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Sacred oils blessed, priests honored, at Mass of Chrism |
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On a picture perfect spring day April 6, representatives from parishes across the diocese met at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe for the Mass of Chrism and the blessing of the holy oils. After a banquet following the Mass, the representatives gathered their oils to take back to their parish. The oils will be used throughout the liturgical year. The holy oils are closely tied with sacred rituals of the Catholic Church. The Oil of the Sick is used to anoint those who are ill; the Oil of Catechumens is for the anointing of those being baptized; 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 40th anniversary of the priesthood of Father Carlos Garcia-Peña, S.J., as well as the ministry of all priests and Religious. During the Mass, Bishop Ronald Gilmore invited all the priests gathered to renew the commitment they professed at their ordination. "Are you resolved to imitate Jesus Christ, the head and shepherd of the Church, by teaching the Christian faith without thinking of your own profit, solely for the well being of the people you were sent to serve?" Bishop Gilmore asked. "I am," the priests responded. Bishop Gilmore also asked the rest of those gathered — and all laity — to support the priests through prayer. Bishop Gilmore’s homily, which was presented in English and Spanish, honored the priests and deacons gathered. The Sacrament of Holy Orders, he said, "is the Sacrament of the Impossible. It is the Sacrament of the Apostles. It is the Sacrament of the Other. "How is it the Sacrament of the Impossible? This is the ministry in which Christ’s bishops, priests, and deacons do and give by God’s grace what they cannot do and give by their own powers. They are ministers of grace, authorized and empowered by Christ. "How is it the Sacrament of the Apostles? It is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted to the Apostles continues to be exercised until the end of time." "This is done," he continued, "when bishops take priests to themselves as co-workers. He considers them his sons, his brothers, and his friends. They do what they do only in dependence of him and in communion with him. They are a Senate of God, St. Ignatius of Antioch called them, an Assembly of the Apostles." It is the "Sacrament of the Other," Bishop Gilmore said, because their service is "wholly directed to the salvation of others. ...It is in the strict sense a service: entirely related to Christ, entirely related to the People of God." The priests and deacons gathered at the cathedral that day, "have tried to draw near to the Lord themselves, so that the Lord can draw near to you. I could not be more blessed than with these men. You could not be more blessed than with these men. Love them for what they have tried to do. Cherish them for what they have tried to do. And, on this day, join me in thanking God for them. Following Mass, a banquet was served in the Fellowship Hall, during which Father Garcia-Peña was honored.
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Misa Crismal El 6 de Abril, 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 Pa dre Carlos García-Peña, así como el ministerio de todos los sacerdotes y religiosos. La homilía del Obispo Gilmore, en inglés y en español, rendía homenaje a todos los sacerdotes y diáconos allí reunidos. "Nadie, ningún individuo ni ninguna comunidad, puede anunciarse a sí mismo el Evangelio. Nadie se puede dar a sí mismo el mandato ni la misión de annunciar el Evangelio. Nadie puede conferírse a sí mismo la gracia. "El Orden es el sacramento gracias al cual la misión confiada por Cristo a sus apóstoles sigue siendo ejercida en la Iglesia hasta el fin de los tiempos: es pues el sacramento de ministerio apostólico. "En cada una de las comunidades locales de fieles hacen presente de alguna manera a su Obispo, al que están unidos con confianza y magnanimidad; participan en sus funciones y preocupaciones y las llevan a la práctica cada dia. "El Orden están ordenados a la salvación de los demás. Contribuyen ciertamente a la propia salvación, pero esto lo hacen mediante el servicio que prestan a los demas." Después de la Misa, se sirvió un lonche en el Fellowship Hall, durante el cual fue festejado el Padre García-Peña.
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