Easter Message from Fr. Brian Cummings, S.S.E.
“On the first day of the week,
Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning,
while it was still dark,
and saw the stone removed from the tomb.”
Gospel of John 20:1
With these words from John’s Gospel, we celebrate Jesus being raised from the dead and begin the Easter season. The story of that first Easter Sunday never gets old. It is dramatic and suspenseful. Mary Magdalene is struck with fear at what she sees. She runs to tell Peter and John which leads to their foot race to the empty tomb. Understanding is not fully grasped. Later Mary recognizes the risen Jesus in the garden and the encounter gives birth to resurrection faith. Mary becomes the first proclaimer of the resurrection by sharing the Good News with the other disciples: “The Lord is risen!”
This Easter Sunday will be a special celebration at Saint Michael’s as we welcome into the Church through the Sacraments of Initiation Finn McGillivray of the Class of 2024.
Finn will receive Baptism, Confirmation, and the Eucharist during our 11:00 a.m. Mass. A Political Science major with a minor in Music, Finn is a member of the U.S. Army Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) and for the past three years has been a member of our Music Ministry playing guitar and singing tenor at our Sunday evening liturgies. Finn plans to pursue law school after graduation and serve in the Army’s Judge Advocate General’s Corps (JAG). We give thanks for Finn’s service to our community and our country while welcoming him with great joy into the community of the Catholic faith.
Easter is the foundation of our Christian faith and gives us hope that those who have died will have eternal life. On behalf of the Edmundite Community, I extend to you and your loved ones the blessings of the Easter season. Please be assured of our prayers and may the Easter season strengthen you each day as we all make our pilgrimage journey to eternal life. We also pray for our brothers and sisters celebrating the Islamic faith during Ramadan and the Jewish faith as we approach Passover. May all people of faith continue to work alongside one another for a peaceful and just world.
Happy Easter and blessed holidays to all!
Sincerely in our Risen Lord,
Rev. Brian J. Cummings, S.S.E.’86
Director of Edmundite Campus Ministry