Bishop da Cunha’s Easter Message

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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Christ is Risen. He is truly Risen! Let me begin by extending heartfelt Easter greetings and blessings to everyone in our Diocese of Fall River.

In our parish Masses and in gatherings with families and friends that will follow, we celebrate the great feast of Easter. It is a celebration of joyful hope, as it should be, for Easter is the ultimate message of hope.

In the Paschal Mystery of Jesus’ Passion, death, and Resurrection, we witness eternal life spring forth from death, suffering turned into joy, and despair replaced with hope. Jesus is risen and is with us, helping us face the challenges of this world and carrying us to new life. His grace renews all things.

The Easter gift of joyful hope is not simply fleeting happiness that rises and falls with our emotions; rather, it is rooted in deep, abiding joy that comes from knowing and walking with God.

Life is full of struggles and uncertainties. Peace remains elusive in our world and sometimes in our families, division and turmoil challenge our country, and illness, despair, and economic woes impact so many. Christian joy does not deny suffering but can transform it. We need to turn to the hope of Easter to sustain us in our darkest moments and to give us strength to move forward even when the path ahead is uncertain. Easter reminds us that our struggles are not the end of the story. The Risen Lord is with us; may His presence be a source of strength and peace for all.

Spes non confundit or “Hope does not disappoint,” from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans (Rom 5:5), is the title of Pope Francis’ document proclaiming our Jubilee Year 2025 of which hope is the central message. It is to be a year, Pope Francis writes, of opportunity for renewal “marked by the hope that does not fade, our hope in God.”

During the Holy Year, Pope Francis has called the faithful “to be tangible signs of hope for those of our brothers and sisters who experience hardships of any kind.” To become bearers of joyful hope, we ourselves must maintain a rich life of prayer and a strong connection with Jesus. As bearers of hope, let us reach out with faith and love in ways big and small to those in need around us. Our hope, rooted in Christ, will become a light for others to see.

During spring, budding trees and early flowers surround us with the beauty of renewal and new beginnings. May our Easter celebration reflect a similar transformation within us and be a source of lasting joyful hope.

Please be assured of my blessings for you and your family. My prayers and best wishes for a Happy Easter to all.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Most Reverend Edgar M. da Cunha, S.D.V.
Bishop of Fall River

Access Bishop da Cunha’s Easter Message in pdf format