Dear Walter:

Let me try to explain. Mass Intentions do not constitute a "special" Mass. The practice of Mass Intentions goes all the way back to the second century, if I remember correctly. This is one of the oldest traditions in the Church. It is ordinary, not special, and it has never gone away, but has always been part of the Mass. If the priests in your parish did not offer this gift from the Church then he should have been reported to the Bishop.

I do not understand how any Catholic could not to be aware of Mass Intentions. If anyone does not know how to request a Mass Intention, call the parish office and ask the secretary or the pastor.

I also do not understand the point about social status influencing the practice of Mass Intentions. This makes no sense and is certianly not correct. Whether one is a bum on the street or the richest man in town Mass Intentions are available to all to request. If there are priests who are making this about social status he should be reported to the bishop.

"Are deceased people who do not have anyone to make these arrangements for them really any worse off?"

Those souls who have no one to pray for them do suffer a deficit initially. That is why the Church, in her great motherly compassion, always includes in the liturgy general prayers for those in purgatory and for those who are suffering. We cannot leave these people abandoned. Thus, they are prayed for with the same efficacy as those who are prayed for by name. They are not worse off.

But, this does not preclude praying for people by name. Jesus and the Apostles taught that we are to make intercessory prayer, that is, to pray for others generally (e.g. 1 Timothy 2:1) and to pray for them by name as St. Paul did for his dead friend (2 Timothy 1:16-18).

In addition to the compassionate motivation of praying for people who have no one to pray for them, we also offer general prayers because we cannot mention everyone by name. There would be billions of people on the list. So, obviously, we can only mention a few names at a time and commit the vast numbers of others to a general prayer. 

The Church gives us a gift of being able to have our loved ones mentioned by name in the Mass. This does not elevate them or depreciate those not mentioned by name. It is not an either/or, it is a both. We offer someone's name and at the same time we pray for everyone.

When I pray for my family (and that is what we all are in the Church) I mention various family members by name but I do not neglect the rest of the family and thus offer prayers for them generally. Those not mentioned by name are not "worse off", neglected, or depreciated. 

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary