There is only Mass celebrated in the diocese on the morning of Holy Thursday so it has to be special
Priests of the diocese leave their own parishes and places of ministry and travel with deacons, religious and lay people to the Cathedral in Cork for Mass celebrated by Bishop Fintan and concelebrated by the priests.
This Mass is known as the Mass of Chrism - after one of the holy oils which are blessed during this Mass each year.
Referring to the oils in his homily, Bishop said the Oil of Catechumens, the Oil of Chrism and the Oil of the Sick flow out as streams of grace to all parts of the diocese.
“They will touch the lives of our people in Baptism and Confirmation, in the Anointing of the Sick, in moments of joy and moments of great vulnerability” he said.
“They remind us that God’s grace does not remain here in the Cathedral. It goes out. It reaches people where they are.”
Mass of Chrism at the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne, Holy Thursday, 2026, Diocese of Cork & RossDuring the Mass of Chrism the bishops and priests renew the promises they made at their ordination. Addressing the priests, Bishop Fintan invites people to support their priests.
“And I want to take this moment, on my own behalf and on behalf of the people of this diocese, to say simply: thank you.
Thank you for your faithful and generous service: for the many hidden and unseen ways you serve your people - baptising new members into the Church, celebrating the Eucharist, preaching the Word, accompanying families, visiting the sick, burying the dead, walking with people in moments of joy and moments of sorrow.”
“Much of what you do is not noticed publicly. But it matters deeply. And it is valued. And it is loved.”
The Mass was also concelebrated by Emeritus Bishop John Buckley and Emeritus Bishop Noel O’Regan SMA.
Deacon Frank McKevitt ministered at the Mass as did Ministers of the Word and Eucharist drawn from the parishes of the diocese.
Bishop Fintan also thanked the Cathedral Choir, their director John Casey, organist Joe Higgins, cantor Patricia Newman
Instrumentalists were Jenny and Evelyn Murphy on violins, Veronica and Michael Lynch on Flute and Clarinet.
Priests renewed the promises of their ordination at the Mass of Chrism at the Cathedral of St. Mary and St. Anne, Holy Thursday, 2026.
Pic: Brian Lougheed
