By Ivy Chai
KUCHING — The Archdiocese of Kuching advanced the date of its annual Chrism Mass to 17 March this year, to coincide with the Priests’ recollection and the launch of the 50th Anniversary of the Catholic Church in East Malaysia on 18 March.
The Mass of the Chrism, which the Bishop of every diocese traditionally concelebrates with his priests throughout the diocese was at St Joseph’s Cathedral, Kuching.
During his homily, Archbishop Simon Poh called on “all Catholics to pray for me and priests that we be good pastors and faithful servants of the Lord to serve all of you.” He said, “the priests have been given the sacred duties to administer the sacraments, to baptise, to confirm, to give Holy Communion, to absolve sin, to bless marriages, to anoint the sick, and also to bury the dead.”
Commitment to Priestly Service and blessing of Oils
The renewal of Priestly Promises followed Archbishop Simon Poh’s homily. The blessing of the Holy Oils was conducted in sequence, with the Oil of the Sick blessed at the conclusion of the Eucharistic Prayer, prior to the Doxology. The blessing of the Oil of Catechumens and the consecration of the Chrism Oil took place after the post-Communion prayer. All the concelebrating priests were invited to extend their right hand towards the Chrism during the consecration prayer.
Archbishop Simon shared the reasons for the blessing of the Holy Oils during different parts of the Mass. Blessing the Oil of the Sick at the end of the Eucharistic Prayer “is an invitation for all who are sick and suffering that we come to share in Christ’s suffering. He is with us in our pain and in our suffering.” The Oil of the Sick offers spiritual, mental and sometimes physical healing.
The blessing of the Oil of Catechumens and consecration of the Chrism takes place after the Communion prayer because parishioners are then sent forth on a mission. The oil for catechumens strengthens us while the Chrism equips us with the gift of the Holy Spirit for the Lord’s work.
Praise for Priests
Archbishop Simon expressed his hope that the oils brought back by the parish rectors will reach all the villages, remote kampongs … to the very edge of the borders of the Kuching Archdiocese. “We are a people set apart by God, consecrated people. We are sent forth.”
He thanked his brother priests, especially for their commitment to the “sick call”, for being available to anoint the sick, and pledged continuity to ensure that no one dies before receiving the sacrament.
A set of Blessed Oils was presented to the 12 Parish rectors and rector of St Peter’s Seminary at the end of the Chrism Mass, entrusting them to administer the Sacraments to Catholics throughout the Archdiocese of Kuching.
