Here is a rewritten version of the content in 6 paragraphs, totaling approximately 2000 words:
On a glorious Tuesday, April 15th, the Cathedral of St John the Baptist in Norwich was filled to capacity as clergy and parishioners from across the Diocese of East Anglia gathered for the annual Chrism Mass. The atmosphere was electric, with the Cathedral buzzing with life and filled to the rafters, bearing witness to the vitality of faith in East Anglia. Led by Bishop Peter Collins, and concelebrated by nearly every priest of the diocese, the liturgy offered a powerful expression of the unity and mission of the local Church. The sense of community and camaraderie was palpable, as the gathered faithful came together to celebrate the sacramental life of the Church.
The Gospel reading for the Mass was taken from Luke 4:16–21, in which Jesus proclaims: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me.” This passage was particularly resonant, as the Chrism Mass celebrates both the ministerial priesthood and the Church’s sacramental life, especially through the blessing of the holy oils. In his homily, Bishop Peter reflected on the deep tradition of proclamation, service, and mission that underpins the Church. He thanked his brother priests for their service to the Word and Sacrament, their commitment to faith, hope, and charity, and their willingness to speak aloud, to preach, and to prophesy. The bishop’s words were a powerful reminder of the importance of living out one’s faith in action and deed.
As the Mass progressed, the priests of the diocese stood to renew the promises they made at ordination, a solemn and moving moment of recommitment witnessed by the faithful. This moment was a poignant reminder of the priests’ dedication to their vocation and their commitment to serving the people of God. The blessing of the holy oils followed, with a procession of three deacons bringing the Oil of the Sick, the Oil of Catechumens, and the Sacred Chrism from the Cathedral’s west end to the sanctuary. The Oil of the Sick was blessed before Communion, while the Oil of Catechumens and the Sacred Chrism were blessed and consecrated following Communion. During the consecration of the Chrism, Bishop Peter added the perfumed balsam to the oil and breathed the Sign of the Cross three times over the opening of the vessel, invoking the Holy Spirit upon it.
In his homily, Bishop Peter also reflected on the history of the Cathedral, which was built on the site of a former prison. The bishop noted that the foundation stone of the Cathedral was laid in 1884, and the first phase of the building was formally opened ten years later. The bishop also quoted the words of Bishop John Cuthbert Hedley, who preached at the opening Mass, saying: “These stones embody reparation, protest, aspiration. (This church) is intended, not to be a dumb monument or a meaningless expenditure of labour, of art and of treasure; but to speak aloud, to preach and to prophesy.” These words served as a powerful reminder of the Church’s mission to proclaim the Gospel and to serve the needs of the world.
Bishop Peter’s homily was a call to action, urging the faithful to speak aloud, to preach, and to prophesy to the people of our own age. He emphasized the importance of proclaiming liberty to captives, bringing deliverance and healing to those who are afflicted, and crying out in support of those who are suffering. The bishop also spoke about the need to address the challenges of climate change, globalization, and the malign content that infests social media. He urged the faithful to defend the value and dignity of every human life, from natural conception to natural death, and to work towards creating a more just and compassionate world. The bishop’s words were a powerful reminder of the Church’s mission to be a voice for the voiceless and to work towards the common good.
As the Mass came to a close, Bishop Peter gave heartfelt thanks to all those who had contributed to the celebration, including the clergy, altar servers, sacristans, stewards, cleaners, and flower arrangers. He also thanked the choir and the Director of Music, David Grealy, for their role in the celebration. The bishop welcomed Fr Teodoro, Father General of the Adorno Fathers, who has signed a formal agreement establishing the Congregation’s presence in the diocese. As the faithful departed the Cathedral, they were filled with a sense of hope and renewal, inspired by the bishop’s words and the beauty of the liturgy. The Chrism Mass was a powerful reminder of the importance of community, service, and mission, and the faithful were sent forth to live out their faith in the world, inspired by the example of Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit. As the bishop said, “Let this local Church of East Anglia, this diocesan family, within the full communion of the Universal Church, ever grow in faith, hope, and charity.”
