Message from Father Gagné - EASTER 2026

EASTER 2026

The winter of 2026 will be remembered for its cold and storms, and the Blizzard of
2026, which broke the record for the most snow, exceeding the Blizzard of 1978. In contrast, the temperature yesterday hit 72 degrees. I watched as the snow melted into little rivers of water running in the streets. The snow is rapidly disappearing, and exposing the earth where spring flowers are beginning to grow, and the pussy willows are ready to be cut for the celebration of Palm Sunday and Holy Week. The moon is preparing for its fullness just before Easter. The date of Easter is set by the first Sunday after the first full moon after the spring equinox.

Nature is preparing itself for another spring, as we prepare ourselves for a spiritual spring, a rebirth of hope, and faith, and love. The winter of our discontent in the face of so much pain and hurt, and anger, and death, and suffering and war, is struggling to welcome Easter on the first Sunday of April. Like the women going to the tomb very early in the morning on the first day of the week, we too ask the question of who will roll back the rock for us.

The rock of indifference, discouragement, anger, shootings, violence, war, and the killing of innocent men, women, and children, along with all the secret pain that lies in the deep recesses of the human heart. The words of the creed, “I look forward to the resurrection from the dead,” remind us that we have to look for the signs of new life within us, as we clear away the leaves that cover our gardens to expose them to the sun’s warmth. Where once there were barren gardens covered in snow, new life is appearing.

Easter is when we, as followers of Jesus, remove all that has covered us and prevented us from feeling the warmth of God’s love. In the words of the Exultet,” The sanctifying power of this night dispels wickedness, washes faults away, restores innocence to the fallen, and joy to mourners, drives out hatred, fosters concord, and brings down the mighty.”

May this Easter be for us a new spring, and a new rebirth of hope and love, and joy. In the words of the Exultet, “Be glad, let earth be glad, as glory floods her, ablaze with light from her eternal King, let all corners of the earth be glad.” This is my prayer for you this Easter.

Be assured of a remembrance in all my Masses on Easter and throughout the Easter Season.

Father Gagné