The oils to be blessed for sacramental anointing at parishes around the Diocese of Peoria are pictured prior to the 2020 Chrism Mass. This year's Chrism Mass will be celebrated at St. Mary's Cathedral in Peoria at 1 p.m. on Tuesday, April 12. (The Catholic Post file photo/Jennifer Willems)

After being delayed until October in 2020 due to the pandemic, the Chrism Mass will return to Holy Week this year. It is scheduled for Tuesday, March 30, at 1 p.m. and will be celebrated at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Peoria.

To maintain COVID-19 protocols, attendance is by invitation only. The liturgy will be livestreamed on the website of the Diocese of Peoria, however, and may be found at cdop.org.

The Chrism Mass takes its name from one of the three oils that will be blessed during the liturgy. Sacred Chrism is used in baptism and confirmation, to anoint the hands of priests and the heads of bishops, as well as the altar, baptismal font and walls of new churches. The others are the Oil of the Sick and the Oil of Catechumens.

At this Mass, the priests ministering in the Diocese of Peoria will also renew the promises they made at their ordination and renew their commitment to priestly service. Among them will be Bishop Daniel R. Jenky, CSC, and Coadjutor Bishop Louis Tylka.

The priests will receive bottles of the three oils to take back to their parishes and ministries.

ALSO AT THE CATHEDRAL

The Cathedral of St. Mary of the Immaculate Conception, 607 N.E. Madison Ave., in Peoria, is the mother church of the Diocese of Peoria. Masses are celebrated on Sundays at 10:30 a.m. in English and 12:15 p.m. in Spanish, and Monday through Friday at 7 a.m. in English. To guarantee a seat for Sunday Mass, visit catholicpeoria.com/Cathedral.

The tomb of Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, which is located in the Lady Chapel of St. Mary’s Cathedral, is open after Mass or from noon to 2 p.m. on Monday through Friday, and from 3 to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

The tomb will be closed on Tuesday, March 30.

Those who wish to visit the tomb are asked to use the entrance to the left of the main doors of the cathedral. A handicapped accessible ramp is available. Masks must be worn.