Welcome to Bishop Michael Bird's page on our website!

Bishop’s Easter Letter 2012

In Luke’s account of Easter morning, as the group of women comes to bring spices to the tomb, they are confronted with an angel who says to them: “Why do you seek the living among the dead?”  At the Easter Vigil we hear reading after reading of how God has acted throughout history to lead people out of death to life.  The heavens and the earth are created from chaos and void, light springs from darkness, release and freedom are attained from an experience of bondage and slavery and as God’s people travelled through the wilderness the gifts of hope and strength and challenge were given and received at every stage of the journey.  On this Holy night, in churches across the diocese, as the light of one candle breaks forth into the darkness of our places of worship, we proclaim and celebrate the truth that we are in the hands of a God who meets us and embraces us with the promise of abundant life.

It seems to me that these words have great meaning for us, particularly at this moment in the life of our church and as we discern the future for our work together.  In so many ways we are being challenged to choose life over death and to be instruments of God’s life-giving love for a troubled and broken world.  The same loving power of God that was revealed to us in Christ’s resurrection from the dead!

I have been so moved to see this played out in parishes and ministries across Niagara.  Many of our churches are providing innovative and creative opportunities for spiritual renewal and faith development.  Congregations are engaging in new outreach initiatives,  food distribution programs, refugee sponsorship, justice advocacy and Anglicans are offering strong and frontline leadership in the fight against poverty in so many of our communities.  What is even more exciting is that our “Hands Across Niagara” appeal is allowing us to take this work and mission to a whole new level.  In so many ways we are bearing witness to the awesome and inspiring truth that God continues to act in this generation and leads us from death to life.

“Why do you seek the living among the dead?”

As we gather together to celebrate the wonderful news that “Christ is risen” perhaps we might want to reflect upon our own response to this question both in our personal lives and in terms of how it would apply to our parishes.

Susan and I wish you every blessing in this Easter season.

+ Michael Bird
Bishop of Niagara

"After a moving and powerful Lenten retreat in Assisi, Bishop Michael attended a Eucharist at St. Paul's Within the Walls, Episcopal Church in Rome with the Archbishop of Canterbury presiding and preaching. He had the opportunity to greet the Archbishop personally.  The Bishop concluded his time in Italy with the privilege of bringing greetings personally to His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI on behalf of the Diocese of Niagara. "

Posted March 14 2012

To Contact Bishop Bird by Email please click here
To contact the Bishop by phone: 905.527.1316 x 310

To see Gallery of Photos from Bishop's Ordination and Installation - click here

Web solutions by The Dunham Group Inc
Contact web team by email
or call 905.628.6010 x101