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Photo gallery: Cardinal Gregory’s Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday Mass

Washington Cardinal Wilton Gregory says a prayer over the fire before lighting the Paschal Candle at the beginning of the Easter Vigil at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle on April 16, 2022. (CS photos/Andrew Biraj)

At a joyful Easter Vigil at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle on April 16, 2022, and then at Easter Sunday Masses the next day, Washington Cardinal Wilton Gregory led The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington in celebrating the resurrection of Jesus and the new life and hope that the risen Christ brings to the world. (Catholic Standard photos/Andrew Biraj)

Easter Vigil 
The dramatic Easter Vigil on April 16 at St. Matthew's Cathedral began with Cardinal Gregory blessing a fire outside and the Paschal Candle being lit. Later in the darkened cathedral, people's candles were lit one-by-one, symbolizing the light that the risen Christ brings to the world. A visible sign of the new life that the risen Christ brings came during the vigil when people were baptized, confirmed and received Communion as they became full members of the Catholic Church. At the cathedral that night, 19 people received the Sacraments of Initiation, and they were among 824 people in churches across The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington receiving those sacraments for the first time. (CS photos/Andrew Biraj)


Easter Sunday Mass
At Easter Sunday Masses on April 17 at St. Matthew's Cathedral and later that day at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception (pictured below), Cardinal Gregory said the story of the risen Christ continues to change hearts and bring new life to people today. He said the people who became full members of the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil are signs of that new life, and he welcomed them into the archdiocese's family of faith. (CS photos/Andrew Biraj)

As he processes from the altar at the end of Mass, Washington Cardinal Wilton Gregory blesses the congregation attending the April 17 Easter Sunday Mass at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Earlier that morning at his Easter Sunday Mass at St. Matthew's Cathedral, the cardinal concluded his homily by saying, “In my name and in the name of the Archdiocese of Washington, grown richer today with our newest Catholics, I wish you and all the communities of faith in this local Church a happy and holy Easter season.”  (Catholic Standard photos by Andrew Biraj)

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