Good Friday

Good Friday draws us into the deepest mystery of love—a love that does not turn away from suffering but enters fully into it.

Today, we stand at the foot of the Cross and gaze upon Jesus Christ—wounded, rejected, and lifted up between heaven and earth. This is not a symbol of defeat, but the throne of divine mercy. Here, the Son of God gives everything—holding nothing back—so that we might be restored, forgiven, and brought home.

In the silence of this solemn day, we hear His final words echo through time: “It is finished.” Not a cry of despair, but a declaration of fulfillment. The work of salvation is complete. Sin is conquered. Love has prevailed.

And yet, Good Friday asks something of us.

It asks us to remain.

To resist the urge to look away.

To bring our own wounds, our burdens, our sins, and lay them at the foot of the Cross.

For it is here that suffering is transformed.

Here that darkness meets light.

Here that death begins to give way to life.

We are not merely witnesses—we are participants in this mystery. Every act of sacrifice, every moment of forgiveness, every quiet surrender unites us more deeply to Him who gave His life for us.

Today, the Church is still. The altar is bare. The tabernacle is empty. And in that sacred emptiness, we come to understand love is not proven in words, but in sacrifice.

As we venerate the Cross, may we see not only the suffering of Christ, but the immeasurable depth of His love for each of us.

And in that love, we find our hope.

"We adore You, O Christ, and we bless You, because by Your holy Cross, You have redeemed the world."

Fasting and Abstinence – Good Friday

On Good Friday, the Church invites the faithful to observe both fasting and abstinence as a way of uniting ourselves more closely to the Passion of Christ.

Abstinence (from meat):

·        All Catholics 14 years of age and older are obliged to abstain from eating meat.

Fasting:

·        All Catholics ages 18 through 59 are obliged to fast.

·     Fasting allows for one full meal during the day.

·     Two smaller meals may be taken if needed, but together they should not equal

a full meal.

·     No eating between meals is permitted.

Additional Notes:

·        Those who are ill, pregnant, nursing, or otherwise unable to fast are excused.

Catholics are encouraged to embrace prayer, penance, and works of charity on this solemn day.These practices help us enter more deeply into the mystery of Christ’s sacrifice and prepare our hearts for the joy of Easter.

Easter Sunday

Easter Sunday bursts forth with a joy that cannot be contained—a joy born not from wishful thinking, but from the astonishing truth that the tomb is empty and Jesus Christ is alive.

After the sorrow of the Cross and the stillness of the tomb, light breaks into the darkness. The stone is rolled away, not just from the grave, but from our hearts. What once seemed like defeat has become victory. What once seemed like the end has become a glorious beginning.

This is the day that changes everything.

Sin no longer has the final word.

Death is no longer the end of the story.

Hope is no longer a distant dream—it is alive.

The Resurrection is not only something that happened to Christ—it is something that happens within us. In every moment of grace, in every act of love, in every return to faith, the risen Lord is at work, bringing new life where there was once despair.

Easter invites us to live differently—to be people of the Resurrection. To carry joy into a weary world. To be light in the darkness. To believe, even when life is uncertain, that God is always at work bringing beauty from brokenness.

So today, we rejoice.

We rejoice because love has conquered.

We rejoice because Christ is risen.

We rejoice because we are never alone.

Let every heart be lifted, every voice raised, every life renewed in the radiant truth of this day:

Christ is risen—He is truly risen! Alleluia!