The Lord is risen, it is true! Alleluia! This is the great proclamation of Easter. This is our hope and our joy: that we who have died with Christ will live with him forever.  Just before dawn, the stone was rolled away and Jesus rose from the tomb with the gift of eternal life for us all. Sin, fear and death have been conquered forever. We are new again. We are the resurrection people of God!
 
As we celebrate this day with a wonderful sense of thanksgiving for the new life Christ imparts to us, we boldly announce to all around us that Jesus Christ, the center of our hearts and lives, is the resurrection and the life. To all of you who make every day an Easter experience for me, I am so very grateful. Your loving response to Jesus each and every day is a blessing to me and to so many whose lives you touch. You make the Risen Lord present.
 
With Easter joy, I give thanks to God this day for my wonderful team of priests and our Deacon. I am so blessed to be working with the finest staff in the diocese. I want to express my gratitude to our music ministry for making these days of the Easter Triduum true celebrations of prayer and vibrant worship. Thanks to all those who served in our liturgical ministries of Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Ushers, Greeters and Altar Servers who minster so reverently at the Lord’s Table and in our churches.  Thanks those who made our sanctuaries look so beautiful for our celebrations.
 
I also want to thank you, our parish family. You are a gift and blessing to me each and every day. You inspire me and teach me how to be a better priest, pastor and person. You are truly windows of hope, lights that shine in our world with the love and power of Jesus. I hold you each and every day with great love in my heart and my prayers. We are truly blessed. So, my dear friends and co-workers in the vineyard, I wish you all the blessings and joys of this Easter Season. Thank you for all you are and do for our parish family. I am certain that we will do great things for the Lord as we move ahead. Happy Easter!
 
Love and prayers, Fr. Peter