Priests also use Mass offerings to help the poor in their communities
UNDERSTANDING
MASS OFFERINGS “The Mass is the most perfect form of prayer,” Pope Paul VI
In this way the Christian faithful expressed their desire to participate more intensely and meaningfully in the Eucharistic sacrifice, by adding to it a form of sacrifice of their own by which they contribute in a particular way to the needs of the Church and especially to the sustenance of its Ministers and works of mercy. Formerly, this contribution consisted predominantly of gifts in kind. In our day, it has become almost exclusively monetary. However, the motive and purpose of the faithful’s donation have remained the same. The practice and administration of the offerings for the celebration of Holy Mass are very accurately sanctioned by the new Code of Canon Law. (CIC 945-958). Mass stipends given through ACN help
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THEY HAVE ABANDONED EVERYTHING FOR THE CALL…
Priests saying Mass in one of the underground shelters during the war in Ukraine
The custom of giving an offering for the celebration of Holy Mass has been a constant ecclesiastical practice, which goes back to the early Church, when the faithful brought bread and wine for the celebration of the Holy Mass, and other gifts for the support of Priests and the poor.
Aid to the Church in Need
MASS OFFERINGS
acnmalta.org/mass-stipends
The most beautiful gift you can give is the gift of a Mass offering
poor Priests in need around the world with basic subsistence, including housing, food, clothing, heating, medication, hygiene, and transportation. In some dioceses, Priests use Mass offerings to pay their health and social security insurance as they focus on pastoral care in challenging circumstances. Very often, Priests use their Mass stipends to assist poor and needy people in their parishes and to finance their pastoral activities. Mass offerings are also used to support the formation of prospective Priests in the Congregations and diocesan seminaries, or for further studies of the Priest, particularly for their books. Mass offerings can help Priests, too, with spiritual retreats and pilgrimages. These are necessary to sustain them both spiritually, physically and psychologically in their constant ardous mission. For countless Priests around the world, Mass Offerings are the only source of income they have. Thousands of Priests from all over the world ask for Mass stipends each year from ACN through their Bishops or Superiors. Most of these Priests serve in countries where Christians are discriminated, oppressed, or even persecuted. In many places, the faithful
are so poor that they cannot provide even a basic living for their Priest. For all of these Priests, Mass stipends are most often the only source of income and also represent an important resource for their evangelisation efforts. Therefore, Mass stipends join together the two great works of mercy: prayer and almsgiving. These Priests, many of whom live in dangerous conditions each day – for being living testimony of the Christian faith - deeply appreciate the generosity of donors. They consider it a profound honor to be celebrating Masses for the intentions of donors. Along with those for healing, for the deceased and for special intentions, the Priests we support celebrate Triduum, Novena and Gregorian Masses. Triduum Masses are three Masses celebrated on three consecutive days; Novenas are nine Masses said on nine consecutive days; and Gregorian Masses are celebrated on 30 consecutive days for one deceased person. These Masses of three, nine and 30 days do not have to be celebrated by a single individual Priest; instead a number of Priests may share in them.
Aid to the Church in Need (Malta), 35, Mdina Road, Attard, ATD 9038 Aid to the Church in Need is a Pontifical Foundation of the Catholic Church and registered in Malta Reg. No. LPF-212, as a Foundation regulated by the second schedule of the Civil Code Chapter (16) of the Laws of Malta. VO/2227
PLEASE DO NOT ABANDON THEM Missionary Priest Fr Kenneth Iwunna at a village chapel in Kububa, Ethiopia
“Thanks for your support... do not abandon us...please.” These words of appreciation and appeal from an Italian Salesian missionary serving the Diocese of Gizo on the Western Solomon Islands represents the voice of thousands of missionary Priests who have left the comfort and safety of their home countries and embraced a life of sacrifice, dangers – sometimes deadly ones - and dedicated service for the sake of the Gospel. These missionaries have left everything to obey the Lord’s command to tend
the flock and keep watch over the faithful entrusted to their care. In many instances, the faithful are poor communities, struggling under the weight of discrimination, persecution and suffering, with no one else to turn to, but the Christian Missionaries as their only and last source of hope. This is where Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) comes in. ACN supports these missionary Priests with Mass offerings to provide them with basic subsistence, including housing, food, clothing, heating, medication, hygiene and transportation, and also empower them to attend to the needs of the faithful under their pastoral care. Fr. Damiano, a missionary Priest of
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the Holy Spirit Fathers works in Malawi where the economic situation has become more acute due to COVID-19. He explains how Mass stipends are of great help at a time like this. He says “Our parishioners have lost most of their livelihoods and earnings, and they are not able to offer us any support. This is why your help in the form of Mass stipends is so timely and immensely appreciated. This help will not only benefit us but it will impact on the thousands of persons that we serve in our parishes and communities.” In the Solomon Islands, Bishop Luciano Capelli faces the tremendous challenge of ministering to around 11,000 Catholics, scattered over a vast area and on many