Many churches throughout the area will see packed pews this week, particularly on Sunday, as worshippers gather to observe Easter.
For children, Easter holds a special enchantment.
In our family tradition, we wait until after Mass before distributing Easter candy hidden throughout the house. Years ago, this custom led our youngest to offer a unique prayer at church—he asked that the Easter Bunny would remember our home and even included our address in his petition, worried the bunny might forget where to find us amid his busy schedule.
Adults typically mark Easter by donning fresh spring attire, welcoming the warmth that follows months of harsh winter weather.
Yet Easter encompasses far more than these customs.
For Christians, the holiday represents a celebration of everlasting life through Jesus Christ’s resurrection.
Sunday morning services at local churches will include visitors in town specifically to participate in Monday’s Marathon.
This circumstance will lend particular significance to this year’s Easter observance.
Reflecting on last year’s bombing, some will remember their relief at having escaped injury despite being in the area that Monday. Others will carry the weight of painful reminders—scars both physical and emotional—from the tragedy that unfolded.
The resilience and determination displayed by those affected by last year’s bombings, as they work to overcome experiences many would consider insurmountable, truly embody what Easter should signify for all of us.