April 25, 2004

Photo by Dan McWilliams
OIL OF CHRISM Bishop Kurtz pours balsam into the vessel used for mixing the chrism as diocesan seminarian Manuel Peréz (left) and Deacon Jim Lawson of Sacred Heart Parish assist. Also looking on are seminarian Tony Dickerson at far left and priests from throughout the diocese. Moments before, the bishop had blessed the oil of the sick, in the vessel at left, and the oil of the catechumens.

Diocesan priests ‘stand before the Lord’ and recommit to service in the annual liturgy celebrated by Bishop Kurtz.

Calling the occasion of the chrism Mass a “glorious day for us to come together,” Bishop Joseph E. Kurtz read a “litany of anniversaries” being celebrated this year by diocesan priests before he received their annual recommitment to service.

“Even before I became a bishop, I loved the chrism Mass,” he said. “I loved being able to come for the renewal of priestly promises, so I can only imagine how your hearts are filled with joy as you have the privilege once again to stand before the Lord to renew the promises you made in some cases 55 or more years ago.”

Virtually every priest in the diocese concelebrated and hundreds of East Tennessee Catholics attended the annual liturgy April 6 at Sacred Heart Cathedral, in which the bishop blessed the oils to be used in sacraments throughout the diocese in the coming year.

In his homily the bishop recalled priests and women religious who served in the diocese and who had died since last year’s chrism Mass, and he offered a “litany” of more than 20 priests celebrating milestone anniversaries in 2004.

“This year we have more priests with anniversary celebrations than I think we’ve had in the history of our diocese,” he said.

Father Philip Thoni of St. Mary Parish in Gatlinburg will celebrate 55 years as a priest later this year, whereas Father Bob Hofstetter of St. Jude Parish in Chattanooga and retired priest Father Dan Clements of Knoxville will mark their golden anniversaries. Father Mike Sweeney of Blessed Sacrament Parish in Harriman will have his silver anniversary this year, and 12 other priests will celebrate five- or 10-year ordination anniversaries.

Quoting from an article in the Holy Week edition of Magnificat, the bishop said the service of priests often rose to a heroic level.

“I’ve observed you, my brother priests, when I’ve visited your parishes,” Bishop Kurtz said. “I realized that you are spending yourselves for the sake of others, and that’s heroic.”

Alec Guinness learned what that service means to people, the bishop said, referring to the same Magnificat article, which went on to describe an experience the actor had while playing the famous sleuth Father Brown in the 1954 film The Detective.

“He was dressed in black on the set, and as he was walking up a hill a little 8-year-old kid came up and said ‘Mon Pere,’ grabbed his hand, and walked along with him,” the bishop said. “Alec Guinness was so touched by the deep trust people placed in a priest that he became a Catholic.”

After his homily Bishop Kurtz turned to the sanctuary, where all the priests assembled to make their vow of recommitment. The bishop, having heard the priests’ promise to “teach the Christian faith without thinking of your own profit,” faced the faithful again to ask their prayers for himself and for the priests.

The bishop received the oil of the sick from Sacred Heart parishioner Diane Seffernick and Mercy Sister Yvette Gillen of St. Therese Parish in Clinton. Catechumens Dan Sewell and Shannon Radcliffe presented the oil of the catechumens, used in the sacrament of baptism. Bishop Kurtz blessed each oil with a separate prayer.

The diocese’s most recently ordained priest, Father Mark Scholz of St. Jude Parish in Chattanooga, presented the balsam and olive oil used to make the chrism. Chrism is used in the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and holy orders and in the consecration of altars and the dedication of churches. The bishop mixed the balsam and oil in silence and breathed over the chrism while praying for the Holy Spirit’s presence in it.

Diocesan Catholic Schools Superintendent Dr. Sherry Morgan and Lourdes Perez, administrative assistant for the Hispanic Ministry Office, presented the bread and wine for Communion. As the Mass ended, priests came forward again—this time to accept the holy oils for their parishes—before leaving.

The bishop opened the liturgy with a special message for any University of Tennessee women’s basketball fans who might have been in earshot, as they had given up watching their favorite team play for the national championship in order to attend the chrism Mass.

“I know some of you are aware that there’s a little basketball game going on tonight, and one of you may even have a radio,” said Bishop Kurtz. “But when we start this beautiful chrism Mass, you’ll turn the radio down and give your full attention to the Lord.”

BANNER OCCASION
James Templin of St. Patrick Parish in Morristown carries the banner for Shepherd of the Valley Parish in Dunlap at the start of the chrism Mass.
Photo by Dan McWilliams