Blessing the Oils

Every year we get Holy Oils. But what is the process by which they are blessed?

They start as containers of olive oil. These are place on an altar in a side chapel of the St. Cecelia Cathedral before the annual Chrism Mass. In the Omaha Archdiocese, this is traditionally held the Monday of Holy Week.

They are carried forward by teams of deacons and presented by people "involved" with the use of these oils.

For example the Holy Chrism was presented by Fr. Paul Hoesing and Linda Thomsen from the vocations office as this chrism will be used to ordain two new priests this summer. By chance both of those priests to be are in this picture: Deacon Ben Boyd is on the far side of Archbishop Lucas and Deacon Matt Capadano in on the near side. Dcn Capadano spent part of last summer helping us here at St Columbkille.

As the oils are announced, the deacons hold the oils aloft.

The same process is done for the Oil of the Sick as they are
 presented by Dr. Cheryl Pitner and Dr. Lloyd Pierre Jr. ...

... and the Oil of the Catechumens presented by Joyce Glen.

The oils are blessed by Archbishop Lucas as the deans bless them as well.

Archbishop Lucas pour the chrism into

 the olive oil to create the Holy Chrism.

He also breathes upon it as part of the rite.

The Mass goes forward with the oils on the side.

At the end of Mass, the oils are carried out.

In the back, Fr. Michael Gutgsell of St. Cecilia Cathedral oversees an impressive group of stewards who distribute the now blessed oils into plastic vials to be distributed to every parish in the archdiocese.

Last night, during the Mass of the Lord's Supper, we received our oils.