Two of the most joyous occasions in the Catholic calendar are Christmas and Easter, and they are made ever more joyous seen through the eyes of young people.

After a long year of vocal restrictions, students and staff at St. Michael’s Choir School are thrilled they’ll be lending their voices to Mass at St. Michael’s Cathedral-Basilica again, albeit with safety protocols in place.

VATICAN CITY -- If you’ve ever wondered what’s behind the calendar chaos of Easter, look no further than the sun and the moon.

Although choirs are prevented from gathering physically due to COVID-19, it has not stopped many from finding creative ways to come together in song at Easter.

During this time of isolation, it is very difficult to think, meditate and write about Easter. The churches are closed and we do not know at what point the COVID-19 infection will peak. 

On Palm Sunday, after I read the Passion narrative of St. Matthew’s Gospel, alone in our parish church at the Masses, I could not help but think of how much we have in common this Easter with the first disciples of Jesus.

While the VIDO-Intervac laboratory at the University of Saskatchewan is working flat-out on a vaccine for COVID-19, bishops from all over Saskatchewan have come together to launch a laboratory of their own to work on the elusive formula for Christian unity.

In times like these, few things can lift a person’s spirits like the unvarnished cheerfulness and optimism of children.

In many ways, the COVID-19 pandemic can be seen as a test of our commitment to answer our call as Catholics to express our faith beyond the bricks and mortar church building and organized gatherings. 

The following is the Easter message from Richard Gagnon, Archbishop of Winnipeg and president of the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops.