Cardinal Robert W. McElroy, the archbishop of Washington, celebrated his first Chrism Mass in The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington on April 14 at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle, where he joined priests, deacons, consecrated religious and lay faithful for the solemn Holy Week liturgy. During the Mass, he led the priests in renewing their ordination promises and blessed the sacred oils that will be used in sacraments at parishes across the archdiocese throughout the year.
In his homily, Cardinal McElroy underscored sacrifice as essential to the priestly vocation, citing the example of Father Jacques Bunel, a French Carmelite priest who was imprisoned at the Mauthausen concentration camp for sheltering Jewish children during World War II and died shortly after its liberation.
Cardinal McElroy noted a statement that Father Bunel reportedly said after being arrested by the Nazi Gestapo: “A life that does not know what it means to sacrifice deeply and profoundly for others… is a life that has not been lived at all.”
Drawing a parallel between the priesthood and Christ’s journey to Calvary, Cardinal McElroy urged the priests of the Archdiocese of Washington to recommit themselves to the daily offering of their lives in service to God’s people.
“That sacrifice is the core of our identity – as priests, in this local Church, and for the Lord, always,” Cardinal McElroy said.
Reflecting on recent conversations with lay leaders across the archdiocese, the cardinal said their admiration for the priesthood was deeply rooted in their recognition of the sacrifices made by their parish priests.
“They see such wonder and glory in your lives … They speak about good homilies … those who are good confessors,” he said. “The way you care for the sick, those who are good at organizing … the new ideas and energy you bring into parish life. But more than any of those, they speak of your sacrifice … And that is what they are truly grateful for.”
“So as you renew your vows of priesthood today – as we all renew our vows – let us remember the call Christ has given us: The sacrifice that lies at the very heart of who we are, as faithful priests and men of God,” the cardinal said.
The Chrism Mass, traditionally celebrated during Holy Week, commemorates Jesus’s establishment of the priesthood and his offering of the Eucharist at the Last Supper. Priests from across the archdiocese gathered to renew the promises they made at ordination, pledging once more to faithfully proclaim the Gospel, celebrate the sacraments and serve God’s people.
During the rite of renewal, Cardinal McElroy invited the priests to reaffirm the promises made at their ordination and commit themselves more closely to Christ through lives of self-denial and service. He then asked the congregation to pray both for the priests and for his ministry as their bishop.
“May the Lord keep us all in His charity and lead all of us – shepherds and flock – into eternal life,” the cardinal prayed.
Along with the estimated 200 priests at the Mass, the concelebrants included Cardinal Wilton Gregory and Cardinal Donald Wuerl, both of whom are archbishops emeritus of Washington; Cardinal Christophe Pierre, the apostolic nuncio to the United States; and Washington Auxiliary Bishops Roy E. Campbell Jr., Evelio Menjivar and Juan Esposito, who also serves as vicar general and moderator of the Curia of The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington. Music for the liturgy was provided by the Cathedral of St. Matthew’s Schola Cantorum, with readings proclaimed in English and Spanish and interpretation offered in American Sign Language. The Mass was livestreamed on YouTube.
During the blessing of the oils, Cardinal McElroy extended his hands in prayer over the vessels containing the Oil of the Sick, the Oil of Catechumens and the Oil of the Sacred Chrism. Concelebrating cardinals and auxiliary bishops stood behind him with raised hands, joining in silent prayer over the Sacred Chrism. As part of the consecration of the Sacred Chrism, the cardinal breathed over the vessel, invoking the Holy Spirit — a gesture recalling Christ breathing upon his disciples and sending them forth in mission.
In the solemn prayer of consecration, Cardinal McElroy asked that those anointed with the oil may be “inwardly transformed and come to share in eternal salvation.”
Once consecrated, the vessels were reverently covered and carried out of the sanctuary to be distributed to parishes throughout the archdiocese for use in the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick and Holy Orders.
After the final blessing, Cardinal McElroy personally greeted the priests in attendance as a sign of appreciation.
Before the Mass, priests interviewed by the Catholic Standard spoke about the significance of the Chrism Mass and how the sacred oils blessed that day are central to their ministry.
Father Michael Russo, the pastor of Sacred Heart Parish in Bowie, Maryland, said that for the participating priests joining together to renew their ordination promises, the Chrism Mass offers “a powerful moment of unity in the diocese” and demonstrates “our connection to the bishop.”
That point was echoed by Father Conrad Murphy, the chaplain at the Catholic Student Center at the University of Maryland at College Park, who said, “Everyone’s here. We’re one church, one family.” And Father Murphy pointed out that he would be using the sacred chrism blessed that day to anoint people receiving the Sacraments of Initiation at the Catholic Student Center at the Easter Vigil. “I’ve got 24 people coming into the Church on Saturday,” he said.
Father Dan Leary, the pastor of St. John the Evangelist Parish in Clinton, Maryland, noted that the oils used in the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick “really allow the sick to encounter the mercy of God through the Church.”
Reflecting on the sacred chrism, a fragranced oil used in Baptism, Father Leary said, “It’s powerful to encounter the aroma of Christ in the newly baptized child, as they begin their journey with Christ.”
Link to Chrism Mass photo gallery:
https://www.cathstan.org/local...
Link to the livestream of the Chrism Mass celebrated by Cardinal McElroy:
