The Diocese of Pagadian held a beautiful and solemn celebration of the Chrism Mass at the Santo Niño Cathedral in Pagadian City on a Holy Tuesday afternoon. Present during this annual liturgical celebration were the all the priests, deacons, the theologians from St. Mary’s Theologate, the Holy Infant seminarians, religious and lay representatives who gathered around his Most Rev. Ronald Lunas, STL, DD, the main presider of the Eucharistic celebration who blessed the Holy Oils for use in the coming year.
The Chrism Mass is a reminder of our unity in Christ through Baptism as symbolized by the sprinkling of the holy water by Bishop Lunas along with other priests at the faithful present whereby each one was reminded to renew one’s baptismal vows. The Bishop consecrated the sacred oils used in the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, and Holy Orders for the use of every parish in the diocese. In this way, the ministry of the bishop who consecrated them is symbolically present every time these Holy oils are used in the different parishes.
In his homily, Bishop Bong reminded the priests that they must not only be priests but prophets to the people. A prophet who has a vision and a dream, a prophet who is also an artist and a poet, reflecting God’s love to the people no matter the circumstance. This is a timely message as they renewed their vow of obedience to the bishop and their commitment to serve God’s people.
Our sincere congratulations to our priests as they begin anew in their presbyterial ministry of spreading the Good News to God’s people here in the Diocese of Pagadian! Padayon!
The following statement from the Second Vatican Council can help us understand the significance of the Chrism Mass for the Church:
The bishop is to be considered the high priest of his flock from whom the life of his people in Christ is in some way derived and on whom it in some way depends. Therefore, all should hold in the greatest esteem the liturgical life of the diocese centered around the bishop, especially in his cathedral church. They must be convinced that the principal manifestation of the Church consists in the full, active participation of all God’s holy people in the same liturgical celebrations, especially in the same Eucharist, in one prayer, at one altar, at which the bishop presides, surrounded by his college of priests and by his ministers. (Second Vatican Council. Constitution on the Sacred Liturgy (Sacrosanctum Concilium)
