{"id":35295,"date":"2024-04-03T09:40:37","date_gmt":"2024-04-03T13:40:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fallriverdiocese.org\/?p=35295"},"modified":"2024-04-03T09:46:03","modified_gmt":"2024-04-03T13:46:03","slug":"the-easter-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fallriverdiocese.org\/pt-pt\/bishops-blog\/the-easter-season\/","title":{"rendered":"The Easter Season"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Chrism Mass Reflection<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Greetings to you during this glorious Easter season. What a blessed Holy Week we had here in the Diocese; many parishes have reported increased attendance during the Triduum and Easter Liturgies. Praise be to God to hear such wonderful news \u2014 a sign that not only are we moving further away from the pandemic but also the fruit of the dedication and devotion of our priests. What a great joy to renew our priestly promises during the Chrism Mass last Tuesday, with one of the largest attendance of priests in recent history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By Jesus\u2019 wounds, we are healed. In His triumph conquering over sin and death, heaven is open to each of us; that is indeed Good News! In God\u2019s infinite wisdom, He chose fragile vessels to continue His earthly mission. Wounded Healers, as Henri Nouwen, a Dutch Roman Catholic priest, referred to himself and his brother priests. Imperfect, yet through the grace of God, able to serve God\u2019s people; men who empty themselves to be filled with Him. Agents of healing, hope, and reconciliation\u2014who try every day to bring light into the darkness and hope where they find despair. Who bring Christ to the world through their words and actions, but most importantly, as unworthy yet grateful ministers of the sacraments, especially the Eucharist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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View Entire Chrism Mass Photo Gallery Here<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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It is tradition that we recognize priests celebrating significant anniversaries of their priestly ordinations in the context of our Chrism Mass. Recognized for 60 years this year were Bishop Emeritus George W. Coleman and Father Ernst J. Corriveau of the Missionaries of Our Lady of La Salette; for 50 years, Father Stephen B. Salvador and Father Joseph F. Viveiros. How wonderful to acknowledge them and the others and to give thanks for their ministry over so many decades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I ask you to please join me in my daily prayers for our priests. Pray for their ministry to be blessed, the struggles to be light, and their faith to remain steadfast. In this Easter Season, as we rejoice in the Resurrection and look forward to Pentecost, let us remember those who have answered God\u2019s call to serve as priests among us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Divine Mercy Sunday<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On May 5, 2000, Pope St. John Paul II decreed that the Second Sunday of Easter is to be celebrated throughout the world as Divine Mercy Sunday. In 2002, the Vatican published an additional decree attaching a Plenary (or partial) Indulgence to Divine Mercy Sunday. The USCCB website explains, \u201cThrough an indulgence, God grants the prayer of the Church that the temporal penalty for sin due to someone be reduced (or possibly eliminated).\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To obtain the Plenary Indulgence (learn more about indulgences here<\/a>), one must satisfy the following conditions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n