Rev. Dr. James Thoppil delivering a sermon during the Chrism
Mass 2025 at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Viswema, on Thursday.
- DIMAPUR — The
Chrism Mass and Priesthood Day 2025 were celebrated on Thursday by the Diocese
of Kohima under the leadership of Rev. Dr. James Thoppil, the Bishop of Kohima.
- According to an update, this significant event, which is
usually held at Mary Help of Christians Cathedral, the mother church of
Nagaland, was hosted for the first time by St. Joseph Catholic Church, Viswema.
- As per the Catholic tradition, two important events take
place during the Chrism Mass: the preparation and blessing of the oils, where
the bishop blesses three urns of oil, namely the oil of the catechumens, oil of
chrism, and oil of the sick; and the renewal of promises by the priests.
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- On the occasion, Bishop James said that the annual Chrism
Mass provides priests with a unique opportunity for priestly renewal and added
that the Chrism Mass reminds the priest of his oneness in Christ through the
Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Orders and the unity he shares with his bishop
and the presbyterate.
- Later, after the Holy Mass, the laity associations of the
Catholic Association of Nagaland (CAN), the Nagaland Catholic Women Association
(NCWA), and the Nagaland Catholic Youth Movement (NCYM), along with the Viswema
Catholic Community, organised a short felicitation programme for the priest
attendees.
- The Holy Chrism Mass 2025 was attended by a presbyterate of
138 priests, along with religious nuns from different congregations, laity
leaders of CAN, NCWA, and NCYM, as well as all the church leaders and young
juniors from the neighbouring villages, totalling around 1,500 attendees in the
church.
