The Most Rev. James Checchio, Bishop of Metuchen, invited local members of the Catholic Orders of Chivalry to take part in the annual Chrism Mass, celebrated on Tuesday, April 4, 2023, at St. Francis Cathedral, Metuchen, NJ.

Members of the Order of Malta who reside within the Diocese of Metuchen were honored to lead the Entrance Procession for the Mass. The Chrism Mass is the annual Liturgy during Holy Week when the local Bishop blesses the sacred Oil of Chrism (used for Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Orders), the Oil of Catechumens (also used for Baptism), and the Oil of the Sick (used for Anointing of the Sick), which are then distributed to all of the parishes of the Diocese.

The Chrism Mass is also the occasion when the priests of the Diocese renew their priestly vows to the Bishop. It was a wonderful occasion for members of the Order of Malta to celebrate alongside the Knights of Columbus, the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre, the priests, the many religious brothers and sisters, and representatives of all of the parishes of the Diocese.

The New Jersey Area is blessed to have two Metuchen priests as Chaplains: Msgr. Sylvester Cronin, Pastor of the Church of St. James, Basking Ridge, and Fr. David Skoblow, Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Virgin, Middlesex (pictured alongside the Bishop after the Chrism Mass).