Priests renew commitment to service during Chrism Mass

Holy Spirit Parish, Madang: Priests in Madang renewed their promises to their priestly duties during a Chrism mass on the afternoon of Wednesday, 9th April, 2025.

Picture: His Grace Archbishop Anton Bal and the priests after the Chrism mass.

The mass was held at the Holy Spirit Cathedral in Madang where local parishioners and different Catholic religious congregations attended to witness this significant annual event. It was a joyful afternoon mass stemmed from the angelic singing by the St Fidelis Seminarians who led the Liturgy.

The Archbishop of Madang, His Grace, Most Reverend Bishop Anton Bal DD, was the main celebrant of the mass with 28 priests as co-celebrants.

In his homily, His Grace made similar comparison to priests being anointed and sent out in the Old Testament book of Isaiah, to the blessing of the oils and the renewing of priestly promises during the Chrism mass.

He said that priests are mediators who help draw people closer to God through celebration of masses and sacramental duties.

He encouraged the priests to walk with integrity in their pastoral duties and urged parishioners to uphold the priests in prayer.

Present at the Chrism mass, diocesan priest Fr Ferdinand Kawai in his personal reflection of the occasion said that obedience to the Bishop is very important in a pastoral ministry.

“If Bishop asks us to go to Saidor or Josephstaal, in obedience we say yes; that’s part of our commitment”, he said.

Fr Ferdinand Kawai has served as a priest for 45 years and is currently the Holy Trinity Parish assistant priest under Bogia Deanery.

Administrator of the Holy Spirit Cathedral and parish priest Fr Marek Kondrakt spoke with passion about the Chrism mass, saying that it is a beautiful symbol of our Christian faith.

“It’s a beautiful moment. When we look at the Archbishop blessing the oils, it reminds us of our own sacraments when the oils were used - Baptism. These oils were used to mark us forever that we belong to Jesus, we belong to our Almighty through the sacrament which is an initiation. We were initiated through the Christian faith,” he said.

The Chrism Mass ended with a photo session of the Archbishop and all the priests.