Easter holiday marks a time of renewal

Spring is marked by renewal, and for the religious members of the Eunice community, the Easter holiday also marks a time of rebirth and resurrection.
“At Easter, we renew our baptismal commitments,” said Monsignor J. Robert of St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church in Eunice. “We say to ourselves, ‘Yes, I am a member of Christ. I want to live the way He wants us to live, as a Father of the child. I want to do the Father’s will.’’”
“I think, for many of us, this is a lifelong process.”
Romero led religious services on Holy Thursday and Holy Saturday, and he will lead Mass today at 7 a.m. 9 a.m. and 11 a.m.
“These are the holiest three days of the liturgical year -- they make up the Easter Triduum, which is Latin for three days,” Romero said. “Triduum are the high holy days for Christians. It is the celebration of the Lord’s passion. It’s a celebration of father’s love for humanity.
“That is the focal point — on Jesus loving us and doing the Father’s will. In our gratitude, we should return the same love the father has for his son. He loves us as intensely as his son and wants us to do his will as intensely as his son did. It’s a blessing to live the way God wants us to live — to live as a child of God.”
Romero has only served as a priest in the state of Louisiana, but he said he does not think there is much difference in the way Catholics here in south Louisiana and Catholics across the country observe Easter.
“Family is very important,” Romero said. “Most Easter celebrations involve family — great-grandparents, grandparents, parents and children. This is also an aspect at the church celebrations.”
While Romero plans to spend the remainder of today resting after services, Bishop Michael Jarrell, head of the Diocese of Lafayette, will spend time with his extended family in Lafayette after church.
“There will be about 40 to 50 people at the event,” Jarrell said. “They will have an Easter egg hunt, and I will watch it all.”
“I have no idea what the meal is -- I’m just the consumer,” Jarrell said, laughing.
Each year, Jarrell prepares both a Good Friday and an Easter Sunday message for members of the diocese.
This year’s Good Friday message focused on reflecting on the suffering and death of Jesus.
“His death teaches us the power of sin,” Jarrell said. “His resurrection teaches us the superior power of God’s love — a love which conquers all things.”
“There is a saying in the Church: ‘Every saint has a past.’ Think for example of Saint Francis of Assisi or Saint Augustine, both of whom underwent powerful conversions. Yes, every saint has a past, but ‘every sinner has a future.’ Jesus’ victory over sin is our victory. We should take time today to thank Jesus for what he did and to place our hands in his and to continue our journey in life with him, the Risen Lord, the Lord of Life.”
Jarrell led the Easter Vigil at the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in Lafayette last night, and those who attend his services today will receive a message on the impact the Resurrection of Jesus has had on the lives of people.
“Quite simply, our self understanding and our world view are different, human life is different, because of this gift of God,” Jarrell said. “At Easter, the Church asks, ‘What good would life have been for us had Christ not come as our Redeemer?’ Because of Jesus’ Resurrection, Christians are empowered to live lives of hope. They hear the call to lives of charity. They commit themselves to the way of peace.
“Today, Easter in the Year of Our Lord 2015, our faith in a benevolent God is renewed. Our hope for a peaceful world is strengthened. Blessed be God forever.”
Overall, Jarrell said he wanted to convey a message of hope to parishioners of his diocese.
“Life can cause people some problems,”Jarrell said. “I want to contribute a message of hope, and I want to make that known.
“Happy Easter to everyone.”
Jamie Tyler, pastor at Our Savior’s Church in Eunice, also worked to reach those in the community as today approached, including a free garage sale and handing out cold drinks at intersections in Eunice.
“We want to let people know about services and get them to come to church and get the message to them,” Tyler said. “I will speak about the Resurrection of Christ and how he came not to make bad people good but to make spiritually dead people alive.”
“At Our Savior’s Church, we hope to reach people and help them build their lives. That is what we are here for. We do that by helping people in their relationship with Jesus and others. Our goal is not just to get people to church but to get them to have a relationship with God and Jesus. Sometimes that is in church. Sometimes it’s not.”
Tyler will preach today at Our Savior’s Church at 10 a.m., and like Jarrell, he will also spend time with family after services.
“My plans are we are having a big family lunch,” Tyler said. “We are putting a half of pig on the rotisserie with about 25 to 30 family members. Just a little party.” 
“My dad lives in Texas, and people celebrate the holiday more here. Easter is big deal in the south. It’s food, faith and family. In the south, we celebrate everything a little different than the rest (of the country).”