Merry Chrism Mass!

It was a very merry Chrism Mass yesterday evening!

   - beautiful music (it helps if you're sitting next to Bill McNamara, campus minister for music at Seattle University)

   - awesome liturgical ministers (including a nervous recently ordained deacon and oil bearer or two)

   - reverent procession and presentation of oils and essence

   - saw a recent picture of Tony V. which was so great to see, thanks to one of the coordinators of the Dismissal of the Elect who saw him at the Mid-Atlantic Congress a few weeks ago (last time I talked to him, Tony said their Chrism Mass is Monday of Holy Week)

   - priests renewing their vow of obedience to the local bishop and their commitment to serve the people of God

   - Archbishop Sartain blest a monstrance to be used for Vocations to the Priesthood & Religious Life for the Archdiocese

   - one of the deans shouted in a soft voice "Jen-Jen"  (my nickname from Seattle University, since I also go by "Jen") during the recessional as I walked in front of him during the procession

   - seeing and talking to the 8 or 9 year old niece (her name is pronounced "Saba" but not sure how it's spelled) of Father Wagner. This was the third time I saw her since her uncle's ordination to the diaconate a few years ago

   - as all of the priests went back to the Pastoral Outreach Center, two by two in a straight line, Father Maurer strayed just to come and say hi to me...that was nice and very grace-filled

   - saw a pastoral musician committee member of NPM Seattle Chapter who told me about the death of Father Ed White's mother in Maine. Please pray for the repose of her soul and for Father Ed and his family, during this difficult time. He flew back to Seattle from Maine just hours before concelebrating at the Chrism Mass

   - a homeless man coming to the reception to get almost all of the cookies left, using a box to carry them out, even with the line of people waiting to get food

A Merry Chrism Mass to all...and to all a good holy week!