TrulyGrace

Easter Vigil 2006

Mom, Dad, and I went early to the Pitt Filipino Students Association Barrio Fest. We saw Nenette Angeles, FAAP president, who suggested we go see the YFAP dancers practice. We met up with Ben Pacifico, Rafael Evangelista, Charise Shively, and some of the other dancers. We also went to the Assembly Room at the student union to see the FSA students practice--and I saw Zach, one of my current bio students practicing his break dancing moves. We saw Charise's mom and other FAAP members preparing to serve the dinner to the students.

Dad and I left there around 7pm to go to Church for the Easter Vigil Service, he for the television ministry, and I for the choir.
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The Church service started after sundown, with the church robed in darkness. Slowly, at the entrance of the church, people passed the light of candles to each other, and up the nave, until the whole church softly glowed in candlelight, and twinkled in handbells and the sung exsultet of glory in the risen Lord.

The light service was followed by the liturgy of the Word, with several responsorial psalms sung by the choir with handbells. The Gloria (P. Jones) was sung before a reading from the Romans, and the choir sang a glorious Alleluia by Fr. Chepponis. The homily by the celebrant, Most Reverend Bishop Donald W. Wuerl, concluded the liturgy of the Word.

The third part of the service involved the liturgy of Christian initiation, welcoming the RCIA candidates into the Church. One of the choirs own, Anne K., participated in this portion of the service. It started with a sung short litany of the saints, followed by a blessing of the baptismal water (Springs of Water, D. Fellows), a sung alleluia after each baptism, and a welcoming into full communion with the Church of confirmed individuals with a sung amen.

The final part of the service involved the liturgy of the Eucharist. The choir sang
Hallelujah! from the Mount of Olives (Beethoven)
Acclamations (Haugen)
Agnus Dei/Lamb of God (Isele)
Be Known to Us, Lord Jesus (Schalk)
Hallelujah Chorus (Handel's Messiah)
Sung dismissal
Jesus Christ is Risen Today
organ postlude: Toccata from Symphony V (Widor)

Bishop Wuerl was assisted by a number of priests from the Cathedral, Oratory, and other locations. The music ministry was led by Don Fellows, assisted by Adam Brakel (organist), Daphne Alderson and Linda Ortenzo (cantors), and the St. Paul Cathedral Choir.

I had a chance to congratulate Anne K. on her initiation into the Church after the Mass.

I met up with Dad, who had assisted in the television ministry that evening.

posted by Grace @ 4/16/2006 10:35:00 AM