GATHERING AND WELCOME:
Elena: We warmly welcome you to our celebration of the Easter Vigil, a holy and blessed night in which we rise with Christ. We are so happy you have joined us and we welcome you to share in our eucharistic celebration of new life as we gather around this zoom table of friendship and unity.
SERVICE OF LIGHT
Elena: The Divine Mystery, which is our Lover,
the power of the Beloved which rises in every act of love,
and the Breath of Love which breathes in,
with, through and beyond the Cosmos is with you, within you and beyond you.
On this most sacred night, in which Jesus Christ passed over from this earth to a new life, the People of God everywhere come together from all over to watch and pray.
Like Mary Magdalene and the other women, who came to the tomb weeping and, there, encountered the Risen One's ongoing presence with them, our tears and longings move us more deeply into union with God and with our sisters and brothers everywhere.
BLESSING OF THE FIRE
Michael: We begin our liturgical celebration today by blessing the Easter fire, lighting our Easter Candle and our individual candles – a symbol of the Risen Christ, alive in and around us. Hallelujah!
Michael:Let us pray. As we bless this new fire, may our paschal celebrations be inflamed with new hope. May our Easter celebration empower us to make possible the impossible. Christ is raised from the dead, and as his sisters and brothers, we are raised with him imbued with Resurrection power.
PREPARATION OF THE PASCHAL CANDLE
Michael :Christ, yesterday and today (pause);
The Beginning and the End The Alpha and Omega; (first pin is inserted)
All time belongs to God; (second pin is inserted)
And all the ages; (third pin is inserted)
To Jesus, be glory and power; (fourth pin is inserted)
Through all time and all places, Amen (fifth pin is inserted)
BLESSING AND LIGHTING OF THE PASCHAL CANDLE
The Paschal Candle is Lit. When lit, the candle is blessed.
Michael: May the light of Christ
- rising in glory - dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds. We Rejoice. We Remember.
Michael : May the light of Christ - rising in glory - dispel the darkness.
Michael and All: We Rejoice. We Remember.
Michael The Christ – a spark that lit the cosmos at the beginning of time.
Michael and All: We Rejoice. We Remember.
Michael The Christ – a spark that is expanding across time.
Michael and All: We Rejoice. We Remember.
Michael The Christ – a spark that was borne, sheltered and passed to us by our ancestors.
Michael and All: We Rejoice. We Remember.
Michael The Christ – a spark that was fanned into flame by those who ignited our lives in love and wisdom and joy.
Michael and All: We Rejoice. We Remember.
Michael: The Christ – a spark that is a sacred trust held by us to pass on to generations yet to come.
Michael and All: We Rejoice. We Remember. We celebrate.
Alexander J. Shaia
Lighting of Individual Candles
This is the time when we light our candles and hold them up so that they may be symbolically joined to the many candles on this table that represent our loved ones who have transitioned into eternal life and are united with us in a communion of saints. As we light our individual candles, The Cantor will sing three times, each time on a higher note: “Lumen Christi, light of Christ,” and all will respond with Lee:
Deo Gratia, thanks be to God.
Michael: Lumen Christi, light of Christ. (3 Xs)
Michael and All: Deo gratia. Thanks be to God!
EASTER PROCLAMATION
Elean: At the Easter Vigil, the Church proclaims the Exultet, a glorious hymn of praise, about the Holy One’s compassionate presence in creation, the liberating history of the people of Israel, the story of Jesus’ life, death and resurrection. In the radiant presence of the Risen Christ dwelling within us and present everywhere, we are filled with hope for the transformation of our suffering world in the embrace of infinite love. May we be filled with joy as we experience a contemporary Easter Proclamation.
NEW: Exultet sung by Ellen Garcia (Stop at 2:51)
https://youtu.be/r0fKg4PlRkg?si=I-HL_UpYPZOAUxBQ
The Liturgy of the Word
Joan P
First Reading: THE STORY OF SALVATION HISTORY
The first Reading is the Story of Salvation History (adapted from the books of the Hebrew Scriptures by Jay Murnane)
In the beginning, there was only chaos and a void. God breathed life into it and said, "Let there be light." And there was light: sun and moon and stars in the heavens. There emerged vast bodies of water filled with live creatures. Then, birds flying across the breadth of the skies, and on the earth, reptiles and animals of every kind, color and shape. And all had a purpose. God saw what had come to be, and God found it very good.
God then said: "Let us make human beings in the divine image; women and men together to take care of all of this, and one another! When this was done, God viewed the whole of creation, and loved it, for it was very, very good.
Reader 2: Anna
But human beings did not take care of creation and each other. Human beings corrupted the good-ness of what God had made. Rain fell, a torrential, purifying rain, covering the earth and washing away all the corruption to which people had given birth. Only Noah, his family, and living creatures from every species on earth floated above the flood in an ark made of wood.
After forty days, the rain subsided, so that the water was no longer a flood, and the ark came to rest on high, dry ground. The people and the animals looked up into the sky and saw something beautiful. God said: "That is my rainbow, the sign of my presence with you and my love for you. It will forever be the sign of my relationship with you, and your responsibility to take care of creation, and each other."
Reader 3 : Cheryl
From these survivors of the flood, creation was begun all over again. Many, many years went by and there were many gatherings of people all over the face of the earth. One of these was the people, Israel, and among all of God's precious people, the Jews were very precious. During a time of famine, the Jews were invited by the Egyptians, their neighbors, to share their land and their food. But some centuries after this hospitality, a cruel leader in Egypt forgot the old relationship and made the Jews into slaves.
They lived this way for a long time, until Moses came among them and risked his safety and security to convince the Jews that God loved them and wanted them to be free. So, they left Egypt, filled with the Spirit of God, led by Moses and Miriam through the desert in search of a new home where they could be free again.
During this difficult journey, they were often disillusioned and resentful, and they complained bitterly. Moses asked God for help, and God offered the ten commandments, so that the people might know the simplest possible way to love God and their fellow human beings. And from these survivors of oppression, Israel began all over again.
Reader 4: Jane S.
But the people forgot the simple way of God and were not always faithful, and at times they were as oppressive to each other and to strangers as the Egyptians had been to them. They paid lip service to God, but their hearts were very far from God, and therefore, from justice and compassion. People of wisdom came from among them to remind them of the rainbow of their journey to freedom, and of their promise to God about caring for creation and each other. These were the prophets, and like Moses, they risked everything to convince the people to come home to freedom and responsibility, compassion and justice, faithfulness and integrity.
The prophet Isaiah said: "God is displeased with your prayers and your liturgies because the hands you lift in prayer are covered with blood. God wants prayer from the heart. God wants justice for the oppressed. God wants food for the hungry. God wants true peace!"
Reader 5: Jim B.
The prophet Amos said: "Some of you have grabbed power and made your own people no better than slaves. You have stripped people of their dignity as God's children, buying and selling them as if they were groceries or sandals. Greed is your god and selfishness, your liturgy!"
The prophet Micah said: "My people, you struggle blindly to know what God wants, and you act as if you remember nothing from your history, as if you know nothing. From the beginning of time, there has been one message from God. What God wants is this, ONLY this: That we live justly, that we love tenderly, that we walk with integrity in God's presence!
These are the inspired words of our prophets.
Responsorial Psalm: A Prophet Woman Broke a Jar (Stop at 2:17)
(words by Brian Wren, Music by Ron Klusmeier)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sytIQdrer6M
A prophet-woman broke a jar, by Love’s divine appointing.
With rare perfume she filled the room, presiding and anointing.
A prophet-woman broke a jar, the sneers of scorn defying.
With rare perfume she filled the room, preparing Christ for dying.
A faithful woman left a tomb by Love’s divine commission.
She saw, she heard, she preached the Word, arising from submission.
A faithful woman left a tomb, with resurrection gospel.
She saw, she heard, she preached the Word, apostle to apostles.
Though woman-wisdom, woman-truth, for centuries were hidden, unsung, unwritten, and unheard, derided and forbidden,
the Spirit’s breath, the Spirit’s fire, on free and slave descending, can tumble our dividing walls, our shame and sadness mending.
The Spirit knows, the Spirit calls, by Love’s divine ordaining, the friends we need to serve and lead, their powers and gifts unchaining.
The Spirit knows, the Spirit calls, from women, men, and children, the friends we need to serve and lead.
Rejoice, and make them welcome!
Gloria: Glory to God by Marty Haugen - video by Bridget Mary Meehan and Mary Theresa Streck
https://youtu.be/udjH7EON5IY
Mary Al:
A Reading from the Letter to the Romans (6:3-4)
Sisters and Brothers, are you aware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were indeed buried with him through Baptism into death, so just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of God, we too live in newness of life.
These are the inspired words of Paul in the Letter to the Romans and we respond,
All: Alleluia
Alleluia (Easter Sunday) by Joel Raney
https://youtu.be/dh-vsxdPNxg?si=OhcRKAPic3Lu_6i
Gospel
A Reading from the Easter Stories in the Gospels according to Matthew, Luke and Mark
Mary Al: They found the stone rolled away from the tomb… (Luke 24:2)
So, the women left the tomb quickly with great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And they came to him took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. (Mt. 28-29)
Mary Magdalene went out and told those who had been with him while they were mourning and weeping. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. (Mk: 16:10-11)
A Reading from the Easter Story in the Gospel according to John
Cheryl: Meanwhile, Mary was standing close outside the tomb weeping. Still weeping she leaned forward into the tomb. After again seeing the empty tomb, Mary turned around and walked to the garden. She turned and looked at Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. “Why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” he asked. Supposing him to be the gardener, Mary answered: “If it was you sir, who carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away myself.” “Mary!” said Jesus. She called out and exclaimed in Hebrew: “Rabboni!” (which means, “Teacher.”) Jesus said; “go to my brothers and sisters and tell them that I am ascending to my God and their God.” Mary of Magdala went and told the disciples that she had seen the Risen One and that he had said this to her.”
These are the inspired words according to women in the Easter Gospels and the community responds: Alleluia!
Easter Vigil Homily 2026 by Bridget Mary
At this Easter Vigil, we stand at the threshold of mystery—between darkness and light, grief and hope, death and new life. We have listened to the great stories of our faith—the God who creates, liberates, accompanies, and promises new life. And now we proclaim with joy:
Christ is risen!
But notice this:
The Risen Christ does not first appear to emperors or religious authorities.
The first witness is Mary Magdalene—a woman once silenced, now sent forth as apostle to the apostles.
This is no accident.
This is the Gospel.
God entrusts the Easter message to a woman. God reveals resurrection to those on the margins-not through power, but through love that refuses to be extinguished.
And so we proclaim not only that Christ rose, but that Christ is rising—again and again—in us and in our world.
Christ Rising Among Us Today
So where do we see resurrection today?
We see it:
• When people stand for justice and dignity, protecting the vulnerable and defending human rights.
When citizens across the world defend democracy and human dignity. One power example of Christ rising among us happened in the United States, when millions of people participated in the “No Kings” demonstrations on March 28th.
We see resurrection today in the Ukraine and Middle East where ordinary people protect their communities amid war;
Christ is Rising today when people advocate to protect Social Security, healthcare, and the rights of the most vulnerable including the undocumented;
We see resurrection today in climate activists—especially young people—who rise up to defend our common home, insisting that the future matters.
We see Christ rising today for gender equality in the installation of Sarah Mullally as Archbishop of Canterbury.
When survivors of violence become healers, transforming pain into pathways of reconciliation and hope, This is resurrection power: hope refusing to be silenced.
We see resurrection in survivors of abuse who now accompany others on the path to healing:
in survivors of sexual abuse including women who advocated for justice and transparency in release of Epstein files in the United States and LGBTQ+ leaders who transform trauma into advocacy, creating spaces of safety, dignity, and restoration.
Like Mary Magdalene, they move from grief to proclamation.
This is resurrection as healing love.
When inclusive communities open their tables, welcoming all as beloved—without exception.
We see resurrection in inclusive Catholic communities—like Mary Mother of Jesus and ARCWP communities around the world—
where all are welcomed to the Eucharistic table: divorced and remarried, LGBTQ+ persons, those long excluded or wounded by the Church.
We see it in parishes, shelters, and grassroots ministries that feed the hungry, accompany migrants, and create belonging.
Every time someone who has been told “you don’t belong” hears instead “you are beloved,” the stone is rolled away again.
This is resurrection as radical welcome.
When a person awakens from shame or fear and discovers their sacred worth.
We see resurrection in quiet, holy moments—
when someone steps out of depression into hope,
when a young person embraces their identity with courage,
when someone burdened by shame finally knows: I am loved just as I am.
This awakening of connection, purpose, and love is a profound spiritual rebirth.
This is resurrection from within.
Each of these is an Easter moment.
Each is a living proclamation: Love is stronger than death.
And so, Easter is not only something we remember—
it is something we recognize,
something we participate in,
something we become.
Our Call as Easter People
Like Mary Magdalene, we are sent forth.
We carry the Good News not as an idea, but as a way of living.
We become the ones who say with our lives:
Hope is alive. Love is rising, New life is possible.
Alleluia is not just a word we sing.
It is the song we are called to become. Christ is risen—and Christ is rising—in us, through us, and among us!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
Community Sharing
As we continue our celebration, I invite you to reflect:
Where are you being called to embody resurrection in our world today?
Renewal of Baptismal Promises: Beth P
Beth P:
Do you promise to see what is good for your sisters and brothers everywhere, rejecting injustice and inequity and living with the freedom and responsibility of children of God?
Beth and All: Yes!
Beth P:
Do you promise to work for the realization of God’s vision of harmony and right relations among people and peoples, rejecting the idols of money and property and color and sex and position?
Seth and All: Yes!
Kathryn :
Do you promise to seek peace and live in peace in one human family, rejecting prejudice and half-heartedness in every form, and all barriers to unity?
Beth and All: Yes!
Beth:
Do you promise to cherish the universe, and this precious planet, working creatively to renew and safeguard the elemental sacraments of air, earth, water?
Beth and All: Yes!
Beth:
Do you believe in God, the great Spirit of Creation, in Jesus, the simple servant of justice and love who lived among us so that all might live with abundant fullness; in the breath of God’s center, the Spirit who continues the work of forgiveness and reconciliation, birthing and blessing, challenge and hope, so that together we can continue the work of creation?
Beth and All: Yes!
(Source: Baptismal Promises: Jay Murnane), Adaptation of Baptism Rite)
Prayers of Community:
Dotty : That every person in this Mary Mother of Jesus community will experience the Presence of the Risen Christ dwelling within them and all around them this Easter.
Jane and All: Alleluia
Dotty : That the earth will always be your beloved garden, seen from space as a beautiful jewel.
Jane and All: Alleluia
Dotty That your indwelling life rising in us will bring healing and strength to all who are suffering from the chaos and turmoil in our government and world.
Jane and All: Alleluia
Dotty : That your Risen life will sustain all those who have poured out their own lives in loving service to help others.
Jane and All: Alleluia
Dotty: That your Risen life will lift the fog that clouds understanding between people, allowing hate to dissipate and be transformed into peace and justice especially between Israel and Palestine and Russia and Ukraine.
Jane and All: Alleluia
Dotty: That all who have died will rest in your eternal light and boundless love especially those we remember in our hearts now. (pause)
Jane and All: Alleluia
Dotty: We invite Joan Meehan to share requests from our community prayer list.
: For what else do we pray?
(voice your petition)
Joan and All: Alleluia
Jane : God of life, we put before You these prayers of our community, spoken and unspoken. We believe that we can trust and hope in your wisdom. May it be so.
Amen, Alleluia
Liturgy of Eucharist
Preparation of the Gifts
Dotty: Blessed are You, O Holy One, through Your divine providence we have this bread to offer, it will become for us the Bread of Life.
Jane and All: Blessed are You, Holy One, forever.
Jane : Blessed are You, O Holy One, through your divine providence we have this wine to offer, it will become our spiritual drink.
Dotty and All: Blessed are You, Holy One, forever.
Dotty: Nurturing One, we are united in this sacrament by the love of Jesus in communion with all who proclaim the liberating power of your Spirit,
rising in our midst.
Jane and All: Amen. Alleluia
Preface: Eucharistic Prayer
Joan P: O Risen Christ
Jane and All: Alleluia
Joan P: O Risen Christ, You speak truth through us
Jane and All: Alleluia
Joan P: O Risen Christ, You walk beside us and work through us
Jane and All: Alleluia
Joan P: O Risen Christ, You who broke the bonds of death and rose in the
radiant light of dawn, be present among us now in bread. and cup,
and in word and song.
We rejoice with the angels, and saints and all people in joyful praise
for the gift of new life.
Holy, Holy, Holy (Karen Drucker) Linda Lee Miller
Eucharistic Prayer
Beth:: Risen One, You rise still in the courage of peacemakers, in the resilience of the oppressed,
in the healing hands og caregivers, and in all who work for justice and peace.
Let your rising be not only a story we tell,
but a power we live, lifting us from fear to faith,
from despair to creaming, from silence to singing your Alleluia in the streets.
Cheryl: May this holy meal, feed us with your risen presence.
Transform this table into a wellspring of life, where brokenness becomes blessing,and ordinary bread becomes the Body of the Living God.
As we receive You, make us also your rising for the wounded, the weary and
the waiting world.Let your resurrection live in us today.
Please extend Your hands in blessing.
Bridget Mary and All: Pour out Your spirit anew upon this bread and wine and upon us as we become more deeply the Christ Presence in our world. On the night before he died, Jesus came to table with the women and men he loved. Jesus took bread blessed and broke it, saying,
“Take, eat, this is my body. Do this in memory of me.”
Pause
Bridget Mary and All: After supper, Jesus poured a cup of wine and shared it with his friends, saying,
“This is the cup of the covenant of my love. As often as You drink of it, remember me.”
Bridget Mary : Let us proclaim the mystery of faith:
Beth and All:
Christ has died in all who have died.
Christ is rising within us each moment.
Christ comes again and again everywhere each day.
Mary Al : Embracing Presence, we remember all the companions who have gone before us: Mary, Mother of Jesus, Mary of Magdala, and all people of faith who rise up to offer comfort and consolation to those who suffer today.
Mary Al and All: For it is through living as Jesus lived, and loving as he loved, that we awaken to Your Spirit empowering us to work for justice.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dy76fpfkNsg
COMMUNION RITE
The Prayer of Jesus Jane and All:
Let us pray as Jesus taught us.
Anna: Sign of Peace
Jesus said to his disciples, “My peace I leave You. My peace I give You.”
Namaste! Namaste Namaste
Jim : Please join in praying the Litany for the Breaking of the Bread:
and All:
Holy One, You call us to speak truth to power; we will do so.
Holy One, You call us to live the Gospel of healing and justice; we will do so.
Holy One, You call us to be Your presence in the world; we will do so.
Jim: This is the Bread of Life and the Cup of Blessing. Happy are we who are called to the table.
All: We are the Body of Christ.
Communion Song
You Raise Me Up Josh Groban (Stop at 2:02)
https://youtu.be/THS6Am0ZiDY?si=nBlklkue_HpxOzet
Prayer after Communion:
Beth:
Let us pray, Risen Christ, you are rising still in every act of compassion,
in every cry for justice, in every heart that chooses love over fear.
As we go forth from this table, may the power of your resurrection take root
in our lives.
Let the stone be rolled away from anything
that keeps us from living fully in your light.
May we rise with you to serve,
to forgive, to rejoice, to walk boldly into the new life you offer the world.
And together we say, Amen So be it.
Bridget Mary: Thanksgivings, Introductions and Announcements
Concluding Rite: Blessing:
Mary Al :
Please extend your hands as we pray our final blessing.
May the Risen Christ go before you to guide your steps with grace.
May the Risen Christ walk beside you as a companion in joy and struggle.
May the Risen Christ rise within you, that you may be a sign of hope, a bearer of peace, And may the blessing of God-Creator, Risen Christ, and Breath of Life
be with you and remain with you always.
All: Alleluia! Go forth in the joy of the Resurrection! Thanks be to God!/Alleluia!
Closing Song: No Grave by Rend Collective (Stop at 2:21)
https://youtu.be/7YGqqg4LqmY?si=tbQNuevq0NK5E6pL
Please send intention for our community prayer book to Joan Meehan.
www.marymotherofjesus.net
Eucharistic Prayer written by Dr. Bridget Mary Meehan with assistance from MMOJ Presdiers)