Chrism Mass 2022

In any given year (excluding the Covidtide years which may or may not be gone for good) there are approximately a half dozen diocesan Celebrations of the Eucharist. These liturgies do not have a fixed date but change every year with the calendar and the moon. Diocesan Confirmations are usually (but not always) in May; Ordinations take place often on or near a Commemoration of a Saint or a Holy Day in June and December; every second year (odd numbered years) the regularly scheduled Diocesan Synod takes place the second or third weekend of May; and the liturgy (recently a Celebration of Morning Prayer) that marks the Investiture of New Members to the Order of the Diocese of New Westminster takes place every second year on even years on the Saturday before All Saints Day (or more specifically the Sunday closest to All Saints Day). The most consistent of diocesan liturgies is the Chrism Mass, more correctly The Holy Eucharist with Reaffirmation of Baptismal & Ordination Vows & Blessing of Oils, celebrated at Christ Church Cathedral on the Tuesday of Holy Week (so… still a celebration with no fixed date). This worship is one that does not translate well to Zoom or livestream as an alternative to being there onsite. For it to have real meaning, clergy and lay need to be together in-person. As a diocese we have not gathered for this liturgy since March of 2019, however, that ended on April 12, 2022, as approximately 100 clergy and 40 lay occupied the pews and chairs of Christ Church Cathedral.

This was the first Chrism Mass of Bishop Stephens’s episcopacy, and he was moved by the experience. Here what he said:

"On Tuesday of Holy Week, 2022, for the first time as diocesan bishop I was able to preside in-person at the Chrism Mass. It brought tears to my eyes that I could stand at the altar in our Cathedral, and look out on so many of the people and clergy of our diocese as we all reaffirmed our baptismal and ordination vows. To share in Communion and to sing and worship together was meaningful and a powerful reminder of how important community is in our lives and for our soul. I am grateful to God for this opportunity and for this community."

The preacher for the liturgy was the Reverend Ronald Culmer. The Reverend Culmer was the guest preacher and teacher for Holy Week 2022 at Christ Church Cathedral. He is the Rector of an Episcopal Parish in Northern California’s Bay Area. In his address the Reverend Culmer commented on the circumstances of this Chrism Mass:

“In this time of coming together, I’m impressed to see as many of you here as I do. In a way it’s a time of redundancy. Clergy from around the diocese many who haven’t seen each other since Clergy Retreat (which will happen again later in the year). Well, we move in close, as we don’t get to hear the bishop preach often and, we will collect oils for baptism and anointing the sick, and then we are going to eat lunch together and then what happens is that we eventually part ways. There’s a typical rhythm as in some ways it feels more obligatory than necessary. And furthermore, for some time now I’ve been perplexed by what I could possibly say to this body that has not already been said. Indeed, what is there more to say about Holy Oil… as I sat down to write… the images came of all the powerful ways of which Holy Oils are sacrament.”

(An audio version of the Reverend Culmer’s homily is available here on the diocesan website)

Participation in the liturgy was diocesan wide. There were clergy and lay representing several parishes. There were three deacons active in the liturgy, the Reverends Brynne Craffey, Martha Cameron and Neil Seedhouse. Music in worship with congregational singing was led by a solo quartet of members of Cathedral Choir under the leadership of Director of Music/Organist Rupert Lang. Executive Archdeacon and Archdeacon of Vancouver, the Venerable Douglas Fenton was the MC and Bishop John Stephens was the presider, leading the Reaffirmation of Baptismal and Ordination Vows, presiding at the Eucharist and Blessing the Holy Oils. This was also the first diocesan service since March of 2020 offering Communion of both kinds, the Body of Christ and the Blood of Christ in the Common Cup. Many communicants took the Common Cup, some returned to their seats after receiving the Body of Christ and some touched the outside of the chalice in a gesture of acknowledgement.

This is truly a beautiful liturgy, and you are encouraged to mark your calendar for April 4, 2023, in hopes that again we will be able to gather in-person to reaffirm our vows and spend some time in community.

THE HOLY OILS

Following the Eucharist and prior to the Dismissal, the bishop blesses three oils: Oil for the Sick, Oil for the Catechumens and the Oil of Sacred Chrism.

The Oil of the Sick (OI – oleum infirmorum)

The Letter of James urges its recipients to anoint the sick with oil (James 5:15), as a sign of the healing and forgiveness that are also given through the Holy Spirit (Mark 6:13). In earlier times use of this oil was largely restricted to persons in the Last Rites at the point of death. Thankfully it is now common practice to make regular use of this provision, as a sign of God’s longing for healing and wholeness for everyone.

The Oil for Catechumens (OC – oleum catechumenorum)

In part of the tradition, the Catechumens, those preparing during Lent for baptism at Easter, were signed with the Cross near the beginning of their instruction. It has now become the practice in some churches for candidates for Confirmation or Reaffirmation to be signed with the Cross using this oil at the beginning of their course of preparation.

The Oil of Sacred Chrism (SC – sanctum chrisma)

Baptism is the sacramental sign of our union with Christ, and of God’s gift to us of the Holy Spirit, to make us God’s children by adoption and grace, and to equip us for the share that all Christians have in Christ’s own mercy. The New Testament speaks of this gift of the Holy Spirit as an anointing (1 John 2: 20-27; 2 Corinthians 1: 21-22). From an early date, it became customary to trace the sign of the Cross in oil on the heads of candidates for baptism, and to anoint them again after baptism with the Oil of Sacred Chrism – a sign of incorporation into the prophetic, priestly and royal life of Jesus the Christ, the Anointed One.

This oil has also come to be used (after practice in Hebrew Scriptures) for the setting apart of people and things for a special place in the life of the Church, for bishops and priests at their ordination, for kings and queens at their crowning, and for churches and altars at their consecration.

IMAGES

The Oils
A view from the chancel of the Reaffirmation of Baptismal & Ordination Vows
Kerry Baisley, ODNW poses in the sacristy surrounded by empty glass jars that will soon be filled with Holy Oils.
Reader of the Old Testament, Isaiah 49: 1-7, John Innes of Christ Church Cathedral
Solo Quartet and Director of Music, Rupert Lang in the Organ Loft lead Psalm 71
Reader of the Epistle, 1 Corinthians 1: 18-31, the Reverend Terry Shields Dirbas, Rector of St. John, Shaughnessy
Bishop John Stephens and Thurifer, Justin Berger during the Gradual Hymn
Deacon, the Reverend Neil Seedhouse proclaims the Gospel, John 12: 20-36
Preacher, the Reverend Ronald Culmer
Bishop John leads the Renewal of Vows
Censing the chancel platform prior to the Prayer Over the Gifts
The return of the Common Cup during Holy Communion.
Some communicants opted to gently touch the cup, the Blood of Christ.
MC for the Eucharist, the Venerable Douglas Fenton places the oils for blessing, assisted by Deacon, the Reverend Martha Cameron of St. Barnabas, New Westminster
Bishop John blessing the Sacred Oil of Chrism. "Gracious God, whose blessed Son was anointed by the Holy Spirit to be the Saviour and servant of all, we pray you to send down that same Spirit to consecrate this oil, that those who are sealed with this Chrism may share in the royal priesthood of Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever."
The majority of the congregation remained to enjoy a Bette Geddes catered lunch.
Sacred Oil of Chrism ready to be distributed to the parishes and worshipping communities of the diocese.
Oil for Healing