I launched nearestmass.com because traveling with a family and trying to find a Mass time that doesn't involve a high-speed chase through unfamiliar city traffic is a struggle I know far too well. It's a bit ironic that in our modern world, we can find a late-night taco in thirty seconds with a single tap, yet finding the "source and summit of the Christian life" (Lumen Gentium, 11) sometimes feels like solving a riddle from a medieval monk. I wanted to take the guesswork out of the equation so we can all spend less time squinting at GPS maps and more time actually sitting in the pews. After all, the goal is to get to the Altar, not just to the parking lot on two wheels and a prayer.
Just so you know who's behind the curtain, this site is a one-man operation run by a developer who probably drinks way too much coffee while debugging at midnight. I've included a prayer guide with the devotions that help me stay sane, but I would truly love to hear from you if you have ideas to make the site better or even just a quick word of encouragement to keep me going. As St. Francis de Sales famously noted, "a spoonful of honey attracts more flies than a barrel of vinegar" (Introduction to the Devout Life, 3:8), and your feedback is the honey that keeps this project buzzing along. If you've got a suggestion that could help a fellow traveler find their way, please don't be a stranger—my inbox is always open for a friendly chat.
Now for the slightly awkward part: while the grace of God is famously free, the servers that host this website definitely are not. If this tool has helped you find a service and you're in a position to help cover some of those digital light bills, a small donation would be a massive blessing, though I only ask if it doesn't mean you're skipping the collection basket at your own parish. St. Paul once wrote that "each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver" (2 Corinthians 9:7). If your wallet is currently as light as a Lenten fast, I'll happily take a prayer for the site's uptime instead; spiritual capital often has a much better return on investment anyway.
At the end of the day, all the clever code and sleek maps are just pointers toward the only thing that really matters: a deep, living faith in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. I truly hope this site helps you stay close to Him and lean into the Sacraments, which are the essential lifelines He gave us to stay in His grace. As St. Augustine beautifully put it, "our heart is restless until it rests in you" (Confessions, 1:1), and the Sacraments are the resting places He left for us on this side of Heaven. Don't just use this site to find a building; use it to find the Master who is waiting for you inside. After all, what's the point of finding the right address if you never actually walk through the door?
Thank You
—Albert