“We come together… united as brothers and sisters, united as a local church, united in saying, we know Jesus, we love Jesus, we serve Jesus, and together we follow him,” said Archbishop Ronald A. Hicks during his homily at the Chrism Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.
Celebrated during Holy Week, the Chrism Mass draws priests from across the archdiocese into a visible sign of unity with their bishop. This year’s liturgy also included Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop emeritus, along with auxiliary bishops, clergy, and faithful from across the archdiocese.
In his homily, Archbishop Hicks described the Chrism Mass as his favorite liturgy of Holy Week, pointing to the unique way it brings the entire Church together.
“Truly, the entire Archdiocese of New York is represented here and now,” he said, noting the presence of lay faithful, religious sisters and brothers, deacons, priests, bishops, and a cardinal gathered in one place.
At the heart of the Mass is the renewal of priestly promises. Priests stood before their bishop and reaffirmed the commitments made at their ordination. Hicks took a moment to address them directly.
“Thank you for your priesthood and thank you for the countless ways that you serve God and that you serve and love the people of God and the Church,” he said.
He also invited the faithful to support their priests through prayer.
“Please pray for your priests… it’s one of the greatest gifts that you can give,” he said.
Oils blessed for a church sent into the world
Another defining moment of the liturgy is the blessing and consecration of the holy oils: the oil of the sick, the oil of catechumens, and the sacred chrism. These oils will be used throughout the year in baptisms, confirmations, ordinations, and the anointing of the sick.
“These are moments when Christ is truly present and at work among his people,” Hicks said.
He emphasized that the significance of the Chrism Mass does not remain within the cathedral walls but extends into the life of the Church.
“These oils do not remain here. They go out… to our parishes, to our hospitals, to our homes and to our hearts. And my friends, so do we,” he said.
Placing the moment in the context of the world today, Hicks pointed to the deeper need for the grace offered through the sacraments.
“We live in a world that needs God more than ever… This is not a world that needs us simply to be inspired. This is a world that needs us to be anointed,” he said.
The Chrism Mass, he said, is not simply something the faithful attend, but something they are called to become.
“Let us gather not simply to be inspired… but to be anointed, united in Christ and ready to go out and to live in the world on mission,” he said.