Local News Archive

Print Issue: April 4, 2002

We Face Difficult Times Chrism Mass Underscores Priests' Commitment To Vows

By Erika Anderson, Staff Writer

ATLANTA-Priests of the archdiocese received much needed support from the people, as well as hope and gratitude from Archbishop John F. Donoghue, at the annual Chrism Mass March 26.

At the annual Chrism Mass March 26, Archbishop John F. Donoghue is joined at the altar by over 100 priests from around the archdiocese during the Liturgy of the Eucharist. (Photos by Michael Alexander)

Nearly 150 priests from all corners of the archdiocese attended the Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of Christ the King, during which Archbishop Donoghue blessed the oils used for the administration of the sacraments and the priests renewed their ordination vows.

But the tone was a little different at the Mass this year, as national attention is being showered on the priesthood amid allegations of sexual abuse. Priests walking into the Cathedral were greeted by the Pratt family. Mary Jo Pratt, her husband, and their seven children held signs that said, "We love our priests!" and "Thank God for our priests."

"We've done this other years," Pratt said. "The priesthood is such a gift and the Chrism Mass is when they renew their vows. We just want to tell them that we love them and we support them."

Inside, the Cathedral quickly became filled to capacity, as parishioners from throughout the archdiocese packed shoulder to shoulder in the pews. As the lengthy procession marched in, many sought the faces of beloved priests who had served them over the decades.

In his homily, Archbishop Donoghue offered his own support to the priests.

"Today we face difficult times-not because of what we have done, but because some we have called brothers, some who could not hold on to the promises they made, some who have, in giving in to themselves, brought great damage to the lives of others-they have, by association, by what the Holy Father calls 'the shadow of suspicion,' brought great unhappiness to us," he said. "We move quickly, as quickly as we can, to remove those who have done evil, and we move, though it can never be enough, to extend support and healing to those who have been hurt. But these actions cannot heal the wound that we feel in our own hearts. Only time, and it may be, a great deal of time, will serve to wipe away the cloud under which that shadow of suspicion now thrives."

At the same time, Archbishop Donoghue said, he feels that it is a "requirement of his fraternal love" to speak in defense of archdiocesan priests.

"And what I wish to say is this-the Church could not have, or hope to have, a better fraternity of priests than those who serve this Archdiocese-and no bishop of the Church could want for better assistance in carrying out his work, than the help that I receive from your hands and from your hearts, every day that you serve here, and I pray, every day that is left to me to serve."

"And I know, because I see the whole success of our work here in North Georgia, I know that the people of God join me in feeling this gratitude," he continued. "The times are hard for our profession-the times are hard for the centuries-old ideal of uniting ourselves to the chastity of our Lord for the sake of those we serve. But I do not expect this ideal to be surrendered, and in the presence of so many good priests, and with the knowledge of how God has blessed this diocese with vocations, I do not fear for the future of the ideal we serve, or the future of the people who have been entrusted to our priestly care. We are good priests, and the Lord loves us for it."

The archbishop concluded by reading a Holy Thursday statement to priests from Pope John Paul II.

". . . We must beg God in his Providence to prompt a whole-hearted reawakening of those ideals of total self-giving to Christ which are the very foundation of the priestly ministry."

Following the homily, the priests stood and renewed their commitment to the priesthood and their bishop. The resounding words "I am" filled the Cathedral as the priests responded to the archbishop's questions of whether they were committed to serve their brothers and sisters in Christ.

The archbishop also asked the congregation to pray for him and for the other priests. The congregation responded "Lord Jesus Christ, hear us and answer our prayer."

Rose Maksimowski, a parishioner of the Cathedral of Christ the King, Atlanta, fills the containers from St. James the Apostle Church, McDonough, with the holy oils and sacred chrism.

The procession of the oils followed as three large silver urns containing the oil of the catechumens, the oil of the sick and the sacred chrism were brought to the altar by assisting deacons.

The archbishop first blessed the oil of the sick, used in the sacrament of anointing to bring comfort and healing, and then the oil of the catechumens, used to prepare them for baptism. Lastly, he prepared, consecrated and blessed the chrism, which 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.

As thunder rumbled outside, the priests then joined the archbishop in the Liturgy of the Eucharist, their voices joining to become one.

Music for the Mass was led by the Cathedral of Christ the King Choir and included works composed by Hamilton Smith, the Cathedral's director of music.

Father Luke Ballman, parochial vicar at Holy Spirit Church, Atlanta, is one of several priests who were ordained in 2001. Anxiously awaiting his first Easter since ordination, he was moved by the experience of his first Chrism Mass as a priest. Father Ballman said he was especially touched by the hundreds of people who showed up to support their priests.

"This is exciting for me as a new priest," he said. "It gives me great hope for the church and for the priesthood to see the love and support from the people and from the archbishop."