Q: I am a chaplain at a Catholic hospital. Usually, one of the Catholic chaplains would attend the Chrism Mass and pick up the oils for our chapel. This year, the only chaplain available to go is a non-Catholic. Our director of missions told us that that chaplain could not go because a non-Catholic was not allowed to participate in the Chrism Mass and carry the oils back to the hospital.
Is that a correct interpretation?
==
A: The Order of Blessing of the Oils presumes that the priests are taking the oils home with them after Mass, but all it says is that after Mass the Bishop is “to instruct the Priests about the manner in which the sacred Oils are to be treated, honored, and carefully stored” (28).
I suggest you contact your bishop’s office in case there is a local interpretation on this point.