Easter Message From Fr. Richard

He is Risen! Alleluia!

There’s a powerful line from Scripture: “Do not be afraid” (Isaiah 41:10). In 2026, those words still speak directly into our lives. Our world continues to carry many fears—ongoing conflicts, humanitarian crises, the suffering in war-torn countries, the urgent reality of climate change and, closer to home, concerns about housing, the cost of living and the pressures of daily life. At times it can feel overwhelming, as though fear itself has taken on a life of its own.

Easter reminds us that we are not meant to live in the shadow of fear. In the Resurrection of Jesus, fear and death do not have the final word. Instead, we are given hope—hope that grounds us in God and points us toward our ultimate destiny with Him. We are not abandoned, nor are we alone. As the Lord assures us: “Do not be afraid, for I am with you.”

Some may see this hope as unrealistic or even wishful thinking. Yet the Resurrection—the real and living rising of Jesus from the dead—calls us to something deeper. It invites us to live differently: with courage instead of fear, with compassion instead of indifference, and with faith that we can build something better together. Fear loses its hold when we trust in the promise of new life.

As Pope John Paul II famously said: “We are an Easter people, and Alleluia is our song.”

I wish you all a very happy and blessed Easter. And to those who have returned home for the season—welcome home.

Fr Richard