My first Easter

The past two days were so exciting and memorable for me...

It started on Good Friday when Mommy brought me upstairs to Beth's apartment, upon the enthusiastic request of all the ladies there. There must have been 12 of them or so, all very pretty and sweet. Beth Kelley is one of the sponsors for Mom and Brooke Davey as they embark on the RCIA journey, and yesterday she was having these ladies in her Rosary group over for praying. It was the first time I had ever been surrounded by so many people, especially so many ladies. One of them was having a crush on me (and I have to say I like her too). She was holding me and rocking me slightly from side to side, and I really enjoyed resting my head on her shoulder. Before we left, Beth gave me a very cute body suit with an embroidered image of the Noah's Ark. Mom said she would dress me in this lovely outfit the next day to attend the Paschal Vigil at 8pm, when she would receive Baptism, Confirmation, and the First Communion.

Then came the important event - the Paschal Vigil. The church (Holy Trinity Church of Manhattan, at 213 W 82nd St., New York, NY 10024) was very dark when we arrived and everyone was very quiet. I also tried not make any noise. Mom was busy rehearsing with Gary Gushing (the 'teacher' in the RCIA process) and Brooke and Liz at the altar. She seemed a bit nervous but was beaming with excitement. After a while, the whole church was lit up by numerous candles, which were lit up from the light of the Paschal Candle. It was such a beautiful scene!

I was quietly soaking in all the details of the event, till the choir started singing. I've been to church several times so I'm used to the choir singing. However, this time there were drums and trumpets and harps and so many other instruments playing and the music, though joyful, was too loud for my tiny ear drums at times. Poor Daddy, having to bring me outside whenever I cried too loud... Druanna, another sponsor, wanted to make sure Mom didn't get too anxious so she kept telling Mom that I was very cute even when I cried. (By the way, this is the link to the portrait of me when I had my first tear drop. You can see how cute I am :-)

After the ceremony, all of us (Gary, all the four sponsors - Beth, Bill, Druanna, John, Brooke, Liz, Mom, our families) attended a celebration prepared to welcome the newly admitted members of the church. I met the lady who fell in love with me at Beth's apartment again. This time I was busy getting to know so many people that I didn't really have time to spend with her. Father Koterski first picked me up and held me close to his chest when I was crying. I was feeling a big overwhelmed at first by the presence of so many people. His deep voice quickly calmed me down. Then Druanna held me in her arms for a while. She was the one who had lovingly knitted me a pair of socks. These were her first baby socks and I feel very grateful for the gift. Then Beth also had some time holding me, before I landed on Monsignor Leonard's arms. He was the one who conducted the whole ceremony and performed all the three Sacraments for Mommy, as well as for Brooke. I felt very honored being held by him. Then I was back into Daddy's arms, busying charming Brooke's Mom - a very elegant lady - with my cooing and smiling. Brooke and Greg, who were to get married in 2 weeks from now, looked absolutely happy and excited. I wondered when it would be my turn to have a bride and to plan for my honeymoon :-)

We didn't get home till around midnight. Mom seemed to be happily 'jealous' that I had 'hijacked' all the attention from her (and from Brooke and Liz for that matter) at the celebration. Daddy kept saying I was such a lucky guy having had such a memorable and meaningful first Easter. That is not to mention that I went to this Holy Trinity Church on the very first Sunday of my life, followed by St. Patrick's on the second Sunday of my life (to attend the Election of all Catechumens in New York). Bill, one of the sponsors, used to joke that my next church visit would be to Rome!

In deed, I do feel very blessed. Mom started conceiving me in late May last year, soon after she contacted Gary to join the RCIA. And now, as I was approaching my 2-month-old milestone, her RCIA journey reached the pinnacle with the Easter celebration and Baptism, Confirmation, and First Communion for her. I'm glad I've been with her throughout the journey!

For more photos from yesterday's celebration, please view my Easter 2007 album.