The priesthood is Christ’s, it’s about Him says Archbishop John
At the Chrism Mass, Archbishop John said priestly worth comes from configuration to Christ
At the 2025 Chrism Mass at St George’s Cathedral, Archbishop John Wilson thanked priests in the Archdiocese for their “love of Christ”, “His Church and of His people”.
In his homily, Archbishop John explained that “priestly worth” comes from “configuration to Christ” and “being reshaped in His image and after His example”. This is because, the Archbishop stated:
“The priesthood is not mine. It’s not about me. The priesthood is Christ’s. It’s about Him. And we can only flourish as priests in deep and personal friendship with the Lord Jesus”.
In words of encouragement, Archbishop John reminded the priests present that by means of their priestly ordination “the Spirit of the Lord” is upon them. It is because “the Spirit of the Risen Lord is alive and active within us”, the Archbishop said, that priests dare “act in Christ’s person, speak in Christ’s name, and love with Christ’s heart – as His priests, sharing His priesthood”.
At the Chrism Mass, priests renew the commitment made at their priestly ordination. In this homily, Archbishop John encouraged his brother priests to renew their conviction that the “Holy Spirit is at work in you, that the Spirit of Truth who unveils Christ to us is upon you, because the Lord has anointed you”.
The Archbishop recalled Pope Francis words from his first Chrism Mass in 2013, when the Holy Father called on priests to “be shepherds, with the odour of the sheep.” Explaining the words of Pope Francis, Archbishop John said: “This striking allusion is about being close to the people we serve, allowing the Holy Spirit to mould our priesthood according to Christ’s model of service”.
The Archbishop added:
“I want to suggest to you today that carrying the ‘odour’ of our sheep is the rightful consequence of our priestly anointing with the fragrant Oil of Chrism. The Lord’s Spirit is upon us. Why? Because he has anointed us. We are chosen, commissioned, and dedicated, so that, through us, the alluring perfume of the Gospel might be attractive to our world. This is true, of course, of all the baptised; but in a particular way of the priest.”
Archbishop John also thanked deacons, consecrated women and men for all that they do through their “own love and witness” and for their support of priests by “working with them in the missionary evangelisation of our Archdiocese”.
The Archbishop also spoke movingly about brother priests who have gone to the Lord in recent weeks. He said “Father Bernard Heaphy, Canon Leo Mooney, Monsignor Canon John O’Toole, and Father Sunith Nonis. Each of these priests lived and breathed, uniquely, the aroma of Christ’s Spirit”.
Archbishop John said he spoke to Mgr John O’Toole two days before he died, and was able to “to thank him for his priestly service. I told him that I loved him very much. His response was to say, “Thank you. I love you too.””
You can watch the full service, including the homily, on our YouTube channel and read the homily below.
Archbishop John Wilson's Chrism Mass homily, 2025
Dear friends
Twice in the Scripture readings today we hear words from the Prophet Isaiah. First, from Isaiah himself, and then, in the Gospel, on the lips of the Lord Jesus, who quotes Isaiah when he announces: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me.”
These powerful words ring true for everyone who receives the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation. The Spirit of the Lord is upon us, because he has anointed us.” And, in a particular way, they ring true for those of us ordained to the ministerial priesthood, to whom I want to speak today in a special way.
Dear brother priests, in this Chrism Mass you will renew the commitment you made at your priestly ordination. As you do this, I want to invite you also to renew your conviction that the Holy Spirit is at work in you; that the “Spirit of Truth who ‘unveils’ Christ to us” (CCC 687) is upon you, because the Lord has anointed you.
What does it mean for a priest to say this with confidence? What does it mean to make this the foundation of our ministry?
St Bernard of Clairvaux said “the three most important virtues are: humility, humility, and humility.” I once said to a friend, “the thing is, I’m trying to be a humble servant, but no one seems to recognise it.” “Isn’t that the whole point,” said my friend.
Only with humility can we affirm the Spirit of the Lord is upon us, because he has anointed us. And we do this, humbly, in the face of whatever undermines our self-worth and traps us in self-critique. Do not be discouraged my brothers. Remember these words of Pope Francis, “If God prefers humility it is not to debase us: humility is the necessary precondition for being lifted up again by him, so as to experience the mercy that comes to fill our emptiness.” (General Audience, 1 June 2016)
At our priestly ordination, the bishop prayed: “Pour out upon this your servant the blessing of the Holy Spirit and the power of priestly grace.” He continued:
May [your servant] be a trustworthy co-worker with our Order,
so that by his preaching
and through the grace of the Holy Spirit,
the words of the Gospel may bear fruit in human hearts
and reach even to the ends of the earth.
Whatever the struggles and challenges, the words spoken at your priestly ordination remain true. The blessing and grace of the Holy Spirit are at work in your ministry as you live out your anointing from Christ in the service of God’s holy Church and people.
Archbishop Fulton Sheen reminded us “the priest is not his own.” More than this, we know the priesthood itself is not our own; not something we possess for our own benefit, on our own terms, or exercise in our own strength. Our identity and our priestly worth come from our configuration to Christ, our being reshaped in his image and after his example. The priesthood is not mine. It’s not about me. The priesthood is Christ’s. It’s about him. And we can only flourish as priests in deep and personal friendship with the Lord Jesus.
But here’s the paradox of priesthood. While not about us, Christ has chosen to exercise his priesthood through us, knowing our wounds and our weakness. My brothers, by means of your priestly ordination, the Spirit of the Lord is upon you. It’s not something magic. We can be defiant and resistant to co-operating with the Holy Spirit. But only because the Spirit of the Risen Lord is alive and active within us dare we act in Christ’s person, speak in Christ’s name, and love with Christ’s heart - as his priests, sharing his priesthood.
So, please, be encouraged. Trust that the Lord, who first called you, calls you again – today and every day - to live the priesthood inspired by the Holy Spirit.
Can I, can you, can we, ask more insistently for the gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit to be more fully activated in our ministry, to come alive within us, and through us. Can we more consciously invite the Holy Spirit to sanctify and guide us, praying with St Augustine:
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy.
Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy.
Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love but what is holy.
Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy.
In his first Chrism Mass, Pope Francis called on priests to “be shepherds, with the ‘odour of the sheep.’” (28 March 2013) This striking allusion is about being close to the people we serve, allowing the Holy Spirit to mould our priesthood according to Christ’s model of service. With our brothers in the diaconate, we priests never stop being deacons, servants, characterised by our nearness to our people.
I want to suggest to you today that carrying the ‘odour’ of our sheep is the rightful consequence of our priestly anointing with the fragrant Oil of Chrism. The Lord’s Spirit is upon us. Why? Because he has anointed us. We are chosen, commissioned, and dedicated, so that, through us, the alluring perfume of the Gospel might be attractive to our world. This is true, of course, of all the baptised; but in a particular way of the priest.
My brothers we must carry with us the priestly fragrance of Christ, the aroma of our Saviour. This happens in different ways. When our life is offered in worship, our anointing will be like sweet incense rising in prayer. In our ministry of forgiveness and healing, our anointing will be like myrrh, both medicinal and bound with suffering and sacrifice. At other times, our priestly anointing will be like costly nard, which honours the presence of the Lord Jesus in others, and is poured out in love for our people.
No matter how many years ago we were ordained, Christ’s anointing is still sinking in. We are not yet the finished product. We are not yet fully saturated in Christ. Each day, we must choose to live more for Christ than for ourselves. Each day, we must choose to carry the aroma of gentleness, not bitterness; the aroma of sensitivity, not impatience; the aroma of generosity, not meanness. Each day, when so much is asked of us - sometimes impossibly so – it is because the Spirit of the Lord is upon us, because we have been anointed, that we find strength to live and breathe in and out the aroma of Christ.
As we gather today, I am conscious of our brothers in the priesthood who have gone to the Lord in recent weeks: Father Bernard Heaphy, Canon Leo Mooney, Monsignor Canon John O’Toole, and Father Sunith Nonis. Each of these priests lived and breathed, uniquely, the aroma of Christ’s Spirit.
I spoke with Mgr John O’Toole two days before he died. I was able to thank him for his priestly service. I told him that I loved him very much. His response was to say, “Thank you. I love you too.”
Last Saturday, I celebrated the Requiem Mass for Father Bernard Heaphy. Along with a bible, crucifix, chalice, paten, and stole on his coffin, there was a fresh green palm branch, the ancient symbol of a witness to Christ.
Love and witness. Isn’t this what it means to live faithfully the truth that the Spirit of the Lord is upon us. To love and to witness. Isn’t this what it means to live joyfully the fragrant anointing of Christ as his saving presence for others.
Dear baptised brothers and sisters, dear deacons, and dear consecrated women and men, for all that you do – through your own love and witness – and to support your priests, working with them in the missionary evangelisation of our Archdiocese, I thank you most sincerely.
And to you, my brothers in the priesthood, I express my sincere gratitude for your love of Christ, and of his Church and of his people; and for the witness of your faith and your service. Every day, ask the Holy Spirit to unveil more of Christ to you and to unveil more of Christ through you. (cf. CCC 687)
“To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood and made us a kingdom, priests to his God and Father, to him be glory and dominion, for ever and ever. Amen.” (Rev 1:5-6)
