Around the Parish – March 22, 2026

Apostolic

Each Sunday at Mass we proclaim in the Nicene Creed that we believe in “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.” Over the past few weeks we have reflected on these marks of the Church. Today we consider the final one: apostolic.

To say that the Church is apostolic means that she is founded upon the Apostles, the men chosen and sent by Jesus Christ to preach the Gospel to the world. The word itself comes from the Greek apostolos, meaning “one who is sent.”

After His resurrection, Jesus entrusted His mission to the Apostles. He commanded them to preach, to baptize, to forgive sins, and to celebrate the Eucharist. They were not only witnesses to Christ’s life, death, and resurrection, but also the foundation upon which the Church would be built.

This apostolic foundation continues in the Church today through what we call apostolic succession. The authority and mission entrusted to the Apostles did not end with their deaths. Instead, the Apostles passed on their leadership by laying hands on those who would succeed them. Those successors are the bishops of the Church.

Because of this, the Church today remains directly connected to the Apostles. Our bishops stand in that same line of succession, and through them the Church continues to teach, sanctify, and shepherd God’s people.

This also reminds us that the faith we profess is not something invented in modern times. The teachings of the Church are the same faith that was handed down by the Apostles themselves. When we listen to the Church’s teaching, we are hearing the faith that traces its roots all the way back to those first disciples who walked with Jesus.

But the Church is not only built on the Apostles, she is also sent like the Apostles. Every Christian shares in this apostolic mission. Through our baptism, we too are sent into the world to witness to Christ through our words, our actions, and our lives.

So when we profess that the Church is apostolic, we are declaring two things: that the Church remains firmly rooted in the teaching and authority of the Apostles, and that we ourselves are sent to continue their mission.

The Church is apostolic because she remains faithful to what the Apostles handed on, and because Christ still sends His people into the world today.

Thoughts for your week ahead

Give your spouse and loved ones the best of you, not simply what is left of you. God will always be a faithful Father. Our call is to be faithful sons and daughters. Faith does not mean having all the answers, but trusting that God is with us, that He will have the final word, and that good will ultimately triumph over evil. When we live with that trust, peace begins to fill our hearts.

Pax et Bonum,
Fr. Andy

The Power and Tradition of Mass Intentions

The Mass is considered the greatest prayer of intercession in the Church. This is because it is the perfect offering of Christ to the Father, making present the Paschal Mystery of His death and resurrection. Traditionally, a Priest may be requested to offer a Mass for a specific intention, even if the requester cannot be physically present.

Offering Masses for the Deceased:

Having a Mass offered for a deceased person is an ancient and commendable practice. A Mass is offered to pray for the departed, that they may find peace in heaven. Since each Mass holds infinite value, requesting one or several Masses is of tremendous benefit to the person prayed for, as well as their family, who can take comfort in knowing that their intention is united with the prayers of the Church.

The Mass: Center of Christian Life:

Every Mass is a precious gift from God. It is the center of the Church’s life, known as “the source and summit of the Christian life,” because in the celebration of the Mass, we are brought back to Jesus’ Last Supper, the first Mass. We consciously recall the love of God poured out for us through the life, death, and resurrection of His only Son, Jesus Christ. At each Mass, all the intentions of God’s people, both living and deceased, are included. As Pope Paul VI noted in his motu proprio “Firma in Traditione,” the faithful, moved by an ecclesial and religious sense, join their own sacrifices to the Eucharistic sacrifice, participating more intensely and supporting the Church’s needs, especially its ministers.

Requesting a Mass Intention:

Anyone may request a Mass Intention for a living person, a deceased person, members of a family, or a special intention appropriate to the celebration of the Eucharist, such as World Peace, Vocations, or Respect for Life. The Church allows only one intention per Mass.

Offering a Mass Stipend:

The normal stipend offering for a Mass is $10. However, a Mass Offering can be more or less than the suggested amount, depending on the financial position of the person requesting the Mass. Envelopes for Mass intention requests are available at the entrances of the church. These envelopes can be placed in the collection basket or returned to the parish office. The requester may also ask for a card to be sent to notify someone that a Mass Intention has been requested (one card per intention). Please note that the name of the person(s) requesting the Mass is not announced.