Bishop Richard Walker was the principal celebrant at the Easter Monday Mass in Coventry and concelebrated with priests from across the Coventry Deanery.

Canon Tom Farrell opened the Mass by warmly welcoming Bishop Richard, the clergy, and all those gathered. He also expressed his gratitude to everyone present.

In his homily, Bishop Richard reflected on the Gospel and the immediate aftermath of the discovery of the empty tomb, explaining how the passage presents each of us with a choice:

“Easter is not a happy ending to a tragic story; it is a new beginning that demands a response. The rumour of the stolen body persisted for generations, as Matthew notes, because, I suppose, comfortable lies are easier to swallow than the miraculous truth, because miracles require us to change.”

He continued:

“The first message that Jesus gave to those he met after the Resurrection was, ‘Do not be afraid’—the consistent message of Easter. We do not need to be afraid to change, because the joy of Easter is not simply the absence of fear, but the presence of Jesus in the midst of it.”

Read full homily

Before the concluding prayer, Canon Tom invited all present to the parish hall for refreshments and the opportunity to meet Bishop Richard and the parish clergy. He also thanked everyone who had helped prepare for the celebration of Mass and expressed his gratitude to Bishop Richard for coming to celebrate the occasion.

Before giving the final blessing, Bishop Richard also thanked everyone involved in the celebration of Mass.

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Coventry and Nuneaton Deanery