by The Tablet Staff

PROSPECT HEIGHTS — The Chrism Mass — one of the most solemn  services of the liturgical calendar — is expected to bring Catholic clergy, laity, and other faithful to the Co-Cathedral of St. Joseph Tuesday night.

The service starts at 7:30 p.m. with a procession of priests, followed by the Mass. This chrism Mass will be celebrated by Bishop Robert Brennan along with auxiliary bishops of the Diocese of Brooklyn. In recent years in the diocese, the Mass has been held on the Tuesday of Holy Week.

During the Mass, different oils are blessed, including the oil of catechumens — an oil used in baptism — the oil of the sick, and the oil the chrism, a particularly blessed oil that is also used during baptism, confirmation, and when a priest is ordained.

Also at the service, diocesan priests and deacons renew the promises they made at their ordinations. In addition, the priests renew their promise of obedience to the bishop. 

The Mass also celebrates jubilarians — priests who have reached special milestones in their years of service. Lay people can also use this Mass as an opportunity to renew a pledge of support for the bishop.

The bishop traditionally uses the occasion of the chrism Mass to deliver a message to his priests in his homily.

The Chrism Mass will be live streamed on the Currents News Facebook page immediately following Currents News LIVE at 7:00pm.