Easter Vigil
Easter Vigil
Easter Vigil
Dear Fathers! Dear brothers and sisters in the Lord! Praise be to our
Lord Jesus Christ now and forever more. With joy I welcome you to this
great paschal event. Tonight we celebrate and relieve the whole
achievement of the paschal lamb The Easter vigil is the climax of Holy
Week, the celebration of Christs Resurrection from the dead. We have
spent the day at the tomb of Christ, meditating upon His Passion and
Death. The altar has been left bare; the Holy Sacrifice has not been
celebrated. Now, in this night of Resurrection, we renew the mystery of
light coming forth from darkness; of life coming forth from death. This is
a night of watching and waiting, a time of expectation with ever-
increasing joy until we reach the high point of the Easter mystery, in the
celebration of the first Mass of Easter.
During the Vigil service we must take part with mind and heart and will
in all the words and phrases and actions of this night. We must respond
from full hearts to the celebrants prayer, to the baptismal questions.
This is the principal mystery of the Church s calendar, the greatest
moment of the Churchs year. It is a time of grace and holiness and
renewal. As we have died with Christ to sin, so now we rise with Christ
to new life and to the promise of life without end.
CEREMONY
The ceremony of this night is divided into four ritually related and complementary
parts namely:
The Easter Candle is a symbol of the risen Christ. Just as the pillar of fire
led the Israelites out of Egypt, so the pillar of fire which is the risen
Christ leads us out of the captivity of sin and darkness. St Francis once
said that ; "we proclaime the resurrection of Christ when his light
illuminates the dark moment of our existence". When it has been
blessed and lighted it will be carried in solemn procession through the
Church as a sign of Christ who rose in glory, at the head of His people.
First the celebrant marks the candle with the Cross of our salvation, and
with the first and last letters of the Greek Alphabet to signify that Christ
is the beginning and the end of all things. Then he marks it with the
numerals of this year which is now consecrated in a special way to our
triumphant king. Next the celebrant inserts five grains of incense in the
candle and lights it from the flame of the Easter fire. The incense grains
are signs of the five wounds in Christs body, now the glorious signs of
Christs triumph over death, the source of our salvation.
ORDER OF PROCESSION:
The Thurifer will take the lead, the Priest carrying the pascal candle will
follow. Other clergy will follow. The servers at mass and then the
congregation will follow in an orderly manner.
Then after the second proclamation of lumen christi, all light their candles
from the paschal candle and continue in the procession while the priest or
deacon sings the third time facing the people. Then at this point, all the
lights in the church are put on. (let us now proceed outside for the service
of light)
SECOND PART
pray with the Principal Celebrant. After the seventh reading, that
is the last reading from the Old Testament with its responsorial
Psalm and prayer, the priest intones the Gloria.
FIRST READING:
In this reading taken from the book of Genesis, we are made to know
how God created the universe and all in it without using any form except
words that came forth from his mouth. May we listen
SECOND READING:
This reading recounts the obedience of our father in faith
Abraham, the love and promise God made to him by
multiplying his descendants. May we listen
.
THIRD READING:
Here, we have a description of the final episodes in the passage
of the Red Sea. The liberation of Israelites here foreshadows our
FOURTH READING:
In this reading we ponder on God’s covenant of peace
made with mankind which will not be removed, his eternal
mercy and his great compassion for his people. May we
listen
FIFTH READING:
In this reading, Prophet Isaiah is telling us that we should know that God
is the helper of all those that put their hope in Him always that is, we
should seek the face of God always because His ways are not our ways.
May we listen
SIXTH READING:
Here we are meant to understand that God is wisdom himself.
Walking in the way of God means dwelling in peace, length of
days and life. May we listen
SEVENTH READING:
This reading which is the last of the old testament readings during
this Vigil, is a gratuitous promise of a new heart and a new Spirit
to the faithful Christians. May we listen
EIGHTH READING:
This reading which is the last of the old testament readings during
this Vigil, is a gratuitous promise of a new heart and a new Spirit
to the faithful Christians. May we listen.
SOLEMN ALLELUIA
For over six weeks now, the universal church has suppressed the
chanting of Alleluia in her liturgical celebrations to mark a long
penitential season; a period of sorrow for her failings and the
expectation of the healing hand of the Lord. This alleluia breaks
forth today once more. It is an expression of religious feeling,
which invokes a whole atmosphere of praise and rejoicing. On this
Easter night, the Chief Celebrant remarkably intones the alleluia
three times and is repeated by all. It is a perfect expression
heralding the Good News of the Lord's resurrection. LET US
STAND
"GOSPEL:
St Matthew in this gospel lets us know that no power or principality is
greater than the power of God. Also, that we should not be afraid to
announce the resurrection of Christ to our neighbors. Let us listen.
HOMILY
Martin Luther once said: "I am much afraid that the schools will prove
the very gates of hell, unless they diligently labour in explaining the
Holy Scriptures, and engraving them in the hearts of youths. I advise no
one to place his child where the scriptures do not reign paramount.
Every institution in which means are not unceasingly occupied with the
Word of God must be corrupt". Let us now seat and listen to the homily.
THIRD PART
LITURGY OF BAPTISM
From antiquity, the Church has celebrated baptism at Easter vigil.
This stems from the fact that Easter is the great feast of our
redemption, celebrating both death and resurrection of Christ. A
reminder of the anointing with Chrism, which symbolizes Christ,
and His own anointing with the Holy Spirit at His baptism and the
white garment, which was and is still a symbol of heavenly glory.
OFFERING
Offering time!!!
Albert Banes said
"We can always find something to be thankful for, no matter what may be the
burden of our wants, or the special subject of our petitions". May we come out
with a joyful heart to thank God for the good things he has done in our life.
FOURTH PART
CONCLUSION:
Dorly parton said "I still believe in santa, the Easter bunny, the tooth
fairy and true love of Easter" .Let us be reminded once more that
Christ our Hope is risen. I finally appreciate all of you for your active
participation during this solemn Easter Vigil. We now stand for the
post communion prayer and then the final blessing with joyful
hearts we are obliged to go forth and proclaim the glory and
resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
EZEORAH CHUKWUBUIKEM
Football Handball
CHARLESMARY
ISHIWU HENRY CHUKWUEMEKA Volleyball Handball
ISHIWU EMMANUEL UCHECHUKWU Football Handball
S/ NAME
N
AGBO DOMINIC CHUKWUEBUKA Football Badminton
AGBOWO DAVID CHUKWUEMEKA Football Table tennis
AGU CLINTON CHIMNACHI Football Badminton
AGU STEPHEN CHIAGOZIE Basketball Lawn tennis
ASADU PASCHAL CHIEMERIE Football Lawn tennis
CHIBUZOH GODSWILL KAMSIYOCHUKWU Basketball Table tennis
CHIDOZIE RAPHAEL MAKUOCHUKWU Football Table tennis
CHINEDU VALENTINE CHIDUBEM Basketball Football
CHISAONAH EMMANUEL CHINWEKENE Basketball Lawn tennis
CHRISTOPHER JOHNPAUL CHIMAOBI Football High jump
CHUKWUMA PASCHAL UCHECHUKWU Football Basketball
CHUKWUMA SAMUEL AKACHUKWU Basketball Football
DINWOKE ELVIS KENENNA Football Basketball
EGBE VICTOR UGOCHUKWU Volleyball Badminton
ELOM DANIEL OJICHUKWU Lawn tennis Handball
EZE CYRIL CHINWEKENE Football Badminton
EZE EMMANUEL CHIDINDU Badminton Football
EZE FRANKLINE CHIELOTAM Football Badminton
EZE MARTIN OGECHUKWU Football Badminton
EZEMA JOSHUA CHINEMEOGO Badminton Football
EZEMA KINGSLEY CHUKWUEMEKA Football Table tennis
EZEMA VICTOR NNAJIOFOR Lawn tennis High jump
EZENWA DAVIDSON NNAEMEKA Football Badminton
EZEORAH EMMANUEL CHUKWUJEKWU Table tennis Lawn tennis
EZUGWU ELVIS RAPURUCHUKWU Basketball Basketball
EZUGWU MARIO KAITOCHUKWU Football Volleyball
EZUGWU PAUL CHIDERA Football Badminton
ISHIWU BERNARD UGOCHUKWU Football Basketball
S/ NAME
N
ISIFE PHILIP NNANYELUGO Badminton Table tennis
KENNEDY GODSWILL CHUDUBEM Badminton Lawn tennis
LINUS HENRY CHIDERA Football Volleyball
MAMAH BENARD RALUCHI Football Athletics
MBA COLLINS OBINNA Basketball Lawn tennis
NEBUWA CHUKWUBUIKEM UCHE Football Handball
NNADI SHADRACH Basketball Volleyball
NNAMANI EMMANUEL AKACHUKWU
NWODO VICTOR CHIBUIKE Table tennis Football
NWOGA COLLINS CHIBUIKE Football Badminton
NWOVU HUMPHREY ONYEMAECHI Football Basketball
OGBU VITALIS CHIDERA Table tennis Football
OKEMDIGWE FRANCIS UCHENNA Volleyball Football
OKPE JOSHUA SOCHIMA Football Basketball
OMEJE EMMANUEL OBIECHINA Lawn tennis Badminton
ONAH HENRY CHIGOZIRIM Football Table tennis
ONAH KYRIAN DABERECHUKWU Lawn tennis Badminton
ONUH FRANCIS KOSARACHUKWU Basketball Football
ONYEBUCHI EMMANUEL CHUKWUEMEKA Football Volleyball
ONYEKE FRANKLIN CHIEMERIE Volleyball Badminton
OSSAI MESHACK CHIDERA Table tennis Volleyball
OZOR DANIEL CHISOM Lawn tennis Football
UCHENNA MICHAEL CHINEMEREM ONAH Badminton Football
UGWUOKE FRANCISCO SOMTOCHUKWU Table tennis Lawn tennis
UGWU EDWIN NNAEMEKA Badminton Football
UGWU EMMANUEL CHIBUIKEM Basketball Volleyball
UGWU EMMANUEL CHIMEREMEZE Lawn tennis Badminton
UGWU HENRY CHINEMEZE Football Badminton
UGWU JUDE CHINWEKENE Football Badminton
UGWU VALANTINE CHIDOZIE Lawn tennis Football
UGWUJA GODFREY CHUKWU EMERIE Lawn tennis Badminton
UGWUJA MAXIMILIAN CHUKWUEMEKA Lawn tennis Badminton
S/ NAME
N
UGWUMBA JOHNMARTINS
Table tennis Badminton
KAMSIYOCHUKWU
UGWUOKE CHIKA VICTOR
UGWUOKE MICHAEL KOSISO Football Basketball
UJAH JOHN OBIECHINA Lawn tennis Football