At the heart of holy week preparations, the Church in Larantuka gathers for the Chrism Mass, renewing priestly vows and strengthening unity in mission and hope.
By Fr Mark Robin Destura RCJ “The priesthood cannot be lived in isolation,” Bishop Yohanes Hans Monteiro said during his homily, noting that loneliness can lead to distance, tension, and even wounds within the presbyterate. The Diocese of Larantuka celebrated the Chrism Mass on Holy Thursday morning, April 2, 2026, at the Cathedral Church of Larantuka in Indonesia, with the presence of Bishop Emeritus Franciskus Kopong Kung, bringing together clergy, religious, and the faithful in a solemn expression of unity. Sharing in Christ’s mission Reflecting on the Gospel of Jesus in Nazareth, the Bishop emphasized Christ’s identity as the Anointed One sent to bring liberation. “This anointing speaks not only of identity but also of mission,” he said, noting that Christ was sent “to bring good news to the poor, to liberate the oppressed, and to restore human dignity.” He reminded priests that they share in this same anointing through their ministry. “When they bless oil, anoint the faithful, and serve the wounded, Christ himself is present and at work,” he said. The Bishop encouraged priests to remain faithful to this calling and to persevere in their service to God’s people. The meaning of the holy oils During the celebration, three types of holy oil were blessed: the oil of catechumens, the oil of the sick, and the sacred chrism. Each oil carries deep significance in the sacramental life of the Church. The oil of catechumens symbolizes strength for those preparing to embrace the faith, the oil of the sick signifies healing and comfort, and the chrism represents consecration and mission. The Bishop explained that the consecration of chrism symbolizes the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, recalling the risen Christ who breathed on the apostles. Through this act, the Church believes that the Holy Spirit sanctifies the oil, making it a channel of grace for the faithful. A call to priestly fraternity A central theme of the homily was the importance of priestly fraternity. Bishop Monteiro warned against the dangers of isolation in ministry, especially in a diocese marked by geographical challenges and limited resources. He urged priests to cultivate fraternity through openness, humility, and mutual support. “Priests who lose their fraternity will gradually lose the Spirit that animates their vocation,” he warned. A Church close to the people The Bishop also reflected on the daily realities of the people in the diocese, including fishermen, farmers, laborers, and families facing economic hardship. He emphasized that the Church must be a concrete sign of hope in these situations. “The Church is called to be a tangible sign of hope,” he said, encouraging pastoral care and initiatives that promote human dignity and economic support. He also highlighted the famous local traditions such as the Semana Santa Larantuka as expressions of faith that unite the community as “pilgrims of hope.” Renewed in mission and hope Concluding his homily, Bishop Monteiro called on priests to return to the source of their vocation: the anointing of the Holy Spirit. “The world does not need perfect priests, but faithful priests,” he said, encouraging them to live in fraternity and to bring hope to the people they serve.