Pastor's Notes for June 9

Dear Parishioners,
Congratulations to Anthony Rohlik and Kaitlyn Lubben who are married this weekend. May the Lord bless them with many happy years of wedded bliss.
We have been notified by Bishop LeVoir of a change in the suggested offering of Mass intention stipends beginning July 1. After that time, the suggested offering for all future stipends for Masses will be $10 instead of the current $5. Every Mass intention that has already been received will be offered for $5 stipend. Again, this is a suggested offering, so more or less may be offered. Practically, this means a little extra account on the part of the priests or whoever records and pays out the stipends, but little else. It is also good to remind everyone at this time what the stipends are and are not. You are not 'buying' the Mass or the graces of the Mass, but are giving a gift to the priest to offer Mass for a particular intention. These intentions could be for the deceased (as most often they are), for someone who is sick or in need of prayer, as an act of thanksgiving for healing or an anniversary. In the past, Mass stipends have been a major part of the priests' salaries, but that is not the case any longer in our country, though in some parts of the world, this is their sole income. The stipends are part of a priest's taxable income. The tradition of offering a stipend was a way of encouraging priests to offer Mass every day, which is why only one stipend may be accepted per day. (Note, too, that typically only one Mass may be offered per day, and no more than two on a regular day, and no more than three on a Sunday or Holy Day of Obligation. ) It is the pastor's duty to offer a Mass "Pro populo" - for the people of his Parish(es) - every Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation. In our Area Faith Community, we have a separate Mass account which is used for this, and all stipends are deposited into that account (St. Anne's Mass Account) first to record them, and then a check is written from that account to the priest who offers it. Thank you for writing checks out to the account to make this easier!
In Christ,
Fr. Todd