Easter Message 2026: 'Things can be better in our world'

A message from Bishop Martin Hayes, Diocese of Kilmore

In recent weeks we joined the rest of our Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland followers in cheering on our teams in the qualification semifinals for the World Cup - the sporting competition that unites all peoples throughout the world.

The interest in Ireland, the extent of the media coverage, the numbers who travelled to Prague and Bergamo, many without tickets, was indicative of a collective desire that ‘things can be better in our world’. One supporter, who travelled without tickets, expressed it as “we want to be happy, we want something to give us a lift”.

Perhaps, that desire for ‘good news’ was a response to what is happening our world at this time, in particular the extension of war and conflict in the Middle East. We seem to be powerless as some of our world leaders have decided to use military force and intimidation of ordinary people for economic benefit rather than participate in respectful dialogue to achieve peace between different peoples and nations. The result has been a terrible loss of life and devastation in local communities.

Of course, we now know the results of the matches - huge disappointment, and no participation in the World Cup this time! However, such results pale into insignificance as we consider the impact of war on people in our world.

We have been preparing for Holy Week. Over the past six weeks we have been on our journey of Lent with Jesus towards His suffering, death and resurrection in the sure and certain hope of new life and eternal life. Jesus, who is still with us in our restlessness, and is in the rubble with those who are suffering due to war and violence.

Jesus came among us at the behest of God, our Father reaching out to us in love, to “bring good news to the poor” (Luke 4:18).

Jesus has won for us a hope and a way of making peace that endures. Jesus has gotten us beyond results of matches and remains with us in our struggles to advocate for a better way to resolve our differences.

We will celebrate that hope on Easter morning, and we do on each Sunday.