Posted April 4, 2021

Christians worldwide marked the holiest night of the year on Holy Saturday, April 3 with the Easter Vigil Mass, which celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the salvation of all humankind. In the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, Father Dennis Gill celebrated the evening Mass in the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul, for which he is the rector, assisted by other priests and deacons. Watch the video of the entire Mass here. (Photos by Sarah Webb)

  • Father Dennis Gill (left) blesses the new paschal candle that will be used in liturgies in the cathedral throughout the year. He is assisted by seminarians and transitional Deacon Ken Cavara (right), who will be ordained a priest this May.

  • Father Gill lights the paschal candle in the service of light that begins the Easter Vigil Mass.

  • A seminarian shares the flame of a candle, symbolizing the light of Christ that has broken into the world through the resurrection of Jesus celebrated by Christians on Holy Saturday night.

  • Deacon Ken Cavara carries the lighted paschal candle in procession into the nave of the cathedral.

  • Representatives of other Christian communities join the Easter Vigil Mass as a cantor leads the congregation in song.

  • Transitional Deacon Mark Tobin (left) and other clergy pray as Father Dennis Gill blesses the holy water to be used in the sprinkling rite and baptism at the Easter Vigil Mass.

  • Father Christopher Cooke, director of the Spirituality Year for St. Charles Borromeo Seminary, sprinkles holy water upon the people.

  • Father Sean Mahoney, chaplain at Temple University’s Newman Center, sprinkles holy water.

  • Father Dennis Gill blesses the people with holy water during the Easter Vigil Mass.

  • Father Dennis Gill baptizes a girl into the Catholic faith during the Easter Vigil Mass.

  • Father Dennis Gill (center) celebrates the Liturgy of the Eucharist at the Easter Vigil Mass. Concelebrating the Mass was Father Matthew Biedrzycki (right), parochial vicar. Assisting at the altar was transitional Deacon Mark Tobin.