Diocese Gathers in Unity for Chrism Mass

0
0
0

The Cathedral of St John the Baptist in Norwich was filled to capacity on Tuesday 31 March 2026 as clergy and faithful from across the Diocese of East Anglia gathered for the annual Chrism Mass, celebrated by Bishop Peter Collins.

From the outset, the solemn liturgy was enriched by the cathedral choir, whose faithful and uplifting support carried the congregation through the celebration with reverence and joy. The presence of the vast majority of the diocese’s clergy, together with parishioners from every corner of East Anglia, gave visible expression to the unity of the local Church gathered around its bishop.

The Liturgy of the Word set a powerful tone for the Mass. The first reading, from the prophet Isaiah (61:1–3a, 6a, 8b–9), proclaimed the anointing of God’s servant to bring good news to the poor, heal the broken-hearted, and proclaim liberty to captives. These words resonate deeply within the context of the Chrism Mass, where the Church reflects on the ministry of priests who are themselves anointed and sent to serve God’s people. The passage’s emphasis on restoration and divine mission highlights the priestly call to be instruments of God’s mercy and justice in the world.

The second reading from Revelation (1:4b, 5–8) reminded the assembly that Christ has made his people “a kingdom, priests for his God and Father.” This affirmation of the universal priesthood of all believers, alongside the ordained priesthood, underscores the shared dignity and mission of the baptised. It also points to Christ as the Alpha and the Omega, the eternal source of the Church’s life and ministry.

In the Gospel (Luke 4:16–21), Jesus proclaims in the synagogue that the words of Isaiah are fulfilled in him. This moment, in which Christ declares his identity and mission, is especially significant at the Chrism Mass. It is a reminder that all priestly ministry flows directly from Christ’s own anointing and mission. The Gospel calls both clergy and laity to recognise Christ’s presence and to continue his work in the world today.

In his homily, Bishop Peter spoke movingly of the unity of the Church beyond geographical boundaries. He expressed his support for Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, who had recently been refused entry to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on Palm Sunday. The Bishop reminded the congregation that the Diocese of East Anglia is twinned with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, encouraging continued prayer and solidarity with Christians in the Holy Land during challenging times. Bishop Peter’s homily is available to read in full below this article.

Following the homily, the clergy renewed their priestly promises, reaffirming their commitment to serve God’s people with fidelity and love. This deeply symbolic moment highlighted the unity between the bishop and his priests, as well as their shared dedication to their sacred ministry.

The procession of the oils followed. Three deacons made their way from the west end of the cathedral, each bearing one of the holy oils to be blessed: the Oil of the Sick, the Oil of Catechumens, and the Oil of Chrism. Each oil was presented with meaningful representation from the life of the diocese. Healthcare workers presented the Oil of the Sick, a powerful sign of the Church’s ministry of healing. Parish catechists brought forward the Oil of Catechumens, reflecting their role in preparing individuals for baptism. The Oil of Chrism was presented by students for the priesthood, symbolising the future of ordained ministry within the diocese.

After the Liturgy of the Eucharist, the Bishop blessed the Oil of the Sick. Following Holy Communion, he blessed the Oil of Catechumens and then consecrated the Sacred Chrism. In a moment of profound solemnity, Bishop Peter poured perfumed balsam into the oil and mixed it in silence. He then breathed three times the Sign of the Cross over the vessel, symbolising the infusion of the Holy Spirit, an ancient and deeply significant gesture that speaks of the life and grace imparted through the sacraments.

At the conclusion of the Mass, the sense of unity and celebration continued. The clergy gathered in the cathedral garden for a group photograph, capturing a moment of fraternity and shared mission. Meanwhile, the faithful made their way to the cathedral café and hall, where they enjoyed hot cross buns and refreshments, continuing the communal spirit of the day.

The Chrism Mass once again proved to be a powerful expression of the life of the Church in East Anglia, rooted in Scripture, united in faith, and sent forth in service.

All photographs from the Mass can be viewed here.

Bishop Peter’s full homily

The Chrism Mass 2026

The Diocese of East Anglia – Angliae Orientalis – was erected by the promulgation of the Apostolic Decree Quod Oecumenicum of Pope St Paul VI on 13th March 1976. The new diocese was divided from the See of Northampton, and the then parish church of St John the Baptist in Norwich was designated and elevated to become the cathedral church. +Alan Clark, the Auxiliary Bishop of Northampton—whose titular see was Elmham—was appointed as the first Bishop of East Anglia.

This year, then, marks the golden jubilee of our diocesan family, and we rejoice in the fruitfulness of the past fifty years. We gather today in celebration of our Catholic identity—bishops, priests, deacons, religious and lay faithful. Gathered here in our mother church, we invoke the powerful intercession of our glorious patrons—Our Lady of Walsingham, St Felix, St Etheldreda and St Edmund.

We pray for the sustenance of our fidelity to Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour; for the continuing development of our commitment to the proclamation of the Gospel; and for the enhancement of our trust in divine providence as we prepare to engage with the challenges of the next fifty years.

As we progress through Holy Week, we stand between the triumphal entry of the divine Word made flesh into the earthly city of Jerusalem and the Paschal mysteries that inaugurate his re-entry into the heavenly Jerusalem. We are conscious that the Church in Jerusalem today is prevented from gathering for the public celebration of our common faith. The State of Israel has imposed extraordinary restrictions on the movement of people between Israel and Palestine, the justification being the threats imposed by warfare.

For the first time in many centuries, the sacred liturgies of Holy Week cannot be fully nor publicly celebrated in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. His Beatitude Cardinal Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, has asked the universal Church to pray earnestly for the Christian communities of the Holy Land as they struggle to remain embedded in the earthly homeland of the Saviour.

I acknowledge the presence of knights and dames of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre and acclaim the indomitable support they provide to the Latin Patriarchate. Let me remind you all that our own diocese is twinned with the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, a bond linking the Nazareth of England at Walsingham with our brothers and sisters in the faith across the Holy Land.

The Church, local and universal, is the sacrament of the presence of Christ in the world and, whatever her struggles, she must be the sign of hope for all to behold. The actual sign of hope that must be raised in every age is the cross of Jesus Christ—to the eyes of the world representing nothing but fear, folly and failure, but to the eyes of faith representing the very roots of an eternal hope born of an essential sacrifice.

The great theologian Hans Urs von Balthasar declares: the Church must look forwards, in keeping with the event in which she has her being: the event leads through the cross to the resurrection of Christ, and is therein the appearing of the glory of the selfless triune love—the hidden glory of the Godhead in the heavenly Jerusalem.

In describing the Mysterium Paschale, von Balthasar says: the wood and word of the cross lead us beyond the confines of the Old Covenant, beyond the forecourt of the temple erected on Mount Zion, beyond the threshold of the former Holy of Holies. Through the cross we are led to the inner sanctum that is the cathedral of eternity.

To become a Christian means to come to the cross, for the cross means solidarity—the solidarity that is spread out over every dimension of the world. The arms of the cross are thrown wide open and are all-embracing. As St Cyril of Jerusalem proclaims: God has opened wide his arms on the cross in order to span the limits of the earthly orb.

This being so, though the world be afflicted by the terrors of warfare, we can unequivocally proclaim the message of hope. We speak not of optimism, nor merely of any form of apparent political or economic stability. We speak of that which alone can establish enduring peace with justice in all hearts and across all borders.

Another great theologian, Karl Rahner, declares: the Church is not a mere institute for eternal welfare but is the sign of present and victorious grace. The Church is the continuance of Christ’s presence in the world and is therefore the fundamental sacrament of the triumphant mercy of God. The Church is the fundamental and enduring sign of hope in the world because Christ continues his presence in history through her.

The proclamation of the prophet Isaiah was employed by Christ at the commencement of his public ministry: “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.” The Church is adopted into this embrace of the Holy Spirit, and thus we are able to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.

The sacramental life of the Church is the cascade of grace that grants entry into the year of favour—entry into the glory of eternity. As the Didache proclaims: “Let grace come, and this world pass away. Maranatha.”

We can unite our voices with the psalmist and say: “I will sing for ever of your mercies, O Lord.” Rahner says: we are saved when we have forgotten ourselves on account of others. We are in blessedness when we have become those who, in the eternal kingdom of love, have found the Church of eternity.

The realm of time accomplishes communion with eternity itself in the sacraments of Christ. The Church is most manifest, discovers its most intensive form, attains the highest actuality of her own nature, when she celebrates the Eucharist—everything that goes to form the Church is found fully and is manifestly present in the Holy Eucharist.

How is this possible? As the Book of Revelation states: “Because of him who loves us and who has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father.” Thus we are able to proclaim the message of hope, day after day, whatever worldly events unfold, until the dawn of the last day.

How is this possible? Because Jesus is the Alpha and the Omega, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty. Through the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ, the divine Word made flesh, every single day holds the imprint of salvific fulfilment, for the fountain of grace never runs dry.

It is in faith, in hope and in self-sacrificing love that we can embrace the ultimate meaning of existence.

My dear people, as we celebrate our Chrism Mass, allow me to offer a particular address to the presbyterium of the diocese. My beloved brothers in the priesthood of Jesus Christ, be assured of my love and respect. Be assured of my admiration for your faithful ministry and of my appreciation for your generous sacrifices.

I ask you to reflect upon the wise counsels of St Bonaventure contained in his work entitled The Soul’s Journey into God. The great Franciscan friar exhorts us to pray through Christ crucified, for it is through his blood that we are cleansed. If we follow this channel of prayer, then we will realise that:

There can be no worthwhile speculation without the spirit of devotion.
There can be no worthwhile investigation without the spirit of wonder.
There can be no worthwhile observation without the spirit of joy.
There can be no fruitful work without piety.
There can be no fruitful knowledge without love.
There can be no fruitful understanding without humility.

It is divine grace alone that engenders endeavour and inspires wisdom.

From the days of St Felix—our first bishop in this part of England—our current diocesan boundary has evolved under many ecclesiastical designations: Soham, Dunwich, Elmham, Thetford, Norwich, Ely, Peterborough, St Edmundsbury—through the era of the Vicars Apostolic unto the re-establishment of the Catholic diocesan hierarchy.

Let us rejoice in our great inheritance of faith and rejoice in the mission entrusted to us in this present age. Furthermore, let us explore confidently the horizons that await us in the days to come.

My dear people, care for your priests with deep affection and loving respect. Sustain them in their frailty with your prayerful intercession. Support them in their ministerial service with a generous spirit of collaboration.

Praised be Jesus Christ. Amen.