Chrism Mass March 31 to celebrate unity, communion in the Church

Bishop Ralph B. O’Donnell will preside at his first Chrism Mass as leader of the Jefferson City diocese at 3 p.m. on March 31, 2026, the Tuesday of Holy Week, in the Cathedral of St. Joseph.

All are invited and encouraged to attend.

Filled with music, prayer and ancient symbolism, the Chrism Mass highlights and solidifies the bonds among the bishop, priests, the sacraments and all the faithful who receive them.

In the presence of the priests of the diocese and a large contingent of the laity, the bishop will bless the oils and consecrate the Sacred Chrism that will be used to administer sacraments in parishes throughout the diocese in the coming year.

The priests and the bishop will renew the promises to God that they made at their Ordination.

All present will be asked to pray for the priests, the bishop and all who will be receiving Sacraments in the upcoming year.

The bishop, priests and faithful will also observe the 25th priestly anniversaries of Father Paulinus Aneke Ph.D., a missionary priest from the Diocese of Enugu, Nigeria, who is serving as parochial administrator of St. Anthony Parish in Camdenton; and Father Benjamin Nwosu, a priest of the Diocese of Okigwe, Nigeria, who is serving as pastor of St. Ann Parish in Warsaw, St. Bernadette Parish in Hermitage and the Mission of Ss. Peter and Paul in Cole Camp.

Sister Mary Rost SSND, pastoral associate of Immaculate Conception Parish in Brookfield, and Sister Ruth Ann Klauser SSND of Kirksville, consecrated religious representative to the Diocesan Pastoral Council, will present the gifts of bread and wine at the Offertory.

Both are celebrating their 60th anniversaries as School Sisters of Notre Dame this year.

Unlike the purple or red vestments priests wear at liturgies during the rest of Holy Week, the bishop and priests wear white vestments at the Chrism Mass, symbolizing the communion of all the baptized.

A light reception will be held in Cana Hall after the Mass. Reservations are requested to provide an approximate count for the reception.

Visit diojeffcity.org/chrism-mass-rsvp to make a reservation by March 27.

The annual blessing of the sacramental oils dates from the early years of the Church.

It originally was part of the Holy Thursday Liturgy, since the Last Supper was not only the origin of the Eucharist but also the Holy Priesthood.

The Oil of Catechumens is used for infants during the baptismal ceremony, and for the anointing of the Elect during the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) as they prepare to be baptized.

This oil designates all members of the Church as learners in the Church and gives them a protecting strength in the contest against evil.

The Oil of the Sick is used in the Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick.

Sacred Chrism is used in Baptism, as well as Confirmation, the ordination of priests and bishops and the anointing of churches and altars.

The Chrism Mass will be livestreamed on the diocesan Facebook page at: facebook.com/diojeffcity.