By Paula Day

The traditional celebration of the Chrism Mass April 14 in the Cathedral of Christ the King was both solemn and festive.

Each year local bishops and archbishops throughout the world and the priests of their dioceses come together for a special Eucharistic Liturgy during Holy Week in which they renew their commitment to service to the Church. In the Atlanta archdiocese sunny weather and flowering dogwood often accompany this annual rededication and are appropriate symbols of inner revitalization and renewal.

More than 100 priests and approximately a dozen permanent deacons joined Archbishop James P. Lyke, OFM, for the Tuesday morning Mass during which the archbishop blessed the oils and consecrated the chrism to be used in administering four sacraments and in other liturgical events throughout the Church year, including the consecration of chalices and altars.

Dom Berneard Johnson, OCSO, abbot of the Trappist monastery in Conyers, Father Edward Dillon, vicar general, and Father Patrick Bishop, chairman of the council of priests, were among the principal concelebrants of the Mass. Other principal concelebrants were Father John Adamski, Father William Calhoun, Father Henry, Gracz, Father Tom Kenny, Father John Kieran, Monsignor Donald Kiernan, Father Edward O’Connor and Father Edward Thein.

In his homily, Archbishop Lyke repeated the simple, dignified words, “I am a Catholic priest,” spoken by St. Maximilian Kolbe when he offered his life in place of a fellow prisoner at Auschwitz.

The archbishop pointed to the Polish Franciscan’s commitment to the ultimate act of selflessness as mirroring that of Jesus, who’s commitment brought Father Kolbe to shepherding innocent victims of the Nazis, preaching the good news to condemned men and proclaiming to them the liberty of an eternal reward.

“If St. Maximilian Kolbe could accomplish this kind of shepherding under the most grim circumstances,” the archbishop continued, “then he is indeed someone to remember on this day when we recollect our own vows and promises, when we seek to renew our hopes and ideals, when we look to reinvigorate the community, the commitment and the spirit we share as priests.”

The archbishop reminded his fellow priests of the wide-ranging tasks that fall to them in their ministry. “Our work runs the gamut from handing out canned goods from the parish pantry to lobbying corporations and legislatures. We are counselors, confessors, job-finders, arbitrators, language teachers, ‘protectors and helpers.’ We are trusted friends to the sheep we tend and implacable foes to the wolves who rage outside.”

“It is through these many forms of sharing.” The archbishop concluded, “that we are able to tap into the great reserves of faith and hope that fill the faithful people of God. It is through our love for our people that we are able to fully realize our priesthood.”

“Ours is indeed a very good life,” the archbishop told the priests. “At this Mass we humbly bow our heads and thank God for the way he has given us to follow: a way to uplift the lowly; a way to heal the brokenhearted; a way to release men and women who are imprisoned by sin and self-doubt; a way to clothe the people of God with the glorious mantle in place of a listless spirit.”

Before the Mass began Patty Caprara expressed her own appreciation for the gifts priests bring to the Church.

“They are such a sign of service to the Church,” the parishioner from Prince of Peace in Buford explained. “We came today to pray for the priests that are here, that God will give them the grace they need, will strengthen them in their vocations.”

Mother of a two-year-old daughter and expecting another child, Mrs. Caprara said, “I would hope they would find great joy in their vocation, as I find joy in being a mother. The parish is their family. I pray they find joy in service to their family.”

“Priests are such a gift,” she added with emphasis.

Eighth-grade students from Christ the King School and sixth-graders from Immaculate Heart of Mary School also attended the Liturgy. I.H.M. student Haley Coleman was well versed in the importance of the celebration.

“The archbishop will bless all the oils for the priests of the archdiocese, oils used for baptism and anointing the sick,” she explained. “All the priests are going to be here. It will be very beautiful.”

Under the direction of Hamilton Smith and choirmaster Kevin Culver the Cathedral Choir provided the music. “Mass for the Chrism,” composed by Robert Twynham, was commissioned for the celebration by the Conference of Roman Catholic Cathedral Musicians in 1987.

Recently ordained a transitional deacon, Reverend Mr. Patrick Kingery expressed appreciation for being chosen deacon of the Word for the celebration.

“Being in the cathedral made me feel closer to my priesthood ordination,” he explained. While the Mass was a formal occasion, Kingery said the meal afterwards in the Hyland Center for the priests, to which the archbishop had invited the seminarians, was a festive time when he felt the support and encouragement of the priests.

At the close of the Chrism Mass, Archbishop Lyke also expressed his gratitude to members of the laity who had joined him and his fellow priests in the celebration.