St. Alban the Martyr

Easter Vigil with Baptism

30 Mar 2024 9:00PM — 11:59PM

This is the great climax of Holy Week and of the whole Christian year, when we proclaim the central fact of our faith – that Jesus Christ has triumphed over death and lives among us.

We begin the vigil with the Service of Light in which the resurrection is symbolised by the kindling of the new fire from which the Paschal candle is lit, outside the church followed by a procession into the church. If the weather is fine we will start in the park opposite the church.

We continue with the Liturgy of the Word. We start with Old Testament lessons describing the Creation, the Crossing of the Red Sea and the Promise of a New Covenant. The Gloria follows, after which comes a reading from Romans about Baptism and New Life in Christ followed by the Gospel account of the Empty Tomb.

The Liturgy of Baptism begins with a procession to the font where the water is blessed. After the baptism of a new member we all renew our own baptismal vows.

The resurrection-feast reaches its climax in the Liturgy of the Eucharist – the first Mass of Easter, when we celebrate in the only way possible the new life which is ours through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Christ is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

Back to events