(Seychelles News Agency) - Christians of the Seychelles archipelago in the western Indian Ocean join others from all over the world in celebrating Easter on Sunday.

Islanders from Mahe, Praslin and La Digue, the three main islands, attended different churches for the Easter mass.

In his Easter message, the Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese, Denis Wiehe, brought words of peace to all Christians.

Bishop said: “Happy are those who work for peace; God will call them his children. (Joe Laurence, Seychelles News Agency)  Photo License: CC-BY

“Peace be with you, you who are wounded by the way life has treated you and believe that there is no issue, no future, for you. Peace be with you, my brothers and sisters who believe that society has rejected you because you belong to a group considered ‘marginal’ by others,” said Wiehe.

The Catholic Bishop added that peace be with those who feel guilty because they have not been faithful or because their lives have been wayward.

“The risen Jesus does not impose his victory on anybody, either his persecutors or those who betrayed him. His only message is peace, pardon, love, mercy and compassion,” he said. 

Wiehe said that ‘Peace be with you’ were the first words of the Risen Christ to the disciples gathered together behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities.

He added that the word peace is connected to the Resurrection.

“It means much, much more than the passing tranquillity of a trouble-free environment. Peace is an offer to receive God’s love and to live a generous life given to others.  It’s an invitation to live in God’s Presence and to work for Peace around us.”

The Bishop ended his message by saying: “Happy are those who work for peace; God will call them his children. May the peace of the risen Lord be in your heart, in your family and in our Society! Happy Easter to one and all.”  

The Right Reverend James Wong of Seychelles’ Anglican Diocese said in his message that Easter is an extension of the movement, transformation and commitment.

Wong in his message said, “The curse of the cross has been changed, transformed into a blessing." (Patrick Joubert, Seychelles News Agency)  Photo License: CC-BY

”Easter teaches us that death has been transformed; we have the hope of life after death because Jesus has risen from the dead and He is alive,” said Wong.

“The curse of the cross has been changed, transformed into a blessing.  The cross is now seen as a symbol of hope, and a reminder of God's love for us.  The grave was seen as the final destination of a person, a door we close on our earthly life,” he added.

The Right Reverend continues in saying that the lives of the disciples Mary Magdalene, Simon Peter and the others disciples were transformed.

“They committed themselves to sharing the message of the resurrection to the community of the Apostles, disciples and believers and eventually to the world.  Have we committed our lives to serve actively God and the Church?  If yes, Praise the Lord and if no, now is the time for us to commit our lives to do so,” said Wong.

He ended in saying that “Easter reminds us how God has been good to us. He gave His own precious Son to save us from our sins. Let’s return the favour by sharing our blessings with others. Happy Easter to you and your loved ones.”