As Barbados marks the Easter season—a time traditionally associated with renewal and reflection—the head of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgetown, The Most Reverend Neil Scantlebury, has issued a message to the nation. In light of rising concerns over violence and community unrest, the Bishop’s message encourages Barbadians to embrace hope, unity, and compassion as guiding values.
Below is the full Easter message from Bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Bridgetown, The Most Reverend Neil Scantlebury:
Dear People of Barbados,
Christ is Risen! Alleluia!
Easter is a sacred and powerful reminder that light overcomes darkness, love conquers hate, and life triumphs over death. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is not just an event in history—it is the foundation of our hope.
This year, as we celebrate Easter, we do so in the face of real challenges. Our nation has felt the sting of rising violence—lives lost too soon, families grieving, communities living in fear. These acts tear at the fabric of who we are as Barbadians: a people of peace, dignity, and unity.
Yet Easter calls us to a different way—a higher way. We are called to be pilgrims of hope, walking together toward healing, reconciliation, and peace. Hope is not passive; it moves us to action. It invites us to see the face of Christ in each other, especially in those who are hurting, marginalized, or forgotten.
To be Easter people is to reject violence in all its forms and to work for a Barbados where every life is valued, and every voice is heard. It is to teach our children the power of forgiveness, the strength of compassion, and the courage of faith.
As pilgrims of hope, let us hold fast to the promise that the Risen Christ walks with us. He is not in the tomb—He is alive, and His love is alive in each act of kindness, in every effort to bring peace, and in every heart that chooses hope over despair.
May this Easter season renew us all and bless our beautiful nation with peace.
Happy Easter, Barbados!
Christ is Risen! Alleluia!
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