As Catholics, we praise and honor God in a variety of ways, but the chief act of communal worship is the Liturgy of the Eucharist. Throughout the world, our community joins together as a unified body to celebrate the sacrifice and Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
While the primary participants in the Mass are the priest and the congregation, there are many other participants of the Liturgy, including Eucharistic Ministers of Holy Communion, Ministers of the Word, Ushers, and altar servers, among others. Please consider joining one of these areas to participate more fully in the Liturgy.
Mass Books 2026
Mass bookings will be handled a bit differently this year as we hope to be as fair as possible to everyone looking to have masses said for their loved ones. The mass books for 2026 will open on Sunday, March 2nd for IN PERSON bookings ONLY. The office will be open from 9am-1pm. There is a (3) mass limit per household. No exceptions will be made. Mass bookings by phone and emails will NOT be accepted until Monday, March 3rd at 9am when the office opens for normal business hours. Again, there is a (3) mass limit per household. Any remaining mass request can be booked after August 1st, 2025.
Please keep in mind that these rules have been set in place to be as fair as possible to all parishioners.
- While we do our best to accommodate everyone that would like a mass said, please remember canon law only allows for ONE mass intention per Mass. Mass books open well in advance of the following year and book quickly. Mass intentions/dates are not guaranteed or saved for anyone, no exceptions.
- Mass intentions are intended for 1-2 people (John Smith, Mr. & Mrs. John Smith, John Smith and son John Jr, for example) If you’d like more included or it is for multiple families we ask that the intentions read “For the Deceased Members of the ____ Family/Families”
- Canon law also requires one mass each Sunday and Holy Day of Obligation be for the people of the parish which is why you see that in the bulletin each week. Questions or concerns should be directed directly to the pastor.
Masses can be booked with Danielle by phone 203-878-3571 or email dhogan@pbpmilford.org
What exactly is a Mass intention?
They are a way to ask God to help with the transition of our loved ones into their new home in heaven, or to honor and remember someone who has passed, regardless of when. Sometimes people like to schedule them on birthdays or other special days.
Mass intentions are given in exchange for a small stipend. There are 2 kinds of intentions: announced and unannounced. Announced is when they are listed in the bulletin for a specific Mass at a specific church and their name is mentioned aloud by the priest during Mass. Unannounced is when the individual is privately remembered by the priest at a Mass when there is no specific Mass or church in mind from the giver. Please remember when booking masses, requests must be in by Wednesday the week prior to be included in the bulletin. Masses booked after Wednesday will still be announced at church but not included in the bulletin.
Either way a Mass card is given to the requesting family for them to give to the family of the deceased as a way of letting them know their gift. If you wish a Mass for a friend or loved one, simply call the rectory and we’ll make the arrangements for it. You can also purchase a Mass Card in the parish office during office hours. The stipends are:
- Sunday and Holy Day Mass Intentions are $25
- Weekday Mass Intentions are $15
- Unannounced Mass Intentions are $10
The below guidelines are for the benefit of everyone who wishes to book Masses during the year. If you wish to book more Masses later in the year, by all means contact us. We ask that you book no more than 10 masses, no more than 2 Saturday vigil masses and no more than 6 Sunday masses.
Sanctuary Lamp
Have you ever noticed the red light flickering next to the altar? That is the Sanctuary Lamp – a symbol that Christ is with us. Typically fueled by oil or wax, and generally in a red glass container, the lamp is kept near the tabernacle where the Blessed Sacrament is kept. It is kept alight to indicate and honor the presence of Christ and his abiding love, and a reminder to the faithful to respond with loving adoration in return. Just like Mass intentions, you can do the same with the lamp for a whole week and it is $20.
When mailing a check to pay for a mass, please include the mass date in the memo line so that the office can mark you paid. Call to book yours at (203) 878-3571 during business hours. Thank you!