My dear St Eugene Family,  Alleluia! The Lord is risen!  And, we all, like Mary of Magdala want to cry out “Rabbouni” and hold unto Jesus with all our strength. This the day made by the Lord, we rejoice in it and are glad. Yes, we are filled with wonder and praise for what God has done for us through Jesus his Son. Our hearts brim over with joy and gratitude to God. The Lord wants us to radiate and transmit this Easter joy to others as he instructed Mary, “"Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" (John 20:17). Jesus makes Mary a messenger of the Good News. Go and tell others what you have just witnessed!

Our Easter experience does not end with the knowledge of Jesus’ resurrection, and not with the personal excitement and joy that experience gives each one of us his disciples who did sorrowful journey with him all the way to Golgotha. The Easter experience is both a celebration and a mission – you may call it a mandate – to bring all people that we encounter into this mysterious salvific experience. Through Mary Magdalene we too hear the Lord in today’s feast saying to us "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me." (Matthew 28:10). If this was what mattered most to Jesus at this time of all times, then it must be a matter of utmost importance to his Mission.

Let us therefore heed his summons; let us rise from our stupor and hurry out of our hiding places unto the highways of the world and let all the brothers and sisters of Jesus know that he is risen. And remember that there is no better way to do this than Jesus’ own way “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love one for another” (John 13:35). So, what are you waiting for?

Happy Easter to you all!

Father Ejiofor Ugwu MSP (Chaplain)