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Happening ... in the Local Church
 (Photos
by Caroline B. Mooney) |
 Bishop
Higi pours the balsam fragrance into the Oil of Chrism, the most sacred
of the oils. |
 Carolyn
Shoaf, of the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception,
Lafayette, helps pour the Sacred Chrism into smaller bottles for
distribution to each parish. |
 Sharon
Butler of Sacred Heart, Fowler, receives the oils for her parish from
Bishop Higi. |
By Caroline B.
Mooney
The Catholic Moment
LAFAYETTE — Hundreds of Catholics from all across the diocese gathered for the annual Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception on March 18.
The sacred oils that will be used at sacramental rites all year were blessed by Bishop William L. Higi, and distributed to representatives from the parishes and institutions of the diocese. Clergy renewed their vows of priesthood.
“For me, it’s really a family gathering of the diocese before Easter,” said Rachel Miller, parishioner of St. Thomas Aquinas, West Lafayette. “We can’t all be together on Easter Sunday, so it’s great to have representatives from each church come together at the Mass.”
“The Mass left me speechless, it was stunning,” said Sarah Loveland, parishioner of Blessed Sacrament, West Lafayette. “The idea of being with the oils that will touch so many people throughout the year is amazing and really moving. I just joined the Church last year, and this will be a yearly event for me.”
Her mother, Cathy Loveland, was visiting from Bloomington.
“I thought it was just fantastic,” she said. “I’m not Catholic, but I thought it was really neat to be blessed by the bishop. It was very impressive.”
In his homily, Bishop Higi said that blessing the oils used in the celebration of baptism, confirmation and holy orders, in particular, is “a proclamation to the Catholics of Northcentral Indiana that we belong to God. We need to be reminded of that from time to time. We do not belong to the cultural icons spotlighted by the media. We are not captives of a culture that glorifies gratification. We need not be dominated by the pride, covetousness, envy, anger, gluttony, lust and sloth which are so much of our culture. Rather, we are anointed of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The Scriptures assure us that God holds us in the palm of his hands. He pleads with us, ‘Stay in my hands, and give me your hands.’
“… Through the anointing sacraments, in a less dramatic way than the Old Testament kings, prophets and priests perhaps, we encounter a God who invites and empowers us to ‘follow him,’ not just in words but in deeds. It is a lifelong endeavor. Sometimes we follow him hesitantly, looking back and wondering if the sacrifice is worth it. After all, our neighbors seem to prosper, find fulfillment and do quite well without religion or by picking and choosing the parts of religion they like while ignoring what they don’t agree with. Given this reality and the culture in which we find ourselves, it is not easy to truly follow Jesus Christ as he calls us to follow through his Church. But, when we turn to him, he takes us by the hand, draws us to himself, and says, ‘Do not fear! I am with you. I will not abandon you, remain steadfast!’”
Bishop Higi reminded those gathered that we are all called to holiness, defined by the Adult Catechism as “a state of goodness in which a person — with the help of God’s grace, the action of the Holy Spirit, and a life of prayer — is freed from sin and evil.”
“Our call to holiness requires that we do not sell ourselves short,” he said. “God is much more generous in his gifts than we can possibly imagine. He forgives us more easily than we forgive ourselves. He loves us more than we love ourselves. And, when he shares his cross with us, it is a sign of his respect for us.”
Bishop Higi was the principal celebrant. Concelebrating were the College of Deans: Father Robert Williams, Father Theodore Rothrock, Father Donald Gross, Father Daniel Gartland, Father Francis Kilcline and Father Robert Moran; Msgr. Robert Sell, V.G., Father Brian Dudzinski, Father David Hellmann, Father Paul Cochran, Father John Zahn, Father Tim Alkire, and other priests of the Local Church. Father Brian Doerr was master of ceremonies. Deacons of the liturgy were Dennis Faker and Stephen Miller.
After the homily, the clergy renewed their commitment to priestly service, and Bishop Higi called upon the assembly to support them.
Stewards then carried the sacred oils to the bishop for his blessing. The Oil of the Sick, the Oil of Catechumens used to anoint those who are preparing for baptism in the Church, and the Chrism and balsam were presented.
Bishop Higi mixed the Chrism and balsam fragrance to make the Sacred Chrism, which is used in the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and holy orders, and in the consecration of churches, chalices, patens and altars.
Marla Wainscott, parishioner of the Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, attended the Mass with her seven children.
“All the kids like it a lot,” she said. “They like seeing the bishop and all the priests. I thought it was very beautiful. We all look forward to this Mass every year.”
“It’s the first time I have ever been to it,” said Ann Wagner, of St. Boniface, Lafayette. “It was exciting to see the priests walking in and see the oil carried up and received by all the parishes.”
“This was my second time at the Chrism Mass,” said Ken Fessner, parishioner of St. Thomas Aquinas, West Lafayette. “It’s always a great experience. It’s nice to see the priests together with all the diversity in age. It’s a great way to appreciate what all of them do for us.”