Video: 2025 Easter message from Cardinal Joseph W. Tobin, C.Ss.R.

My dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

As we approach Easter Sunday, we prepare to hear once again the astonishing account of the resurrection.

A story filled with wonder, awe, and the transformation of fear into faith. Imagine the disciples arriving at the empty tomb, their hearts heavy with grief. They did not expect what they found. Their sorrow turned to amazement and then to joy beyond measure. And that moment, the world changed forever. What seemed impossible became a reality. Christ is risen. He is truly risen!

Easter reminds us that even in the face of uncertainty, fear, and suffering, God’s love is present and prevails. Resurrection is not just an event of the past. It is the foundation of our faith, shaping how we live today. It tells us that despair is never the end of the story and that hope always has the final word.

Like Christmas, Easter celebrates God’s boundless love. While Christmas reveals the gift of Christ’s birth, Easter proclaims the triumph of life over sin and death. It assures us that we are never alone, for Christ is alive and walks with us each day.

The joy that permeates the fifty days of the Paschal season begins at the Easter Vigil when the Church dispenses the life-giving mysteries of the sacraments of initiation: baptism, confirmation, and the Holy Eucharist. We thank God that in our Archdiocese this year, some 1,300 will be welcome(ed) through these sacraments and the saving profession of faith.

As we gather to celebrate this sacred season, may the astounding love of Christ fill our hearts with joy of the resurrection. Let us hold fast to the promise that, in Christ, all things are made new.

May this Easter bring renewed faith, abiding hope, and endless love to you and your loved ones.

Blessings and peace to you all. Happy Easter.