32 best RCIA practices for Easter Vigil

8 thoughts on “32 best RCIA practices for Easter Vigil”

  1. Can you say more about why we should not give individual candles to the newly Baptized at the easter Vigil? thanks Cindy

  2. Hi Cindy. That could probably go either way. The rite doesn’t say anything one way or the other. But I like the symbolism of the elect waiting until after their baptism to receive the light from the Christ candle.

    Nick

  3. We always have the elect wait to receive the Light of Christ until called for during the explanatory rites following their baptism. To make the symbolism all the more powerful, their initiation candles are small versions of our full Paschal candle with the same decorative banding. It then becomes a really powerful gesture when those baptized last year bring their initiation candle back to be relit from this year’s Paschal candle.

  4. Get big fluffy white robes for the newly baptized to wrap themselves in as they wait and watch others of their “class” get be baptized.

  5. Maureen Sandoval

    Can you give me an example of wording used to call the elect forward to be Baptized? We will call them forward with their godparents, then they will process back to the baptismal font.

  6. Hi Maureen. Try this:

    PRESIDER:
    Quienes son los candidatos para el sacramento de Bautismo?
    Who are the candidates for Baptism?

    Cantor: [cantor chants the names of candidates]

    [The elect and their sponsors stand. After all the names are called, the cross bearer leads the candidates through the assembly. The Litany of Saints continues as they process.]

    [Elect and their sponsors move to the the font.]

  7. Rita Burns Senseman

    The podcast on best practices was really enjoyable and thought-provoking. Every RCIA team should listen to these with their liturgist present, too! Regarding #8 “Begin after complete darkness.”
    Here is a “best practice,” from my former parish in Michigan (Christ the Redeemer, Lake Orion). The Vigil started at 6:00 A.M. Now, in Michigan that means it was COLD and DARK. But, sure enough, the sun was dawning right at time of baptism. Literally, the rays of sunlight poured through the windows as the neophytes came up out of the water. The light physically shattered the darkness.

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