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CV NEWS FEED // During the annual Chrism Mass in Los Angeles, Archbishop José H. Gomez urged priests to renew their commitment to Christ with hearts formed by compassion and sacramental ministry.
The Mass, celebrated April 14 at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, drew nearly 4,000 faithful and about 400 priests, Angelus News reported. As is tradition during Holy Week, the liturgy included the consecration of sacramental oils that will be used across the archdiocese in baptisms, confirmations, anointings of the sick, and other rites throughout the coming year.
In his homily, Archbishop Gomez reflected on the deep connection between the sacraments and the priest’s vocation.
“We preach the word of hope, and at the altar we make that hope real,” he said, Angelus News reported. “With Jesus, we walk with our people, guiding them along the pathway of hope.”
He reminded priests of the deeper foundation of their vocation.
“We are called to be men whose hearts are shaped by our friendship with Jesus and by the ministry that he has entrusted to us, by the sacred mysteries that we celebrate every day at the altar, and by our care and compassion for the people we serve,” Archbishop Gomez said.
The Mass also honored longtime service within the priesthood. Several priests celebrating 50 years of ordination were recognized by name, and Cardinal Roger Mahony, archbishop emeritus of Los Angeles, received special acknowledgment for his five decades as a bishop.
“We pray for you in a special way this evening,” Archbishop Gomez told the jubilarians.
Looking forward, he noted encouraging signs of growth in the Los Angeles archdiocese. According to the archbishop, more than 5,000 people will enter the Church this Easter, and eight men will be ordained to the transitional diaconate, their next step on the path to the priesthood. He added that 18 men will be ordained as permanent deacons.
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