financial Summary

  • Total stipends by month/year
  • Average stipend amount
  • Comparison to prior periods

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much is a typical Mass stipend?

A: Most dioceses suggest $10-$25, but parishes may set their own guidelines. The Church never refuses a Mass intention due to inability to pay.

Q: Can I request a Mass for someone who is not Catholic?

A: Yes, Mass can be offered for any deceased person or living person's intention. The merits of the Mass are offered to God for that person or intention.

Q: How far in advance should I request a Mass?

A: Generally 2-4 weeks for regular Masses. Popular dates (Christmas, Easter, Mother's Day) may have waiting lists. Anniversary Masses can be scheduled months in advance.

Q: Can multiple intentions be offered at one Mass?

A: Diocesan policy varies. Some allow multiple intentions, others restrict to one primary intention per Mass. Check with your diocese.

Q: What if I requested a specific date but it's not available?

A: Parish staff will work with you to find the closest alternative date. The spiritual benefit is the same regardless of the specific date.

Q: Do I need to attend the Mass I requested?

A: Attendance is encouraged but not required. The Mass is offered whether or not you're present.

Q: How do I know my intention was fulfilled?

A: Parishes typically confirm fulfillment via phone, email, or mail. You can also check with the parish office. Mass intentions are published in bulletins.

Q: Can I request a Mass for multiple people?

A: Yes, you can request: "For the Smith Family" or "For John and Mary Doe" as one intention.

Related Features

Need Help?

Contact your parish administrator or visit outwardsign.church for support.