Major Diocesan Liturgies

The bishop is the high priest of his flock and all should hold in great esteem the liturgical life of the diocese centered around the bishop, especially in his Cathedral church; the pre-eminent manifestation of the Church consists in the full active participation of all God's holy people in these liturgical celebrations, at which there presides the bishop surrounded by his college of priests and by his ministers. (Sacrosanctum concilium, 41)

Over the course of the calendar year, various major diocesan liturgies are held, usually at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist. They include:

• Mass for Life (on the anniversary of the United States Supreme Court decision Roe vs Wade)
• Mass Celebrating the Certification of Lay Ecclesial Ministers
• Rite of Election and Call to Continuing Conversion (celebrated on the First Sunday of Lent in two liturgies – registration through the Office for Worship required)
• Chrism Mass (for the blessing and consecration of the oils used in various of the Church’s sacraments, usually celebrated on the Tuesday of Holy Week)
• Religious Jubilee Mass
• Ordination of Deacons
• Diaconate Jubilee Mass
• Ordination of Priests
• Priesthood Jubilee Mass
• Cathedral Celebration of Confirmation (Combined Confirmation for designated parishes. Registration through the Office for Worship is required.)
• 50th Wedding Anniversary Celebration Mass