It is safe to say that the Chrism Mass, celebrated every Tuesday of Holy Week in the Diocese of Camden, is an important day in the life of Church of South Jersey.
Not only does it bring the Bishop, clergy, religious and laity together in communion, it is also a time for the Bishop to bless the sacred oils that will be used throughout the Diocese in the coming year to impart sacramental graces – The Oil of Catechumens, the Oil of Anointing, the Sacred Chrism.
But just how do these oils leave Blackwood’s Our Lady of Hope Parish, and get dispersed among the 62 parishes of the Diocese? Look no further for answers than Kathy and Sal Alibrando, who have been leading this well-oiled operation for 32 years – and helping out for 33.
“This is our special time, during Holy Week, which we always put aside. We’re with fellow parishioners. It’s a wonderful blessing and honor,” Kathy says.
At the annual Chrism Mass, the oils, in large glass jars, are carried by deacons and placed in front of the Bishop. He blesses the oils and breathes over the Sacred Chrism, symbolic of the breath of the Holy Spirit. After the consecration, the deacons quickly usher the jars into the parish’s side chapel, converted for the occasion into a prep room with a plastic tarp covering the rug. In addition, there are long tables, steel pots, measuring cups and small glass jars for each oil, which are then placed into separate bags denoting a different diocesan parish.
After the contents of each jar are poured into the pots, the work is quick.
For this year’s Chrism Mass, each of the 20 volunteers, ranging from high-school-age to retired, worked at their designated stations: One to dip a cup into the pot and pour the oil into the glass jar. One to screw the lid onto the jar. On to wipe any oily residue off the glass and place it into its assigned plastic bag.
Sixty-two parishes, and at least three jars each – or more, depending on the parish’s sacramental needs – adds up to more than 200 bottles filled at a brisk pace.
“It all has to be done between the time the deacons bring it back, and after Mass, when each parish representative comes to pick up their oils and bring them back to their communities,” Kathy says.
Beginning when the Chrism Mass was celebrated at Camden’s Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the two are happy to continue this ministry in Blackwood. “We enjoy this. It’s our gift to the Diocese,” Sal says.
In addition to their work with the Chrism Mass, the two are also active parishioners of Glassboro’s Saint Bridget University Parish, having been involved with Marriage Prep and Liturgical Ministry for years.
Vital to their work as well, the Alibrandos note, are the efforts of Mike Bedics, director of the Diocese’s Office of Worship and Christian Initiation, and his staff, who help coordinate and collect the sacramental needs of each parish.
Bedics, in turn, notes that he is grateful to the Alibrandos. “It’s great to have people that you can rely on. I’m very thankful for them.”
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