2026 Easter Message

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

“Peace be with you!” (Jn 20:19)

With these words, the Risen Lord greeted His disciples after His Resurrection. With these same words, He greets us today; quietly, gently, yet with steadfast presence. Into our worries, fears, and uncertainties, Christ comes and stands among us, offering His peace.

This Easter is especially meaningful for me, as it is my first with you as your bishop. I give thanks to God for the gift of being your shepherd and for the grace of celebrating the Resurrection among you. It is a joy to walk with you in faith and to proclaim together that Christ is risen.

This year, our joy is even greater as we welcome an extraordinary number of new Catholics, men and women who, through Baptism, are born into new life in Christ. Their “yes” to the Lord is a powerful witness. It reminds us that the Risen Lord is still calling people, still renewing lives, still making all things new.

The peace He offers is not like the peace the world gives (Jn 14:27). It is not fragile or passing, but a gift that takes root within us and transforms us, so that we may become witnesses of hope. As Saint Paul reminds us, “If Christ has not been raised, your faith is in vain” (1 Cor 15:17). But Christ is risen and this changes everything.

Easter invites us not so much to understand everything, but to trust and believe. Like the first disciples, we may not always recognize Him right away. Yet through prayer, His Word, and the Eucharist, we discover that He is already with us, calling us by name and walking beside us and

slowly, His peace fills our hearts. It changes how we see others, how we respond to difficulties, and how we live each day. We become, in quiet but real ways, witnesses of His presence, bringing patience where there is tension, kindness where there is hurt, and light where there is darkness.

Our world deeply needs this peace: the faithful presence of those who know that Christ is alive. Each of us is called to carry this peace into our families and communities.

May this Easter renew in us faith that Christ is truly Risen, that He is with us, and that His love is stronger than anything we may face.

I wish you a blessed and joyful Easter!

+Joseph Dabrowski

Most Reverend Joseph Dabrowski, CSMA
Bishop of Hamilton