Easter Vigil: From Darkness to Light
It was around six o’clock on the ticking clock. The church was slowly filling up with fellow parishioners. The environment felt quite different compared to other Eucharistic celebrations. The lights were off, and the fans were silent. The choir sat quietly, waiting. Only soft footsteps and whispers filled the air. A deep silence hung over everyone, sharing the sorrow of Christ’s death. Yet, little did they know that soon, joy would break into the night.
Shortly afterwards, everyone was called to gather outside for the blessing of the Paschal candle. The flame, small but strong, was lit and raised high. The people followed in procession around the church, holding their own unlit candles. When they reached the entrance, the presider, Fr Dominic, chanted a prayer for the first time. In the middle of the church, he stopped and chanted it again. Finally, at the altar, he chanted it for the last time. One by one, the parishioners’ candles were lit from the Paschal candle, until a sea of tiny flames filled the darkness.
After the Exsultet was sung, the people gently blew out their candles, and the celebration moved to the second part: the liturgy of the Word. Three readings were taken from the Old Testament, each followed by a psalm chanted by the choir. All of this happened in near darkness, creating a sense of waiting and hope. After the third psalm ended, the Gloria hymn broke the silence. “Glory to God in the highest!” the choir sang joyfully. Lights and fans came alive, the bells rang loudly for the first time that day, and the air was filled with the sweet smell of incense. The whole church seemed to burst into life. It was clear, Christ had risen from the dead!
Afterwards came the final reading, followed by the Grand Alleluia, the first time “Alleluia” had been heard since Lent began. Then, the Gospel was proclaimed by Fr Dominic.
During the homily, Fr Dominic shared a touching story. To summarise, he said that God has promised us a life “from conception to resurrection.” He gave the example of Luke 23:43, where Jesus said to the penitent thief, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Fr Dominic reminded us that if we reconcile with God, He promises us eternal life. He encouraged everyone to rejoice, because this was the day when death was defeated and new life began.
The celebration moved into the third part: the baptismal liturgy. Fr Dominic blessed the baptismal water and sprinkled it over the people, a sign that their sins had been washed away. A few moments later, the Eucharistic celebration came to a close. Unlike Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, this time the celebration ended with a joyful final blessing.
Mary, a fellow parishioner who attended, said this celebration made her feel ecstatic every year. She shared that today was a day when we could truly understand God’s love, sending His only Son to die for our sins. Her message to the world was: “We must be faithful to God, because His love is pure and powerful. Christ is King.” (Aloysious Ignatious)
Vigil Mass at NBVM (10 PM)
In his homily, Fr. Ryan reflected on the significance of Christ’s resurrection. The empty tomb is a sign of new life, not absence, as the risen Lord is present in the Word, the Eucharist, and in our lives. Fr. Ryan encouraged us to reflect on the “tombs” in our hearts, places filled with grief, sin, and struggle. He reminded us that encountering the risen Christ brings light and transformation to these dark spaces, calling us to move from being sinners to beloved children of God. He also emphasised that this encounter empowers us to share the hope and love of God with others. As part of this joyful celebration, we welcomed six new members into our parish community through the sacrament of baptism.
