By Katie Vasquez
A steady stream of hundreds of priests from across Brooklyn and Queens enter the Co-Cathedral of St Joseph.
All ready to celebrate one of the most important masses of the year with their shepherd, Bishop Robert Brennan.
“The celebration of the chrism mass is always one of the major high points of the year for us in the local church,” said Bishop Brennan.
Its main event affects the entire Diocese of Brooklyn, Bishop Brennan blesses the oils that will be used in sacraments at every parish and in every diocesan event for the coming year. Queens parishioner Jenny Oviedo considers it a privilege to see where those blessings begin.
“Well, it’s a real honor to be here. It’s just something that’s part of our tradition as Catholics,” said Oviedo, “I’m a catechist, so I love to see this, and I talk about this with my students all the time about how this mass is so important and how every year this happens.”
And for Father Alonzo Cox, the director of liturgy for the diocese, it’s a reminder of when he answered God’s call.
“This year, I’ll celebrate 15 years of priesthood. And I remember the day that bishop DiMarzio used the chrism that he consecrated on my hands. So, it’s really an opportunity for me to reflect upon my own ordination and to give thanks to God for the gift of my vocation,” said Father Cox.
It’s a call the Brooklyn shepherd echoed in his annual message to every clergy member in the Diocese of Brooklyn. During his homily, Bishop Brennan encouraged the priests, deacons and religious to remember why they devoted their lives to the church.
“It’s a reflection on Jesus’ message. The spirit of the lord is upon me. He has sent me to bring glad tidings to the lowly, to heal the broken hearts, to release the prisoners, to lift the spirit,” said Bishop Brennan, “So this is an opportunity, really, to hear once again the glad tidings that Jesus gives to us and that inspires us in our service.”
And as the rector of the Co-Cathedral, Father Christopher Heanue and his brother priests renewed their vows during the mass, he says he’s taking that message to heart.
“I think it’s just a great opportunity just to hear his wisdom, to hear the message that he wishes to, to bestow on us, so that we can go forward with that message and bring it to our local community,” said Father Heanue.