In a moving Easter Vigil ceremony held in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Parramatta, 12 believers were brought to Christ as Catholic dioceses across the globe reported a record-breaking surge in Easter baptisms.
“We are honoured to welcome new members into the Catholic family, here and across our diocese,” Bishop of Parramatta, Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv, said during the Easter vigil, on the eve of Easter, a traditional time when the baptism of adult candidates takes place.
Across the Diocese of Parramatta, a record-breaking 124 adults elected to become Catholic this year. According to the 2021 National Catholic Census project, there were approximately 5.1 million Catholics in Australia, representing 1 in 5 people. Of those, over 322,000 resided in the Diocese of Parramatta, now with an extra 124 to add to the total.
Bishop Vincent delivers his homily during the Easter Vigil 2025. Image: Alphonsus Fok/ Diocese of Parramatta
“The unprecedented number of these new Catholics is a source of encouragement for us,” Bishop Vincent said.
“So long as we are true to our mission of following and imitating a humble, poor and vulnerable Servant-Lord, we can be a source of hope and renewal for the world.”
In other places around the world, Catholic baptisms surged during Easter. In France, 17,800 catechumens were baptised, the highest since 2022; more than 600 catechumens were baptised in Vancouver, Canada, another record; and in Austria there was an 85% year-on year increase, with 240 adults baptised in Austria’s dioceses.
Parramatta’s neophytes (or newly baptised) included an octogenarian who’d spent her entire life believing she was already baptised and a woman in her 30s who was introduced to Jesus by her best friend.
Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv during the Easter Vigil 2025. Image: Alphonsus Fok/ Diocese of Parramatta
Responding to God’s call
They say the Lord works in mysterious ways — Kathleen Hunt, 80, has been a devout Catholic all her life, but a few months ago she had “a something isn’t right feeling.”
“I thought I was baptised and found out from my uncle that I wasn’t,” Kathleen said. Her son Jason Hunt, baptised at three months of age, said he couldn’t have been more surprised and then re-phrased: “I think she was more surprised.”
On learning the truth, Kathleen wasted no time in beginning her catechumenal journey with the support of Jason, her sponsor on the night.
Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv with Kathleen Hunt and her sons Jason and Nathan Hunt. Image: Alphonsus Fok/ Diocese of Parramatta
Amanda Donsasurith, 34, began her conversion journey about a year ago when her best friend of 20 years, Trish Sedicol, invited her to join her and husband, Mark Sedicol, at a morning Mass at St Patrick’s Cathedral.
“It was definitely one of those calling moments,” Amanda, a Macarthur Girls High School girl, recounted. She admitted this felt like a full circle moment after returning to where it began with the Sedicols as her godparents.
Ahead of the baptism Amanda said she felt relieved to be “letting go of the past and starting fresh” and was visibly overwhelmed with emotion after stepping down into the pool of water in the Cathedral’s Baptistry and receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit through the imposition of hands and anointing with oils by Bishop Vincent.
The neophytes re-enter the cathedral in white garments. Image: Alphonsus Fok/ Diocese of Parramatta
The other catechumens were Cassandra Phoon, Max York, Molly Yu, Binod Nepali, Rebecca Chow, Sarah Khoshnow, Candy Khoshnow, Karez Khoshnow, Shirlee Simmons and Jenna Molesworth.
After their baptism the neophytes re-entered the cathedral wearing white garments to symbolise that they are washed clean of sin and that they are called to continue to walk in this newness of life.
Baptism was part of a three-sacrament process for the candidates on the night, along with Confirmation and First Holy Communion, marking the starting point of their lives as a Christian.
Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv with the newly initiated. Image: Alphonsus Fok/ Diocese of Parramatta
Welcoming the Light of Easter
Bishop Vincent presented the neophytes to the parish community during the Easter Vigil, the longest service of the year, which began with the congregation gathered outside the church for a Service of Light, in the hours of darkness between sunset on Holy Saturday and sunrise on Easter Day.
The service of the Light is used to introduce the Easter Vigil Holy Communion, the first service on Easter Day.
During the Service of Light, the new Paschal candle is lit from a blessed fire, representing the light of Christ coming into the world, and carried in procession into a dark church.
The congregation then lights their personal candles from the Paschal candle, a symbolic act of sharing the light of Christ.
Image: Alphonsus Fok/ Diocese of Parramatta
During his homily, Bishop Vincent told the crowd: “In the risen Christ, love springs eternal, light is inextinguishable and the divine energy brings all things to unity.”
“With the joy and confidence of Easter, let us bear witness to the Kingdom’s vision of Jesus,” Bishop Vincent said.
“Let us have the courage of the disciples in venturing to the new frontiers of solidarity, creating social bonds and fostering common purpose, thus becoming ourselves the leaven of the Gospel” – Bishop Vincent Long OFM Conv
As the Mass was ending, he took the opportunity to congratulate the newly initiated, offering his assurance of “our prayers, our support and our accompaniment” on their faith journey.
The catechumenal journey or RCIA process, short for Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults, is for all those seeking to become members of the Catholic Church. It prepares the non-baptised to be joyfully received into the Catholic Church by receiving the three Sacraments of Initiation – Baptism, Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist.
If you or your loved ones would like more information about becoming a Catholic or wish to learn more about the Catholic faith, visit our website.
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