click for complete presentation by Deacon Tom on the Easter Vigil

HIghlights of Deacon Tom's presentation of the Easter Vigil:

This is the "Mother of all vigils"  The greatest and most noble of all solemnities.  On this Holy night, the church keeps wath, celebrating the resurrection of Christ in the sacraments and awaiting His return in glory.

The Easter Vigil Liturgy:
part 1:

• The Solemn beginning of the Vigil or Lucernarium (a truly blazing fire that the ministers and people can gather around it)
• The blessing of the new fire (we pray that our hearts, our very selves, might be "inflamed" with God's glory in the darkness which surround us.)
• The preparation of the Paschal Candle( the cross, the alpha and omega, the year fie grains of incense.)
• The procession (just as the israelites were guided from slavery to freedom by the pillar of fire, the assembly will follow the candle into the church, "the light of Christ", "thanks be to God".)
• The Easter proclamation - Exsultet (The splendid song of praise which the church offers to Christ on the night of his rising.

• We share the story of salvation history
• Readings, responsorial psalm, prayer, etc

click for video of the complete presentation from Fr. Mike in our Lenten Series 2 on 03.22.22

Highlights of Fr. Mike's presentation:
Lent is the period of 40 days, which comes befor Easter in the Christian calendar

• It is a time of prayer, fasting and giving - these three pillars of Lent are meant to hlp us to draw closer to God.  The 40 days of Lent are aq physical reminder to draw near to God.
• A time of reflection
• Preceded by Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday) and begins with Ash Wednesday.  Traditionally it is a day of penitence, to clean the soul and for man, a day of celebration as the las chance to feast before Lent begins (Mardi Gras or Carnival)

• A day of penitence to clean the soul before the Lenten fast
• Special services are held (Mass) at which worshippers are marked with ashes as a symbol of death and sorrow for sin.
• Ashes are made by burning palms from the previous Palm Sunday and is very symbolic
  • The words of the priest/minister who distributes the ashes are the key to understanding its significance; "Remember you are dust and unto dust you shall return"
  • The marking on the forehead reminds each churchgoer that
    • Death comes to everyone
    • They should be sad for their sins
    • They must change themselves for the better
    • God mad the first human being by breathing life into the dust, and without God, human beings are nothing more than dust and ashes

CLICK FOR video of FR. DAVE'S COMPLETE PRESENTATION

LENT:
What Lent is not:

• an ecclesiastical sanctioned weight loss program
• a chance to test our will power

• Solemn period of preparation for Easter

• RCIA accompaniment - supporting our candidates
• Ecclesia semper reformanda:  How an I doing? Personal renewal.
• The "holy trinity" of Lenten practices:
  • Prayer
  • Fasting
  • Almsgiving/Sharing