Bishop Thomas John Paprocki | Diocese of Springfield

The Easter Vigil serves as a significant occasion each year for new members to join the Catholic Church. This year, approximately 200 individuals from various parishes participated in the vigil, marking their formal initiation into the faith through the sacraments of Christian initiation.

Parishes across different regions welcomed a significant number of new members. Some of the parishes include Immaculate Conception (St. Mary) Parish in Alton, Ss. Peter and Paul Parish in Collinsville, St. Boniface Parish in Edwardsville, and St. Elizabeth Parish in Granite City. Additionally, Mother of Perpetual Help Parish in Maryville, Holy Angels Parish in Wood River, and St. John the Evangelist Parish in Carrollton also saw new members join.

Further north, in the Mattoon Deanery, churches like St. Charles Borromeo Parish in Charleston and Sacred Heart Parish in Effingham initiated new members. The Sacred Heart Parish in Virden and St. Anthony of Padua Parish in Effingham were among the other participating parishes.

The Quincy Deanery welcomed new members across several parishes, including Holy Family Parish in Mt. Sterling and St. Francis Solanus Parish in Quincy. Meanwhile, from the Springfield Deanery, parishes such as St. Alexius Parish in Beardstown and Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Springfield contributed to the welcoming of new members into the Catholic faith.

These ceremonies unfold across various parishes, symbolizing the welcoming of new Church members and the expansion of the Catholic community within these regions.