# 2024 Easter Pastoral Letter

- Link: https://nweparchy.ca/2024/03/2024-easter-pastoral-letter/
- Published: 2024-03-25T01:02:44-07:00
- Author: Website

**2024 PASTORAL LETTER**

**OF THE UKRAINIAN CATHOLIC BISHOPS OF CANADA**

**ON THE OCCASION OF THE FEAST OF**

**THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD**

**31 March /5 May 2024**

To the Reverend Fathers, Religious Sisters,

Venerable Monastics, Seminarians, & Brothers and Sisters in Christ!

_“Peace be with you! … put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand
and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”_ (John 20:26-28)

Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen!

Dearly Beloved in Christ!

In the midst of the joy of the Resurrection, the Evangelist John presents us with
the encounter of Thomas and the Risen Lord. (Jn. 21:24-29) Thomas could not accept
the good news from the other disciples, who told him they had seen the Lord. Thomas
had witnessed the tragedy of the last several days in Jerusalem, which ended with
the death of Jesus on the cross. How could anyone hold out for a better conclusion
to the final days of Jesus? If Jesus could not save himself, how could his followers
expect him to bring salvation to them?

As we enter into the celebration of the Resurrection of Christ, many will find it
difficult to feel joy in this feast day, even questioning where is salvation for
this world in which we live today? This past February we marked the tragic anniversary
of the war in Ukraine. How many of our brothers and sisters have fled their homes,
uprooted their lives, and tragically died due to the cruelty of an unprovoked war?
After initial promises of help, it seems Ukraine will be left to defend itself against
uneven odds. With this background of war in Ukraine, Gaza and elsewhere throughout
the world, it will be difficult to sing with joy: “Let God arise and let his enemies
be scattered, and let those who hate him flee from before his face.” (cf. _Easter
Matins_)

Although Canada is not at war with any outside nation or political force, we see
battles being fought in our parliament and in our hospitals and care homes, for 
the protection of life from conception through to natural death. More effort is 
seemingly being made through abortion and MAiD to end life, rather than to support
and nourish it, especially in its most vulnerable states. In place of a culture 
of life, we face a culture of death. How hard it will be to sing: “Christ is risen
from the grave, as He foretold, granting us everlasting life and mercy without measure.”(
cf. _Easter Matins_)

The celebration of Easter occurs traditionally in our churches and then continues
in our homes. How do we celebrate in our homes with our families, when we see social
support for family life waning? For many there will be little festive joy if there
are no jobs to provide income, and little revenue to pay the utility, medical and
grocery bills. And then there is the increasing number of people who have no homes
and must live on the streets. It will be difficult to pray at the blessing of our
Easter baskets: “For You are our true food and the Giver of all good things which
You yourself bless and sanctify …”. (cf. _Blessing Easter Food_)

So how did the Apostle Thomas resolve his dilemma of faith? What led him to profess
his belief in the Lord Jesus? Thomas is given the opportunity to encounter at the
same time the one and the same Jesus, who was both crucified and who had risen from
the grave. In another words, the Resurrected Jesus is the same Jesus who suffered
on the cross. By allowing Thomas to touch his wounds, Jesus shows him that suffering
and Resurrection are intertwined. The Resurrection does not eliminate all suffering,
rather it gives meaning to suffering and makes it bearable even in the worst of 
times. And thus, we have hope!

Dearly Beloved in Christ!

Our joy in the Risen Christ is not a joy that eliminates the troubles and pain in
this life. Rather, Jesus suffered, died and rose from the dead out of love for us,
giving us a foundation of hope in the midst of our trials. In providing Thomas an
opportunity to reinforce his faith, Jesus first says to him: “Peace be with you!”
This is the same divine peace that the Risen Lord offers to all of us in celebrating
his Resurrection, even in the midst of our trials and tribulations.

Although we will not have the same opportunity as Thomas did to touch the painful
wounds of Christ, Jesus certainly thought of us when He told Thomas: “Blessed are
those who have not seen but believed.” It is this same belief in the Risen Lord,
that has been the foundation of our Ukrainian nation since the time of its baptism,
over a thousand years ago. It is this same belief in the Risen Lord, that has sustained
our pioneer Ukrainian settlers since their arrival in the Canadian wilderness over
one hundred years ago. And it is this same belief in the Risen Lord, that has enabled
so many of our people to find hope in their lives, burdened with health issues, 
family strife, and economic hardships in this land of plentiful blessings.

This Easter season it is our fervent prayer that all will find hope and joy in the
Resurrection of the Lord. Let us take to heart the prayer found in the Resurrection
Matins: “Come, all you faithful, and let us bow to the holy Resurrection of Christ,
since through the cross, joy has come to all the world. Ever praising the Lord, 
let us extol his Resurrection, since He, having endured the crucifixion, has destroyed
death by his death!” (cf. _Easter Matins_)

May the blessing of the Risen Lord descend upon you this Easter season and bring
you the hope and joy that is so much needed in our world today.

Christ is Risen! Indeed, He is Risen!

**+ Lawrence** Huculak, OSBM

_Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archeparchy of Winnipeg_

**+ David** Motiuk

_Bishop of the Eparchy of Edmonton_

**+ Bryan** Bayda, CSsR

_Bishop of the Eparchy of Toronto and Eastern Canada_

**+ Michael** Kwiatkowski

_Bishop of the Eparchy of New Westminster_

**+ Michael** Smolinski, CSsR

_Bishop of the Eparchy of Saskatoon_

**+ Andriy** Rabiy

_Auxiliary Bishop of the Archeparchy of Winnipeg_

**+ Michael** Wiwchar, CSsR

 _Bishop Emeritus of the Eparchy of Saskatoon_

**+ Stephen** Chmilar

_Bishop Emeritus of the Eparchy of Toronto and Eastern Canada_