Here are some of the sights from the Diocese of Lansing’s Chrism Mass, celebrated on Holy Thursday, April 2, 2026, as the priests of the Diocese of Lansing gathered at a packed Saint Mary Cathedral in Lansing to concelebrate Holy Mass with Bishop Earl Boyea.
In his homily, Bishop Boyea encouraged his brother priests to be ever more devoted to their daily offering of the Holy Mass, so as to help all the faithful — clergy and laity alike — grow in holiness.
“Our entire lives are meant to be joined to the offering made each day on that altar, a holocaust caught up into the burning bush,” said Bishop Boyea. “In addition, just as Moses was not called for his own sake, but for the people of God, so this holy place saturates us with sufficient grace to serve his people. We are consecrated priests, not for ourselves, but for them.”
“In one sense, we are called deeper into our relationship with our God, not for our own sakes, but that we might more effectively assist all of our brothers and sisters to approach this holy fire and climb this mountain of the Lord.”
The annual Chrism Mass traditionally occurs on the morning of Holy Thursday. The concelebration of Holy Mass by the priests of the diocese is an expression of their communion with their bishop. During the sacred liturgy, the diocesan priests also renew their priestly promises. Bishop Boyea cautioned his priests never to allow the busyness or boredom of daily life to rob them of a sense of awe when offering the Holy Mass each day.
“I know that many days we can celebrate at this altar and not sense any particular communication,” he said. “On the positive side, each day we are, no doubt, caught up in caring for the flock. On the other side, we may be bored or distracted, perhaps even on the very same days."
“Nonetheless, this altar, this burning bush, is always a caution to us. Let us not allow this sacred place to become ordinary. Let our walking here always be a pilgrimage, both to this place and away from it. Let us daily give ourselves to this divine mystery.”
Today’s Chrism Mass also saw Bishop Boyea consecrate the three holy oils that will be used in parishes across the Diocese of Lansing in the year ahead. The oil of chrism is used to anoint the newly baptized, to seal the candidates for confirmation, and to anoint the hands of presbyters and the heads of bishops at their ordination, as well as in the rites of anointing pertaining to the dedication of churches and altars. The oil of catechumens is used in the preparation of catechumens for baptism. Meanwhile, the oil of the infirm (infirmorum) is used to bring comfort and support to the sick in their infirmity.
