The church begins in darkness. The lit Easter candle represents Jesus Christ, the Light of the world.  The priests and deacons process into church.  The deacon makes the Easter Proclamation (also called the Exsultet, from its first word in Latin, “Rejoice”)  which tells, by means of a great poetic text, the whole Easter mystery placed in the context of the economy of salvation.

A number of readings are read, still in the darkness of the church. We sit and listen as our family story is told, from Genesis to the coming of the Messiah. At the conclusion of the Old Testament readings the lights go on, the altar candles are lit, the bells are rung and we sing the Gloria.  The Epistle is read and then for the first time since lent began we hear Alleluia prior to the Gospel Reading.

The Litany of the Saints is sung in which we are invoking the Saints, calling the family together to welcome it's new members. The Easter water is blessed. New members are brought into the Church through baptism,  There are also those who were baptized, but haven't received the other sacraments of initiation. The catechumens and these faithful are confirmed and will later receive the Holy Eucharist.  Afterwards the faithful are blessed with water and all renew their baptismal promises.

The Mass continues, with the special prayers inserted during the Eucharist Prayer. The whole church is called to join at the sacrificial table that Christ prepared for us through his death and resurrection. The Mass ends with the glorious