Cardinal Keeler to Celebrate Chrism Mass

On Monday, April 5, at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, Cardinal William H. Keeler will celebrate the annual Chrism Mass. The Chrism Mass is held during Holy Week, bringing the archdiocesan community together as the Cardinal blesses the priests, deacons and ministers of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, who serve throughout the archdiocese and among their many other tasks, are preparing more than 700 adults seeking Baptism and reception into the Church. The Cardinal will also bless the sacramental oils that will be used throughout the year in the different parishes of the archdiocese to baptize, confirm and anoint the sick.

• There are 210 adult Catechumens–unbaptized persons being formed in Christian faith and life in preparation for entry into the Catholic Church—who will be baptized at the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday.
• There are 554 adult Candidates for reception into the full communion of the Catholic Church and Candidates preparing for the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist.

Time & Place:

Monday, April 5, 7:30 pm

Cathedral of Mary Our Queen, 5200 North Charles Street

Understanding our Faith:

An annual Mass, before Easter, concelebrated in the cathedral by the bishop and priests of a diocese in communion with their people. It is meant to publicly express the unity of the diocese, the unity of the priests and their bishop, and to celebrate clergy vocations and other ministries. The blessing of oils and consecrating of Chrism (an ointment consisting of a mixture of oil and balsam) for the entire diocese takes place at this Mass.