Keynote Speaker
Rev. Abraham N. Feliciano, SDB
Father Abraham Feliciano, SDB is originally from Paterson, NJ and was ordained a Salesian priest in 2006. As a Salesian, he has served as pastoral associate, coordinator of youth ministry, youth minister, high school theology teacher and chaplain for various Salesian presences in Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Washington, DC. Currently, Father Abraham serves as the Province Youth Ministry Delegate for the St. Philip the Apostle Province – which covers Canada and the Eastern United States.
Reflection Questions
- How have I experienced Church during the global pandemic of COVID-19?
- What are some of the “empty tombs” in my life that I have stayed in?
- How can I witness to the Resurrection in my daily life, especially to those who might be struggling or suffering?
Preparing for the Liturgy
Easter is the feast of feasts, the unalloyed joy and gladness of all Christians. In the very
center of the Mass, the great prayer of thanksgiving, from the first words of the Preface, expresses the unrivaled motive for this joy: if it is right to praise You, Lord, at all times, how much more so should we not glorify You on this day when Christ our Passover was sacrificed, for He is the true Lamb who took away the sins of the world, who by His Death destroyed our death and by His Resurrection restored our life. Easter means, then, Redemption obtained — sin destroyed, death overcome, divine life brought back to us, the resurrection of our body which is promised immortality. With such a certitude, we should banish all trace of sadness.
Haec dies quam fecit Dominus:
“This is the day which the Lord has made.”
“You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, Who was crucified. He has risen, He is not here.
Go, tell His disciples that He goes before you.”
Yes; we, too, searchers after Christ, now confess we have found Him. The task before
us is to “tell” others of His victory, that all may be “of one mind and heart”.
Why? Because if Christmas is the loveliest Feast as we behold God born of Mary unto
man’s life, certainly Easter is the greatest as we behold Jesus born of a tomb so that man
may rise unto God’s Life.
Our faith in His Divinity is confirmed because He “overcame death;” our hope is enlivened
because He has “opened unto us the Gate of Eternity. Is it any wonder that the “earth
trembled. . .when God arose”
Throughout the octave we shall sing of the unequaled joy which throws open eternity to
us. Every Sunday will furnish a reminder of it, and from Sunday to Sunday, from year to
year, the Easters of this earth will lead us to that blessed day on which Christ has promised that He will come again with glory to take us with Him into the kingdom of His Father.
Throughout these three days, we experience the highs and lows in our faith, ending with
the ultimate high — the new life of the resurrection. The Easter Season begins with
the Easter Vigil, and we enter 50 days of Eastertime when endless “Alleluias” will ring
out throughout all of our liturgical celebrations. May you experience the joy of new life in your own way this Easter Season.
Have a happy and blessed Easter!
Salesian Easter Triduum 