By Kevin Wondrash, Catholic Herald Staff
MADISON — While Holy Week of 2020 left feelings of isolation and emptiness, 2021’s Holy Week was a reunion of sorts.
Catholics in the Diocese of Madison were reunited with Christ in the Holy Mass and with each other, in-person, at the holiest of celebrations during the Church year.
With restrictions on the public celebrations of Masses long-lifted, a sense of normalcy reigned as the diocese prepared to celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord on Easter Sunday.
While the general public could still not attend the annual Chrism Mass, many priests of the diocese, along with parish representatives were present at the Mass on March 30 at St. Maria Goretti Church in Madison.
A night of joy
There was a sense of joy in the air all evening, illustrated by people greeting each other and expressing how they had not seen each other in about a year, the length of time that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected everyone.
During his homily, a chance to speak to all in attendance and those from around the Diocese of Madison viewing the livestream, Bishop Donald J. Hying of Madison said “Tonight, I’m filled with great joy because last year, which was my first Chrism Mass here in the diocese, there were exactly nine people at it and it’s great to have more people and hopefully next year we’ll be overflowing and back fully to normal.”
He continued with, “This past year has been a difficult one for all of us. The suffering, sickness, isolation, and death caused by the pandemic has tested the resilience of us all and the faith of many.”
He added, “Yet, in the midst of so much pain, people of faith responded. Our younger priests heroically stepped forward to anoint COVID patients. Our older priests filled in when a brother had fallen ill.”
The bishop said he was “deeply grateful” for all of the priests.
He also mentioned the deacons, Religious, staff members, catechists, health professionals, charitable organizations, lay faithful, and others who “have done so much to reach out to the ill and the isolated to assure them of God’s presence and the prayer of the Church and to continue the essential function of our parishes and schools.”
Renewing commitment and blessing of oils
Following Bishop Hying’s homily, priests in attendance from the diocese all rose and renewed their commitment to priestly service.
This is done to mark the anniversary of when Christ instituted the priesthood during the Last Supper on Holy Thursday.
Following those affirmations, three oils — The Oil of the Sick, the Oil of the Catechumens, and the Sacred Chrism — were presented to Bishop Hying to be consecrated.
He said prayers over each of these oils and for the Sacred Chrism, he mixed in a fragrance and breathed upon it in silence.
In lieu of each vicariate and parish being named and asked to come forward to receive their oils, the oils were placed on tables in the parish corridor where priests and parish representatives picked them up following the Mass.
For those who wish to view the Chrism Mass, a video link is available on the St. Maria Goretti YouTube page at: https://www.youtube.com/c/StMariaGorettiParish/videos or by searching for “Diocese of Madison Chrism Mass-March 30, 2021”.
Celebrating the Triduum
All over the Diocese of Madison, Holy Week and Easter celebrations were celebrated with open doors again.
In the interest of health and safety, some parishes did encourage parishioners to sign up for their more well-attended Masses to get an idea on numbers and what specific protocols needed to be performed in the churches.
RCIA participants were received fully into the Catholic Church in front of their loved ones and fellow parishioners on Easter Vigil.
“Alleluias” were heard in the churches, and not just in homes of parishioners.
There is a renewed hope that the churches will be even more full come Holy Week and Easter 2022 and “alleluia” and rising again and will take on an even fuller meaning.