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mommy4ever
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| Posted: April 10 2012 at 10:15am | IP Logged
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Easter Vigil was beautiful in our parish. I've actually never attended the Easter Vigil, as we've always gone Easter Sunday.
But this year my 2 youngest received the Easter Sacraments. It was wonderful.
It has been a great experience. The sister teaching the children's initiation program is such a sweet lady. She has really gained my older dd's confidence. DD13 has been very reluctant in trusting people, but she quite fond of Sr. And I think the affection is returned. On Saturday, Sr gave dd a birthday card, so we thought. It was for her birthday, but it was more than that. Sr had a Mass offered for dd on her birthday! DD thought that was very cool. (her words..lol).
We have met and worked with several seminarians. They have been great, they worked with the older kids in the group, and that has been great. They are young men, so they related will with the preteens and young teens, where Sr. had the infinite patience with the younger kids.
Highlights of the service. DD8 was so excited building up to the day, she was ready to burst on Saturday. In the morning they had a small ceremony and received their scrolls, she literally ran to the front to receive it. The 2 priests loved that. In the evening, when it was her turn to be baptized, she was flushed and excited, and as Fr. began, she giggled and was so thrilled. Fr. had a hard time not laughing with her.
At communion, she was so excited, she was first in line.
She did was she was taught, and then she went for wine...I wasn't sure as she had fussed so much about not wanting to. I told her it was up to her to decide. She took wine, was reverent and then turned and gave us a great big grin.
DD13, considered receiving the sacraments on the 7th, her birthday gift, which was yesterday. She was so excited. Then at the end of the evening, Sr. had asked that she speak. She represented all the kids, and she thanked everyone by name for their help through the year, and how they helped. She had followed a very cavalier thank you by the RCIA. She had all the clergy beaming at her, the seminarians were blushing, and Sr glowed with pride. For a child that has low self-esteem, issues with being in a group, she had a very big shining moment. She did so well. Concluding her speech, she thanked everyone present for being there to support all the newly initiated, and "God Bless all of you." Fr. Jim practically shouted AMEN! She was great. Easy to understand, great posture, made eye contact with each person she was thanking. Not to brag, but it made the previous thank you by the adults look pretty shabby and unplanned  Not bad at all. I'm very proud that despite her anxiety, she did it anyway, and did it extremely well. She received many praises for a job well done from everyone.
I think the best moment is when a 9yo boy stepped up to be baptized. He was rubbing his hands in anticipation, Fr. teased that he thinks that this one would be an immersion. So he baptized the boy, and when the boy stood up, his hands shot up in the air, much like after some one scores, and truly, he did.
It was such a great night! I'd had concerns with the ceremony being so long, but all the kids handled it so well. My girls were thrilled to be fully initiated.
I'd have to say, this has been one of our best Easters ever!
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JennGM
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| Posted: April 10 2012 at 4:38pm | IP Logged
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So thrilling! Congratulations to your daughters, and to you!
I think the Easter Vigil is one of the best kept secrets and needs to be leaked. The liturgy is just so beautiful, every Catholic needs to attend just once!
I was so moved this year -- the Easter Vigil is the just the unfolding of the whole Covenant between man and God. It's the "Big Picture" that we see "in the beginning" to now how God had this all planned. How wonderful is this Redemption.
I was just in tears of joy, and my son was also just overflowing with joy. He turned to me after the Gospel and said "I'm so happy!!!" and gave me a huge hug.
Being able to burst out our Alleluias is just so natural!
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to  & ds1  '03 & ds2  '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: April 10 2012 at 4:46pm | IP Logged
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Congrats!!!
We love going to Easter Vigil. Just not more than we love going to Easter Mass Sunday morning.. something about Easter just calls to me to be out and at Church when the sun is shining. So every few years we will attend an Easter Vigil. I found even with small children, Easter Vigil is different enough that they remain interested in what's going on. Though with little ones I breathe so much easier when the candles are extinguished 
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Jodie, wife to Dave
G-18, B-17, G-15, G-14, B-13, B-11, G-9, B-7, B-5, B-4
All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
-Sir Walter Scott
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JennGM
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| Posted: April 10 2012 at 4:48pm | IP Logged
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I'm the same way, Jodie. I have to meditate on the Exsultet outside of the actual singing...because I'm concentrating on those candles.
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Jennifer G. Miller
Wife to & ds1 '03 & ds2 '07
Family in Feast and Feria
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DominaCaeli
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| Posted: April 10 2012 at 6:11pm | IP Logged
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Loved reading your description--what a holy and exciting night for you all! I received my FHC and Confirmation as an adult at the Easter Vigil ten years ago, and that night was such a wonderful experience. But my favorite Easter Vigil was our first Easter Vigil in the TLM form. Absolutely breathtaking! My husband and I wavered about attempting Easter Vigil this year with all the kids because I just know my two 5yos would love it, but we figured we would both spend the whole night outside with the two youngest. That said, I'm thinking of trying it next year, at least with one of us taking the two oldest.
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Celeste
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Mommy to six: three boys (8, 4, newborn) and four girls (7, 5, 2, and 1)
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Angi
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| Posted: April 10 2012 at 11:03pm | IP Logged
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I am a convert, and received Baptism, FHC, and Confirmation 18 years ago at the Easter Vigil. My hubby (also a convert) and I have never gone to Easter Mass, because we have always attended the Vigil. This was the first year that everyone nearly make it the entire time awake - one 6 year old slept for a few minutes. This year, my BIL also joined the church, and hubby and I are his godparents.
How wonderful for your daughter  She will have the memory of that amazing night for the rest of her life.
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guitarnan
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| Posted: April 10 2012 at 11:12pm | IP Logged
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So beautiful!
And Our Lord has given us so many ways to celebrate His resurrection!
My husband is a convert, so we love experiencing the entire Triduum together, especially the Easter Vigil.
As musicians/cantors, we also love Easter Sunday morning, the packed church, the joyful sounds of favorite Easter hymns....so we don't choose, we show up for everything. Our children are old enough now so we can do this, and it's a very happy experience for us all.
(Our music group has a potluck brunch Easter Sunday morning - this is a lovely way for us to come together and share our Easter happiness before heading to church to assist at Mass.)
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Nancy in MD. Mom of ds (24) & dd (18); 31-year Navy wife, move coordinator and keeper of home fires. Writer and dance mom.
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leanne maree
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| Posted: April 11 2012 at 7:54pm | IP Logged
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Oh I have goose bumps as I read what yo have descibed as such a Blessed and Happy time for everyone.
Such excitement and its such a beautiful and as you said a long Mass, and the children must have been well prepared as they seemed to be fully engaged in the process.
God Bless and Congratulations to you and your daughter 
Leanne
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Leanne
Loving wife to Dermot and Adoring mother to Louise, Kristie, Kieran & Brid
http://leannemaree.blogspot.com/
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mommy4ever
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| Posted: April 11 2012 at 10:18pm | IP Logged
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My girls did marvelous :)
Today we went to Mass, and it was offered for dd13 intentions for her birthday.(I'm not sure how to phrase that..lol). Fr. sought her out, it was sweet. DD13 was beaming.
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4Real Forums : Domestic Church
Topic: Easter Sacraments
