Cathedral is illuminated with candlelight as Archbishop Weisenburger, dozens of new Catholics usher in the Easter season
DETROIT — Joy overtook the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament on Saturday evening, April 4, as Archbishop Edward J. Weisenburger led the faithful into the Easter season and warmly welcomed the newest members of the Church into her arms through the sacraments of baptism and confirmation.
Along with the dozens of individuals who entered the Church during the Easter vigil at the cathedral, at least 1,428 people were received into the Church across the Archdiocese of Detroit, the largest class in more than two decades.
The celebration at hand is the “real Easter,” Archbishop Weisenburger explained in his homily — a celebration not about happy-go-lucky baskets filled with colored eggs or chocolate bunnies; rather, it is about joy brought about through Christ's great sacrifice.
“Today is all about the joy of his resurrection and the promise of our own joy that no one in this world can ever take from you,” Archbishop Weisenburger said.
The story of Christ’s resurrection and the cause of our joy cannot be told without the suffering, sacrifice and pain, the archbishop reminded the faithful gathered at the cathedral for the liturgy, which began in darkness before being flooded by the illuminating Easter light — symbolic of the great victory of Christ's rising.
“An Easter without Lent — a resurrection without a crucifixion — would be devoid of grace, empty of meaning. In short, the cause of our joy rests not in Jesus' escape from death, but in his triumph over it,” Archbishop Weisenburger said. “He was crushed; he really was crucified, but we are made joyful because he really was raised up, and where he has led, we can be sure to follow.
“You will never really get Easter until you realize, again, he did not make a journey around betrayal, suffering and death; rather, he leads us on our own journeys to overcome betrayal, suffering and death all the way through to that radically new life we call resurrection,” Archbishop Weisenburger said.
Following the archbishop's homily, he led catechumens and their sponsors to the back of the cathedral, where the newly baptized knelt in the baptismal font as the archbishop poured water over their heads, welcoming them into the Church in the name of the Holy Trinity.
As Sharon Khalil, 26, completed her own journey through OCIA and received the sacraments — first by stepping into the baptistry where she was immersed in holy water, and later confirmed with the sacred chrism — she focused on remaining fully present.
“There's so much going on, and the Church puts so much into making this such a beautiful Mass, but I was really just trying to be present and feel the gift of the sacraments I was receiving,” Khalil told Detroit Catholic. “(Now), I want to make sure that every person I encounter feels the love of Christ pour out through me. I just pray every day that He can send His Holy Spirit through me to help call more people to His grace and His mercy and His Church.”
For Anthony Christian, the moment of baptism felt like a weight being lifted off his shoulders, he explained to Detroit Catholic.
“I've always been a believer, but I was never baptized, so with the help of my friend, I just thought that it was time,” Christian said.
Christian hopes to share his testimony and experience with others who are considering being baptized in the faith, joining a thousands across the country who are rediscovering the blessings and joy of the Catholic faith.
“I just hope that will be enough, to just take my teachings and my learnings and just pass it on,” Christian said. “This might be the best thing that I can do.”
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