"Baptizing into Community" by Wayne Lacson Forte

Tomorrow begins the Three Days (also known by its Latin, Triduum) of the Christian church year, the Three Days—Maundy (”Mandate”) Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday—when Christians around the world gather to remember the events that culminated the life of Jesus Christ. This year’s celebration is heightened by the fact that these days coincide with the first three full days of the Jewish celebration of Passover, which begins tonight.

The Triduum is climaxed by the Great Vigil of Easter, the Saturday night celebration when from early times the church baptizes catechumens, enacts the “salvation history” of God from the creation of the cosmos to the resurrection of Christ, unleashes the singing of “Alleluia!” (the word of praise that is not spoken during Lent), and eats and drinks together the meal of Eucharist.

Many churches have creatively revived the celebration of the Easter Vigil, incorporating families as participants,…