On March 30th 2013 in the Church of Saint John the Evangelist at 8 pm the faithful of the parish celebrated the Easter Vigil just as others do around the world.  In fact the Easter vigil is celebrated in every Catholic church in the world on the same day.  The word Catholic means universal, thus while the language might be different the same ritual book (the Roman Missal) is used by all Catholics.   In Saint John's this year three candidates received the Sacrament of Confirmation, two of them also received Holy Communion for the first time and one was also baptized.  While the number of candidates receiving the Sacraments of Initiation vary from parish to parish this is the Holiest night of the Year for all Catholics.  This beautiful night experienced in Goshen, New York  indeed a universal event.  This story which repeats itself every year in every parish is about the Joy brought to the whole world by God. 

Father Adaly Rosado, Jr. was the Main Celebrant at the Easter Vigil for the very first time in his short year, 10 months and 15 days as a priest.  He stated "it was one of the happiest days of my life."  During his homily Father Rosado spoke about how Catholics use their senses to worship God and how he better understood what Blessed Carlos Manuel Rodriguez meant when he said "VIVIMOS PARA ESA NOCHE." Meaning "we live for that night", referring to the Easter Vigil.  Father Rosado stated "As Catholics we worship God with our senses, in the beginning the church was dark, yesterday, the altar was left bare and the tabernacle was empty.  We can still tell that it is empty because that red light their is not on..." He went on to remind the people that while on Good Friday Catholics remember Jesus suffering and death beginning at the Easter Vigil Catholics celebrate that Christ is resurrected and He is alive!  He also spoke about the immense love that God has for humanity as He comes to the Altar for them.  As Father Rosado baptized Virginia Sanchez he felt extreme joy. He stated "If I could fit the pitcher into the baptismal font I would have used it to [baptize Virginia] ... so that the symbolism [of the water] would be more visible."   However, Father Rosado used the traditional shell for the baptism.   Virginia Sanchez recalled "when I was being baptized I felt the Holy Spirit come over me and I felt as if I were going to fall face first into the baptismal font."  She was later confirmed. While confirmation is usually reserved to bishops, in the Archdiocese of New York Cardinal Dolan  has  continued the tradition of allowing pastors, administrators and their delegates to confirm candidates who have gone through the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults) or a similar formation program from. This permission is granted from the Easter Vigil until Pentecost Sunday.  On Saturday Father Thomas Dicks, pastor of the Church of Saint John the Evangelist delegated Father Rosado to confirm the candidates.  As Father Rosado confirmed the three candidates God filled him with joy.  These were the third, fourth and fifth  people he had the privilege of confirming.  After all the candidates were confirmed the people renewed their baptismal promises and then the sprinkling rite in which the priest sprinkles holy water upon the faithful and the clergy occurs.  This is done in order to remind Catholics of their baptismal promises.  Many parishioners commented that Father Rosado's joy was  apparent by his smile during the rite.  

The entire liturgy was a joyful and moving experience for all.  If anyone has never been to an Easter Vigil they should go next year.  At the Easter Vigil it is extremely obvious that God loves us.  His love is so great that He sent His only Son, Jesus to die on the Cross for the sins of all mankind.  Jesus conquered death and today it is possible for mankind to live with Him, God the Father and the Holy Spirit (our one Triune God) in heaven, forever.  Happy Easter, Christ is Risen!  He is Truly Risen!  Alleluia! Alleluia!