Dear Columban Friends,
Easter stands at the heart of the Christian faith as a proclamation of hope that no darkness, no suffering, and no death has the final word. It is more than a single day on the calendar it is a living mystery that speaks into every season of life. At Easter, we encounter the risen Christ who steps into human fear and brokenness and transforms them from within.
The journey to Easter begins in the shadows. The cross reminds us that God does not avoid pain or sorrow. Jesus enters fully into the human experience — betrayal, abandonment, injustice, and death itself. Holy Saturday lingers in silence, echoing the moments in our own lives when prayers seem unanswered, and hope feels distant. Yet Easter morning proclaims that God is still at work, even when all seems lost. The stone is rolled away not by human strength, but by divine love.
The resurrection is not simply a return to life as it once was; it is the beginning of something entirely new. When Jesus rises, He carries the wounds of the cross with Him. This tells us that our own wounds, when united with Christ, can become places of grace rather than sources of shame. Easter assures us that nothing we suffer is wasted in God’s hands. Even the most painful chapters of our story can be redeemed.
Easter also challenges us. If Christ is risen, then we are called to live as resurrection people. This means choosing hope when despair seems easier, forgiveness when resentment feels justified, and love when fear threatens to close our hearts. Resurrection faith is not passive; it sends us outward. The risen Jesus meets His disciples and immediately commissions them — to go, to tell, to serve, and to love as he has loved.
In a world marked by division, violence, and uncertainty, the Easter message is urgently needed. At Easter, Columban missionaries around the world proclaim that life is stronger than death, mercy stronger than sin, and light stronger than darkness. The resurrection invites us to trust that God’s power is not revealed in domination or control, but in self-giving love. The empty tomb becomes a sign that God’s future is already breaking into the present.
Ultimately, Easter asks each of us where we need resurrection in our own lives. What tombs are we lingering near — grief, fear, regret, or doubt? The risen Christ calls us by name, just as He called Mary Magdalene, inviting us to turn toward new life. Easter assures us that no matter how long the night has been, morning will come.
As we celebrate Easter, we do so with gratitude and courage. We rejoice not because life is easy, but because Christ is alive. And because He lives, we are never alone, never without hope, and never beyond the reach of God’s transforming love.
Gratefully yours in Christ,
Fr. Al Utzig | Director, U.S. Region
The Missionary Society of St. Columban is entrusted by the Holy Father with part of the Church’s mission to spread the Faith and saving work of Christ.” (Vat.II) The Society works under the guidance of the Sacred Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and under the leadership of the bishops. We are listed in the U.S. Official Catholic Directory published annually by P.J. Kennedy and Sons. As such, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service recognizes us as a religious not-for-profit corporation, therefore contributions to our work are tax deductible. We employ no outside professional fund-raisers and pay no commissions.
