At St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Greco-Catholic Church in Santa Clara, the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ began with a joyful and solemn prayer service, led by Fr. Roman, parish administrator, together with Fr. Dennis Smolarski SJ.
In his homily, Fr. Dennis reminded everyone that Easter is not about bunnies, candy, or colorful wrappings, as it is often portrayed in popular culture. Instead, Easter is a celebration of meeting the Risen Christ — the One who conquered death and opened the way to eternal life. Pascha is a source of hope for all who live by faith.
After the Divine Liturgy, Fr. Roman read a special message from Bishop Benedict Aleksiychuk, the Eparch of the St. Nicholas Eparchy in Chicago. In his message, the bishop expressed heartfelt gratitude to Fr. Dennis for his ongoing support of the St. Volodymyr community, which, by God’s grace and with the dedicated efforts of both parishioners and clergy, has now officially become a full-fledged parish.
As a sign of appreciation, Bishop Benedict sent a personalized pectoral cross from the eparchy to Fr. Dennis. The reading of the message was followed by the joyful acclamation “Axios!” — a Greek word meaning “Worthy!”
After the service, everyone gathered for the traditional blessing of Easter food. The joy of the Resurrection filled every heart. The festive atmosphere, shared prayer, and sense of unity reminded us all that Christ is truly risen — and offers new life to all who seek Him.
Christ is risen! Indeed, He is risen!