By Tom Tracy - Florida Catholic
Photographer: TOM TRACY | FC
Miami Catholics hold a candle at the start of the annual Easter Vigil Mass April 19 at St. Mary's Cathedral in Miami.
MIAMI | Freelance photographer Tom Tracy captured the images in the above album during the Easter Vigil Mass celebrated by Archbishop Thomas Wenski at St. Mary Cathedral. The four young people who received the sacraments of initiation - baptism, confirmation and Communion - were among a total of 514 who joined the Catholic Church this year in parishes throughout the archdiocese.
Catechumens have never been baptized into a Christian faith. Others who will receive the sacraments this Easter season are candidates - people who have been baptized in other Christian denominations and now want to be in full communion with the Catholic Church. Candidates also may be Catholics who need to complete their initiation by receiving the sacraments of Communion and/or confirmation.
More than 300 of these candidates will be officially welcomed into the Church by Archbishop Wenski at two Rite of Reception ceremonies, to be celebrated May 18 at 2:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. at the cathedral. About 200 others will take part in the Rite of Reception in their parishes during the Easter season.
The newly-initiated catechumens - now called neophytes - also will get to celebrate their first Mass as Catholics with Archbishop Wenski on May 4 at 10 a.m. at the cathedral.
Photographer: TOM TRACY | FC
During the annual Easter Vigil Mass at St. Mary's Cathedral, Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski hands a candle to catechumen Jasmin Rodas.
