'Was this the greatest Easter we've ever known?': pastor

He is risen!

Joy overflowed parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Newark, where parishioners gathered in-person for Easter Sunday Mass for the first time in two years due to the pandemic. The internet was also alive with the message of Jesus’ Resurrection thanks to the many livestream Mass offerings that remain an important option for the faithful.

The presence of parishioners at church is in stark contrast to one year ago when the faithful could not attend Holy Week services because of the pandemic.

This year some parishes even took advantage of the lovely Sunday weather to hold outdoor tented Easter celebrations, including St. Teresa of Avila Parish in Summit, where overflow crowds lined the stairs up to the main plaza.

The Church of Saint Elizabeth in Wyckoff, where Fr. Stephen Fichter is pastor, also held Mass outdoors. One year ago, the faithful were locked down in their homes making serious plans to obtain even the most basic of household items, he recalled in his Easter bulletin message.

Parishes throughout the Archdiocese of Newark celebrated Jesus’ Resurrection on Easter Sunday.

“We could not even receive the Body and Blood of Jesus in Holy Communion,” he continued. “Is it possible, as we begin to emerge from the darkness that brought us to our knees this past year, that this Easter is the best Easter we have ever known? For all that we have given to others this past year in a time of great need and great loss, for all the prayers whispered in utter sincerity, for all that we offered up, perhaps with the glorious light of the Resurrection, it is the first time that we can truly experience a clean new heart and joyous new spirit.”

At Our Lady of Sorrows in South Orange, the faithful re-enacted Christ’s crucifixion as part of its Easter Triduum observance. Fr. Brian Needles, the parish pastor there, also recalled what things were like a year ago.

“Last Easter, our churches were painfully empty,” he said. “The months following were filled with so many challenges, but as a church and as individuals, we met those challenges head-on. Whether our churches are empty or full, the Resurrection of Jesus and the empty tomb should mean that our lives are full. Easter is the day when we joyfully follow our Risen Lord out of the empty tomb and accept His invitation to live a fuller life, a life filled with His peace, His joy, His love, and – perhaps, more importantly, this year than any other – a life filled with hope in Him, who is our Resurrection and our life.”

Easter video message from Fr. Stephen Fichter, pastor of The Church of Saint Elizabeth in Wyckoff.

At parishes across the archdiocese, the Easter Vigil Mass marked a significant milestone for the hundreds of catechumens who entered the fullness of the Catholic Church through the Sacraments of Initiation. In all, 270 adults were baptized and confirmed and received their first Communion.

One of those adults was Baptized at St. Peter’s Church in Belleville Saturday night, along with several adolescents.

Fr. Ivan Sciberras, pastor of the parish there, said: “May they continue to journey with us, and may they be a light in the world’s darkness, which will draw many others to discover the love of the Father. May they also know of our joy to have them partake of the Holy Eucharist with us!”

Sean Quinn contributed to this article.