BY KATHI STEARNS

Staff Writer

ATLANTA--Archbishop John F. Donoghue joined the priests serving in his archdiocese Tuesday of Holy Week to celebrate a special Mass during which the oils used for the administration of the sacraments were blessed and the priestly promises made at ordination were renewed.

Over 120 priests representing the vast geographical area of the North Georgia archdiocese attended the April 2 Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of Christ the King. Archdiocesan priests as well as members of religious orders who staff parishes and missions throughout the archdiocese, such as the Claretians, Redemptorists, LaSalettes, Marists and Conventual Franciscans were in attendance.

A procession which began in front of the cathedral included the archbishop and the deans of the archdiocese, accompanied by Abbot Bernard Johnson, OCSO, Msgr. Edward Dillon, vicar general, and Msgr. Donald Kenny, chancellor and director of vocations. Msgr. Kenny and Father Serge Ward, a parochial vicar at Holy Spirit Church, were the masters of ceremony. Seminarians studying for the priesthood for the Archdiocese of Atlanta also participated in the Mass.

In his homily the archbishop compared the Chrism Mass to the special beauty of a treasured jewel. "We can say that the Mass of the Holy Chrism is like a beautiful diamond, multi-faceted and full of light," the archbishop said. "We can see Jesus' love for his people, sharing with them through our ministry the wondrous sacraments symbolized by the sacred oils. But today from that wealth of reality, I propose to reflect upon our promises as ordained priests, our sacred engagements to the Lord, to his Church and to one another."

The archbishop asked the priests to unite themselves more closely to Christ. "You and I know that means prayer, solid prayer, prayer from the heart, daily prayer," he said. "It means that we really see the worth of beginning our day not with the newspaper or the newscast but with prayer, letting the Word work in our hearts."

The archbishop said time spent with Scripture, meditation, the Liturgy of the Hours and before the Blessed Sacrament are ways for priests to grow in their relationship with Jesus. "There are many ways to a deep reunion with Jesus, but none of them can have any effect or any validity without prayer," he said. "Prayer must be as the air we breathe. Unless we pray, we die as priests."

The archbishop said that the life of a priest is not easy; it is one that must be filled with joyous sacrifice. "Our desire to reach out, to sustain, to empower, to teach, to share Christ's sacramental love sometimes pushes us to great weariness and fatigue," he said. "Yet sacrifice is a part of who we are and what we were ordained to be."

The archbishop said that the disciplines of poverty, chastity and obedience really lead priests to Christ. "We as priests need to observe a certain measure of reserve to insure that our hearts remain always in pledge to Jesus," he said. "We can be joyous servants only when we give ourselves entirely and completely to living our lives as priests, without reserve, without holding back. Prayer and sacrifice will lead to a happiness that does not grow stale but grows in intensity, as we love God more."

The archbishop reminded the priests that their vocation is forever linked to the celebration of the Eucharist. "You and I are privileged, empowered, and charged to celebrate the Mass for the living and the dead...to make Calvary a present reality," he said. "Let us never deliberately omit this celebration of Eucharist...our daily opportunity to serve our world in the very heart of its need, the saving sacrament's presence of the Risen Savior."

The archbishop also stressed that priests must continue to teach the Catholic faith and share the Good News of Jesus Christ. "As priests of the Church our preaching, cathechesis and counseling must always offer our people the full and authentic word of God, as brought us by the Church," he said. "Our teaching is not our own but his who sent us."

Finally the archbishop asked the priests of the diocese to pray for him. "On this day of our fraternal charity, I ask your forgiveness for my failures in being a genuine sign of Christ's loving presence among you," he said. "Together in affection, together in trust, together in vision, let us serve our people in the joy that leads to eternal life."

Following the homily the priests stood and renewed their commitment to the priesthood and their bishop. The archbishop asked the priests to make a special promise to help one another. He then requested members of the congregation to join him in prayers of thanksgiving for their priests.

The procession of the oils followed as three large silver urns containing the oil of the catechumens, the oil of the sick and the oil for the chrism were brought to the altar by Rev. Mr. Paul Burke, who is to be ordained a priest of the archdiocese in May, and by Deacons Alfred Mitchell and Tom Shuler.

The archbishop blessed the oil of the sick and the oil of the catechumens, and then prepared, consecrated and blessed the chrism. Chrism is used to anoint the newly baptized, seal candidates for confirmation and anoint the hands of priests at ordination. It is also used to anoint and dedicate new churches and altars. The oil of the catechumens is used to prepare them for baptism, while the oil of the sick is used in the sacrament of the anointing to bring comfort and healing.

During the concelebration of the Eucharist the priests filled the sanctuary to its capacity. After each priest received the body and blood of Christ, the archbishop and six priests distributed the Eucharist to the congregation, which included some Religious and students from Immaculate Heart of Mary School, the Cathedral of Christ the King School and Pinecrest Academy in addition to lay Catholics.

Music for the Chrism Mass included works such as "O Redeemer" composed by Ham Smith, the cathedral's music director, who led the congregation in song. Timothy Wissler was the organist and Kevin Culver conducted the choir.

After the liturgy volunteers from the Cathedral poured blessed oil and consecrated chrism into the vials brought by each parish and mission for use at the Easter Vigil, when new members of the Church are baptized and confirmed, and then for other sacraments during the coming year.

Following the Mass the archbishop hosted a private luncheon at the Cathedral for the priests of the archdiocese.