“For the six of you, this is the night. And you’ll never forget this night,” Archbishop Nelson J. Pérez told six new members of the Catholic Church during his Easter Vigil homily Saturday night, April 19 at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.
The six adults entering full communion with the Church reflect a growing trend in the Philadelphia region and worldwide. More previously unbaptized people and Christians from other faith traditions – particularly young adults – are entering the Catholic Church.
This Lent 725 adults prepared to receive the Church’s sacraments of initiation during the Easter Vigil at churches throughout the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, including the cathedral.
The six catechumens there joined 325 others receiving baptism, Eucharist and confirmation, while 394 people in the Archdiocese who previously were baptized received their first Communion.
“For many, many months, adults have been preparing for baptism, confirmation, and the Holy Eucharist, which takes place on this night. Already-baptized Christians receive the sacraments throughout Easter time,” said Father Dennis Gill, the rector of the Cathedral Basilica.
>>>PHOTO FEATURE: Scenes: Easter Vigil Mass at the Cathedral Basilica
The total of 725 people entering full communion in the Church represent the highest figure in 10 years, according to the Office for Divine Worship, for which Father Gill also serves as director, and previously reported by CatholicPhilly.
“There are all kinds of reports coming from all over the world of the increase of younger people especially, for one reason or another, who were not baptized seeking baptism,” said Father Gill.
“For a generation or so, so many of these people were not baptized by their Catholic parents. Many of them are of Catholic homes and families where the faith was not practiced or lived. They’ve found Christ, or Christ has found them.”
Archbishop Pérez understands that even with that numeric trend, each newly baptized Catholic comes with his or her own reasons and stories of how Christ has moved them to the Church.
“Through the things that happen in our lives, each one of us has a story. If you think the readings tonight were long, our story is even longer,” Archbishop Pérez said during his homily at the Easter Vigil Mass.
“But through it all is the unfolding of God’s grace, and the light of Christ that has joined us, followed us, led us, pushed us, all along that journey. One day, we will see that with great clarity, we will come to understand, and we will say, ‘Lord, it was always you. No matter how hard it was, or how mysterious it was, or silent it was, it was always you.’”
Father Gill, as rector, has played a part with his parishioners in shepherding the six catechumens receiving their sacraments of initiation Saturday night
“The principal formator for the sacraments is the Christian community, and the priest animates this formation as he takes the role of Christ in teaching the faith, celebrating the faith with them, guiding them and living the faith,” Father Gill said.
“We need to be sure we’re able to receive them and support them in living the faith, keeping Christ alive (in) who they are and how we encounter the world, especially as we’re his witnesses. We have an obligation to help them persevere.”
Archbishop Pérez invited the newly baptized Catholics and all those attending the Mass to reflect on the words of the now-late Pope Francis and “let his words just resonate in your own heart.”
“The Easter Vigil,” the pope said on a previous occasion, “thus reminds us that the light of the resurrection illumines our path one step at a time, quietly. It breaks through the darkness of history, and shines in our hearts, calling for the response of a humble faith. The Lord’s passage from death to life is not a spectacular event by which God shows his power, or compels us to believe in him. The resurrection is like little seeds of light that slowly and silently come to take root in our hearts.
“How blessed we are.”
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