“Holy Saturday concludes the Holy Triduum. The Easter Vigil always begins after sunset and with the church in darkness. The Paschal (Easter) candle is lit outside the church. As we process into the church with the lit Easter candle, we sing three times, “The Light of Christ!” Our grateful response to each proclamation is, ‘Thanks be to God!’
Those words and the procession with the Paschal candle symbolize that the Risen Christ comes to bring light into our darkness and invites each of us to be open to that light through our continued prayers and our actions to bring about peace to restless hearts.
At the Easter Vigil, we joyfully receive hundreds of women, men and children into full communion with the church. They have been preparing to receive the sacraments of baptism, confirmation and Eucharist, and we welcome them to the table!” – Archbishop Aymond
