Chrism Mass
Cathedral of the Risen Christ
April 11, 2022
Homily by Father Jeremy Hazuka
Most reverend bishops, brother priests, fellow jubilarians, dear religious and seminarians, and all of God’s beloved faithful assembled here today, my name is Father Jeremy Hazuka and I have the privilege of preaching today.
When I was a seminarian, Father Tom Au told me, to the effect that, “all priests are thieves” – we steal each other’s bulletin messages, homilies, lesson plans, et cetera. In part, this is what I’ve done this evening.
I was the “stay behind” priest last year for the Hastings deanery, so I missed the Chrism Mass, but God’s providence was at work. That afternoon, I anointed a woman who died five hours later, providing her with the “oil of gladness in place of mourning,” an oil that Bishop Conley will soon bless.
Later that day, I watched the Chrism Mass online so that I could hear Father Tom Brouillette’s homily and renew my promises. I was inspired by what Father Brouillette said, comparing how Isaiah was fulfilled in the hearing of the people of Nazareth to how Isaiah is fulfilled in our hearing today through Christ’s presence in good priests.
Father Brouillette mentioned Monsignor Ray Hain in his homily. Father Brouillette remembered how Father Hain would greet and acknowledge the Brouillette clan, showing them honor and kindness with something simple as a smile – that Monsignor Ray Hain fulfilled the words of Isaiah in the hearing of Father Brouillette, and that really touched me.
After Father Brouillette’s homily, I began to think of the priests who “fulfilled” Isaiah in my hearing. I thought of:
• Father Paul Begley – who inspired a vocation to the priesthood as he visited our classroom when I was a second grader, and unknowingly fostered this vocation as I served Mass for him during middle school.
• Father “Wild” Bill O’Leary – who was anything but wild. During high school, always wearing his blue lab coat he purchased from the Goodwill, he was an example of humility and the spirit of poverty, virtues that, you could say, have haunted me throughout my priesthood.
• In college, there was Father Joe Nemec and his several simple invitations that began my proximate path to the seminary and the priesthood.
• Also in college, Father Tom Fucinaro, who showed me that priests are “normal” people and that they can be a friend.
• Father Paul Pearson in Toronto, who talked about how a seminarian is like a penny that’s made shiny by bearing with seminary formation humbly and patiently –including living with other seminarians. Father Paul himself provided several opportunities for me to grow shiny.
• Father John Coughlin, my spiritual director in New York, who held me accountable for taking the easy way out.
• My pastors when I was an assistant – Monsignor Myron Peskac, who always seemed to be in control without being controlling (a quality I’m still working on), and the Holy Man of God, Father Rudy Oborny, who encouraged me to take on the smell of the sheep.
• Monsignor Adrian Herbek and the priests of the David City Deanery, helping me to navigate being a first-time pastor and showing me what “intimate sacramental brotherhood” (Presbyterorum Ordinis, 8) is all about. I’ve been blessed to be in several deaneries with strong fraternity, including a “corn pop” shout out to the Hastings deanery, where I’m the old guy now, but learning and receiving life from the witness of some great young priests.
• My Jesus Caritas group – we’re approaching our 20th anniversary. When asked, “What is Jesus Caritas?” I like to tell people we’re a group of priests who get together once a month to talk about how bad we are. Actually, at every meeting – and our group has rarely failed to meet once a month during the last 20 years – every time we meet, those words of Isaiah are fulfilled through my brother priests in one way or another.
• And I could mention so many more: Those with whom I’ve served at our parishes, diocesan schools, and other apostolates, those of you who have heard my confession. Really, all my diocesan brethren – I could give a shout out to most of you and offer a reason how you, through the Holy Spirit’s anointing, have fulfilled these words of Isaiah in my own hearing.
The esteem or respect for the priesthood has taken some hits recently, and not without reason. Instead of bringing glad tidings or healing, liberty or comfort – instead of offering the oil of gladness and a glorious mantle – there have been priests who have brought sadness and wounds, sin and suffering – sometime in grave ways. Because of impatience, anger, stubbornness, fear, pride, and countless other sins, I have not always fulfilled the words of Isaiah. However, thanks be to God that Christ is the Shepherd and He continues to pasture His sheep, and He does this through an even greater number of good priests, and He does this despite, and even through, the weaknesses of our priests.
Sometime during this Holy Week, maybe on Holy Thursday when we commemorate the institution of the ministerial priesthood, I encourage you to do a couple things – the first thing is especially for the priests, the second thing is for all of us.
1) First, for my brother priests and for me, consider using the words of Isaiah as an examen and a call to humility – an examen to consider whether we’re bringing glad tidings, healing the broken hearted, proclaiming liberty and announcing favor – a call to humility, remembering that it’s the Spirit of the Lord working through us who does this. Saint Norbert once wrote:
Oh, Priest, who are you?
Not through yourself, since you are from nothing,
Not for yourself, since you are mediator of men,
Not to yourself, since you are the spouse of the Church, Not yours, since you are servant of all,
Not you, since you are God.
Who are you then? You are nothing, and all.
2) And then second, for all of us, think of a priest or priests from your own life in whom the words, “Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing”, rings true for you; a priest…
• Who brought you glad tidings when you were feeling low.
• Who healed your broken heart after a tragic event.
• Who proclaimed liberty when you were captive to sin and released you through Confession.
• Who announced a year of favor and a day of vindication through a stirring homily or retreat.
• Who brought you comfort when you were mourning, placing the diadem of grace upon you.
• Who offered you the oil of gladness and a glorious mantle through the Sacraments.
Think of a priest who has helped you to live out your vocation, whatever it may be – a priest who helped you to fulfill your call to holiness – and pray for that priest, so that the Lord who began a good work in him may bring it to fulfillment.
