BLACKWOOD – Addressing his brother priests of the Diocese of Camden during the annual Chrism Mass, Bishop Dennis Sullivan urged them to “keep the fire of your calling … in your hearts and souls.”
With deacons, religious women and men, and faithful filling the pews, these dozens of shepherds renewed their commitment to the priesthood, pledging to be “faithful stewards of the mysteries of God … moved by zeal for souls.”
The Chrism Mass, celebrated March 26 at Saint Agnes Church, Our Lady of Hope Parish, also served as an opportunity for Bishop Sullivan to consecrate the Oil of the Sick, the Oil of Catechumens and the Sacred Chrism, all which will be used in parishes to “reassure and remind [all] that Christ is with us,” he said.
Recalling his devotion to Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini from a young age, and his relationship with her Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart while a parish priest in New York, Bishop Sullivan urged clergy to use her work with impoverished 19th century immigrants as a model not only for their pastoral ministry, but sacramental duties.
“Missionary was Cabrini’s charism, and missionary should describe our approach as priests,” he said. “A missionary brings women and men to Christ and His Church … respects people where they are … and seeks to understand people from their side,” he said. Missionary focuses especially on “those who are far from Christ and far from His Church.”
As well, Bishop Sullivan said, while missionary priests should “attract others to Christ and to His Church,” they should “never, never, never turn them away or dismiss them.”
See more photos of the Chrism Mass in our gallery
“The sacraments – in the welcome of baptism, in the catechetical preparation of those who are anointed, the involvement of family and friends who accompany the sick and the dying, or in the joy of a deacon whose hands are consecrated during ordination – do what they do … they are the work of the Lord,” the Bishop said.
“The pastoral preparation is our work. And in our time more than ever, it requires commitment to a missionary focus … not just for deacons, priests and bishops, but for the staffs in our parishes.”
Toward the end of Mass, Bishop Sullivan called Transitional Deacon Ricardo Lozano Cruz to the order of the priesthood, which will take place on May 18 at Camden’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. He urged all to invite young men “to consider a joyful life to the priesthood of Camden.”
After Mass, the Bishop, priests, clergy and religious visited with each other and their flocks outside the church.
“I love coming to the Chrism Mass, seeing the people, hearing the music. This is how we’re supposed to be – united in communion with one another,” said Father Stephen Bertonazzi, parochial vicar of Mantua’s Church of the Incarnation.
Father George Seiter, pastor of Saint Mary Parish, Gloucester City, called the Chrism Mass “great spiritual fuel” before the celebration of Easter, agreeing with Bishop Sullivan that all faithful must go out into the world with “missionary zeal and spirit.”
Looking at the hundreds gathered outside Saint Agnes Church, Father Seiter had the hope of Easter. “Our Diocese is alive and vibrant. Thank God.”
The annual Chrism Mass was livestreamed on all diocesan media. To watch, visit youtube.com/@CamdenDiocese.
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