SAGINAW — Bishop Joseph R. Cistone blessed the oils of chrism, catechumens and sick for all 105 parishes of the Diocese of Saginaw at a special Mass on Tuesday, April 3, at St. Mary Cathedral. The Mass is part of the Holy Week tradition throughout the world. The oils blessed at the Mass will be used throughout the coming year.
Volunteers brought each oil to the altar to be blessed.
With the oil of chrism, the bishop first added chrism to the oil.
The bishop then breathed on each container of oil of chrism.
The blessed oils then went to the church basement, where a team of volunteers poured them into waiting containers for each parish.
At the end of the Mass, representatives of each parish were called to the altar, vicariate by vicariate, to retrieve their oils.
Parish representatives then carefully carried the oils to their vehicles for the trip home.