Udupi Diocese Holds Chrism Mass Celebration at Milagres Cathedral
Udupi: The blessings of the Holy Oils and the Chrism Eucharistic Celebrations were held at the Milagres Cathedral, Kallianpur on Thursday, March 21, 2024.
Most Rev Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop of Udupi diocese concelebrated the Eucharistic celebrations along with a record number of diocesan and religious priests.
In the morning, the diocesan pre-synod meeting was held at the Tri-Centenary Hall with all the diocesan and religious priests headed by the diocese bishop and resource person Rev Fr Joseph Titus from Bengaluru Seminary till noon. Prior to the mass at 4 pm, the Bishop along with all the priests gathered at Milagres Tri-centenary Hall and proceeded towards the Milagres Cathedral.
The Chrism mass is usually held in the Cathedral of the respective diocese and blessed with three kinds of Sacred Oils, all of which signify the work of the Holy Spirit and symbolize it in that oil “Serves to Sweeten, to Strengthen, to render Supple”.
In his beautiful and meaningful homily Bishop Gerald Isaac Lobo pointed out the meaning of Prayer and its dominance on the faithful since Abraham, Moses, Jacob, prophets and indeed, Jesus Christ. Prayer is our communication with God. Prayer is an important way to experience God as the religious believer can communicate with God. Prayer is giving our attention to God in a two-way spiritual relationship where we talk to God and also listen to Him. Prayer is like a child’s conversation with their father. Prayer is the raising of one’s mind and heart to God or requesting good things from God.
The Bishop said that Abraham is the role model of prayer. God has a good relationship with Moses through prayer. David was always for his people with the prayer to God. Prayer is listening, worshipping and moulding our will into God’s will. We should pray that God’s love and justice reign on earth.
The Bishop further said that Prayer is a way for us to spend time with God. It is a way to connect and align our hearts with God. The word of God became the prayer of humans. Jesus went to the temple to pray to God along with his parents. Jesus prayed continuously for 40 days in the desert. There are several instances of Prayer by Jesus to God. Prior to Jesus taking Baptism in the Jordan River, Jesus prayed to God. Jesus also taught His Apostles to pray.
The bishop also briefed on the prayer by the priests in their daily religious life along with priests’ and responsibilities in their mission to God. A priest is a person of God. It is therefore an act of virtue of priests implying the deepest reverence of God. The priest forwards the mission of Christ to the people. Priests should bring the faithful together. It is the spiritual power of the priest to bring believers together.
Meanwhile, it is appropriate that the Oil of the Sick, the Oil of Catechumens and the Holy Chrism blessed by the Bishop during the Chrism Mass be presented to and received by the local parish community.
During the mass, priests were asked to stand and renew the promises made on their ordination time and witnessed the priests who again pledged their lives and love to Jesus.
In the end, the Rector of the Cathedral Very Rev Fr Valerian Mendonca thanked gratitude all, including the Bishop, Vicar General, Chancellor, PRO, five deans of the diocese deaneries, and resource person for the priests meeting Fr Joseph Tellis, clergy of the diocese and religious, faithful at large and others.
The Bishop also thanked the Rector of the Cathedral and all concerned on the success of the 12th year of Chrism Mass.
Nearly hundred priests including Vicar General of the Diocese, Monsignor Fr Ferdinand Gonsalves, Chancellor of the diocese Very Rev Fr Roshan D’Souza, PRO of the diocese Rev Fr Denis D’Sa and all five deans along with other religious priests were present.
Rev Fr Cyril Lobo of Divya Jyothi moderated the proceedings during the mass.