By Ana Rodriguez Soto - The Archdiocese of Miami
People enter through the Door of Mercy, the Holy Door for the Year of Mercy at St. Mary Cathedral.
Seminarians serving as acolytes lead the procession of more than 200 priests into St. Mary Cathedral.
Archdiocesan priests process into St. Mary Cathedral for the annual chrism Mass.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski stands at the door of St. Mary Cathedral greeting archdiocesan priests as they process in for the chrism Mass.
Knights of St. Gregory process into the sanctuary, from left: Patrick Fitzgerald and Thomas Equels.
More than 200 archdiocesan priests gathered at St. Mary Cathedral this year to celebrate the chrism Mass and renew their vows.
Concelebrating bishops listen to the readings during the chrism Mass. From left: Chorbishop Michael Thomas of Heart of Jesus Maronite Catholic Church in Fort Lauderdale; Bishop Luis del Castillo, emeritus of Melo, Uruguay; Bishop Fernando Isern, emeritus of Pueblo, Colorado; and Bishop Peter Baldacchino, auxiliary of Miami.
Deacon John Clarke processes with the Book of the Gospels.
Knights of Columbus fill the back row of St. Mary Cathedral during the chrism Mass.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski delivers the chrism Mass homily. He exhorted his fellow priests to "be patient, gentle confessors" and missionaries of mercy, "joyful and authentic witnesses to Christ."
Father Kenneth Whittaker, serving as master of ceremonies, reviews the program for the chrism Mass.
Deacon Raul Flores, left, accompanied by master of ceremonies Lazaro Enriquez, brings up the balsam, an aromatic resin that is used to perfume the oil of chrism. Chrism is used at baptisms, confirmations and the consecration of priests, bishops and churches.
Deacon Jim Dugard and Suzie Pierre, of St. Mary Cathedral School, presents the oil of the sick to the archbishop. This oil is used in the anointing of the sick. Raul Panellas of the Office of Worship holds the microphone.
Deacon Adrian Zapatero, accompanied by Ofelia Vazquez of St. Mary Cathedral's staff, presents the oil of catechumens to the archbishop. This oil is used in baptisms, the consecration of churches and the blessing of altars. Raul Panellas of the Office of Worship holds the microphone.
Deacon John Clarke, accompanied by deacon candidate Mesmin Augustin, presents the oil of chrism to the archbishop. Chrism is used in baptisms, confirmations and the consecration of priests, bishops and churches. Raul Panellas of the Office of Worship holds the microphone.
Carmelite Sister Immaculata Hanisch, chair of the Theology Department at Archbishop Coleman Carroll High School in Miami, and Jeffrey Caballero, theology teacher at St. Brendan High School in Miami, take up the offertory gifts of bread and wine.
The holy oils - of catechumens, chrism, and anointing of the sick - rest atop a table on the cathedral sanctuary.
As seen from the choir loft: Archbishop Thomas Wenski and archdiocesan priests celebrate the chrism Mass. (COURTESY | Sister Elizabeth Worley)
Deacon John Clarke holds the oil of the sick as Archbishop Thomas Wenski blesses it at the end of the Eucharistic Prayer.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski pours balsam into the oil of chrism before consecrating it.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski pours balsam into the oil of chrism before consecrating it.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski blows into the oil of chrism to consecrate it.
Priests marking anniversaries of ordination this year pose with the bishops who concelebrated the chrism Mass; from left: Chorbishop Michael Thomas of the Maronite Heart of Jesus Parish in Fort Lauderdale; Bishop Emeritus Fernando Isern of Pueblo, Colorado; Father Jose D. Lopez; Knight of St. Gregory Patrick Fitzgerald; Father John McLaughlin; Msgr. Seamus Doyle; Jesuit Bishop Luis del Castillo, emeritus of Melo, Uruguay; Msgr. Vincent Kelly; Archbishop Thomas Wenski; Dominican Father Jorge Presmanes; Father Arturo Kannee; Father Dominick O'Dwyer; Father Patrick Naughton; Miami Auxiliary Bishop Peter Baldacchino; Msgr. Michael Carruthers; and Father Damian Flanagan.
Archbishop Thomas Wenski greets local Catholics and Catholic school students outside St. Mary Cathedral at the conclusion of the chrism Mass.
Photography: ANA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO | FC
MIAMI | Archbishop Thomas Wenski celebrated the annual chrism Mass at the start of Holy Week, during which he blessed the holy oils of chrism, catechumens and the sick.
During the Mass, more than 200 archdiocesan priests also renewed their promises, and 14 who are marking anniversaries of ordination were honored. (Click here for their biographies and photos.)
Seminarians from St. John Vianney in Miami, St. Vincent de Paul in Boynton Beach, and Redemptoris Mater Archdiocesan Missionary Seminary in Hialeah also attended, as did students from 12 archdiocesan schools: Archbishop Curley Notre Dame Prep, Miami; Archbishop Coleman Carroll High School, Miami; Archbishop Edward McCarthy High, Southwest Ranches; Blessed Trinity School, Miami Springs; Cardinal Gibbons High School, Fort Lauderdale; Christopher Columbus High School, Miami; Immaculata-La Salle High School, Miami; Msgr. Edward Pace High School, Miami Gardens; St. Agnes Academy, Key Biscayne; St. Brendan High School, Miami; and St. Thomas Aquinas High School, Fort Lauderdale.
The chrism Mass is celebrated during Holy Week by every diocesan bishop, accompanied by all his priests. The Mass takes its name from the oil of chrism, one of the three oils that are blessed and consecrated by the diocesan bishop for use in local parishes throughout the year.
The oil of chrism is perfumed with balsam - an aromatic resin - and used in baptisms, confirmations and the consecration of priests, bishops and churches.
The oil of catechumens is used in baptisms, the consecration of churches and the blessing of altars; and the oil of the sick is used in the anointing of the sick.
After the bishop blesses the oils, they are poured into smaller containers and distributed to each pastor, who takes them to his church for use throughout the coming year.
