A Joyous Easter
to Our Family, Old and New
by Pat Cunningham
March 21, 2008
The administration and staff of Central Catholic High School wish all the members of our family, from the graduates of the "old academy" to the newest accepted members of the class of 2012, a very joyous Easter. The rare convergence of Spring Break and Holy Week gives us a chance to participate fully in our local parish's religious observance, and to have good family time together.
The message of the Paschal Triduum--Holy Thursday evening through Easter Sunday--is an enduring Gospel of hope. The life we live now, no matter how materially prosperous or challenging, despite any sufferings we may endure, is not the life we are called to in eternity. We are called as individuals and as a people to be one with Jesus Christ, our Savior, and one with each other. That is why the challenge of Jesus Christ, the challenge to follow Him, is also the demand to echo his first words from the cross: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." We are not judged by how we treat our friends, but by how we treat those who do evil to us.
We especially pray for a peace with justice in this day. Surely we want that in the Middle East, and especially for our brother and sister Christians suffering pressure from all sides. But we also beg God to give us peace in our land, in our homes, and in our persons. In that prayer we join our Blessed Mother as she intercedes for us constantly in the presence of the Most Holy Trinity: may the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit be glorified in all places through the Immaculate Virgin Mary.
