Chrism Mass celebrations: A call to mission and renewal

Apr 25, 2025

The Chrism Mass, traditionally celebrated during Holy Week, is a significant liturgical celebration that unites the Church in mission and ministry.

Central to the celebration is the blessing of the Sacred Chrism, the Oil of the Sick, and the Oil of Catechumens — sacred oils used throughout the year in sacraments such as Baptism, Confirmation, Anointing of the Sick, and ordinations.

Equally important is the Renewal of Priestly Promises, a solemn reaffirmation of the clergy’s commitment to serve Christ and His Church.

The following is a round-up of the Chrism Mass celebrations held across Malaysia’s arch/dioceses.

Archdiocese of Kota Kinabalu
This year’s Chrism Mass was celebrated on April 12 at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, presided over by Archbishop John Wong. In his homily, the archbishop reminded the faithful of their vital role in the mission that Jesus has entrusted to His Church.

He said, “Tonight, as we gather, it is good to ask ourselves: Why are we here? What is the purpose of this Mass? Perhaps it is to witness the blessing of the oils, to see the priests, or to bring oil on behalf of a friend. Whatever the reason, the Gospel of St Luke reminds us that Jesus used the words of the prophet Isaiah to reveal His ministry — a divine vision entrusted to Him. This same mission now calls each of us to be part of His Body, here and now.”



The prelate then called on all the faithful to reflect on their shared commitment to live out the Gospel and to support one another, especially the clergy, in this journey of faith.

After the homily, the clergy renewed their commitment to priestly service, and the archbishop blessed and consecrated the Oils brought to the altar by Frs Bradley Belly, Slyvester Wong and Jerry Joseph.

Diocese of Sandakan
On March 27, priests from the Diocese of Sandakan gathered at the Cathedral of St Mary for the Chrism Mass, which took place after a three-day priests’ meeting.

Presiding over the celebration, Rt Rev Bishop Julius Dusin Gitom described the Chrism Mass as a deeply meaningful liturgy. “We have come together to praise and thank the Lord for the gifts of the priesthood and the Eucharist, which are closely connected,” he said. “All baptised persons share in the ministry of Jesus — especially through teaching and prayer. But the priesthood is uniquely entrusted to those ordained to carry out Christ’s ministry in a special way.”



He emphasised that only priests could celebrate the Eucharist — the divine wisdom given to the Church to sustain and continue the ministry of Christ. “The Eucharist sustains the life of the Church,” the bishop noted.

Bishop Julius went on to explain the significance of the blessing of the sacred oils which would be distributed to the priests for their respective parishes.

He urged the faithful to continue supporting and praying for him and all parish priests in their ministry, asking them to be patient with their shepherds. “Pray that we may remain men of prayer, faithful, holy, and united with Christ, the Good Shepherd,” he said.

To his brother priests, Bishop Julius offered words of encouragement, reminding them of their divine calling: “You have been chosen by Jesus to serve. You are important to God’s plan. Serve the people with joy, remain close to God in prayer, be strong in the face of challenges, and never stop striving for holiness.” --Evelyn Jock

Diocese of Miri
The Chrism Mass for the Diocese of Miri was celebrated on April 9 at the Cathedral of St Joseph, ahead of Holy Week, to allow priests — some serving in remote parishes — to return in time for the Easter Triduum.

The celebration also welcomed five priests from the Vicariate of Brunei.

The Mass began with the launch of the Perjalanan Salib Malaysia. This Salib will journey through the diocese before reaching Majodi, Johor for the Malaysia Pastoral Convention in September 2026.



In his homily, Rt Rev Bishop Richard Ng reflected on the meaning of Chrism, derived from the Greek Christos, meaning “the anointed one.” He highlighted the prophecy from Isaiah — fulfilled by Jesus in Nazareth — and reminded the faithful that all baptised Christians are anointed, not for privilege, but for the responsibility of sharing in Christ’s mission.

To the clergy, he urged a faithful living out of their priesthood: to be bearers of good news, forgivers, role models, and selfless servants. He also called on the faithful to pray for their priests and support them with encouragement rather than criticism.

After the homily, the priests renewed their vows, followed by the blessing of the Oil of the Sick and Catechumens, and the consecration of the Sacred Chrism. The blessed oils were then distributed to the priests to be used in their respective parishes throughout the year.

Archdiocese of Kuala Lumpur
The Chrism Mass was celebrated on April 8 at the Church of the Sacred Heart, with Archbishop Julian Leow presiding. The Mass brought together approximately 65 priests from across the archdiocese.

In his homily, Archbishop Julian delivered a reflection centred on the theme of family, inspired by the Gospel reading: “Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up.” “We all come from families — some whole, some broken, some joyful, others marked by pain,” he shared. “Even Jesus grew up in a family, and our own families shape us and teach us lessons that prepare us for our vocation. Today, we remember that our priests, too, come from families and are part of a greater spiritual family — you, the people of God — whose prayers and support we deeply need.”

The archbishop spoke about both the sacred responsibility and the human vulnerability of the priesthood. “We are called to serve — to bring liberty to captives, sight to the blind, and forgiveness in Jesus’ name. Yet we are also weak men. We rely on your prayers, and the intercession of the saints, to stay faithful to the promises we made.”



Turning to the congregation, he added, “Your priests — my priests, our priests — stand before you tonight to renew the vows of their ordination. Please pray for us, that we may remain faithful servants, especially amid the distractions and challenges of today’s world.”

Quoting St John Mary Vianney, the patron saint of parish priests, Archbishop Julian reminded his brother priests of the depth of their vocation: “If we only knew who we are as priests…”, encouraging them to remember their identity as vessels of God’s mercy and grace.

As the Mass concluded, the archbishop expressed deep appreciation for the dedication of the clergy, particularly during difficult times. “We may have failed you at times,” he acknowledged, “but we ask for your continued prayers, as we strive — together — to be shepherds after the heart of Jesus.”

Diocese of Penang
His Eminence Cardinal Sebastian Francis presided over the Chrism Mass at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit on April 8. In his homily, he reflected on the meaning of the word “Chrism,” derived from the Greek chrisma, meaning “anointing.” He reminded the congregation that Chrism takes its name from Christ, “the Anointed One of the Lord,” and that the oils blessed during this liturgy are powerful symbols of mission, healing, and unity within the Christian community.

“This Mass reminds us that our identity is rooted in Christ,” the Cardinal said, referencing Jesus’ first homily in Nazareth from the Gospel of Luke. “He was anointed to bring good news to the poor, liberty to captives, and healing to the broken. These oils symbolise our shared call to mission and communion.”

The liturgy included the blessing of the three sacred oils: the Oil of Catechumens, the Oil of the Sick, and the Sacred Chrism — each serving a unique and vital role in the sacramental life of the Church. Cardinal Sebastian highlighted that these oils are not only used in specific sacraments but also stand as continuous signs of God’s grace at every stage of life.



“They remind us that everyone — children, the sick, those preparing for baptism, and all the faithful — are embraced by God’s love,” he added.

Following the homily, the clergy present renewed their priestly promises, reaffirming their dedication to serve Christ and His Church.

Addressing the faithful, Cardinal Sebastian requested their prayers:

“Pray for your priests, that the Lord may pour out His gifts abundantly upon them and keep them faithful as ministers of Christ, the High Priest,” he said. “And pray also for me, that I may be faithful to the apostolic office entrusted to me and become, in your midst, a more perfect image of Christ — the Good Shepherd, the Teacher, and the Servant of all.”

He concluded by reminding the congregation that the Chrism Mass is a celebration of our baptismal calling — a visible sign that we, the people of God, are anointed by the Holy Spirit to bring Christ to the world. Nicholas Khor