Alleluia! The Easter Vigil

Joe Paprocki Easter

The Easter Vigil last night at St. Julie Billiart Parish in Tinley Park was exquisite! What a beautiful experience of celebrating the Resurrection of our Lord! Here are the catechumens and candidates gathered around the soon-to-be-lit fire.

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The Easter fire is lit in the darkened narthex of the church.

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The Deacon did a wonderful job of singing the Exsultet…the Easter Proclamation…in the darkened church lit now by the candles held by all the faithful.

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The Scripture readings were proclaimed with a dramatic flare. Here, water is poured into the baptismal font as the “Come to the water” reading is proclaimed.

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The water is blessed

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The first of the catechumens enters the waters of the baptismal font

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Splash!!!

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The Neophytes return in white baptismal garments

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We all get wet, renewing our baptismal promises

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At the reception following the Easter Vigil (which took just under 2 1/2 hours), the newly initiated receive homemade prayer shawls from fellow parisioners

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Christ is Risen! He is truly Risen!

A Blessed Easter to all!!!

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About Joe Paprocki 2742 Articles
Joe Paprocki, DMin, is National Consultant for Faith Formation at Loyola Press, where, in addition to his traveling/speaking responsibilities, he works on the development team for faith formation curriculum resources including Finding God: Our Response to God’s Gifts and God’s Gift: Reconciliation and Eucharist. Joe has more than 35 years of experience in ministry and has presented keynotes, presentations, and workshops in more than 100 dioceses in North America. Joe is a frequent presenter at national conferences including the Los Angeles Religious Education Congress, the Mid-Atlantic Congress, and the National Conference for Catechetical Leadership. He is the author of numerous books, including the best seller The Catechist’s Toolbox, A Church on the Move, Under the Influence of Jesus, and Called to Be Catholic—a bilingual, foundational supplemental program that helps young people know their faith and grow in their relationship with God. Joe is also the series editor for the Effective Catechetical Leader and blogs about his experiences in faith formation at www.catechistsjourney.com.

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