Today we celebrate the central mystery of our faith: the resurrection of our Lord from the dead. Today we are asked to believe and proclaim the unbelievable: 
 that he who was dead has arisen and is alive. The Gospel offers us no conclusive proof, only an empty tomb and burial cloths. Our model is the Apostle John:
 “He saw and believed.” (Gospel) We are asked to profess our faith by renewing our baptismal promises. It is all about faith: trust in God, in the scriptural accounts of the witnesses, in the Church and her two millennia of Tradition. By our faith and witness, we continue that living Tradition.

A few verses from today’s Sequence, the Victimæ Paschali, poetically express the meaning of Christ’s resurrection for us:
  
During the Easter season—that is, from now through Pentecost—the Regina Cæli replaces the Angelus. Here is the text.
 
Queen of Heaven, rejoice, alleluia:
For he whom you merited to bear, alleluia,
Has risen as he said, alleluia.
Pray for us to God, alleluia.
V. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary, alleluia.
R. Because the Lord is truly risen, alleluia.
Let us pray. O God, who by the resurrection of your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, granted joy to the whole world: grant, we beg you, that through the intercession of the Virgin Mary, his Mother, we may lay hold of the joys of eternal life. Through the same Christ our Lord. Amen.

Next Sunday is Divine Mercy Sunday. The Divine Mercy Devotions will be held at Notre Dame in Chippewa Falls beginning at 1:30 PM. Christopher Ruff, Director of the Diocesan Office for Ministries and Social Concerns, will be the speaker. The Chaplet of Divine Mercy will be prayed at 3:00. There will be opportunities for confession throughout the afternoon. You are welcome to participate in any or all of the program.

Like the Easter mystery itself, the Easter season is full of grace, especially the grace of the sacraments of initiation. Second graders from St. Charles will receive their First Holy Communion next Sunday, April 27, during the 10:30 Mass; and those from St. Peter on Sunday, May 11, during the 9:00 Mass. Confirmation will be conferred upon young people from both parishes on Sunday afternoon, May 4, at St. Charles Church, at 1:00. The Church is enriched and renewed by the grace of these sacraments effective in the lives of her members.

Next Sunday a second collection is traditionally taken up throughout our diocese for the support of the Diocesan Council of Catholic Women. There is an envelope in your envelope packet for this collection. Please take this opportunity to support them and the many ways in which they contribute to the work of the Church in our diocese.

Pray the rosary this week for good weather for a productive planting and growing season. Pray for the needs of the Church in our diocese and for those throughout our diocese who have received the sacraments of initiation this Easter. As always, pray for peace.
 
May God bless you this Easter and always.
Monsignor Gorman