A Holy Saturday story that has nothing to do with hockey: For about 20 years, in both LA and STL, I taught RCIA – the Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults – classes, mostly to college students interested in converting to Catholicism. 1/x

The big day for RCIA is today, Holy Saturday, because the sacraments – baptism, first Communion, confirmation – were received at the Easter Vigil Mass on Saturday night. It’s always a big production, and a special day. 2/x

In 2005, Holy Saturday fell on the weekend of the NCAA basketball regionals, and since that was the year the Final Four was in STL, we were everywhere. I was one of four P-D writers in Rosemont, Ill., where Illinois was playing Arizona in the regional final. 3/x

So I would miss the vigil, but my job of preparing the candidates was done and I didn’t have an actual role at the Mass. The game, as you may recall, was a classic, with a big comeback by the Illini and an overtime win. 4/x

But all that pushed us perilously close to deadline. I was writing the Arizona sidebar, and was minutes away from having to file, when my phone rang. If it had been anyone else, my wife, my daughter, my boss, I would have said I was on deadline and hung up. 5/x

But it was the nun who was in charge of the program, excitedly calling me from the post-Vigil party. I'm minutes away from having to finish my story and she's talking about the beautiful service and how much they wished I could have been there and how great the party is. 6/x

Her timing could not have been worse (though she had no way of knowing that) but I kept thinking: I can’t hang up on a nun. I can’t hang up on a nun. 7/x

I’m trying to type some quotes out of my notes to fill space and I’m now on the speaker so everyone there can tell me how great it was. On the other end, I’m thrilled for them because it's a long journey but dying inside because I’ve got a deadline. 8/x

The call probably went only four or five minutes, but it seemed like an eternity. Finally, we said goodbye, I slapped together something for that edition and filed it, having missed deadline and elicited the wrath of the desk which had 4 stories coming in at once. 9/x

For all those who were supposed to formally receive sacraments today at Easter Vigils all around the world, I’m sorry you’re missing that chance and hope that time comes very soon but know that you’re in God’s grace regardless. Happy Holy Saturday. 10/10