Bishop Michael joins with Priests of our Dioceses at the Cathedral of Our Lady Assumed into Heaven and St Nicholas, Galway and St Brendan’s Cathedral, Loughrea to Celebrate the Mass of Chrism 2026
“Although, not without its challenges and its failures, the life of a priest is a most blessed and wonderful life indeed. On a day like today, it is only right that we thank God for the gift of our priesthood and for the gift of each and every one of our priests.” – Bishop Michael
I am not sure if you know what this is called? It is a “Zuchetto”.
Now a “Zuchetto” is made of eight triangular panels joined at the tips by a central piece of string called the “Stirpes”. I bet even the priests here didn’t know that. Every day is a school day, isn’t it!
The word “Zuchetto” comes from the Italian word for a half pumpkin. In the past priests shaved their heads and the “Zuchetto” was a way of keeping a bald head warm.
For the moment, thank God, I still have a little hair to help me in that department! Over time, different colours of “Zuchetto” came to be used to distinguish different roles among the clergy.
Recently, I found a zip lock freezer bag with the “Zuchetto” I wore the day I was ordained a bishop.
At first, it struck me as strange, but when I opened it, I remembered why I had stored it in such a manner.
The “Zuchetto” itself was heavily stained with the Oil of Chrism that had anointed my head almost seven years ago now. There was no sparing in the pouring.
Chrism in abundance ran down my hair, behind my ears on to my face.
My mind rambled back through time to twenty-five years before then as I remembered a similar abundance of Chrism as my hands were anointed on the day I was ordained a priest. In that moment, it struck me that twelve years before then, at my confirmation, I had been anointed with Chrism on the forehead. Twelve years previous, again, I had been anointed as a baby. Anointed with the Oil of Catechumens on my chest and the Oil of Chrism on the crown of my head.
Christianity was born in a culture where olive trees are commonplace. “Olive Oil” was used to sustain life, ease suffering, heal sickness and when mixed with perfumes it was used to enhance a person’s wellbeing. The early Christians instinctively turned to the “oil of the olive” as a symbol of divine blessings. Each year at this Mass of Chrism – this “oil from the olive” takes centre stage.
On the threshold of the three most sacred days of the Church’s year, we gather to bless and consecrate the Oil of Catechumens, the Oil of the Sick and the sacred Oil of Chrism that will be used in the sacraments throughout our dioceses during the months to come.
Through these newly blessed and consecrated oils, God will touch the lives of those who are baptised and confirmed to lead them gently into friendship with him and the whole community of believers.
Through these newly blessed and consecrated oils, God will bestow consolation and healing on the sick. Through these sacred oils, God will also move the hearts of those he has called to the Priesthood and strengthen them to be loving shepherds to his people.
For a moment, I would like you to touch your chest, touch your head and your forehead and become aware that you, and each one gathered here today, was anointed at Baptism and Confirmation. You were chosen by God, adopted as a member of his family, and sent to make a difference in the world.
Like with Jesus in the Gospel – the “Spirit of God” has been given to you. He has anointed you. He has sent you to bring good news to those you encounter on the journey of life.
Today, is a special day for priests. As we prepare to accompany Jesus, the greatest of all shepherds, through the self-giving of his death and resurrection, we renew our own priestly promises.
Our promises, to deepen our love for the Good Shepherd himself and to imitate in our own lives his selfless shepherding of God’s people. For the priests among us, I invite you to look at your hands. Some hands here are still young. Many are getting older.
In a very special way, your hands represent you. Shaped, as you are, by your journey of life and your years of ministry. I invite you to remember back to that day when those hands were anointed with Chrism. That day when you definitively answered God’s call to serve as a priest.
With, the people of this diocese, I give thanks to God for your generosity in saying “Yes” back then. I thank God for your selfless ministry since. Through your hands you have been there for the People of God. There in good times. There in sad times.
By your example and words, you invite them to believe and to strengthen their belief in God. Through your human friendship you support and guide them.
Through your celebration of the sacraments, you gift them with the very special presence of God often, at those times in their lives, when they most need to feel his closeness.
Although, not without its challenges and its failures, the life of a priest is a most blessed and wonderful life indeed. On a day like today, it is only right that we thank God for the gift of our priesthood and for the gift of each and every one of our priests.
Today, I ask God to bless our priests. To bless them with a profound sense of his presence with them on the journey. I ask God to draw them into a deeper friendship with him. To help them find the space and time amid the busyness of life to enjoy his friendship and to be enriched by it.
I ask God to bless them, with a renewed sense of the immense value of their calling. When doubts come their way, or the frustrations and demands of ministry overpower them, I ask God to give them his solace and his caring reassuring embrace. I ask God to bless all our priests with a deep-down realisation that they are loved by him for who they are and that he walks with them in each and every moment of their ministry. I ask God to draw them closer to each other as priests.
I ask God to inspire them to be a “band of bothers” - there for one another come what may. I also ask God to bless me. That despite my weaknesses, I may do my best to be a good shepherd to them, and with them, a good shepherd to all God’s holy people.
Oil – olive oil, runs through our gathering today. The Oil of Catechumens, the Oil of the Sick, the Sacred Oil of Chrism. From those oils at my Baptism and Confirmation to those oils on my hands at ordination to that oil on my “Zuchetto”.
As Christians sacred oil, in one form or another, has touched all our lives. Through each and every anointing the “Spirit of God” has been given us. We have been called. We have been sent.
As we bless and consecrate these oils for the coming year, let us be reassured by the fact that in a world, often darkened by so many things, it is this Christian calling, this divine anointing, this Spirit driven sending that has an immense power to make a definitive positive difference to our lives and to our living, to our families, to our communities and to our world as whole. Amen