2009 Easter Vigil

In recent years, I take a less active role in the liturgy tonight, which as usual, lasted for three hours. More than 50 catechumens received their baptism this year. I had to eat a loaf of bread in the middle of the liturgy to sustain my blood sugar level. Watching Deacon Tsang perform his duties tonight, viz. carrying the Easter Candle, singing the Passover Antiphon, Alleluia and serving in the baptismal rite, I wondered how my health could allow me to take up perpetual deaconship. God's will be done. I'm sure there must be a way to deal with this situation.
Tonight, Wulstan had taken up the role as the conductor. He did a better job than I have done before. I am very happy to see this.
Fr. Martin was the chief celebrant. Pardon me for my inattentiveness. I could only remember that he talked about the women who were blessed to be the first witnesses to Jesus' resurrection in his homily. The liturgy really took its toll on me. Luckily, I am able to remember what the priests said near the end. It is the tradition of our parish for each co-celebrant to say a few words after the major feasts.
Fr. Kwan took the lead as the parish priest to thank many groups of people, especially the catechists, for making the liturgy tonight a successful one. He is a typical administrator. He made use of this opportunity to promote a celebration on June 27 for the Diamond Jubilee of ordination of Fr. Lajeune, his own thirtieth anniversary and Fr. Patrick Sun's Silver Jubilee. Everybody eagerly look forward to this memorable event.
Fr. Lajeune said just a few words to greet everybody a happy Easter.
Fr. Patrick Sun told us about what he had gained in this Lent season. He is a mystic. He told us how God had loved him and accepted his imperfections. He encouraged us to be more open to the love of God and let Him work in us.
Deacon Tsang stole the show with his story. He told us that three years ago, his brother-in-law was diagnosed with pancreas cancer which was very close to a tumour in the blood vessel. Doctors said that surgery was out of the question and he only had three more months to live. Then he requested to be baptized and after one year, he was still alive healthily. Then he went through instruction with his wife and tonight in the Cathedral, his wife was baptized and he himself received Confirmation. Not everyone can be as lucky as him but we must open ourselves up to allow God to work miracles in us. Deacon Tsang invited the newly baptized to hand in their conversion experience in about 300 words to him to public in the Parish Newsletter.
Fr. Martin spoke again with his little stories of the old ladies in the Home of the Aged. An old lady was newly baptized and was very eager to meet this young priest. She told him that the two Bodhisattva downstairs at the main door were very efficacious. She was talking about the portraits of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Sacred Heart of Our Lady! Fr. Martin told the newly baptized that we can believe in God as simply as this old lady. But we should also try to understand our faith more.
Tonight, we had a very special guest. Fr. Ding is a young priest from mainland China spending his Easter holiday in Hong Kong. He was very much impressed with the liturgies in this Holy Week and was very much moved with the warmth we demonstrated in the parish. He shared that God made the impossible to be possible. He is the only one baptized and ordained in his family back in the mainland. Despite all the turmoil the Church in China has gone through, he brought us the news that in Beijing South Hall this Easter, more than 300 people were baptized. Praise be to God. Fr. Ding asked us to bear witness to Christ whenever we have the opportunity to visit China in the future.

My Risen Lord, you have completed God's will to die on the cross, to conquer death and rise again. In you and, I am sure, in many of us, God will work the impossible. May be bravely bear witness to the greatness of God. Amen.