Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As in previous years, the Mass of Chrism in Motherwell Diocese will be celebrated on Holy Thursday morning in Our Lady of Good Aid Cathedral at 1100. As Bishop, I extend an invitation to all the faithful of the Diocese to attend, and look forward to welcoming you there. At this Solemn Mass, I bless the Oils to be used in the celebration of the Sacraments in the parishes through the year ahead, while the priests renew the promises made at ordination.

I see this year’s Mass of Chrism as an important occasion in the Diocese’s celebration of the Jubilee Year and I encourage you to come in parish groups as Pilgrims of Hope, united with me as Bishop in the Communion of the Holy Catholic Church, led by Our Holy Father, Pope Francis. We continue to pray that his recovery will continue.

From the Mass of Chrism, we move into the Sacred Paschal Triduum in our parishes and I ask for your generous and prayerful participation in the Liturgies of the Mass of the Last Supper, the Commemoration of the Lord’s Passion and Death, the Easter Vigil and the Mass of the Lord’s Resurrection. Let us ensure that these holy days are truly a time of intense prayer and renewed zeal, celebrating the great mysteries of our faith, purified by our Lenten sacrifices and fully open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

With my prayers and best wishes,

Yours in Christ,

+ Joseph Toal