LOCAL NEWS

Reuniting the faithful

Rebecca Bostic/CATHOLIC SUN

Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted is joined by local clergy during the chrism Mass March 17 at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral.

Sacred chrism oils blessed
at Holy Week celebration

By Rebecca Bostic, The Catholic Sun
April 3, 2008

Holy Week is a hectic time for most priests, but nearly all the Phoenix Diocese’s clergy gathered March 17 — the Monday before Easter — for the annual chrism Mass at Ss. Simon and Jude Cathedral.

Joined by Catholics from throughout the diocese, Bishop Thomas J. Olmsted led the celebration in which he blessed three sacred oils for use throughout the liturgical year and renewed the priestly vows of his brother priests.

“The chrism Mass is an opportunity for the priests to join in consecrating the sacred chrism we use at all our parishes throughout the coming year,” the bishop said in his homily.

The chrism Mass not only provides priests throughout the diocese the opportunity to renew their vows as a group, but also provides a public witness of the consecration of the holy chrism oil, which is used during baptisms, confirmation and holy orders.

The chrism is also used in the consecration of churches, chalices, patens, altars and altar-stones.

The priests assisted the bishop in consecrating the holy chrism. To consecrate the chrism, the bishop poured balsam, an aromatic resin, into olive oil and then breathed on it. It will be used for administration of sacraments for the remainder of the liturgical year.

The bishop also blessed the oil for the anointing of the sick and the oil for the anointing of the catechumens entering the Church on Easter during the Mass. The oil for the sick and for the catechumens is blessed, not consecrated.

Brother priests gather

Bishop Olmsted addressed God’s anointing of Jesus as priest, prophet and king during his homily. He also thanked his brother priests for their heartfelt service to the diocese.

“As our priests renew their promises, I want them to know how grateful I am for their support of me, for their love of our people and for their generosity to serve,” the bishop said, “especially when they serve when others do not notice, but only God the Father sees in secret.”

“Not only has Christ called you to be priests, but He has called you to serve here in our diocese,” the bishop added. “God calls us to serve in the times that He knows best. These are the days He has called us to serve and we, my brothers, are his choice. Thank you for accepting that mission.”

Fr. David Kelash lives out his priestly mission at Immaculate Conception Parish in Cottonwood. Even though his parish is quite a distance from the cathedral, Fr. Kelash saw a couple of his parishioners at the chrism Mass nonetheless.

“It’s nice to come together as priests to be with the brothers and also to experience the Mass with our bishop,” Fr. Kelash said. He walks away from the chrism Mass every year with a feeling “of joy because we’re called to share in the ministry of Christ.”

Although he had a busy week ahead, Fr. Kelash enjoys participating in the chrism Mass at the outset of Holy Week because “it lifts us up,” he said.

“The words of encouragement from the Gospel and Bishop Olmsted telling us that he loves us and that he appreciates us gives us good encouragement,” he said.

Bishop Olmsted addressed words of encouragement directly to the priests, but Susan Patterson, a St. Thomas the Apostle parishioner, felt those words applied to her as well.

“What he says to his priests, I really feel like he says to all of us after that,” Patterson said. “Calling me to have that courage in my faith and in my daily walk.”

Patterson has attended the chrism Mass several times and is continually inspired by the “beautiful” liturgy.

“It’s just so touching to see all the religious come, and the community too, and a chance to see our bishop and hear him speak,” Patterson said. “Just seeing all the priests together, all the brothers together — it’s like seeing a family together. Seeing them together in one church is just really beautiful.”

At the outset of Holy Week, the chrism Mass drew the congregation’s attention to the presence of Jesus in the many aspects of the sacramental Church.

“He comes to us in holy oils, He comes to us in holy chrism, He comes to us in the hands and voices of the priests,” Bishop Olmsted said of the presence of Christ, “through the sacraments of the Church and in the many anointings of the Holy Spirit.”