Published: 17 April 2017

MONROE — Easter Vigil at Our Lady of Lourdes (By Tara Heilingoetter)

MONROE — Easter Vigil at Our Lady of Lourdes (By Tara Heilingoetter)

MONROE — Easter Vigil at Our Lady of Lourdes (By Tara Heilingoetter)

ALBEMARLE — Candles of the congregation were lighted during the Easter Vigil Mass at Our Lady of Annunciation Parish in Albemarle on the evening of Apr. 15. (By Done Espina)

DENVER — Six adults and one child were received into the Church during Holy Spirit Church’s Easter Vigil. (By Doreen Sugierski)

SALISBURY — Easter Vigil Mass at Sacred Heart Church with Father John Eckert. (By Bill Washington)

LIVILLE — Easter Triduum at St. Bernadette in Linville. (By Cindy Giarrusso)

BOONE — Easter Vigil at St. Elizabeth. (By Amber Mellon)

CHARLOTTE — Easter Vigil at St. Ann Church in Charlotte. (By SueAnn Howell)

CHARLOTTE — Easter Vigil at St. Ann Church in Charlotte. (By SueAnn Howell)

CHARLOTTE — Easter Vigil at St. Ann Church in Charlotte. (By SueAnn Howell)

CHARLOTTE — Easter Vigil at St. Ann Church in Charlotte. (By SueAnn Howell)

CHARLOTTE — Easter Vigil at St. Ann Church in Charlotte. (By SueAnn Howell)

CHARLOTTE — Easter Vigil at St. Ann Church in Charlotte. (By SueAnn Howell)

MURPHY — Father Alex Ayala and Deacon Carl Hubbell celebrate Easter Sunday Mass. (By Craig Allen)

HUNTERSVILLE — Easter Vigil at St. Mark Church. (By Amy Burger)

HUNTERSVILLE — Easter Vigil at St. Mark Church. (By Amy Burger)

HUNTERSVILLE — Easter Vigil at St. Mark Church. (By Amy Burger)

HUNTERSVILLE — Easter Vigil at St. Mark Church. (By Amy Burger)

LENIOR — A mother and her three children were baptized at the Easter Vigil Mass at St. Francis of Assisi. Catechumen Courtney Walker, daughters Eisley and Courtney and 2-year-old son Dane Ryan were baptized. (By Giuliana Polinari Riley)

JEFFERSON – Brian Wood received Baptism and he and Shana Dillard received Confirmation at the bi-lingual Easter Vigil Mass. Wood is a member of St. Francis of Rome in Sparta and Dillard is a member of St. Francis of Assisi in Jefferson. (Patrick Hession)

HUNTERSVILLE — Easter Vigil at St. Mark Church. (By Amy Burger)

HUNTERSVILLE — Easter Vigil at St. Mark Church. (By Amy Burger)

SYLVA — Saturday Easter Vigil at St. Mary, Mother of God Church. (Della Sue Bryson)

HENDERSONVILLE — Easter Vigil at Immaculate Conception Church. (Provided by Father Martin Schratz)

HENDERSONVILLE — Easter Vigil at Immaculate Conception Church. (Provided by Father Martin Schratz)

HENDERSONVILLE — Easter Vigil at Immaculate Conception Church. (Provided by Father Martin Schratz)

HENDERSONVILLE — Easter Vigil at Immaculate Conception Church. (Provided by Father Martin Schratz)

(By Doreen Sugierski)

(By Doreen Sugierski)

(By Doreen Sugierski)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Published: 30 March 2017

Hundreds of people across the Diocese of Charlotte are preparing to join the Catholic Church this Eastertime, through the diocese’s Rite of Christian Initiation (RCIA) program.

They have been discerning, with the help of their sponsors and their parish’s RCIA team, that God is calling them to receive the sacraments of initiation (baptism, confirmation and first Holy Eucharist) at the Easter Vigil. Before they can be initiated, they must be officially called to the sacraments by the bishop or someone designated by him, during the Rite of Election.

The Rite of Election marks the end of formal study of the teachings and practices of the Church, and the catechumens are now called the elect. Rites of Election are held at central locations across the diocese during Lent, this year at St. Thomas Aquinas Church in Charlotte, St. Eugene Church in Asheville and Holy Cross Church in Kernersville. The remaining weeks of Lent are a time of intense prayer and preparation for their entrance into the Church at the Easter Vigil.

— Photos provided by Capuchin Franciscan Father Martin Schratz