Diocese of Orange baptizes more than 1,000 in annual Easter vigil
More than 1,000 people in Orange County were welcomed into the Catholic Church at this year’s Easter Vigil on April 15 at Holy Family Cathedral in Orange, and nearly 700 baptized candidates were received into full communion during the sacred rites.
The Most Rev. Kevin Vann, bishop of Orange, baptized the elect, marking it the Diocese of Orange’s largest group accepted into the Roman Catholic Church during the faith’s most momentous liturgy.
The ceremony consisted of four main parts: The Service of Light, the Liturgy of the Word, Christian Initiation and Renewal Baptismal Vows, and the Holy Eucharist. The holy sacrament is said to be the beginning of each candidate’s journey with Christ.
“We are blessed as a diocese to baptize so many new Catholics on this Holy Saturday,” Vann said in a press statement. “It is inspiring as a bishop to welcome a record number of new Catholics into our church. The ceremony is the climax of the liturgical year and serves as a tangible display of the growth and vibrancy of Catholicism in Orange County.”
Twitter: @KathleenLuppi
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