Hours before the beauty, and the crowds, of the April 2 Holy
Thursday Chrism Mass began at the Cathedral of St. Thomas
More in Arlington, a tradition that goes back further than
many priests can remember took place in the St. Thomas More
Cathedral School cafeteria.
Dozens of eggs were scrambled, pounds of bacon and scrapple
were cooked and coffee was prepared. Diocesan seminarians,
and Arlington Bishop Paul S. Loverde, cooked and served
breakfast to the priests of the diocese.
Oblate Father Mark S. Mealey, vicar general for
administration and moderator of the curia, said he’s been
coming to the breakfast for years. He is not sure when it
started, but he does enjoy it.
“It’s wonderful that priests get together with seminarians on
Holy Thursday and make a connection,” he said.
At around 8 a.m., seminarians donned aprons and began to
cook. It’s a controlled chaos in the kitchen and it was all
managed by Father Joel D. Jaffe, Arlington diocesan vocations
director, and Administrative Assistant Anne-Marie Minnis.
But the moment most anticipated was when Bishop Loverde
entered the kitchen, put on an apron and chef’s hat and began
to scramble eggs.
After grace, priests and seminarians queued up and waited for
the bishop to drop mounds of eggs and bacon into their
waiting plates.
Seminarians and priests loved the camaraderie and food.
Father Jerry A. Wooton, in residence at St. John the Beloved
Church in McLean, said he comes to meet the men in the
diocesan seminaries and to renew old friendships.
Jacob Mason, first year seminarian at St. Charles Borromeo
Seminary in Wynnewood, Pa., said, “I think it’s great. It’s
the visible point of unity.”
Deacon Richard Miserendino is in his final year of seminary
formation at the Pontifical North American College in Rome.
“It’s a beautiful opportunity to come together,” he said.
“You come together for both worship and fellowship.”
As the men sat down to eat, an announcement was made
reminding everyone to eat up and drink plenty of liquids and
be vested for the Chrism Mass by 10 a.m. It was going to be a
busy day.
