Watch Easter Vigil Livestream
On April 4th, the Easter Vigil was celebrated in the Oratory of the Holy Family for the first time in over 50 years. Thanks to ongoing renovations happening at Saint Gaspar parish down the road, the Oratory has become a host for all their Masses. This means daily Masses, weekend Masses, funerals, weddings, and holidays are all being celebrated within our oratory walls again. What a grace it has been to witness so many sacraments return to this old building! Many people have come to learn more about the Oratory since we began hosting the parish in the fall of 2025.
Father Louis Fowoyo, the pastor of Saint Gaspar and the chaplain at the Oratory of the Holy Family, was the celebrant for the Easter Vigil Mass. The darkness which begins the liturgy is soon dispelled by the light of the Paschal candle and candles of the congregants, followed by the oratory lights. Then the ancient hymn, the Exsultet, is proclaimed (text found here). Father Louis and parishioner Tim Worman sang the Exsultet together. This was then followed by a series of readings and Psalms, the triumphant return of the Gloria and Alleluia, and then the Gospel.
Father Louis preached on the great blessing of celebrating a peaceful Easter, mentioning modern-day martyrs in various parts of the world, including his home country, Nigeria. He also thanked those who helped prepare the liturgy and those who have been teaching OCIA and preparing candidates for reception into the Church, saying that he has also been learning from their instruction and their faithful witness. He reflected on the story of Mary Magdalene coming to the tomb, heavy-hearted and grieving, but leaving with the joy, hope, and lightness of the Resurrection; how often, Father said, is this the story of every human heart?
“My dear brothers, my dear sisters, the empty tomb is not just a sign of absence but the beginning of a new presence, the beginning of life, the beginning of life that is given. So the empty tomb is the life taken away in order that life might be given to us. And so that is what it means. As Peter and the beloved disciple run toward the tomb, we see a journey of both urgency and wonder because they were told the news. They were asked to go see that the tomb is empty. Peter and John were rushing. They wanted to see it.” – Excerpt from Fr. Louis Fowoyo’s homily
His message continued with a challenge to be like the Apostles, particularly John, believing even amidst the confusion and uncertainty, and trusting beyond what we can see. He concluded by talking about how the light of Christ, the dawn of that Easter morning, changes everything, just as the lights of the candles and the church changed our perspective from the darkness that began the liturgy; “Now the movement from darkness to light reflects the journey of the disciples from confusion to belief, from sorrow to hope, from betrayer to trust.” He challenged all gathered to make this our story, to be a people who hope, who believe, and who live as people of the resurrection.
“My dear brothers, my dear sisters, we are Christians and so we must embrace this faith. Easter is not just an event we remember. It is a reality we are invited to live in. We live it every day.” -Excerpt from Fr. Louis Fowoyo’s homily.
The Mass continued with the singing of the Litany of the Saints; Father joked at the beginning of the homily that it would be the best they’ve ever heard it sung. This was followed by the reception of three men into the fullness of the Catholic faith, one of whom received Baptism and all three of whom received Confirmation and Holy Communion. The whole congregation renewed their Baptismal vows, and the Mass continued as usual with the Eucharistic prayer, communion, and the concluding rite.
After 50 years of no public Easter Masses, we could not have asked for a better return of Easter at the Oratory. Light, song, new members, and Resurrection joy shared by all; what a night!
Up until 1957, when the local parish built its church and established St. Gaspar Parish, the parish Masses were celebrated at the Oratory, which was then the Mother of Mercy Chapel.
When the parish left for their new home in 1957, it is most likely that there were no Confirmations at the Chapel until Easter 2026, nearly 70 years later.
So presumably, these three men were the first in 70 years to be confirmed here. And we can say with certainty, the first Confirmations ever under the gaze of Our Lady, the Immaculate Virgin, Patroness of America!