My dear Parishioners,

On the joyous occasion of Easter, I extend my warm greetings of grace, love and peace of the Risen Lord to you all.

Easter is the celebration of Christ’s unprecedented victory over sin and death so that our life may rise again in His eternal life. Christ’s resurrection is the story of God’s love and grace; a new creation and hope.  “Therefore, if any one is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.” (2 Cor 5:17) The infinite grace and love of Jesus Christ transforms us, renews our life and make us holy.

In following Christ, we are all shown the way to peace, the peace, which the world cannot give. Remember how, after the crucifixion of Jesus, the disciples remain behind locked doors out of fear that the Jewish authorities will be coming after them next. But Jesus bequeaths true peace and comfort to his disciples as He speaks to them with the life giving words. 'Peace be with you.' and breathes His holy breath on them saying, “Receive the Holy Spirit”. The disciples’ hearts are rekindled with the divine peace and Spirit and they go about boldly proclaiming the gospel of peace and joy of Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ died on the cross and rose from the grave to bring peace not only between God and people but to restore peace to a broken world, among all people. The Peace of Christ calls us to live in love and peace with one another as brothers and sisters in Christ because we are one body together, united by the one Spirit. Resurrection is not just a historical fact, it’s a continuing experience for us and just like the disciples we too are called to be witnesses of Christ’s Resurrection living in love and harmony with one another and living the gospel values in our everyday life. May the Risen Lord increase your faith, rekindle your Spirit, and help you to share His peace each day with your loved ones in your home as well as with others in the community.

As we celebrate the solemnity of Easter with greater love for Christ, our paschal sacrifice and  the fountain of all holiness and life, I pray  that God , our Almighty Father may keep us free from the power of sin, purify our hearts and minds and keep us faithful to his plan of salvation through the glorious resurrection of his Son, Jesus Christ. Jesus’ Resurrection leads us all from darkness to light, sadness to joy, failures to success, loneliness to companionship, peace and  new hope beyond the worries and despair of the situations surrounding us, healing and comfort in our pain, and  from death to  new life.

May the Risen Lord fill you with grace and bring abundant blessings of joy and peace to you and your family.

With God’s blessings, love and prayers,

Fr. Ani Xavier OFM Cap

Parish Priest