Thursday, April 8, 2010

Easter on Andros!

He has risen! Easter has finally arrived, Alleluia Alleluia Alleluia!
Welcome to Easter at St. John Chrysostom in Fresh Creek! Doesn't our Easter Altar look grand!
Our Paschal Candle here is courtesy of our parish back in the US - thanks St. Tim's!


We were blessed to have 4 people join the Church this year as adults. Two are from Cargill Creek and were baptized. One is from the AUTEC base and another worships with us here at St. John Chrysostom. The later two were as recieved into the Catholic Church recieving Confirmation and the Eucharist.
With those coming from Cargill Creek, and not having transportation, my Easter Vigil started with a drive to Cargill Creek to pick them up, with their family, friends, and God-parents.
After the drive there and back I threw on my vestments and went outside to face my first of several anxious moments - the lighting of the bonfire for the beginning of the Easter Vigil liturgy. Using dried palm branches for kindling and wood from old shipping pallets, we soon had a roaring fire. Now my next anxious moment, lighting the Paschal Candle in a stiff breeze. After 3 attempts God smiled on us and the Paschal Candle was lit for the entrance procession. I sang "Christ Our Light" and the people responded, singing "Thanks be to God", as they lit their individual candles from mine and the church went from darkness to light as the fire spread.
My next anxious moment (do you see a pattern here) was my singing the Exultet. This 5 minute solo is the role of the Deacon but having had so many wonderfully talented music directors I have never had to sing it. Well, now it was my turn and somehow I got through it.

As I mentioned, a major highlight of the Easter Vigil was our being able to welcome 4 people into the Catholic Church. This first pic is the first being baptized, while the second waits her turn.
She didn't have to wait long. The challenge for me was baptizing her without spoiling her hair or her makeup too much. Trust me, she got wet.


When I saw this pic I got a kick out of her God-mother. She is making sure she doesn't miss a thing.

Confirmation followed and with 4 candidates, thier sponsors and God-parents, a Deacon and Fr. Frank Herrmann, SJ (who joined us from Boston College) it made for a full sanctuary.


Here are pics of Fr. Frank anointing with the Sacred Chrism as he Confirms all four of the newest members in the Catholic Church



All in all it was a wonderful Easter Vigil. Being able to welcome 4 people into the Church capped off 2 years of formation. It was so good to see them profess their faith and recieve the sacraments we have talked about so much.

With the Vigil under our belts it was on to Easter Day liturgies. First, we went to the AUTEC Navy Base. Here Fr. Frank and I pose at the Chapel doors with our pianist after this Easter celebration.

Then it was off to Cargill Creek, where we baptized two children as part of our Easter Day celebration there. Here Fr. Frank watches and I welcome one of the two children, and her mother and Godmother, with the traditional blessing at the door.


Here we bless the water we are about to use to baptize our newest members of the Catholic Church.
After this celebration, our 7th liturgy of the Triduum/Easter liturgies, it was time to take a deep breath and rest a bit. We were sorry that Fr. Frank had to get back to Boston College so quickly, but he teaches at BC Law School and had a Monday morning flight. We promise that the NEXT time he comes (and there will be a next time) he'll get more beach time, and at least one drink with an umbrella in it.

In retrospect, this Easter was Wonderful wonderful wonderful










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