Monday 17 March 2008

Oils, booklets and tickets...

Last year's holy oils have now been taken for burning, and the containers were today cleaned, ready to be refilled. It will take over 15 litres of olive oil to fill these three. The oil will be blessed by the Bishop at the Chrism Mass on Thursday, to be used throughout the Diocese in the year ahead.

The oils are usually displayed at the Sacred Heart altar in the Cathedral, where the cabinet now stands empty. Many of the physical things used in the Church are replaced this week: the Paschal candle is replaced at the Easter Vigil on Saturday, as is the holy water in the stoups and the font.

Elsewhere today much has been done to prepare for events later this week. Booklets for the Mass of the Lord's Supper (Thursday) and the Easter Vigil were printed today; they join the many which have already been folded and stapled. Preparations are also continuing for the episcopal ordination at the end of the month: today another large batch of tickets was organised, ready to be handed out to parishes at Thursday's Chrism Mass. There is still much to be done, but every day brings a little progress!