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| Father John Peter Cameron, OP, editor of Magnificat magazine, talks with Father Cris Janson, SM, pastor of Holy Rosary Church, at the Chrism day of reflection, April 7 at the AT&T Community Centre.
Deacon Gonzalo Meza | Today’s Catholic |
By Deacon Gonzalo Meza
For Today’s Catholic
SAN ANTONIO • April 7 marked the annual Chrism day of reflection in the archdiocese, a time for priestly fraternity, a moment in which the majority of the presbyters of the archdiocese gather together around Archbishop José H. Gomez at San Fernando Cathedral to concelebrate the Chrism Mass, as a sign of their unity and communion.
Retired Auxiliary Bishop Thomas J. Flanagan, Retired Bishop John W. Yanta of the Diocese of Amarillo, Auxiliary Bishop Oscar Cantú, 200 priests and 64 seminarians convened in the event. According to the organizers it was one of the most attended annual reflection days in recent years. The religious ceremony was preceded by a presentation and a dinner that took place at the AT&T Community Centre downtown.
At the end of the reflection made by Father Peter John Cameron, OP, founding editor-in-chief of Magnificat magazine, the clergy had a time to socialize and then to dine together.
Father Cameron presented the topic of the reflection: “Imitate me as I imitate Christ: St. Paul as model of priestly paternity.” This phrase, said the Dominican father, means to make the encounter with Christ real.
During the first part of the presentation, he explained that “before his conversion Paul was a sinner because he was trying to live according to his own justice; his entire person was intent on exterminating an entire category of human beings. What happened in Paul’s heart that he could see truth? Why did this man convert on the road to Damascus? The first public image of Paul as follower of Christ is that of prayer,” prayer then serves as a means to examine the life of the apostle, said Father Cameron.
He also described how St. Paul prayed the Our Father and invited to relearn the Lord’s Prayer in the light of the apostle of the Gentiles.
In the second part of the presentation Father Cameron spoke about charity, paternity and the happiness of the priest, referring to the first letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians, “I became your father in Christ Jesus through the Gospel.” (1 Cor 4:15) The paternal witness of the apostle remains an indispensable source of enlightenment and grace for priests, whose vocation is “to beget others in Christ Jesus,” said the Dominican father.
Father Cameron is a Dominican priest of the Province of St. Joseph, and was ordained in 1986. He is an award-winning playwright and the artistic director of Blackfriars Repertory Theatre, and serves as the director of preaching for his province. He is the author of six books, including Jesus, Present Before Me: Meditations for Eucharistic Adoration. His newest book Why Preach: Encountering Christ in God’s Word, was recently published by Ignatius Press.
Chrism Mass
The Chrism day of reflection has its culminating part with the Mass in the evening. The focus of the standing-room-only evening liturgy was the blessing of the oils and consecration of the Chrism. Jesus is the Anointed One, and all whom he calls to follow him are anointed with Chrism at their baptism and again at confirmation, as they receive the spiritual anointing of the Holy Spirit. Those whom the Lord calls to serve his people in the ministry of the priesthood are anointed at their ordination. Also blessed was the Oil of Catechumens, which will be used to anoint candidates for baptism before they go to the font of life to be reborn. Anointing with the Oil of Catechumens extends the effect of the baptismal exorcisms and strengthens the catechumens to renounce sin and accept the challenge of Christian living.
God’s people are called also to a ministry of healing. The Oil of the Sick that was blessed will be used in the sacrament of the anointing of the sick in parishes, homes and hospitals to give those who are ill in mind and body the strength to bear suffering and pain.
Oil bearers and presenters at the Mass were Father Roy Quiogue and Virginia Gallegos from CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital, William Solock and Diana Montemayor from Price of Peace Parish, and Shelby Walters and Lili Vasquez from St. Mark the Evangelist Church.