Been whole day at work today, surviving with the in-house air-conditioner when the central air-conditioner in the building shut down. At about 7.30pm, I went to the basement food court downstairs to buy a packed dinner consisting of fishball noodles.
After dinner, I went to my car to pick up the polo T-shirt hanging in the car and the other accessories. I did a quick change and tried to freshen myself up. Left the office at about 8pm. Traffic was not that sparse, but I managed to get there about 10 minutes later. As I turned into Queen Street, my heart sort of beat more quickly and there was a sort of gripping effect that I felt inside me. As planned, I drove straight to the SMU Admin Building carpark, where the carpark closed at 12 midnight. The neighbouring carpark at NTUC Income Centre closed an hour earlier. I left Claire’s and her sister’s gifts in the car first and walked to the church. The mandarin Easter Vigil mass had not ended yet and I waited near the entrance, just next to the main gate.
About 10-15 minutes before 9pm, the cathecumens and the organisers came out from the church canteen and proceeded to arrange themselves in line to prepare for the lighting ceremony before the Easter Vigil. Excitement gripped me again, as I ventured forward to the opposite side of the church to get a glimpse of Claire. Staying in the shadows, I spotted her easily, with her younger sister and her friend. She really stood out amongst the other cathecumens. Looked exactly the same as in her photographs.
The earlier Easter Vigil mass finally ended just 5 minutes before 9pm. The wardens swung into action, urging the parishoners from the earlier mass to move off quickly. As the cars moved off, I went to the front of the church where the church wardens were distributing candles for the lighting ritual later. I took a candle and slipped a donation in the box provided. I stood behind some parishoners outside the church while waiting for the Easter Vigil mass to start. I could see Claire quite well from my vantage point. Later, she said that she thought she saw me but wasn’t sure as her contact lenses weren’t strong enough.
The Easter Vigil mass started at last with Fr Thomas, parish priest leading the lighting ritual and the Easter candle was lighted eventually. Everyone got their candle going as well as the candle flames were passed amongst the parishoners.
Next, everyone moved into the church, with their candles still lighted. At the pew, I passed a piece of tissue to a middle-aged guy as he was holding a candle without the protective paper provided. A series of prayers was recited by Fr Thomas. In the midst of it all, I had a sudden dash of hot wax on my hands where the wax managed to drip past the protective paper and the paper caught fire from the flame of my candle, which I proceeded hurriedly to blow the candle out. The prayers ended and we moved on to the mass proper.
Everyone remained composed until the time came for the cathecumens to be baptised with holy water. Most of the parishoners had come to attend someone’s baptism and as the cathecumens were baptised with holy water, many people were snapping away with their cameras. Next came the anointing with the chrism. The sponsors/godparents of the newly baptised, armed with their individual candles, went up to Fr Thomas and lighted their candles from the main Easter candle. These were passed to the newly baptised, after which they were welcomed into the church by the congregation and to the tune of “Welcome to the Family” by the church choir.
The mass continued with the usual procedures.
After the mass, I went off to get my car out of the carpark and parked along the road near the church. With the paper bag holding the gifts, I went into the church compound again. I could hear Fr Thomas’s voice from inside the church, as he hadn’t taken off his microphone from his tunic yet. Entering the church, the newly baptised, sponsors/godparents and the clergy were taking pictures at the front of the church.
Claire and company remained inside, taking pictures and were amongst the last to come out. By this time, I had moved to a corner just outside the church, just next to the canteen. She was out first and beamed when she recognised me.
“Nice to meet you. You waited very long?”
“No lah, it’s okay.” I proceeded to give her the paper bag. Before I could pass it to her and explain what was in it, she passed me an envelope instead.
“Your belated birthday card”, she explained. It was my turn to be surprised.
“Wow, thanks.”
I took out the rosary gift and explained to her that it was for her sister. The rest of the gifts were for her.
Before we could go on further, her sister, Grace and aunties came out. Grace took one look at me and asked Claire, “Want to take a picture?” Claire asked me in turn and I commented that it was too dark at that corner. We went out to the front terrace of the church canteen where there was some light, while Claire passed the rosary gift to her auntie for safekeeping first. I was still holding the paper bag when Grace took a picture of Claire and myself.
I took out the envelope containing the birthday card and told her to open it only on April 13, her birthday. I took out the CD containing the hymns and introduced it to her.
After that, I told her to entertain her other friends and took my leave.
After dinner, I went to my car to pick up the polo T-shirt hanging in the car and the other accessories. I did a quick change and tried to freshen myself up. Left the office at about 8pm. Traffic was not that sparse, but I managed to get there about 10 minutes later. As I turned into Queen Street, my heart sort of beat more quickly and there was a sort of gripping effect that I felt inside me. As planned, I drove straight to the SMU Admin Building carpark, where the carpark closed at 12 midnight. The neighbouring carpark at NTUC Income Centre closed an hour earlier. I left Claire’s and her sister’s gifts in the car first and walked to the church. The mandarin Easter Vigil mass had not ended yet and I waited near the entrance, just next to the main gate.
About 10-15 minutes before 9pm, the cathecumens and the organisers came out from the church canteen and proceeded to arrange themselves in line to prepare for the lighting ceremony before the Easter Vigil. Excitement gripped me again, as I ventured forward to the opposite side of the church to get a glimpse of Claire. Staying in the shadows, I spotted her easily, with her younger sister and her friend. She really stood out amongst the other cathecumens. Looked exactly the same as in her photographs.
The earlier Easter Vigil mass finally ended just 5 minutes before 9pm. The wardens swung into action, urging the parishoners from the earlier mass to move off quickly. As the cars moved off, I went to the front of the church where the church wardens were distributing candles for the lighting ritual later. I took a candle and slipped a donation in the box provided. I stood behind some parishoners outside the church while waiting for the Easter Vigil mass to start. I could see Claire quite well from my vantage point. Later, she said that she thought she saw me but wasn’t sure as her contact lenses weren’t strong enough.
The Easter Vigil mass started at last with Fr Thomas, parish priest leading the lighting ritual and the Easter candle was lighted eventually. Everyone got their candle going as well as the candle flames were passed amongst the parishoners.
Next, everyone moved into the church, with their candles still lighted. At the pew, I passed a piece of tissue to a middle-aged guy as he was holding a candle without the protective paper provided. A series of prayers was recited by Fr Thomas. In the midst of it all, I had a sudden dash of hot wax on my hands where the wax managed to drip past the protective paper and the paper caught fire from the flame of my candle, which I proceeded hurriedly to blow the candle out. The prayers ended and we moved on to the mass proper.
Everyone remained composed until the time came for the cathecumens to be baptised with holy water. Most of the parishoners had come to attend someone’s baptism and as the cathecumens were baptised with holy water, many people were snapping away with their cameras. Next came the anointing with the chrism. The sponsors/godparents of the newly baptised, armed with their individual candles, went up to Fr Thomas and lighted their candles from the main Easter candle. These were passed to the newly baptised, after which they were welcomed into the church by the congregation and to the tune of “Welcome to the Family” by the church choir.
The mass continued with the usual procedures.
After the mass, I went off to get my car out of the carpark and parked along the road near the church. With the paper bag holding the gifts, I went into the church compound again. I could hear Fr Thomas’s voice from inside the church, as he hadn’t taken off his microphone from his tunic yet. Entering the church, the newly baptised, sponsors/godparents and the clergy were taking pictures at the front of the church.
Claire and company remained inside, taking pictures and were amongst the last to come out. By this time, I had moved to a corner just outside the church, just next to the canteen. She was out first and beamed when she recognised me.
“Nice to meet you. You waited very long?”
“No lah, it’s okay.” I proceeded to give her the paper bag. Before I could pass it to her and explain what was in it, she passed me an envelope instead.
“Your belated birthday card”, she explained. It was my turn to be surprised.
“Wow, thanks.”
I took out the rosary gift and explained to her that it was for her sister. The rest of the gifts were for her.
Before we could go on further, her sister, Grace and aunties came out. Grace took one look at me and asked Claire, “Want to take a picture?” Claire asked me in turn and I commented that it was too dark at that corner. We went out to the front terrace of the church canteen where there was some light, while Claire passed the rosary gift to her auntie for safekeeping first. I was still holding the paper bag when Grace took a picture of Claire and myself.
I took out the envelope containing the birthday card and told her to open it only on April 13, her birthday. I took out the CD containing the hymns and introduced it to her.
After that, I told her to entertain her other friends and took my leave.
A Date to Remember!
