Today we celebrate Easter Sunday and the Resurrection of Jesus. Pope Francis stated, “Jesus is risen from the dead! This message resounds in the Church the whole world over, along with the singing of the Alleluia.” Our Holy Father further assures us, “Death, solitude and fear are not the last words. There is a word that transcends them, a word that only God can speak: it is the word of Resurrection.” Through His Resurrection, Jesus has conquered sin. He has conquered death. This is the message of His Good News.
Today our Holy Father invites us to embrace this message. In a world growing more and more secular, we are challenged to live for Christ, to love for Christ, to take risks for Christ, and to witness for Christ. We can show by our witness and our actions that we are truly the body of Christ, the community of hope, and the Easter people of faith.
On this Easter Sunday, we welcome all to our vibrant Parish community. We especially welcome all those who have completed a thorough period of inquiry, education and catechesis and will be receiving the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, or the Eucharist for the first time. During their period of study, they have grown closer together, and have freely chosen to embrace the Catholic faith. They will be invited to go forth and preach the Good News of Jesus by word and example. They also will be challenged to continue to grow in their knowledge and understanding of the faith. We also welcome all those who are attending our Church for the first time and those who do not attend our Church on a regular basis. We invite you to become part of our community of faith.
At Easter, we proclaim the glory of the Resurrection. The suffering of the cross gives way to the glory of the Resurrection. Just as we share in the suffering of Christ in this life, we hope to one day share in His glory.
I want to express my heartfelt thanks to all who participated in our Parish Mission and our Holy Week liturgies and other services. As we celebrate this day, I also want to thank you for all that you do to enhance the spiritual vitality of our vibrant Parish, and on behalf of our priests, deacons and staff, I wish you and your families a holy, happy and healthy Easter season.