For a listing of all those involved in the Mass, as well as the representatives from each parish, click here.

By David Myers

Southwest Kansas Register

It was at once a celebration of the blessing of the holy oils, a celebration of the ministry of priests, and a celebration of 80 years of combined service of Fathers John Maes and David Kraus.

On March 29, representatives from each parish in the diocese gathered at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe for the Mass of Chrism, after which they would take home to their parishes small containers of blessed oil to be used throughout the liturgical year.

The holy oils are closely tied with sacred rituals of the Church. The Oil of the Sick is used to anoint those who are ill; the Oil of Catechumens is for the anointing of those preparing for baptism; and the Sacred Chrism is used for the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, ordination, and the dedication of a church and altar.

The Mass also celebrated the ministry of priests, inviting all the priests gathered to renew the commitment they professed at their ordination.

"Are you resolved to unite yourselves more closely to Christ and to try to become more like him by joyfully sacrificing your own pleasure and ambition to bring his peace and love to your brothers and sisters?" Bishop Ronald Gilmore asked.

"I am," the priests responded.

Bishop Gilmore asked all those gathered to support the priests through prayer.

The Mass also celebrated the jubilees of two priests, Fathers Maes and Kraus, who each are celebrating 40 years of priestly service. See the article at left.

In his homily, Bishop Gilmore spoke of the fragrance of the holy oils, and how it should remind us all of Jesus’ presence.

"A little over a year ago," Bishop Gilmore told those gathered, "I made a trip to Topeka for a pro-life Mass. I arrived the night before, and stayed in a rectory with an older pastor who retired some months later. His niece had been there the night before, and had departed an hour or so before I arrived.

"As I was settling in the guestroom, I became aware of a fragrance in the air, delicate but powerful. Her perfume lingered after her. It was an indication of her physical presence. And it left me wondering about her: what she looked like, who she was, what she did, how she walked and how she laughed.

"I tell you this," he continued, "because we shall bless the sacred chrism today, from which this Mass takes its name. Balsam is mixed with this oil from the olive, and it gives it a distinctive scent. Like the lady’s perfume, it is a delicate fragrance, and yet also a powerful one.

"Like the lady’s perfume, it is an indication of a presence. When we use this chrism at Baptism, at Confirmation, at Ordination to the priesthood, it should leave us wondering about that presence. Just who it is? Just who uses this oil as a sign and a means of grace? Just who mingles with it, as it were, in order to give us himself and make us holy?

"It is the Spirit of God, of course. The Spirit who binds the persons of the Trinity together, the Spirit who binds the persons of the Church to Christ, and to one another. The Holy Spirit, he is the fragrance that lingers.

"And, remember now: the Spirit was sent to remind us of all that Jesus said and did. He is the continuation on earth of Jesus’ presence after his ascension into heaven. He is the Spirit of Jesus.

"And so this fragrance, this Spirit, leaves us wondering about Jesus. What did he look like? How did he walk? What did his voice sound like? How did his imagination work? What was in his mind? How do we get to the deepest thing in him?

"The fragrance, the Spirit, takes us to Jesus in a mysterious manner. It leaves us living with his words. It leaves us pondering his deeds.

"That’s a good place to be when we bless these oils, when we honor our two jubilarians, and when we remember our priests in the setting of the Eucharist. That’s a good place to be when we are on the threshold of Holy Week. That’s a good place to be. Allow the fragrance to linger. Allow yourselves to wonder."

Following Mass, a roast pork lunch was served in the Fellowship Hall. There, Bishop Gilmore took time to recognize Leon and Linda Sobba, who recently retired as directors of Engaged Encounter. A story highlighting the many years the couple devoted to Engaged Encounter will be included in an upcoming issue.

Misa de Crisma

El 29 de Marzo, representantes de las parroquias de la Diócesis se reunieron en la Catedral de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe para la Misa de Crisma y la bendición de los santos óleos.

Los santos óleos están íntimamente ligados con los rituales sagrados de la Iglesia Católica. El Aceite de los Enfermos se utiliza para la unción de los enfermos; el Aceite de Catecumenos se utiliza para los bautizos; y el Aceite de Crismo se utiliza para los sacramentos de Bautismo, Confirmación Orden Sacerdotal y para la dedicación de una iglesia o de un altar.

La Misa celebraba el 40 aniversario como sacerdote del Padres John Maes y David Kraus, así como el ministerio de todos los sacerdotes y religiosos.

La homilía de Obispo Gilmore:

"Hace poco más de un año, viajé a Topeka para una Misa pro-life. Llegué la noche anterior, y me hospedé en una rectoría, con un anciano párroco, que se jubiló meses más tarde. Su sobrina había estado ahí la noche anterior, y había partido como una hora antes de que yo llegara.

"Al estarme instalando en el cuarto de huéspedes, sentí la presencia de una fragancia en el aire, delicada, pero poderosa. Su perfume había permanecido todavía. Era una indicación de su presencia física. Y me hizo preguntarme acerca de ella: cuál era su aspecto, quién era ella, cómo caminaba, y cómo se reía.

"Les digo esto, porque hoy bedeciremos el Santo Crisma, del que esta Misa toma su nombre. Se mezcla bálsamo con aceite de oliva, y le da un aroma distintivo. Como el perfume de esa dama, es una fragancia delicada, y al mismo tiempo poderosa.

"Como el perfume de la dama, es indicativo de su presencia. Cuando usamos este Crisma en el Bautismo, en la Confirmación, o en la Ordenación al sacerdocio, nos debería dejar preguntán-donos acercea de esa presencia. Simplemente, ¿quién es? ¿Quién usa este óleo como signo y significado de la gracia?¿Quién es el que tiene que ver con él, por decirlo así, para dársenos a sí mismo, y hacernos santos?

"El Espíritu Santo, desde luego. El Espíritu Santo que une a las personas de la Trinidad, el Espíritu que une a las personas de la Iglesia con Cristo, y entre sí. El Espíritu Santo es la fragancia que permanece.

"Y, recuerden ahora, el Espíritu fue enviado para recordarnos todo lo que Jesús hizo y dijo. Él es la continuación, en la tierra, de la presencia de Jesús, después de su ascensión al cielo. Él es el Espíritu de Jesús.

"Y así, esta fragancia, este Espíritu, nos deja preguntándonos acerca de Jesús, ¿Qué aspecto tenía? ¿Cómo caminaba? ¿Cómo sonaba su voz? ¿Cómo trabajaba su imaginación? ¿Qué estaba en su mente? ¿Cómo podemos llegar a lo más profundo de El?

"Esta fragancia, el Espíritu, nos lleva a Jesús, en una forma misteriosa. Nos deja viviendo con sus palabras. Nos deja ponderando sus hechos.

"Es un buen sitio en el cual estar, en esta bedición de los óleos, cuando celebramos a nuestros dos jubilares, y cuando recordamos a nuestros sacerdotes, en este escenario de la Eucaristía. Es un buen sitio en el cual estar, cuando nos encontramos en el umbral de la Semana Santa. Dejen que la fragancia permanezca. Dense la oportunidad de asombrarse."

Después de la Misa, se sirvió un lonche en el Fellowship Hall.