Abbot Hugh Allan, O.Praem.

Apostolic Administrator of the Falkland Islands and Superior of the Ecclesiastical Mission to St. Helena, Tristan Da Cunha and Ascension Island

Pastoral Letter for Easter 2024

 Dear friends in Christ, 

For us Christians, Holy Week, which culminates in the joy of Easter, is the most sacred time of year. It is a time to reflect on what the “good news” of the Gospel really means. 

The joy of Christian life begins at Christmas, but it comes to fruition on the other side of Calvary. No matter how intelligent or talented or privileged we might be, none of us can avoid the sufferings that go with the fabric of daily life. What we do with those sufferings determines the course of our lives. We can allow them to break us, or to break us open to become something greater than our old selves. To allow the power and wonder of the resurrection to help us rise from sorrow. 

St. John Paul II once described the Bible as “God’s great book about suffering.” He meant that Scripture is the story of God’s willingness to suffer for humanity, and his call to each of us to join our own struggles to his in healing the evil and pain in the world. Real joy, enduring joy comes from our solidarity with others. As Christians, we never run away from problems, but embrace the difficulties of life so that we also know the joy of the Resurrection and the new life it brings. 

The cross is the way Jesus accomplishes our redemption. Only by sharing that experience with him can we rise with him on at Easter. In other words, there’s no resurrection without the crucifixion. 

In offering God the personal sorrows and sufferings which each of us daily face, and in working to ease the sorrows and suffering of others, we join ourselves to Jesus, in his death and in his resurrection. We share in his sacrifice for the world … but we also share in the reward, for he draws us with him out of death into new life on this Easter day. 

When we speak about the Gospel message of joy and hope, this is what we mean: the joy of restored life; and our confidence that even in dying, we will live forever in the Lord. Alleluia! 

Jesus Christ is our deliverer – Jesus Christ is Lord. May his peace fill all of us throughout the Easter season. I hope you all have a wonderful Easter. The fasting of Lent is over (alleluia!) and so now we can celebrate and rejoice. Christ is Risen! He is risen indeed. Alleluia. 

With my love, prayers and every blessing, 

+Hugh o. praem.

Abbot Hugh Allan, o.praem.