It was truly the night of nights! Eighteen new converts received into our Church at Our Lady of Fatima, Curepe, in keeping with what has now become our Easter tradition.

The happiness, exuberance, the grace of the occasion mirrored so beautifully in the very liturgy itself, as well as the quiet but unmistakable joy of the eighteen, as one by one they were immersed in the waters of Baptism. And here we would be very remiss if we did not extend a very special “thank you” to our dearly loved parish priest, Msgr Esau Joseph.

In his earnest desire to have nothing of the symbolism of this beautiful sacrament lost on us, we watched transfixed this year, as each new convert clad in a dark brown gown (symbolising the old life) climbed up a simple staircase, the actual height of the altar, to then climb down the other side into the baptistry just behind the main altar itself; to be “buried with Christ” in the waters of Baptism.

Each then knelt in humble submission as Father intoned loud and clear, the grace-filled words of the beginning of this new life:

“ I baptise you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen !”

Msgr Esau Joseph baptises one of the candidates.

Even as he said those words, we watched in awe as three times he poured a full jug of water on the head and shoulders of each; thus causing us to very consciously recall our own Baptism and the birth of that same new life in us.

Small wonder then, that as each emerged victoriously from that water, to rise symbolically now with Christ, by climbing their way up a similar stair-case on the other side of the altar, the choir and the entire congregation burst into glad and grateful shouts of Handel's Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! It was superb!

But there was more.

Within minutes the newly baptised emerged from the sacristy, all bedecked in their special white gowns which spoke proudly for each, “I am a new child of God! I am a follower of Jesus Christ!'” But most of all, “I am a Catholic Christian , and deeply grateful to God for this tremendous privilege!”

The Church was changed into a congregation of applauses and cheers as we welcomed our new brothers and sisters in Christ with wide-open arms. What a ceremony! What a night!

Three hours later when it was all over, and our neophytes, now duly confirmed by Msgr Joseph (as allowed on this night), had received their first Holy Communion, it was time to bid adieu until we meet again, at our next weekend Eucharist.

Hugs and kisses then became the order of the day as the choir, gloriously challenged the congregation, to go out and shout it gladly to the world, “ Jesus Christ is risen today! Alleluia !”

Special thanks to Maldon Pantin and his team for a job well done. But most of all, thanks to our beloved parish priest, Msgr Esau Joseph, who never seems to tire of trying through the liturgy itself, to move us to higher ground, and a closer look at the very face of Jesus! May God continue to richly bless and love you, dear Father, in all your endeavours!