Bishop celebrates Mass of Oils in FF
FORT FAIRFIELD, Maine — A day after celebrating the Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Portland, Bishop Robert P. Deeley headed nearly 300 miles north to the town of Fort Fairfield, joining priests, deacons, religious and lay faithful from northern and eastern Maine for the Mass of the Oils at St. Denis Church.
During the Mass, held the Wednesday before Easter, the oils which will be used in administering the sacraments throughout the coming year were distributed to representatives from parishes in those areas.
Prior to the distribution, Bishop Deeley had consecrated the sacred oil of chrism and blessed the oil of the sick and the oil of catechumens during the Chrism Mass, traditionally held Tuesday of Holy Week.
The oil of the sick is used to anoint the sick, bringing God’s health, strength, and forgiveness to those in need. The oil of the catechumens — individuals preparing for baptism in the Catholic Church — is blessed to strengthen those preparing for baptism to avoid sin and to grow in faith. The sacred chrism is used for baptism, confirmation, ordination of priests, and the consecration of altars and churches.
“I greet the representatives of the parish communities here to receive the oils,” said the bishop at the Fort Fairfield service. “You represent all our faithful people whose lives are renewed in these oils. In a particular way, I greet the elect and the candidates for full communion in the Church. You will probably be among the first recipients of these oils as you are baptized and confirmed at Easter. You witness to us the ever present reality of God’s grace drawing us to find meaning and life in Jesus and his message of joy.
“And, of course, we are grateful for the faithful who come this evening, in prayerful solidarity with the Church and with their priests to pray for our Church, and to enter more deeply into the mystery that we celebrate here, the mystery of God’s love.”
Bishop Deeley told the gathering that the Mass of the Oils is a celebration of the identity of the faithful as Christians, and that, particularly in the Holy Year of Mercy, it serves as a reminder that the message of Jesus’ mercy holds great promise to those who hear it and share it.
“Mercy is not just about doing things. It is also about accompanying people on the journey as they seek to find Jesus and know his mercy. We, his ministers and his people, know that he is the answer to the searching of our culture. Our challenge is to deepen within our own hearts the conviction that the heart of Jesus truly is the place we find healing for our own misery,” said the bishop.
“Once we know Jesus in this way, we can help others to come to find an answer to their searching. We can bring them to the mercy of Jesus, which, as Pope Francis has told us, is really God’s very name.”
The Mass of the Oils and the Chrism Mass are also opportunities for the priests of the diocese to renew their commitment to priestly service. Bishop Deeley thanked the priests for the gift of their lives and asked them to continue deepening their relationship with the Lord.
“We will bring others to Jesus insofar as we ourselves know him and have allowed him into our hearts to give us his mercy,” said the bishop. “This evening, we remind ourselves of that grace and recommit ourselves to living what we believe.”
Prior to the Mass of the Oils, the bishop and attending priests were hosted at a special dinner organized by Fort Fairfield’s Knights of Columbus Council 1753.
