CHARLESTON — The Sacred Chrism Mass will be celebrated at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 7, at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.
All priests, pastoral administrators and deacons of the diocese have been invited to attend and participate in the Mass.
Bishop David B. Thompson will be the principal celebrant. During the Chrism Mass, holy oils, to be used during sacramental anointings at parishes and missions throughout the diocese, will be blessed.
Father John F. Canary will be the guest speaker at the convocation for priests and pastoral administrators following the Chrism Mass.
Father Canary has served as rector of Mundelein Seminary in Mundelein, Ill., since 1995. Ordained a priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago on May 14, 1969, Father Canary attended Quigley Seminary High School and Niles College of Loyola University; he has a graduate degree from St. Mary of the Lake Seminary as well as a master’s degree in applied spirituality from the University of San Francisco.
His pastoral experience includes stints as an associate pastor at St. Irenaeus Parish in Park Forest, Ill., a faculty member at Niles College in Chicago, dean of formation at Mundelein from 1975 to 1988 and vice rector of the seminary from 1984 to 1992. Father Canary then served as co-vicar for priests for the Archdiocese of Chicago for three years before being named rector of Mundelein Seminary.
Also at the Chrism Mass, jubilarians of the diocese will be recognized by the bishop. Father John Sheehan, SMA, will be honored for 50 years of priesthood, while five other priests –Father Chet Moczydlowski, Father Michael J. Polewczak, Father John Dux, Father John P. Coffey, and Father Donald S. Abbott — will be celebrating 25 years of priesthood.