GLOW

The Easter fire casts a glow on the faces of the parish community as the Vigil begins.

The Easter Vigil is celebrated in the Catholic Church during the hours between sunset on Holy Saturday and sunrise on Easter Sunday morning. In our parish it typically begins just beyond sundown, between 8:30 and 9:00.

There are 4 parts:

The Service of Light

The Liturgy of The Word

Christian Initiation/Renewal of Baptism Vows

Communion

The fire is lit and the Christ candle (representing The Light of Christ in the world) is lit. Everyone follows the candle into the dark church. Candles are lit and held by the entire community as the Exsultet is sung, telling the story of Christian salvation history. As seven Old Testament readings are read, the lights are gradually brought up in the church. The water in the baptismal pool is blessed by immersing the lit candle in it three times. The fonts in the church are filled after possibly 6 Lenten weeks of being empty. The music is loud and joyfull. Those adults being baptized into the faith begin to be received, those people joining by profession from another faith are met and all are confirmed. The entire community recalls their own baptismal promises during a very wet sprinkling rite throughout the church. The liturgy continues through the celebration of Communion and dismisses, often as late as midnight.

It's an evening rich with tradition and deep with meaning in the Catholic faith.