Three injured during Easter Vigil in Knoxville
By Stefani Manowski
Three parishioners of Immaculate Conception Church in downtown Knoxville, Tenn., are in the burn unit of Vanderbilt University Burn Center in Nashville, Tenn., after a flare from the Easter vigil fire outside the church caught the vestments of two altar servers and a deacon on fire the evening of April 3.
“Although many precautions had been taken for safety, this terrible thing still happened,” said Immaculate Conception pastor Father Joseph Ciccone, CSP, in a message to parishioners.
The latest report has Deacon Hieu Joseph Vinh in critical condition at Vanderbilt. His daughter, Trang, 20, is also still at Vanderbilt as is a 15-year old altar server.
“Many sprung into action to squelch the flames and tend to the victims,” Father Ciccone said. “Emergency personnel and firefighters arrived almost immediately.”
The wounded were first treated at the University of Tennessee Medical Center before being air-lifted to Vanderbilt.
“It is the very best institution to treat injuries of this nature,” said Father Ciccone. “It was traumatic for them and for all of us who were present.”
Approximately 50 people had gathered for the Easter Vigil at Immaculate Conception, preceded by the “Service of Light.”
“In a suitable place outside the Church, a ‘blazing fire’ is to be prepared so that the people may gather around it and experience the flames dispelling the darkness and lighting up the night,” according to the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops rubrics for the Easter Vigil. “Thus do the beauty of the fire, its warmth and its light, draw the liturgical assembly together.”
The small paschal flame at Immaculate Conception was fueled by mixture alcohol and mineral salts.
“As with other churches, we had moved from a wood fire a year ago, so as to avoid shooting sparks and embers from burning wood,” Father Ciccone explained.
Father Jerry Tully, CSP, accompanied the injured to the hospital so Father Ciccone could remain present with those gathered at the church. The vigil continued, with other young people stepping in as altar servers. Two baptisms were celebrated, and new members were welcomed into communion with the church.
“After taking time to deal with the reality, we all called upon our faith and God’s grace,” said Father Ciccone. “I was well aware of the challenge to stay focused, but many found an inner place of prayer as we proclaimed the story of our salvation.”
Father Ciccone visited his three parishioners at Vanderbilt on Easter Sunday afternoon, and Bishop Richard F. Stika of Knoxville visited on Easter Monday.
“We all need to pray them through the following months as they begin their long road of recovery and healing, both physical and emotional,” Father Ciccone said. “Many of us feel powerless in situations like this. We wish things could have been otherwise. … This accident interrupts their lives, business and schooling. Right now, they need time for themselves and the presence of family. They know they have our prayers and that of so many others.”
