Easter Message from the Pastor

Dear parishioners,

In the joy of Easter, we gather around the central truth of our faith: Christ is risen. The Gospel from the Gospel of John speaks to us of the empty tomb, the silence of the early morning, and the confusion of the disciples who did not yet understand what had happened. And yet, it is precisely from that confusion that hope begins to emerge. What seemed like an end becomes a new beginning.

In our lives, there are often moments that resemble Good Friday—times of loss, uncertainty, fatigue, or quiet sorrow. We may be striving in our families, our work, or our relationships without seeing results. We may carry burdens that we do not share with others. In such situations, it is easy to think that nothing will change and that there is no way forward.

A simple example from everyday life can help us understand this. When a seed is planted in the spring, it is first “lost” in the soil. It disappears from sight, covered by darkness and silence. For a time, nothing seems to be happening. Yet it is precisely there, hidden from view, that new life begins. The seed breaks open, is transformed, and slowly grows toward the light.

So it is with Easter. God often works in our lives in ways that are not immediately visible. Even when it seems that we are standing still, He is already preparing something new. The empty tomb is not only a sign that Jesus is no longer there, but that a new reality has begun—a life that death can no longer overcome.

Easter therefore calls us to trust. It does not ask us to understand everything, but to believe that God is guiding our lives. Just as the disciples gradually came to faith, so we too learn, step by step, to recognize God’s presence and action.

There may also be “closed places” in our hearts—disappointments, old wounds, or habits that keep us from moving forward. The message of Easter tells us that none of these places are beyond the reach of God’s grace. Christ, who has conquered death, can bring new life even where we have grown accustomed to silence.

Easter is not only a feast we celebrate, but a reality we are invited to enter. We are called to be people of hope: in our families, in our community, and in our daily encounters. Often, this is lived in simple ways—a word of encouragement, patience, and faithfulness in small things.

May the risen Christ strengthen us in faith, confirm us in hope, and fill us with His peace. May He help us to recognize that no night has the final word, and that God always has the last word—and that word is life.

Wishing all of you a blessed and joyful Easter!

Fr. Matija