Hundreds of people from all over the Diocese of Springfield in Illinois were in attendance when Bishop Thomas John Paprocki concelebrated the chrism Mass at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception on the evening of March 31.

The chrism Mass is held annually in cathedrals all over the world during Holy Week. It is during this Mass that priests, who gather with the bishop in the sanctuary to concelebrate, publicly renew the promises they made at the moment of their ordination.

It is also at the chrism Mass that the bishop consecrates the chrism and blesses the oils that are to be used during the upcoming year. The chrism is used to anoint the newly baptized, to seal the candidates for confirmation and to anoint the hands of priests and the heads of bishops at their ordinations. Additionally, it is used in the dedication rites of churches and altars.

The oil of catechumens is used during the period of the catechumenate for those being trained and formed in the Christian life. The oil of the sick is used to bring comfort and support to those who are ill.

During his homily Bishop Paprocki asked the priests to think back to priests that inspired them as they were discerning a vocation. The bishop recalled the first priest who had a major impact on him: Father Stanley Rokicinski, often called Father Rocky. "He was the first priest that I got to know personally and he was a real inspiration for my vocation," he said.

"I invite each of you to think about those priests and what was so inspiring about them," he said. "I am willing to bet that one of the qualities that stood out to us was the joy with which they lived out their priesthood. Joy is extremely attractive, and when we see a priest who is joyful, we cannot help but be inspired. And that goes for not just us as priests, but for all of the faithful."

Bishop Paprocki asked the priests to "recall the profound joy that we had on that great day when we became priests." "Do we stand here in the very same sanctuary today with the same joy? Or, do we feel as though that joy has diminished in some way after years of tireless service?" he asked. "If the latter, we pray for the Holy Spirit to rekindle deep within our hearts that flame of joy that comes from knowing that we are loved by God."

In addressing the priests, who ranged from those ordained just last May to those ordained five or more decades ago, he said, "It is beautiful to think, for example, of how some of our more recently-ordained priests are sitting among some of those inspiring examples today, now as brother priests. I am confident that our seminarians who are studying for our diocese are looking across the sanctuary to many of you, seeing priests that are joyful and committed servants of the Lord."

Bishop Paprocki also spoke to others gathered in the cathedral. "And you, the faithful, have an important role to play in supporting the priests and one another through your joyful witness to your state of life."

" … As we continue the celebration of this chrism Mass, let us give thanks to God for the gift of his priests … . We are extremely grateful as well for the ministry of our many permanent deacons who assist them so faithfully and who are a source of great vitality to our local church. … Finally, we thank God for all of the lay faithful of the diocese, whom we as priests, deacons and religious have the honor of joyfully serving each day … ."

Following the chrism Mass representatives of the parishes received the oils and the chrism, carrying them back to their respective parishes for use during the upcoming year.