MASS CARDS
Mass Cards for the deceased as well as for special intentions are available at the Rectory during office hours:
Monday ~ Friday
9:00 AM ~ 3:00 PM.
For those unable to celebrate with us in church the Mass is televised every Sunday, by the Passionist Community: WNYW at 5:30 AM; WLNY at 9 AM.; WPXN at 9:30 AM. Check your newspaper or television listing for the channel number. Closed captioning is also available for each Mass. Mass may also be accessed on the Passionist website through streaming video @ www.thesundaymass.org
What is a Mass Card and How Are Mass Cards Used?
A Mass card, also known as a Mass offering card, memorial card or a remembrance card, is a greeting card given to someone to let them know that they, or a deceased loved-one, will be remembered and prayed for in the intentions at a Mass. The card-giver can obtain a Mass offering card from the parish office. If the card-giver goes directly to the parish office, they may obtain a card there, give his or her offering (a donation), and the Mass will be offered for his or her intention. He or she will then give the card to the recipient, which lets the recipient know that he or she or a deceased family member, or some other intention, will be prayed for at the Mass.
Why Offer a Mass for a Person or Intention?
"The grace of mutual love among the living, strengthened and increased by the sacrament of the Eucharist, flows, especially by virtue of the Sacrifice [of the Mass], to all who belong to the communion of saints. For the communion of saints is simply the mutual sharing of help, atonement, prayers and benefits among the faithful, those already in the heavenly fatherland, those consigned to the purifying fire, and those still making their pilgrim way here on earth. These all form one city, whose head is Christ, and whose vital principle is love. Faith teaches that although the august Sacrifice can be offered to God alone, it can nevertheless be celebrated in honor of the saints now reigning in Heaven with God, who has crowned them, to obtain their intercession for us, and also, according to apostolic tradition, to wash away the stains of those brethren who died in the Lord but without yet being wholly purified." - From the 1902 encyclical Mirae caritatis of Pope Leo XIII
Occasions for Offering Mass and Giving Mass Cards
The most common occasion for offering a Mass is for the repose of a departed soul. This tradition began quite early in the Church, as there are epitaphs on tombs as early as the 2nd century, which beg for prayers for the deceased person; and the Canons of Hippolytus, from the first half of the 3rd century, mention the offering of prayers for the dead at Mass. The saints and early church fathers spoke of remembering the dead at the Mass, and encouraged the faithful to pray for those who had died. Mother’s Day and Christmas are also popular occasions for offering Mass, and any time when you have a special intention to offer.
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This Sacrament may be celebrated with any person who is seriously ill. A communal celebrationof this Sacrament is held in the fall. You may request the Sacrament at anytime by calling the Rectory.
Our Lady of Mercy Clergy are strongly committed to the spiritual care of the sick. We will be happy to bring Communion on a regular basis to those who are sick or homebound - Sunday Mornings following the 9:30 AM Mass and on the First Friday of the month. Please call the Rectory if you would like to receive the Eucharist at home.
If a parishioner is in the hospital, or nursing home we would like to visit them. Hospitals are required to observe confidentiality and privacy laws and no longer inform their parishes. Therefore, we must depend on the families to inform us of their whereabouts condition and whether you would like one of our clegry to visit. Please call the Rectory.
1. Child’s Birth Certificate from the State.
2. Parent(s) and Sponsors who do not reside within Our lady of Mercy Parish parish must obtain a letter of permission from the parish they attend to baptize their child or serve as sponsors as Holy Name Church.
3. Sponsors: Only one male or one female sponsor or one of each sex is to be chosen (Canon Law Chapter IV 873).
4. To be admitted to the role sponsor, a person must; be a Catholic who has been confirmed and has already received sacrament of the Most Holy Eucharist and lead a life in harmony with the faith or in short, practicing Catholic (Canon Law Chapter IV 874,3).
5. Married sponsors should have received the sacrament of marriage through the Catholic Church.
6. Parents and Sponsors are required to attend baptismal instruction, The day and time will be arragement with the secretary OLM.
7. Baptism is on the 1st; 2nd 3rd or 4th Sunday of each month after the 11:00 am Mass. We invite you to join us for the Mass.
8. Religious articles (white robe, candle, and medal) may be worn and blessed at time of baptism and are to be provided by the parents.
9. The documentation fee is as follows:
A DONATION TO OUR LADY OF MERCY CHURCH IS MUCH APPRECIATED.
Please write a check payable to Our Lady of Mercy Parish Catholic Church. Thank you.
10. You will receive the Baptismal Certificate right after the baptismal celebration.