BLACKWOOD – Urging his brother priests “to share the oil of gladness with all of God’s people,” Bishop Joseph Williams celebrated the annual Chrism Mass the afternoon of March 31 at Saint Agnes Church, Our Lady of Hope Parish.
“What a gift we have, my dear brothers, what a responsibility … to empower the people of God for the building up of the Kingdom,” Bishop Williams said during the Chrism Mass, which marks the communion of the priests with their bishop, in the same priesthood and mission of Jesus.
Among those present for the liturgy were Bishop Emeritus Dennis Sullivan; Father Jon Thomas, vicar general; Father Jason Rocks, chancellor; Father Michael Romano, a priest of the Diocese of Camden and current rector of Mount Saint Mary’s Seminary in Emmitsburg, Md.; and Deacon Kirk Popiolek, Master of Ceremonies.
Filling the pews were hundreds of fellow priests, deacons, seminarians, religious women and men, Knights of Columbus, Knights and Dames of the Holy Sepulchre, Catholic schoolchildren and laity.
In his homily, Bishop Williams told the priests “to stand upright, to stand against the currents of the time, to stand up in virtue, to stand up in prayer, to be with the Lord.” He also reminded them of “the self-offering of Christ for our salvation. All of us are called to enter into that continuous self-offering.”
Echoing the words of Pope Francis, Bishop Williams called on the priests to reflect on their ordination and the priestly promises made.
“Is that oil of gladness that we received on the day of our priestly ordination, is it running all the way to the border of our robes – not just the collar, but to the edges of our robes? As Pope Francis would say, to the peripheries?” the Bishop asked. “[As] Pope Francis says, ‘The people of God know when they’ve been served by a priest with the oil of gladness.’”
Bishop Williams went on to recount a personal story of experiencing that “oil of gladness” flowing through a particular priest: Father Sanjai Devis, VC, pastor of Our Lady of Peace in Williamstown. Bishop recently visited the parish for the Sacrament of Confirmation. Afterward, he was approached by a survivor of clergy abuse.
“He told me his story,” Bishop Williams explained. “This man said that he had shared his hurt one day with Father Sanjai, and that he could see his own pain reflected in the eyes of Father, who took his hands and said, ‘I’m sorry. I’m sorry.’ It was the first time this man had ever felt that from a priest.”
“You brought him back to God; you brought him back to church,” Bishop Williams said to Father Sanjai, who was sitting in the pews.
“[This man] said … he’d been in and out of his own spiritual prison for years as he suffered the effects of that harm. Not too far back, he stopped going to church. Who noticed that but his good shepherd, who sent him a text message, which he ignored. So Father Sanjai tried reaching him through a friend, whom he also ignored.
“Father Sanjai did not give up, but called him one more time personally and said, ‘Come home.’ And he did. He said Father Sanjai wrestled him from the arms of satan and brought him back into the community of God’s beloved family.
“Thank you, Father Sanjai, for that gift,” Bishop Williams said. “What a gift we all have, my dear brothers, what a responsibility to share the oil of gladness. In just a few moments we’ll renew our priestly promises. My prayer for all of you, as you do so, is the prayer of the anointing: ‘The Lord Jesus Christ, whom the Father anointed with the Holy Spirit and power, guard and preserve you that you may sanctify the Christian people and offer sacrifice to God.’”
With these words in their minds and hearts, the priests of the Diocese reaffirmed their commitment to their vocation, vowing to “be more united with the Lord Jesus … as faithful stewards of the mysteries of God.”
In turn, Bishop Williams prayed that he remain faithful to the office entrusted to him, and would be made daily “a living and more perfect image of Christ.”
The laity, as well, promised to pray for their priests, and that the Lord “keep them faithful as ministers of Christ.”
During the Mass, Bishop Williams blessed the Oil of the Sick and the Oil of Catechumens, and consecrated the Sacred Chrism. Throughout the next year, these oils will be used in the Diocese’s parishes to bring God’s grace to faithful in the sacraments.
The Sacred Chrism is used to anoint the newly baptized; to trace the sign of Christ on those confirmed; to anoint those men ordained to serve the Church as priests, and to anoint the altar on which the sacrifice of Christ is offered.
The Oil of Catechumens is used to strengthen those preparing for Baptism. The Oil of the Sick will be used to strengthen and comfort the sick.
At the Mass, Bishop Williams announced that Rev. Mr. Nickolas Naticchione had been called to the Sacred Order of the Presbyterate. Deacon Naticchione will be ordained a priest at 10:30 a.m. on May 16 at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Camden. His First Mass will be the next day at Saint James Church, Holy Trinity Parish, Ventnor.
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