From the Pastor

Dear friends in the Risen Lord,
 
     Our Easter feast always turns my thoughts and prayers toward our loved ones who have died and toward those who grieve for them. In my own times of grief or loss, the words of the Exsultet, the Church’s ancient proclamation of resurrection faith, have always taken on a powerful personal meaning.
 
     With full-throated joy, let us all make our own the words of Holy Saturday night’s hymn:
 

Exult, let them exult, the hosts of heaven,
exult, let Angel ministers of God exult,
let the trumpet of salvation
sound aloud our mighty King's triumph!
 
Be glad, let earth be glad, as glory floods her,
ablaze with light from her eternal King,
let all corners of the earth be glad,
knowing an end to gloom and darkness.
 
The sanctifying power of this night
dispels wickedness, washes faults away,
restores innocence to the fallen, and joy to mourners,
drives out hatred, fosters concord, and brings down the mighty. 
 
O truly blessed night,
when things of heaven are wed to those of earth,
and divine to the human.

 
     May the peace of the Risen Christ truly inhabit the hearts and homes where death has struck this year. Of course, our Easter solemnity is not just for the grieving. Christ’s victory over sin and death means forgiveness for all who have ever sinned and eternal life for
all who will ever die.
 
     Easter joy to you all,