The Paschal Mystery

The Death and Resurrection of Jesus Christ is called the Paschal Mystery. This mystery gives meaning to all life and all history. Christ through his Death and Resurrection brought forgiveness, healing, hope and new life to the human family. In baptism, we enter into the Paschal Mystery as we die with Christ and rise with the Paschal Mystery. This mystery is at the heart of the meaning of all life and history. “All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be was life – and this life was the light of the human race.” (John 1:3-4) In baptism we enter into the Paschal Mystery. This mystery gives meaning to our human lives. Because we are united with Christ in His Death and Resurrection, all our dyings and risings, all our joys and sorrows, all or pains and struggles are not in vain. They have meaning. They bring us closer to Christ and we become more like him as we struggle and overcome because of him, whose dying and rising gives us hope and helps us to win the victory. Because we are raised up with Christ in Baptism and rejoice in that life at Easter – we renew our baptismal vows. We do so to remind ourselves that we who are raised up with Christ must live as people of faith, as people with moral values and say to the world – “We are raised up to a new way of life. Like St. Paul: “We live in the Faith of the Son of God, who loves us and delivered Himself up for us!” (Galatians 2:20)

The Good News of Easter

The Good News of Easter is that Jesus has triumphed over sin and evil – and so will we if we open our hearts to his Easter power.

The Good news of Easter is that every Good Friday in our lives can be turned into an Easter Sunday. The Good News of Easter is that nothing can defeat us anymore – not pain, not sorrow – not even death. The Good News of Easter is that Jesus will work a miracle in our lives on this day if we but open our hearts to his Easter power.

We pray that each one of us will let God’s power work a miracle in our lives a we open our minds, hearts and souls to the grace of God.

Quote: “Easter pushes us out of the tombs in which we bury ourselves and challenges us to discover fulfillment in living a life centered beyond ourselves. Easter throws us out of the cemeteries where we hide and invites us to embrace the love of Christ in family and community. Easter dares us to look around the rocks we stumble over and find the path of peace and forgiveness. Jesus has been raised up from the dead: He is not bound by burial cloths of hopelessness and cynicism. He is no longer entombed by fear and distrust. His cross is not the dead word of shame and ridicule, but the first branches of a harvest of compassion and justice for every one of every time and place. Easter calls us to rise with him and live the miracle.” (Connections: April 2007)

On behalf of Father Pat and Staff –

We wish all our parishioners, friends and visitors

An Easter full of joy and love.