Twenty-two catechumens were baptized at Saigon’s Notre Dame Cathedral during the Easter Vigil on April 4, formally entering the Catholic Church in one of its most important annual celebrations.
The rite, presided over by Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Bùi Công Trác of Ho Chi Minh City, drew clergy, religious, and a large congregation of lay faithful. Two other candidates received the sacrament of confirmation.
The Easter Vigil, regarded as the high point of the Church’s liturgical year, marks the passage from death to life in the resurrection of Christ and serves as the primary moment for welcoming new members into the faith.
The celebration opened in darkness with the blessing of the new fire and the lighting of the Paschal candle. The flame was then shared among the faithful, gradually illuminating the cathedral.
Readings from Scripture followed, recounting the history of salvation from creation to the resurrection. The singing of the Gloria, accompanied by the ringing of bells, signaled the shift from the Lenten season to the joy of Easter.
Photo credit: Archdiocese of Ho Chi Minh City
At the center of the vigil, the catechumens received baptism and were received into the Church. They were then confirmed and took part in the Eucharist for the first time. Dressed in white and holding lighted candles, the newly baptized stood as a visible sign of new life in the faith.
The liturgy continued with the Eucharistic celebration, completing the Church’s observance of the Triduum and opening the Easter season.
Before the conclusion of the Mass, representatives of the newly baptized expressed gratitude to the clergy and community who accompanied them in their preparation. The bishop extended Easter greetings and prayers for peace among families and communities.
