St. Catherine of Alexandria Church in Riverside has a beautiful annual Lenten tradition that spans over 25 years.
“Throughout Lent we have provided our parishioners an opportunity to write prayer petitions and place them on our two prayer banners in the back of the church,” shared Deacon John DeGano.
Then, when the Lenten season is drawing to its end, the prayer petition cards are burned.
“These petitions will be removed from the banners and bundled up to be burned in the Easter fire along with any remaining holy oils from the previous year, the old Paschal candle and even other prayer requests collected throughout the year at our various prayer services,” Deacon DeGano continued.
Once the Easter Vigil fire is lit, members of the elect, those to be baptized and receive confirmation at this Vigil celebration, gather around the fire where they will be invited to place these petitions in the flames.
“While this is being done, the elect will be joined by the rest of the community attending the Vigil liturgy to watch and to pray,” Deacon DeGano said. “As the slips of paper containing the prayer intentions burn, the resulting smoke rises heavenward, symbolically representing our prayers and petitions rising up to God.”
All remain and keep watch until the clergy, servers and ministers arrive to begin the Vigil Service of Light which will include a procession behind the Paschal Candle into a dark church.