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Chrism Mass reminds priest of mission to serve poor

In Filipino village outpost, Father Rio discovers the reason for his vocation
Chrism Mass reminds priest of mission to serve poor

Father Bernice Win Rio prepares to celebrate Mass in a remote village in the northern Philippines. (Photo by Mark Saludes)

Published: March 24, 2016 07:52 AM GMT
Updated: March 24, 2016 07:52 AM GMT

Every year, members of the clergy mark Holy Thursday with the chrism Mass, a ritual where sacramental oils are consecrated by the bishop in the presence of his priests.

In the northern Philippine Diocese of Tuguegarao, the annual ritual is a reminder for Father Bernice Win Rio of the "purpose and mission" of his life.

Father Rio is parish priest of San Jose in the town of Baggao, in the northern Cagayan Valley region. 

Inside his humble room, the priest sits in the middle of paints, brushes, and other art materials. Father Rio paints. But he only paints slippers.

"Slippers represent the poor," he says.

A village child receives communion from Father Bernice Win Rio in the northern Philippine province of Cagayan. (Photo by Mark Saludes)

 

"In my years of being a priest in the mountains, I have seen different poor communities. Communities that are often neglected by society," he says.

He talks about the indigenous Aeta people in the heart of the forests and those who were forced by poverty to live in the outskirts of towns and villages to beg.

Father Rio says they are like newborn babies who have only opened their eyes to the outside world.

"Government services don't reach these poor communities," says the priest.

"What they only have is their ancestral lands that are being threatened by mining and logging operations," Father Rio says. 

"Without their lands, they are next to nothing."

Except for their slippers.

The priest says the second most valuable possession for an Aeta in his parish is a pair of slippers.

"In our world today, we throw things out to buy new ones," he says. "We don't know the importance of something until it is taken away from us."

In his hinterland parish church, Father Rio relates the slippers to the "journey and struggle of the poor." 

"And like the slipper, the most important role of every priest is to be with the people in every step of their journey," Father Rio says.

He says knowing that injustice and inequality continue to be prevalent in society gives him the impetus to persevere in his vocation, to be a priest.

"I follow the example of Jesus who brings the people closer to God," he says.

 

Fundamental mission

Every Holy Thursday Father Rio is reminded of the mission that he embraced when he was ordained a priest.

The celebration of the chrism Mass is for the entire Catholic community," says Father Rio.

The chrism Mass is a tradition rooted in the early church. It includes the blessing by the bishop of the three oils that are used in the administration of the sacraments — the oil of catechumens for baptism, the oil of the infirmed for the anointing of the sick, and the oil for the sacraments of baptism, confirmation, and holy orders.

The renewal of priestly vows has been incorporated into the chrism Mass, which is usually preceded by morning prayer.

The Constitution of the Sacred Liturgy of the Second Vatican Council states that the chrism Mass should remind Catholics of their oneness in Christ through baptism and its holy anointing, made possible by the ministry of the bishop and his priests.

Father Rio says the observance of Holy Week is not only a reminder that Jesus died on the cross "but why he had to die."

"He died for the poor and the oppressed … During the Holy Thursday ritual, Christ's mission is being passed on to us," he says. 

After Holy Thursday Mass, Father Rio trekked back to his mountain parish, carrying the oils, a constant reminder to him and his parishioners why they choose to be followers of Jesus.

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