Anticipation is building in the hearts of Jessie Eng, Zachary Seely & Christopher Blank as we inch ever closer to the celebration of the holiest of our feast days—the Holy Triduum (one feast over 3 days) which climaxes with the glorious celebration of the EASTER VIGIL on Holy Saturday at 8pm at OLQP. As a community of faith, we continue to share in their journey of faith as they carry us forward toward this annual remembrance of the central mysteries of our faith. This is their gift to us. They truly are children of THIS NIGHT and in them our community is given the opportunity to enter into the sacred mysteries of our faith in a powerful and life changing journey to the Great Vigil, the Mother of all Vigils…the Easter Vigil. On Holy Saturday evening, we will once again participate in this so ancient of rituals. At the Vigil, once the sun has set and darkness is upon us, we will gather. We will bless the fire that will light the Easter (Paschal) Candle, the symbol of the Risen Christ. The flame of the Easter Candle will light the candle that each one of us will carry. We will pray “Accept this Easter Candle, a flame divided, but undimmed, a pillar of fire that glows to the honor of God. Let it mingle with the lights of heaven and continue bravely burning to dispel the darkness of this night! May the morning Star which never sets find this flame still burning: Christ, the Morning Star who came back from the dead, and shed his peaceful light on all….” On THIS NIGHT, we remember, we celebrate, we believe! We proclaim for all to hear: This is the night when first you saved our Fathers…. This is the night when the pillar of fire destroyed the darkness of sin! This is the night when Christians everywhere, washed clean of sin and freed from all defilement, are restored to grace and grow together in holiness. This is the night when Jesus Christ broke the chains of death and rose triumphant from the grave. The power of this holy night dispels all evil, washes away guilt, restores lost innocence, brings mourners joy; it casts out hatred, brings us peace, and humbles earthly pride. In this broken and hurting world, we need to come together to remember that we are people of hope. We need to celebrate the source of our hope—Jesus Christ. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the Holy Triduum. Journey together through the Last Supper (Holy Thurs.), the passion and death of Jesus (Good Fri.), and the glorious culmination of the Easter Vigil (Holy Sat.) when we proclaim to the world that “He Has Risen!” and Jessie, Zachary & Christopher become members of the Catholic Church. Reminder: This weekend, Jessie, Zachary & Christopher experience a foretaste of Jesus’ victory over death when they participate in the final Rite of Scrutiny at STM at the 11am Mass. The focus of this final Scrutiny is the raising of Lazarus. We are invited to make their prayer ours as Jessie, Zachary & Christopher pray to be “freed from the grasp of death” and “filled with the Spirit, so they might live always in the glory of Christ’s resurrection.” Blessings, Mary Ann Obark, R.C.I.A. Coordinator