A child smiles during Chrism Mass at the Owensboro Sportscenter on April 4, 2023. RACHEL HALL | WKC
At Chrism Mass, priests renew commitment; bishop praises diocese’s cultural diversity
BY ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD, THE WESTERN KENTUCKY CATHOLIC
During his homily at the Diocese of Owensboro’s April 4, 2023 Chrism Mass, held in the Owensboro Sportscenter, Bishop William F. Medley asked all the priests to stand for a moment.
He then asked the faithful to express their gratitude for their priests – filling the sportscenter with resounding applause.
“We ask you to hold us accountable to our sacred calling, to be spiritual and moral leaders in our Church and the world,” said Bishop Medley.
After the applause had died down, the bishop acknowledged that no priest is perfect – and that sometimes the faithful have told him so.
“I know they aren’t perfect,” he said. “But I am grateful for them.”
The sportscenter then filled with a second round of deep, spontaneous applause from the faithful.
Besides the blessing of the Oil of the Sick and the Oil of Catechumens, and the consecration of the Sacred Chrism, the Chrism Mass also provides the opportunity for the presbyterate to renew their commitment to priestly service.
Following the homily, the priests stood and prayerfully asked for God’s help to remain faithful to their consecrated mission to service the People of God, and the people, in turn, promised their prayers and support for their priests.
The liturgy itself was filled with a variety of music from the various cultures that call the Diocese of Owensboro home.
Priests share the sign of peace during Chrism Mass at the Owensboro Sportscenter on April 4, 2023. RILEY GREIF | WKC
The introductory rite featured a psalm sung in Swahili by the Congolese choir of Holy Spirit Parish in Bowling Green; the Gloria led by the Hispanic choir of Sts. Joseph and Paul Parish in Owensboro, and the Lamb of God and post-Communion reflection sung by the Burmese choir of Holy Spirit.
The readings were proclaimed in English, Spanish, and Burmese.
In his homily, the bishop commented on this being his 14th Chrism Mass with the Diocese of Owensboro – and that the face of the diocese has evolved since his arrival in western Kentucky in 2010.
“With every passing year, our profile is more diverse,” he said. “In many parishes, most babies being baptized and children being confirmed are Latino.”
The bishop recalled last year’s National Catholic Burmese-American Conference, hosted by the diocese, which featured the ordination of Fr. Martin Ma Na Ling – only the second Myanmar-born priest ordained in the United States. (Fr. Stephen Van Lal Than, ordained for the diocese in 2020, was the first Myanmar-born priest ordained in the U.S.) The conference drew nearly 2,000 Myanmar Catholics from around the U.S.
“We are richer for it,” said Bishop Medley of this growth in western Kentucky Catholicism.
He also asked that the people continue to pray for vocations, “that the Lord will continue to send workers into the vineyard” and invited all present to attend the upcoming priestly ordinations of Deacon Christopher Grief and Deacon Christopher Kight on May 20 in Paducah.
At the end of Mass, the bishop held up the chalice that had been used during the liturgy.
He said this was the chalice of Bishop Francis R. Cotton, the first bishop of the diocese, which had been recently rediscovered in the diocesan archives – “and it had not been used publicly for 60 years.”
Bishop Medley said that in the spirit of continuity, he hopes to celebrate future Masses with Bishop Cotton’s chalice.
The Congolese Choir of Holy Spirit Parish in Bowling Green practices before Chrism Mass at the Owensboro Sportscenter on April 4, 2023. RILEY GREIF | WKC
Volunteers fill containers with the Oil of the Sick, the Oil of Catechumens and Sacred Chrism during Chrism Mass at the Owensboro Sportscenter on April 4, 2023. RILEY GREIF | WKC
Bishop William F. Medley breathes on the Sacred Chrism during Chrism Mass at the Owensboro Sportscenter on April 4, 2023. ELIZABETH WONG BARNSTEAD | WKC
Bishop William F. Medley speaks about the chalice of Bishop Francis R. Cotton, the first bishop of Owensboro. The chalice was used at this year’s Chrism Mass on April 4, 2023. RILEY GREIF | WKC
Originally printed in the May 2023 issue of The Western Kentucky Catholic.
