Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney celebrated the bilingual Easter Vigil Mass in the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Paterson on Holy Saturday evening, April 19.
The Easter Vigil evening is the night that “shall be as bright as day,” as proclaimed by the Exsultet, an ancient Church hymn, as the Church joyfully anticipates Christ’s resurrection. The Holy Saturday liturgy began with the Service of Light, which includes the blessing of the new fire and the blessing of the paschal candle, which symbolizes Jesus, the Light of the World. After the Liturgy of the Word, the elect, seeking full initiation into the Catholic Church, were presented to the parish community, who prayed for them during the Litany of the Saints. The bishop blessed the water, dipping the paschal candle into the baptismal font.
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Those seeking baptism then renounced sin and professed their faith. Bishop Sweeney baptized them. After their baptism, they were presented with a candle lighted from the paschal candle. The bishop then confirmed them, anointing them with sacred chrism oil. At Communion, the newly baptized received the Eucharist for the first time.
“We know, through the gift of our faith, that Christ, raised from the dead, dies no more,” Bishop Sweeney told worshippers. ” We are Easter people. Our song is ‘Hallelujah.’ We are truly pilgrim people. Let us never take our gift of faith for granted and stay true to our baptismal promises. Let’s call on the gifts of the Holy Spirit we received in baptism to inflame our hearts and lives so we can be witnesses of the risen Lord and pilgrims of hope the world needs.”
