Renewal of Priestly Promises; Consecration and Blessing of Holy Oils
Bishop Frank J. Dewane was joined by at least 150 priests and 1,000 of the faithful from across the Diocese for the annual Chrism Mass April 15, 2025, at St. John the Evangelist Parish in Naples.
At the Chrism Mass, which the Bishop concelebrates with priests from throughout the Diocese, the Bishop consecrates the sacred Chrism oil and blesses two other oils used throughout the year at the Diocese’s 61 Parishes. The Mass is among the principal manifestations of the fullness of the Bishop’s Priesthood and is considered to be a sign of the close bond between the Priests and their Bishop. It is with the sacred Chrism that the priests are ordained, the newly baptized are anointed, and those to be confirmed are signed. It is with the Oil of Catechumens that catechumens are prepared and disposed for Baptism. Finally, it is with the Oil of the Sick that those who are ill are comforted in their infirmity.
The Chrism Mass is typically held at the Diocesan Cathedral in Venice but was relocated due to ongoing renovations. The Mass was celebrated on a Tuesday, versus Holy Thursday, to allow the priests the opportunity to attend from across the large Diocese.
The celebration not only brings into focus the historical context of the priesthood by the renewal of Priestly Promises, but also presents an opportunity for the priests to recall their ordination and to reflect upon their ongoing priestly vocation. Having all the priests of the Diocese come together at the Chrism Mass, united with their Bishop, on the eve of the Easter Triduum, reminds priests of their calling to act in the person of Christ – in persona Christi. This is the largest annual gathering of the clergy for the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass.
During the Renewal of Priestly Promises the gathered priests stood as one, and spoke with one voice responding, “I am,” three times to a series of questions asked by Bishop Dewane. These same questions were asked of them at the time of their Ordination to the Priesthood.
Bishop Dewane publicly thanked the priests for their continued service to the People of God throughout the Diocese of Venice. He also called upon the faithful to continue to support the priests who bring the Sacraments into their lives.
“During the consecration of the sacred Chrism, I pour balsam into the oil, which creates a fragrance,” Bishop Dewane said. “In this, we are reminded of the Gospel of Mark, and Mary of Bethany, who had nard, an expensive perfume, and she had the courage to break the jar and pour it on the head of Jesus. As priests, we must also have the courage to break the jar, the shell we allow to close in on ourselves. Leave behind the comfortable religiosity that only serves personal needs. This is not what the Lord calls us to do. God knows well to care for those He has called.”
In recalling their priestly promises, Bishop Dewane said they must be bold in the mission to be accomplished, something he referred to as an “apostolic boldness.” This means living out their lives in mercy, forgiveness, and charity. He also reminded the priests about the importance of service in their vocation, an “identity card of Christ’s ministry,” and how their service must be visible to all, a service to the people of God, concentrating on the other.
To the faithful Bishop Dewane said that by being blessed and consecrated by oils in the various sacraments, we are all called to be the fragrance of Christ in the world. Just as Mary of Bethany kept the nard (perfume) for a long time, the fragrance of Christ will spread – His word will spread.
“Because of this, the Church exists to evangelize,” Bishop Dewane said. “We are all called to bring others to the sweet fragrance that is the Word of the Lord, the Gospel, the Light of Life.”
For priests, this is about taking the fragrance of Living Waters of the Gospel and using that on the souls of human hearts. “It is about the times in which we give a kind word; a soft gentle word out in our society today can do a lot to change lives,” Bishop Dewane said.
The Bishop concluded his remarks stating, “Always remember all of us gathered here, the Spirit of the Lord is upon you because the Lord has anointed you.”
During the Chrism Mass, Bishop Dewane recognized the five Priests and one Permanent Deacon who, in 2025, are celebrating the 50th and 25th anniversaries of their ordination for their years of service to Christ and Holy Mother Church. He also acknowledged the 367 students in attendance from Diocesan Catholic schools.
In attendance for this special occasion were religious men and women; Diocesan seminarians; Knights and Dames of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem; Knights and Dames of the Sovereign Order of Malta; the Knights of Columbus, including those of the Color Corps; members of the Venice Diocesan Council of Catholic Women; many staff, and the faithful of the Diocese of Venice.
Sacred Oils
The Chrism Mass takes its name from the sacred Chrism oil, the most eminent of the three holy oils, which the Bishop consecrates and blesses for use by Parishes of the Diocese.
The sacred Chrism is both blessed and consecrated. The verb “consecrate” is applied to the action of making holy the chrism and indicates its use to spiritually separate, sanctify and purify its recipients.
For the blessing and consecration of the sacred Chrism oil, the initial motion is to pour balsam into the oil, and then this is mixed. The balsam is added so that it gives the oil a sweet smell intended to remind those who encounter it of the “odor of sanctity.” All of the Faithful are called to strive for sanctity. Next, the Bishop breathes on the Sacred Chrism “to symbolize the Holy Spirit coming down.” At a particular point in the consecratory prayer for the Sacred Chrism, all the priests join the Bishop in extending their right hand toward the Chrism, as the Bishop concludes the prayer.
The Oil of the Sick, used for those who seek anointing, and the Oil of the Catechumens, which is imposed on those preparing for baptism, are blessed by the Bishop at different times during the Chrism Mass.
Bishop Dewane referred to the Gospel message which described the oils as being the oil of gladness, which represent the indelible mark each bestows. After Mass, the oils were given to each Pastor to use in their Parish throughout the Liturgical Year.
Priest and Deacon Jubilarians
A reception was held in the Parish Hall following the Mass to honor Priests and Deacons celebrating their jubilee in 2025.
Three Priests celebrating 50 years, but who were unable to attend the Chrism Mass, were recognized. Father Normando Feliz, who has served in numerous capacities, including as a Parochial Vicar at two Parishes, and Pastor at three others. In addition, he also served as Diocesan Director of Ministries and Director of Continuing Priest Formation. Father Gregory Klein, O. Carm., who served in the Diocese from 2008 until his retirement in 2014, at several Parishes, including as Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Osprey. Father Michael Mullen joined the Diocese of Venice in 2000 and served as Administrator at Sacred Heart in Bradenton then as Pastor at St. Francis Xavier Parish in Fort Myers and at St. Bernard Parish in Holmes Beach before his 2018 retirement.
Father Luis Pacheco, who is one of two priest silver jubilarians, spoke at the reception, thanking Bishop Dewane for his leadership of the Diocese and expressed gratitude to all Priests and Deacons for answering the call of God in their lives, noting he has been blessed to live a life of service to the Church. Father Pacheco was born in Miami and was raised in Venezuela. He was Ordained to the Priesthood in Venezuela in 2000, and in 2002 began his service within the Diocese of Venice. Father Pacheco served in Parishes in Arcadia, Cape Coral, Bonita Springs, Avon Park, and Naples before 2021 when he was assigned to St. Paul Parish and was installed as Pastor in early 2025. The additional priest silver jubilarian was Father Saji Ellickal Joseph, MCBS, who served his religious order in India and then for 10 years in Tennessee, before coming to the Diocese of Venice in 2017, serving as Parochial Vicar at St. John XXIII Parish in Fort Myers and currently at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Venice.
Deacon Richard M. Klish was ordained to the Permanent Diaconate for the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, and since 2012 has served in the Diocese of Venice at St. John XXIII Parish in Fort Myers.
During the Mass, Bishop Dewane recognized three priests who are marking the 65th anniversary of their ordination in 2025: Father J.J. McCarthy, O. Carm., Father Fausto Stampiglia, SAC, and Father Don Imming.
Pope Francis wrote to all the Bishops in the world, asking them to join him in offering “a solemn Act of Consecration of humanity, and Russia and Ukraine in particular, to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.” The Act of Consecration took place on the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord, when the Angel Gabriel told Mary that she would conceive and bear “the Son of the Most High” through the power of the Holy Spirit.
In a nearly full Cathedral, including students from Epiphany Cathedral Catholic School, Bishop Dewane remarked how important it was that the faithful gather “as a people of God, brothers and sisters in Christ, in response to the Holy Father. We gather to pray for the conflict going on in the Ukraine and the suffering that has been inflicted upon the people of Ukraine. It is a Consecration of humanity, as the Holy Father put it – in particular for those in Russia and Ukraine. This is a gesture of not just the Pope, Bishops, or priests, but of the Universal Church.”
For example, students at St. Catherine Catholic School in Sebring joined in the Consecration by praying the rosary. Students at Bishop Verot Catholic High School in Fort Myers gathered in their courtyard to recite the Act of Consecration. At Incarnation Parish in Sarasota, the faithful, as well as students from Incarnation Catholic School joined together. The Consecration also included time for Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.
Pope Francis said during remarks from Rome that the consecration “is no magic formula but a spiritual act… It is an act of complete trust on the part of children who, amid the tribulation of this cruel and senseless war that threatens our world, turn to their Mother, reposing all their fears and pain in Her Heart and abandoning themselves to Her.”
Bishop Dewane added that the Act of Consecration “is about people who are suffering. The Lord calls us to be His instruments and to pray and to call upon our Faith; to call upon Christ; to call upon the saints; to intervene to relieve that suffering that we see so much of – also intervene in that war in Ukraine.”
The practice of Consecration to the Immaculate Heart of Mary is closely linked to the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima. During the third apparition, on July 13, 1917, the Blessed Virgin Mary told three visionaries that God sought to establish the devotion to Mary’s Immaculate Heart in the world, stating that if this request was not granted, Russia would “spread her errors throughout the world, causing wars and persecutions of the Church.” Pope Francis, and previous Popes, have led various consecrations to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, for example, St. John Paul II’s consecration of Russia to the Immaculate Heart of Mary on March 25, 1984.
Bishop Dewane has stressed the importance of continued prayer for those suffering. Also, the Diocese of Venice has made it possible for the faithful to contribute toward charitable relief and assist in providing humanitarian aid, as well as necessary recovery efforts.
Bishop Frank J. Dewane celebrated the Mass for the gathered members which represented 10 different Legion of Mary praesidiums from across the region.
Janine Marrone, who serves as President of the Manasota Curia and a member of the praesidium at Our Lady of Lourdes Parish in Venice, said the gathering is a great boost of energy and vitality for the Legion of Mary.
The Legion of Mary is a worldwide organization of lay Catholics focusing on Marian spirituality and apostolic works. It is the largest apostolic organization of lay people in the Catholic Church, with millions of members in nearly every country of the world.
The Consecration will take place at Epiphany Cathedral, 350 Tampa Ave. W., Venice, beginning at noon with the Prayer of Consecration and followed by the Mass. All are invited to participate. The Consecration and Mass will also be livestreamed via Facebook.
The Diocese of Venice in Florida encourages the faithful to join the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) for a live stream of the Re-Consecration of our nation to the Protection of the Blessed Mother under the title of Mary, Mother of the Church. This will give the Church the occasion to pray for Our Lady’s continued protection of the vulnerable, healing of the unwell, and wisdom for those who work to cure this terrible virus.
