Top caption: The image of the Risen Jesus is depicted in this stained glass image in St. Francis of Assisi Church, Long Beach Island. Monitor file photo
Record-breaking number of converts to fully enter Catholic Church at Easter Vigil
The most solemn and sacred days of the Church year have arrived as hundreds of thousands of Catholics prepare to take part in Holy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday Masses and observances.
Catholics throughout the Diocese of Trenton will flock to their churches across Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean Counties from April 2 through 5 for the Easter Triduum — commemorating Jesus Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection.
Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., began Holy Week on March 29, Palm Sunday, by celebrating Mass in St. Anthony of Padua Church, Hightstown, followed by the Chrism Mass celebrated on March 30 in St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral in Freehold. The Bishop will travel to four other locations around the Diocese to lead Masses and services for the remainder of the Triduum.
This year’s Easter Vigil will be like no other, as more than 1,000 adults and youths are poised to receive in their home parishes the Sacraments of Initiation and enter into full communion with the Church. The number of fully initiated Catholics is nearly double that of the pre-COVID 2020 year and reflects the surge in new Catholics that is being reported across the nation and the world.
HIGHLIGHTS OF HOLY WEEK
Palm Sunday — Each year, this celebration opens the door to Holy Week in a triumphant commemoration of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem for the Jewish feast of Passover. Blessed palms are distributed to Mass-goers to participate in the retelling of the story and keep as a remembrance of this holy time. Palm Sunday was held March 29.
The annual Chrism Mass – This special event celebrated during Holy Week in Catholic churches around the world is a demonstration of the local Diocese’s unity and the sacred commitment of its priests, who serve under the local bishop. In the Diocese of Trenton, the Chrism Mass was celebrated March 30, drawing more than 100 priests and hundreds of representatives of each of the Diocese’s 97 parishes to St. Robert Bellarmine Co-Cathedral. Bishop O’Connell, who served as principal celebrant and homilist, consecrated the sacred oils that will be used throughout the coming year for the conferral of the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick. This Mass is also a special day in the life of the priests, who formally recommitted themselves to their ministry and service in the Diocese. This Mass was livestreamed and can be viewed at youtube.com/trentondiocese. Photos from this Mass are available HERE.
The Easter Triduum — The remainder of Holy Week begins with the Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday (April 2) and ends with the evening Mass on Easter Sunday (April 5). Throughout these holy days, parishes offer many opportunities for believers to witness and participate in the moving retelling of Christ’s Passion, Death and Resurrection — Stations of the Cross, Confession, prayer services, ritual celebrations and Masses. (Check local church websites for Holy Week and Easter schedules.)
Such rituals as the washing of feet on Holy Thursday and the veneration of the Cross on Good Friday will lead up to the Blessing of the new Easter fire and lighting of the Paschal Candle outside Catholic churches around the world on Holy Saturday, the Great Vigil of Easter. These dramatic moments before the Vigil Mass feature the lighting of a fire in a brazier directly outside the church followed by the lighting of the Paschal candle. Liturgical ministers then carry the large candle into the darkened churches lighting tapers held by parishioners, one pew at a time, until the entire interior is bathed in light, symbolizing the light brought to the world through Christ’s Resurrection.
The Monitor will have daily updates on TrentonMonitor.com throughout the Triduum and Easter week with news and photo coverage of celebrations and observances from around the Diocese. This will also be featured in the April issue of The Monitor Magazine. To send or request information, contact Monitor-News@dioceseoftrenton.org.