tvc.dsj.org | April 10, 2018
IN THE DIOCESE
3
Diocese of San Jose Celebrates Blessing of the Holy Oils During Chrism Mass
By Liz Sullivan
The Diocese of San Jose celebrated a
rite of Lent on March 20: the blessing of
the oils during the Chrism Mass at the
Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph. Dur-
ing the Mass Bishop Patrick J. McGrath
blessed and consecrated the oils to be
used by the diocese in the coming year.
These oils are: the Oil of Catechu-
mens, the Oil of the Sick, and Holy
Chrism, which will be used in the ad-
ministration of the sacraments through-
out the diocese’s 54 parishes.
“The Chrism Mass is our annual
celebration during which we bless and
consecrate the Oil of Catechumens, the
Oil of the Sick and Sacred Chrism. It
also recalls the Last Supper commission
of the Apostles as priests of the New
Covenant,” said the Bishop. “Tonight,
on the first day of Spring, we renew the
oils that will be borne to every city, town
and neighborhood of the Diocese, so
that the sacramental life of the Church –
especially celebrated in Baptism, Confir-
mation, Holy Orders and the Anointing
of the Sick – will continue to bind us to
the Lord.”
This tradition is noted in the early
Church as found in the Gelasian Sacra-
mentary (named after Pope Gelasius I,
d. 496) but was later absorbed into the
Holy Thursday evening Mass. Pope Pius
Vessels of the oils during Chrism Mass at
the Cathedral Basilica of Saint Joseph on
March 20. Father Andrzej Salapata, formerly of the So-
ciety of Christ, was accepted into permanent
ministry as a priest of the Diocese of San Jose. Representatives from the 54 parishes ac-
cepted blessed oil that will be used in the
administration of the sacraments.
XII issued a new order for Holy Week,
which reinstituted a special Ma ss of the
Chrism, distinct from the evening Mass.
Reflecting the population of the
Diocese, the Mass was celebrated in
three languages: English, Spanish and
Vietnamese.
In addition to the blessing of the oils,
the numerous priests who were in atten-
dance renewed the promises they took
at their ordination. The Diocese also
welcomed a new priest to its presbyter-
ate; Father Andrzej Salapata, formerly
of the Society of Christ, was accepted
into permanent ministry as a priest of
the Diocese of San Jose.
“Each of us is an agent of hope, rooted in the promise that God is al-
ways with us – that God makes us new.
This is the Good News that inspires
us in Christian life and service, the
Good News we proclaim with joy,”
the Bishop continued. “Pope Francis
elaborated on this theme in his homily
at last year’s Chrism Mass in Rome. I
would like to make some of what he
said my words, too, as I speak to our
priests. ‘Like Jesus, the priest makes the
message joyful with his entire person.
When he preaches – briefly, if possible
– he does so with the joy that touches
people’s hearts with that same word
with which the Lord has touched his
own heart in prayer... when we decide to pick up the phone and arrange to
see someone; when we patiently allow
others to take up our time.’ Those are
his words, not mine.”
Bishop McGrath also acknowledged
three priests celebrating their 25th
anniversary of priestly ordination:
Father Hao Dinh, Father Sergio Ovando
and Father Eduardo Obero, as well as
Father Enzie Lagatutta, Father Drago
Gveric, OFM, and Father Jose Galang,
each celebrating 40 years of priesthood.
In addition, Father Norman Segovia was
recognized for 50 years as a priest and
Father Michael Burns and Monsignor
Stephen Perata are celebrating their 60th
anniversary of ordination.
Photos courtesy of Jen Vazquez.
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