Photos from the Chrism Mass

April 4, 2012


Photos by Jenny Faber/Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston

Daniel Cardinal DiNardo, Retired Auxiliary Bishop Vincent M. Rizzotto and Bishop-elect Sheltz welcomed hundreds of priests, deacons and faithful at the annual Chrism Mass, held last night at the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart.

The Chrism Mass is a yearly liturgy concelebrated by a bishop and the priests of his (arch)diocese, during which the bishop blesses oils for sacramental use throughout the diocese for the coming year. It is during this Mass that the holy oils used in Baptism, Confirmation, the Ordination of priests and bishops and the Anointing of the Sick are blessed. Approximately 50 gallons of oil are blessed with the consecrated chrism.


A Holy Week tradition, hundreds of priests from the Archdiocese gather at this annual Mass, when they renew their priestly promises.


The liturgy commemorates the priestly vocation of the Church, particularly of the clergy who share in the sacred ministry of priesthood.


Daniel Cardinal DiNardo blessed the priests of the Archdiocese as they entered the Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart .


Father John Keller, pastor at Prince of Peace Church, greeted the cardinal during the procession into the Co-Cathedral.


Bishop-elect George A. Sheltz, RIGHT, spoke with Monsignor Jeffrey Steenson before the start of Mass. Monsignor Steenson is the leader of the Chair of the Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter, the recently-established prelature for Anglican Catholic groups that come into full communion with the Catholic Church.


Do you have photos from the Chrism Mass? Email them to info@archgh.org and we'll post them online!