My Holy Saturday

A drizzly, miserable spring morning here in New York.  Sloshed through puddles to the church for 9:30 coffee and bagels with the RCIA crew, followed by rehearsal for the Easter Vigil.  I got to meet The Candle and try it out for size.

It’s big.  Really really big.

One of the priests walked everyone through everything — offering bits of catechesis here and there about the ritual and what it all means.  With the DRE and the MC, they somehow figured out the traffic management and how they were going to accommodate 15 people in the sanctuary, along with their sponsors. They practiced receiving their first communion and sipping from the chalice, and even worked out the carefully choreographed recessional (following, of course, the “Hallelujah!” Chorus).

After that was done, I donned an alb and stole to administer the Ephphatha rite. Had lunch after with the priests in the rectory, and sloshed home to finish work on my homily for tonight and practice, a few more times, the Exultet.

I need a nap.

Below, a shot from the RCIA rehearsal.  I’ll try and post some pictures from the vigil, if I’m still standing, later  on …