The Easter Vigil at St. Monica’s begins at 8pm and this year we are blessed to welcome 9 adults into the Catholic Church through the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Holy Communion. Some of them are pictured below with their catechists and sponsors.
“Holy Saturday is a day of in-betweens. Jesus is dead and buried, but the story isn’t over. We wait in anticipation of the resurrection.
In the evening, the Easter Vigil begins in silence and in darkness. A fire is kindled outside the church, and from it the new Paschal Candle is lit. Christ, our light, shines in the darkness. We listen to nine readings that trace the story of salvation, beginning at the first moment of creation, following God’s saving work across generations.
When the Gloria is sung, bells ring out and the church bursts into light and joy. Christ is risen! As the Easter Exsultet proclaims, “let this holy building shake with joy.”
To add to the joy, many parishes welcome new members into the Church at the Vigil. Through Baptism, Confirmation, and First Eucharist, catechumens and candidates fully enter the life of the Church.”
(courtesy of www.ottawacornwall.ca)