Chrism Mass marks hopeful resurgence
During the Chrism Mass, Archbishop Prowse blesses the Oil of Chrism. This consecrated oil is used in sacraments like Confirmation and Holy Orders.
The oils were blessed, the Chrism Mass celebrated, and St Christopher’s Cathedral was packed to capacity Monday evening as the Archdiocese marked the start of the Church’s holiest week.
The “beautiful and ancient” liturgy of the Chrism Mass has its origins in the Church’s earliest years, yet this year, in the “Pilgrims of Hope” Jubilee Year, “something” was a little different.
This “something” was exciting, said Archbishop Christopher Prowse during his homily, “…and it’s happening in our midst”.
He explained that the “numbers are up.” According to all reports, people are returning to the church or coming for the first time, “…and their stories are incredible.”
He related the story of a couple in the Archdiocese’s Yass parish who were being received into the Church this Easter after seeing their neighbour go to Mass every Sunday yearly on the “good days and the bad”.
The neighbour had evangelised in the most Catholic way, the Archbishop said, “by wordless witness” and a “steadfast” devotion to prayer. (See Catholic Voice story: Faithful gather for Rite of Elect at St Christopher’s Cathedral)
He was also hearing of lapsed Catholics returning to the Church and while the numbers in some parishes had not recovered to their pre-COVID levels, others were seeing an upward trend.
The Archbishop had observed growth in the Cathedral parish, especially among young Australians from the so-called “generation Z” cohort, those born between 1997 and 2012.
Sr Lorraine presents the Oil of Catechumens.
He felt these positive signs were happening because of a “yearning in the human heart for the mystical, for the transcendent, for meaning and purpose in life” that they were finding in the Catholic Church.
Archbishop Christopher also noted all the major seminaries in Australia were reporting “big numbers”. The Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn alone had six seminarians, with three starting this year, he said.
“Our numbers have doubled, and already there are a few knocking at the door for next year”.
The Archbishop added that this was taking place alongside a new era of listening, discernment, and “synodal evangelisation” of clergy and laity, walking together in the Church.
The Chrism Mass features the blessing and consecration of oils used in parishes for Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders.
The ministry of priests is also celebrated, with clergy renewing their priestly promises during the liturgy. The Archbishop highlighted the “one true sign of the Holy Spirit” as how the faithful felt about their clergy.
“You love your priest”, he said. “You want to know about them and care for them. I really thank you for that”.
The Archbishop’s words resonated with those who had travelled from across the Archdiocese to fill the pews Monday evening.
“The fraternity of the priests was all about the love we have for the priests and they have for us”, Kathryn Doyle Hailey told the Catholic Voice.
Sue Hancock described the Chrism Mass as “a wonderful start to Holy Week and Easter and [for] sharing it with all the priests and the congregations.”
“I love it”, she said.