Hearts lifted up with Easter joy

April 13, 2006

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

What a joy it is for me to celebrate with you our first Easter together. You, as my new family and flock, have already shared with me much joy and love. Everywhere I go in the diocese, I feel and sense great faith and deep love of the Lord. Thank you again for your great example and wonderful welcome.

The entrance song for Easter Sunday is "The Lord has indeed risen, alleluia, glory and kingship be his forever and ever."

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia is our great word of praise. We have not heard it for forty days. It means, "Praise the Lord." We have so much to "Praise the Lord" about. His constant love for us has once again been renewed as we observed the holy 40 days of Lent, the Easter Triduum and now 50 days of Easter. Our hearts cannot help but be lifted up with Easter joy and Easter hope. Many new Catholics have once again entered our Church. We welcome them and promise them our continued prayers and good example.

In a special way I want to tell you about the joy I feel for our clergy and our seminarians and deacon candidates. These men are special blessings to all of us. We "praise the Lord for them." Our priests and deacons, our seminarians and deacon candidates are all following the Lord's call in their lives. With dedication and a willingness to serve, they give themselves to God's direction in their lives. Please encourage them and pray for them as often as you can. My hope and prayer is that we be blessed with an abundance of vocations in our diocese. This hope will become a reality if we all continue to live our faith and pray fervently to the Lord.

Our religious sisters and Carmelite nuns are great gifts to us. So too, are our consecrated laypersons who serve the Lord in quiet, humble ways. Let us praise the Lord for them and be grateful for their service to us.

Praise the Lord for you, our dedicated laity. Your faith and generosity are so evident to me. Thank you for your faithful attendance at Mass each week. Thank you for your generous financial support to your parishes and our diocese. Thank you for your sharing of your gifts in so many ways as volunteers and in service to your pastors and to me, your bishop. To parents, thank you for keeping your promise to raise your children in the Catholic faith. Your support of our Catholic Schools and Religious Education programs is greatly appreciated. Even more, your example of faithful love, faith and sacrifice do make a difference, not only in your families, but also in our church and communities. Praise the Lord!

Easter, 2006, has blessed me with a new family to serve. The joy I feel as your shepherd is a gift that I have received from our Risen Lord. Moving from a place I love and knew so well, leaving my family and friends in Colorado, losing my mother in her entrance into eternal life have indeed been difficult moments for me. Yet, with Easter joy, I can say "Praise the Lord', he is so good to us. Thank you all for being a part of my life. May each of you be able to say "Praise the Lord' this Easter. Despite the pain and suffering of daily life, and the struggles God asks us to carry, our God is so good to us.

With Easter joy and Easter hope, let us continue on our journey to holiness. Let us look to the children and young people among us. Their enthusiasm and openness to life and all that it gives is a great example for us. Let us all be touched by the love of the Risen Lord and praise him for his goodness: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Your brother in Christ,

Most Reverend R. Walker Nickless
Bishop of Sioux City