Alleluliah - He is Risen! - He is Risen Indeed!

As dusk fell, almost five hours ago, Georges the senior Altar Server and his daughter Cassandra lit the brazier. The wood caught fire and the flames leaped up as we gathered round warming our hands.

At the stroke of 8.00pm Father Kevin and Father Francis emerged from the Presbytery carrying the large Paschal candle. The congregation stood quietly in a semi-circle, holding their own unlit candles. Fr Kevin then performed the first ceremony of Easter Vigil, the lighting of the Easter candle, incising it and inserting grans of incense and blessing it before bearing it in procession into the darkened church.  As the congregation entered, they lit their candles from the Paschal candle, passing the light to their neighbours until everyone had a light and the church was lit by the warm glow of a couple of hundred flickering candles.

Then, by the light of these candles, the liturgy of readings began, the organ and choir high in the loft pouring out praise after each reading. Then came the point where the priest announced 'the light of Christ' and, in a sudden thunderous burst of bell-ringing and a blinding illumination, all the lights in the church were turned on and the altar servers scurried round lighting all the candles - even the candles high up on the side walls, lit just once a year. In a moment the church was ablaze with light.

This year we had eight candidates and catechumens join the Church and the beautiful ceremony then took place we all renewed our baptismal promises, the prospective members professed their faith, were blessed, anointed with holy oils and were joyfully welcomed into the Church as full members. The congregation broke into loud applause, sharing their joy and welcoming them into the family of Christ.

Finally, it was Mass, Easter Mass, a very special one for both the new and the old members. I was serving as a Eucharistic Minister and stood with my chalice to the left of the altar.

Then, almost three hours after we had begun, it was over and we left the church, wishing each other a Happy Easter, taking one of the proffered chocolates to break our Lenten fast - enjoying the sweet taste of Christ risen.

It's early the next morning now, I'm too tired to write much detail - apologies - but please enjoy the photos... (they are a bit grainy, it was rather dark!)    

***********************

 

It's now 11.20am on Sunday morning. The 9.30am Mass, traditionally the children's Mass, where they undertake the readings (from a children's simplified version of the Bible), sing their own hymn (with gestures!), take the collection and process the gifts, was packed, absolutely packed. All the pews were full, people scrunched up against each other like sardines, the overspill stood at the back of the church, down the sides and even in the entrance and in the porch outside. As we queued for Holy Communion I experienced something I've never seen before - the line came to a complete stop for a few minutes. Holy gridlock!

 

Alleluliah - He is Risen! - He is Risen Indeed!