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)

Bishop Louis Tylka will gather with the priests of the Diocese of Peoria for the Chrism Mass at St. Mary’s Cathedral on Tuesday, April 12. It will begin at 1 p.m.

At this Mass, traditionally celebrated during Holy Week, the priests and bishop will renew the promises they made at their priestly ordination. It takes its name from the sacred chrism, one of three oils that will be blessed and used in sacramental anointing in parishes around the diocese in the coming year.

In the past, the renewal of priestly promises and consecration of the Oil of the Catechumens, Oil of the Sick, and sacred chrism were witnessed by students from diocesan schools. They will view the Mass via livestream this year.

“This is to make room for the parishes to send two representatives to take the oils back to their parishes,” said Phillip Lee, director of the Office of Divine Worship. “That is something the diocese did years ago.”

The oils will be presented to the parish representatives after the priests have processed out at the end of the Chrism Mass. Lee explained that since the oils are for the aid and benefit of the people, Bishop Tylka wants them to be involved.

The oils are usually received in the parishes before or at the beginning of the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, he said.

There will be reserved seating for the priests, who will remain in their pews during the Eucharistic Prayer as a continuing safety precaution due to COVID-19.

The public may attend. No reservations are required, Lee said.

The Mass will be available for viewing on the Peoria Diocese YouTube page. For the link, go to cdop.org.

PILGRIMAGE RESUMES

The Holy Thursday pilgrimage returns this year, with Bishop Tylka leading people to three Peoria-area parishes for prayer and reflection after the Mass of the Lord’s Supper at St. Mary’s Cathedral on April 14. The liturgy begins at 7:15 p.m.

A complimentary bus will take pilgrims to St. Thomas the Apostle Church in Peoria Heights, and St. Vincent de Paul Church and St. Philomena Church, both in Peoria, and end back at St. Mary’s Cathedral. No registration is required.

The bus is sponsored by the Diocese of Peoria’s Office of Evangelization. For more information, contact Julie at evangelization@cdop.org or (309) 671-1550.