Sunday, April 16, 2006
Easter Vigil & the Nigerians
Last night I went to Grace for the Great Vigil of Easter, my favorite annual liturgy. It's a long service (almost two hours last night), but the prayers, chanted exulstet, candles, readings, baptism - all make for such a wonderful first Eucharist of the year. The choir was excellent, but what I'll never forget was this year's baptism. A Nigerian baby was baptized, and at least half of those present were African. Apparently the number of Nigerian families at Grace has increased from the one or two it was a year ago. Father Andy mentioned teaching a large First Holy Communion class this year - nineteen children - noting especially the class's diversity: "There were Nigerians, Nigerians, and a priest from Minnesota [himself]!" After the service, I happened to walk across the street to the parking lot in a crowd of several African families (incidentally all headed to their new imported cars or luxury SUVs just like the next Grace parishioner; they're all doctors or successful professionals). I never dreamed I would find myself in a crowd at Grace (of all places) where I was the only white American. What a breath of fresh air!
jon :: link :: comment ::
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