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Thousands of Catholics gathered at Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral in Downtown Los Angeles on Monday to attend the annual Chrism Mass in a solemn ceremony that was officiated by Archbishop Jose Gomez. Pete Parker Photo
By Randy Economy
Thousands of Catholics gathered at Our Lady of the Angels Cathedral in Downtown Los Angeles on Monday to attend the annual Chrism Mass in a solemn ceremony that was officiated by Archbishop Jose Gomez.
During the Chrism Mass, Archbishop Gomez consecrated hundreds of delicate glass bottles that contained oil of the catechumens and the oil of the sick, which will then be distributed throughout the Archdiocese during the next 12 months at various Catholic rites.
Hundreds inside the standing room only crowd had waited hours just to get a seat inside the massive Cathedral to witness Gomez and hundreds of other Priests and Deacons from throughout the Archdiocese participate in the annual Easter Week ceremony.
Gomez talked openly about the “joys and Blessings” of Easter Week during the holy ceremony.
Several local Catholic Priests were in attendance and participated in the Chrism Mass including clergy from Saint Linus Catholic Church in Norwalk, Holy Family Catholic Church in Artesia, St. John of God in Norwalk, St. Gertrude in Bell Gardens, as well as Beatitudes of Our Lord that is located in La Mirada.
“This has been a personal period of rejoicing and reflecting about the day when Jesus was resurrected after being crucified on the cross,” Gomez told those gathered. Gomez also reminded the hundreds of priests and deacons about the “service to God” and their “commitment to the community” to help “those in need by being a strong source of good.”
Serving as Cantor for the service was Anna Bettancourt, who is a resident of La Mirada and a the Director of Liturgical Services at St. Linus Catholic Church in Norwalk.
