Caceres Clergy Renew Vows

The Chrism Mass is celebrated every Holy Thursday to call to mind the day Christ instituted the Holy Eucharist and the Sacrament of Orders. Held at the Naga Metropolitan Cathedral last April 21, 2011 at seven o'clock in the morning, what is central to this solemn yet festive occasion is the renewal of vows by the clergy, in the presence of their Bishop and the faithful.

Celebrated by Most Rev. Leonardo Legaspi, O.P. D.D., Archbishop of Caceres, his homily served as a reminder for the Clergy of the spirit that must embody them, the honor and gift of being ordained into the ministry and the responsibility that it entails. For him, "Holy Thursday is an occasion to ask over and over again: What does this 'being a priest of Jesus Christ' mean?"

Quoting from the conversation of Peter Seewald with Pope Benedict XVI regarding the latter's acceptance of the assignments given to him despite personal disagreement, Archbishop Legaspi focused on obedience as a fundamental principle that must be at the heart of every priest. According to him, the virtue of obedience is the lighthouse in the life of a priest, his guiding principle, for not only does it assure him of seeking God's will in his ministry, but also fosters his respect, "not so much for the person of the bishop, but for the office he holds."

The Archbishop closed his homily by thanking his priests, saying, "In spite of the heartbreaking failures to win the basketball crown, you are a great bunch of priests."

Members of the Clergy who had stayed five, ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five, thirty, and thirty-five years in the ministry received a token of gratitude and appreciation.