Welcome to the Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas

Easter Message from Archbishop Susai Jesu, OMI

WITHOUT GOOD FRIDAY THERE IS NO EASTER SUNDAY

My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

One of the main purposes of Jesus’s coming to us (the Incarnation) was to convince the world that God loves us unconditionally, and through His abundant love, offers us eternal life. This eternal life or salvation is possible through the sacrificial love which Jesus offered as the way to eternal life. To this end, Jesus tried to convince his disciples and everyone that there is no glorious crown in life without first going through the cross. There is no salvation without going through our daily suffering. There is no success without struggle. There is no paradise without passion. There is no peace without pain. There is no happiness without hardship. There is no discovery without difficulty. And so also, there is no Easter Sunday without Good Friday.

To convince us of this eternal truth, Jesus used various parables like the parable of the seed. Jesus said, “Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains a single grain; but if it dies, it produces much fruit” (John 12:24). This is a profound metaphor of transformation. It teaches us that surrender, letting go of selfishness, and dying to old bad habits are necessary for spiritual growth, leading to a fruitful, abundant life rather than a solitary existence. Jesus uses this image to describe his own impending death, a necessary sacrifice that allows him to bring forth a massive harvest of souls and new life.

Another vivid example Jesus offered to his close disciples was the transfiguration on Mount Tabor where He showed what the heavenly life looks like. On Mount Tabor, the disciples saw Jesus in dazzling white—a glimpse of the “Crown” before the “Cross.” But as they descended the mountain, Jesus began to speak of His coming passion. He knew a profound truth that we must embrace in our daily mission: The glory of the Transfiguration was meant to sustain them through the gloom of Good Friday. The Transfiguration was a preview of Easter, but it was also a preparation for the Cross. It teaches us a vital lesson for our daily lives: The glory of the Crown is inseparable from the sacrifice of the Cross.

The cross is an invitation for us to have a strong faith, strong enough to be radical disciples open to redemptive suffering. When we can accept suffering and inconvenience without bitterness or resentment, then our suffering is connected to the suffering of Jesus on the cross, who was forgiving those who were crucifying him. Our suffering then takes on deep meaning and purpose, as we live out the Paschal Mystery of Jesus, each in our own unique way, as we take up our cross and follow him.

As human beings, we are naturally seekers of pleasures and avoiders of any pain in our life. Therefore, we often want to rush to the Alleluias of Easter Sunday, yet our faith reminds us of a difficult truth: Without Good Friday, there is no Easter Sunday. It is easy to love the light of the Resurrection, but it is much harder to stand at the foot of the Cross. We want the victory of Easter Sunday without the exhaustion of Good Friday. But as a missionary people, we know that the two are inseparable. This Easter, we celebrate the Resurrection, not as an escape from our daily struggles, but as the ultimate vindication of them. Every time you choose kindness over bitterness, or service over comfort, you are walking the Way of the Cross. Do not grow weary of the weight; it is the very thing that creates the capacity for joy in our soul. The crown of life is not given to those who bypass the struggle, but to those who, like Christ, transform it through love.

Easter is the heartbeat of our missionary identity. It is the proof that love wins, light prevails, and no corner of our Archdiocese is too dark for the glory of God to reach. May the miracle of the Resurrection settle in our hearts today and propel us forward in our shared calling to serve.

Christ is Risen! The struggle is redeemed!

Happy Easter to all our clergy, deacon, religious, pastoral staff, and laity!

+ Susai Jesu, OMI

Archbishop Susai Jesu, OMI formally introduced during Question Period to the

Alberta Legislature in Edmonton, AB

The Archdiocese of Keewatin-Le Pas would like to congratulate His Grace, Most Reverend Susai Jesu, OMI for being welcomed and acknowledged by the Alberta Legislature in Edmonton, Alberta on Monday, March 16. Rajan Sawhney, ECA Minister of Indigenous Relations – MLA, Calgary-North West wished to acknowledge Archbishop Susai at this time for “Your years of devoted ministry in the Archdiocese of Edmonton which have left a lasting and meaningful impact. In particular, your pastoral service at Sacred Heart Parish of the First Peoples in Edmonton, in Lac Ste. Anne, Enoch, Alexis, and Alexander First Nation, demonstrate your deep commitment to walking alongside Indigenous, Métis, and Inuit peoples in a spirit of faith, respect, and a shared journey of reconciliation.” Speaker McIver also presented the Archbishop with a decorate tile from an Albertan Artist as a gift. Archbishop Susai presented Speaker McIver with a Rosary and a beautiful red and gold scarf.

(Pictures provided by The Archdiocese of Edmonton)