# Message for Easter 2025 by Bishop William T. McGrattan, Bishop of Calgary and President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops

- Link: https://nweparchy.ca/2025/04/message-for-easter-2025-by-bishop-william-t-mcgrattan-bishop-of-calgary-and-president-of-the-canadian-conference-of-catholic-bishops/
- Published: 2025-04-15T21:41:41-07:00
- Author: Website

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As President of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops, I extend to you the
ancient Orthodox Easter greeting: “Christ is Risen! Truly, He is Risen!”

Each of the Gospel accounts of that first Easter morning presents us with the testimony
of Mary Magdalene, Peter, and the Beloved Disciple, who encountered the astonishing
reality of Christ’s Resurrection. Their despair, sorrow, and sense of loss gave 
way to newfound hope. The seeds of these Gospel events continue to be sown in our
lives today, serving as a sure sign of the Risen Lord’s presence and the power of
His Resurrection at work in our world.

In this Jubilee Year of Hope, Pope Francis calls upon all the baptized, each with
their unique gifts and ministries, to take co-responsibility in ensuring that the
many signs of hope bear witness to God’s presence. Each year, our Holy Week celebrations
lead us through the proclamation of the Word into the sacramental presence of Christ.
This rich spiritual journey invites us to embrace the mysteries of our salvation
with renewed faith and devotion. We walk the path of Christ’s Passion and death 
on the Cross, enter the silence of Holy Saturday, and then rejoice in the hope awakened
within us as we renew our baptismal faith at Easter—professing our belief in Christ’s
victory over death and the promise of eternal life.

This is the enduring presence of the Risen Christ in the life of the pilgrim Church—
a presence illuminated by the Holy Spirit with the light of hope. It is a flame 
that burns continuously, “like an ever-burning lamp, to sustain and invigorate our
lives” (_Spes Non Confundit_, no. 3).

May this light of hope, peace, and new life shine through our witness of Easter 
faith in the ordinary moments of family life, our parishes, schools, and workplaces.
In this Jubilee Year of Hope, may we proclaim with renewed boldness: “Christ is 
Risen! Truly, He is Risen!”

Easter 2025

The video message may be accessed by clicking the following [link.](https://youtu.be/-Coxb0q_aAY)