A near-capacity crowd filled the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist on March 27 for the annual chrism Mass while hundreds more watched the event streamed live on the diocesan website and Facebook page.
The chrism Mass is the most important liturgy for a diocese, according to Father Michael Woost, director of liturgy and dean of students at Saint Mary Seminary. He served as master of ceremonies at the chrism Mass.
The congregation included approximately 300 clergy members, religious sisters and brothers, members of the cathedral Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults and others. An interpreter also used American Sign Language to interpret the liturgy for the deaf community. Bishop emeritus Anthony Pilla also attended.
The entrance procession, with about 200 priests and more than 100 deacons, Bishop Nelson Perez, Bishop emeritus Martin Amos of Davenport, and Auxiliary Bishop emeritus Roger Gries lasted almost 15 minutes. There were nearly two dozen concelebrants representing religious order priests and presbyteral conveners.
?Was that an entrance procession or what?? quipped Bishop Perez, the celebrant. He asked the congregation to remember Bishop emeritus Richard Lennon in their prayers. Bishop Lennon celebrated his birthday the previous day.
The bishop explained that the oil for holy chrism, the oil of the sick and the oil of catechumens would be consecrated during the liturgy. Priests also would renew their priestly promises during the Mass, he said.
?I wish you could see what I see tonight,? Bishop Perez said, as he scanned the congregation. I see the Church of Cleveland. I see hundreds of priests who gave their lives to serve you, the Church of Cleveland; a couple hundred deacons whose wives share them with the Church; men and women religious who stand as prophetic witnesses to Jesus Christ. I see young men who listened to the call of God deep in their hearts, who felt the call to serve the Church of Cleveland as priests,? he said, asking the seminarians to stand. ?I?ll now introduce them one by one,? he said as the congregation laughed.
?I?m touched by the presence of young people here tonight and the rest of you who work so hard to build the kingdom of God,? he added.
Bishop Perez said the sacred oils being consecrated at the Mass ?are signs and symbols of the transformative grace of God. I can?t imagine what they will do at the hands of our priests and deacons.? He said the holy oils will protect people from evil through baptism, the sacred chrism will anoint the hands of priests at their ordination and it will be used to confirm thousands throughout the diocese this year.
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?How many hundreds will be consoled in moments of great suffering and pain when they receive this healing balm,? the bishop said, referring to the oil of the sick. ?It reminds us of the work of God?s grace.?
He also reminded the congregation of one of his favorite sayings, ?Do not underestimate the power of God?s spirit working in you, through you and despite you
