At Easter Vigil in three languages, Mother of Mercy welcomes 40 members
April 22, 2025 at 12:00 p.m.
UPDATED April 22, 2025
Mother of Mercy Parish in Asbury Park welcomed 40 members at the Easter Vigil, in a service celebrated in Spanish, English and Creole.
The 40 individuals were members of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, a process by which new Catholics are welcomed into the church or Christians who are baptized are received into full communion with the church. Six new Catholics were baptized, and 34 candidates received sacraments such as first Communion and Confirmation.
PHOTO GALLERY: Easter Vigil in Mother of Mercy, Asbury Park
“We have been watchful, alert, to live the passage from death to life, the passage from the cross to the Resurrection,” Father Stephen Michael, SVD, pastor, said in his homily. “It was not a dream, it was not imagination: the one who had died on the cross for our sins, the Father raised him on the third day.”
The homilies and readings were shared in all three languages, with different members of the congregation responding to the languages with which they were most familiar.
Later, Father Michael told The Monitor: “Our community is a very multicultural community, and we are very much blessed with the three language groups, but one community. One heart, but many faces. But the same Spirit of God that we continue to give witness, spreading the Good News to everybody.” He explained that whenever the parish has an important event, the parish community comes together with a trilingual service so that the community can come together as one.
Spreading the light
As the April 19 Vigil began, the congregation gathered outside the church around a bonfire, where Father Michael lit the Paschal Candle. Participants then lit their own candles from it, sharing the flame with one another to symbolize the light of Christ being spread. The Easter Vigil Mass represents the light and resurrection of Christ and marks the first official celebration that Christ is risen.
Following the Service of Light, the Liturgy of the Word began. Divine Word Fathers Francis Xavier Rayappan and Paul Janvier, parochial vicars, concelebrated the Mass with Father Michael.
During the Mass, the 40 candidates and elect were asked to rise to receive their sacraments and be welcomed by the parish.
“They are called to proclaim Christ crucified and risen, to be witnesses — witnesses of the love of God,” Father Michael said.
Tatiana Libreror of Mother of Mercy Parish received all three sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Communion and Confirmation. She did not grow up Catholic, but felt called to join the faith.
“Something that surprised me was the amount of people who actually commit to this faith … it’s really beautiful to see how many people want to become Catholic,” Libreror said.
“It was hard work. It was a commitment to come to church every week and to the classes every week … but I started to like it very much,” she added.
Spreading the faith
Cristal Gaspar saw a post online and thought about becoming Catholic. “At first, it was just me going. Then I told my mom, and I told my partner that it was beautiful ... and then we both started coming. I also have a baby ... and he’s also going to be baptized soon.”
Eduardo Leon, who was confirmed, shared: “It’s not about being forced to do it …. You're going to enjoy it. It’s nice to experience something like this.” He added that he was motivated to start OCIA so he could be a godfather to his nephew.
Ricardo Portador has been Mother of Mercy’s OCIA coordinator for the last three years. He said this group “has changed tremendously since we first started.”
He also said the impact of seeing the participants evangelize their own families is a blessing.
“They spread the Gospel to their families and friends without even knowing that that is what they are doing. They are evangelizing.”
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UPDATED April 22, 2025
Mother of Mercy Parish in Asbury Park welcomed 40 members at the Easter Vigil, in a service celebrated in Spanish, English and Creole.
The 40 individuals were members of the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults, a process by which new Catholics are welcomed into the church or Christians who are baptized are received into full communion with the church. Six new Catholics were baptized, and 34 candidates received sacraments such as first Communion and Confirmation.
PHOTO GALLERY: Easter Vigil in Mother of Mercy, Asbury Park
“We have been watchful, alert, to live the passage from death to life, the passage from the cross to the Resurrection,” Father Stephen Michael, SVD, pastor, said in his homily. “It was not a dream, it was not imagination: the one who had died on the cross for our sins, the Father raised him on the third day.”
The homilies and readings were shared in all three languages, with different members of the congregation responding to the languages with which they were most familiar.
Later, Father Michael told The Monitor: “Our community is a very multicultural community, and we are very much blessed with the three language groups, but one community. One heart, but many faces. But the same Spirit of God that we continue to give witness, spreading the Good News to everybody.” He explained that whenever the parish has an important event, the parish community comes together with a trilingual service so that the community can come together as one.
Spreading the light
As the April 19 Vigil began, the congregation gathered outside the church around a bonfire, where Father Michael lit the Paschal Candle. Participants then lit their own candles from it, sharing the flame with one another to symbolize the light of Christ being spread. The Easter Vigil Mass represents the light and resurrection of Christ and marks the first official celebration that Christ is risen.
Following the Service of Light, the Liturgy of the Word began. Divine Word Fathers Francis Xavier Rayappan and Paul Janvier, parochial vicars, concelebrated the Mass with Father Michael.
During the Mass, the 40 candidates and elect were asked to rise to receive their sacraments and be welcomed by the parish.
“They are called to proclaim Christ crucified and risen, to be witnesses — witnesses of the love of God,” Father Michael said.
Tatiana Libreror of Mother of Mercy Parish received all three sacraments of initiation: Baptism, Communion and Confirmation. She did not grow up Catholic, but felt called to join the faith.
“Something that surprised me was the amount of people who actually commit to this faith … it’s really beautiful to see how many people want to become Catholic,” Libreror said.
“It was hard work. It was a commitment to come to church every week and to the classes every week … but I started to like it very much,” she added.
Spreading the faith
Cristal Gaspar saw a post online and thought about becoming Catholic. “At first, it was just me going. Then I told my mom, and I told my partner that it was beautiful ... and then we both started coming. I also have a baby ... and he’s also going to be baptized soon.”
Eduardo Leon, who was confirmed, shared: “It’s not about being forced to do it …. You're going to enjoy it. It’s nice to experience something like this.” He added that he was motivated to start OCIA so he could be a godfather to his nephew.
Ricardo Portador has been Mother of Mercy’s OCIA coordinator for the last three years. He said this group “has changed tremendously since we first started.”
He also said the impact of seeing the participants evangelize their own families is a blessing.
“They spread the Gospel to their families and friends without even knowing that that is what they are doing. They are evangelizing.”