By Paschal Norbert
ABUJA, MARCH 29, 2024 (CISA)- “Our annual Chrism Mass is meant to refill us so that we do not run dry as we try to model our lives after Jesus Christ the Great High Priest,” proclaimed Archbishop Ignatius Ayau Kaigama.
In his homily at the Chrism Mass at Our Lady Queen of Nigeria Pro-Cathedral, on March 27, 2024, Archbishop Kaigama underscored the significance of the Mass to the ministry of priesthood, terming it as a gift that helps to seek divine “outpouring of more graces upon us priests so that we will become more effective instruments in the Lord’s vineyard.”
“The Chrism Mass celebrates the gift and ministry of the ministerial priesthood… We shall renew our commitment to serve God and to serve His people without counting the cost; we shall ask for a renewal of both spiritual and physical energy to keep the spiritual/pastoral flags flying high; we shall beg God for the grace to be true witnesses to the gospel values, and to bring hope to all facing multidimensional challenges,” said the archbishop of Abuja.
Archbishop Kaigama highlighted the challenges of priesthood and detailed the sacrifices in missionary spirit that some of the priests make to serve the faithful and minister to the poor and people in most need in society.
“Among our priests, some are sent to work in difficult mission fields, and rural areas, ministering to the Internally Displaced Persons, prisoners, those kidnapped and released, and other needy categories of people, living among the people, and experiencing along with them the poor living conditions and other social and security challenges. However, they keep striving, offering pastoral services and giving the people reasons to keep hope alive in the face of social, economic, and political uncertainties. The priest also needs to get some strength to face these tasks and to serve, not only through prayer, the sacraments or keeping good social relationships, but also by a renewal of his priestly commitment,” stated the prelate.
He said, the mission calling of a priest can tire an individual and thus, the need for priests to renew the promises they made at their ordination: to dedicate their life in service to the Church – to preach the Gospel and teach the Catholic faith, to faithfully celebrate the sacraments and to pray for God’s people.
“In giving ourselves to the mission, there is some kind of exhaustion/fatigue that comes with faithfully living out our priestly vocation,” noted Kaigama, explaining “We are aware that even for automobiles or machines, there comes a time when they run low on diesel or petrol and need to be refilled. Our annual Chrism Mass is meant to refill us so that we do not run dry as we try to model our lives after Jesus Christ the Great High Priest.”
Archbishop Kaigama thanked the priests for their heroic witness and encouraged them to transform shortcomings and hardened hearts into an opportunity to draw closer to Christ and start anew.
“The Lord is inviting us priests to draw closer to receive the needed grace and strength to serve the people of God. Not to become attention-seekers, or of worldly rewards but to lead those entrusted to our care to Christ,” he said, adding “May Almighty God grant that when we priests are betrayed by our own weaknesses, we may draw the breath of new life from the passion and death of God’s Only Begotten Son…”
He also urged the faithful to fervently pray and support the priests.
*Traditionally, the Chrism Mass is celebrated during Holy Week, on the morning of Holy Thursday. However, it can fall on another day of the week, or during the Lenten season, as close to Holy Week as possible. During the Mass, three types of oils are blessed for use in each parish in the diocese for the coming year. Also at the Mass, all the priests and the bishop publicly renew their commitment to priestly service.
