Spread the message of hope and love, says Miri bishop

Bishop Ng lighting the Easter candle at St Joseph Cathedral in Miri.

MIRI: Spread the message of hope and love to those who are suffering so that they know there are people who care and love them, says Miri Catholic Diocese Bishop Richard Ng.

In his Easter message delivered during the Easter Vigil mass at St Joseph Cathedral Miri on Sunday (April 21), he said that the resurrection of Jesus Christ celebrated on Easter symbolises hope of an eternal nature.

"The resurrection of Christ from the dead shows that there is hope beyond all the sufferings that humanity have to undergo.

"In our society today, there are so many people suffering all sorts of afflictions.

"There are among us people living in poverty, living in miserable conditions, suffering physical pains, those afflicted by emotional pains, people who are lonely and lost in life and those who are victims of injustice and oppression.

"We need to reach out to them and show kindness to them and offer them our friendship and support and help them overcome or lessen their burdens in whatever way possible," said the bishop to the nearly 2,000 parishioners.

He stressed that faith, love, mercy and charity are the most essential virtues of the Christian faith and Christians must follow in the footsteps of Christ who had shown the way by his examples of unconditional love and kindness to all people.

During the mass, more than 200 newly-initiated Catholics comprising men, women and children took the Sacrament of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist.

Easter is the most important event in the calendar of the Catholic Church with Catholics worldwide celebrating mass and holding gatherings to celebrate the day Christ rose from the dead three days after his crucifixion on Good Friday.- Star