On April 3, 2010 Immaculate Conception parish experienced a tragic beginning to our Easter Vigil mass. About 50 people had gathered outside the church for the lighting of the Pascal candle from the Easter fire. During the blessing the fire which involved a mixture of alcohol and mineral salts was fading. As more fluid was being added to the waning flames, the unthinkable happened. The fire “flashed” and set Deacon Joseph Hieu Vihn, his daughter Trang Vihn and Patrick Connelly vestments ablaze. Deacon Vihn and Patrick were seriously burned on their upper body, arms and face. Trang has burns on her face and arms. Miss Vinh and Patrick were altar servers for the vigil. 

Thanks to the quick thinking of Father Joe Ciccone, Ben Smith and Todd Birdwell the fires were quickly extinguished. Father Joe tackled Patrick to the ground and rolled him over several times to extinguish the flames. Father received minor cuts and burns to his hand when he hit the ground. Deacon Vihn started to run. Ben Smith ran after him and with help from Todd Birdwell tackled him to the ground and rolled him over several times to extinguish the flames. Ben and Todd’s heroic actions kept Deacon Vihn from possible falling over the parking lot embankment across the street from the church. 

Rosilyn Flanagan a Registered Nurse ran to the parish hall kitchen and got several wet towels to  wrap both Deacon Vihn’s and Patrick’s burns until the fire department arrived. Several others also helped and are owed our gratitude, thanks and prayers. All three were taken to UT Medical Center for treatment. They were all airlifted to the Vanderbilt Medical Burn Center in Nashville.  

Father Joe made a great decision when he decided to continue the Easter Vigil mass even though his hand had been cut and burned. After the homily, we arrived at the “moment of moments” of this extraordinary night. The elect were baptized and all present, as a community, renewed their baptismal vows. Then the candidates for full communion and the elect were confirmed. When we came to the Eucharist which is the climax of the Triduum and indeed, of the entire year we celebrated our salvation and liberation from sin and death.  

Sabrina DeVault and Tammy Newman were baptized at the Easter Vigil. Candidates who were welcomed into full communion with the Catholic Church as they received the sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist were Rosemary Amabile, Bradley Arnwine, Jaime Arnwine, Patrick Berge, Paige Conley-Smith, Kevin Evans, Sidney Gilreath, Ralph Herbert, Nancy Nelson, Sarah Pross, Margaret Short, and Kristy Watson. Jordan Hodges and Veronica Jolly, who were already one with us in Baptism and Eucharist,  received the sacrament of Confirmation.