Latest news with #ResurrectionSunday
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Hampton Roads resident reflects on death of Pope Francis
NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — For many, Pope Francis was more than just the head of the Catholic Church. He was a beacon of hope, someone who showed compassion for all and a pontiff many say will be deeply missed. Pope Francis dies at 88 There was an outpouring of love and remembrance Monday night for Pope Francis, and Virginians are taking the time to reflect. Bishop Barry C. Knestout, who leads the Catholic Diocese of Richmond, offered mass Monday for those who wanted to pray and reflect. 'The loss of a pope is always that sadness as someone we know and care about being gone from us,' Knestout said. Catholic Diocese of Richmond mourns passing of Pope Francis In Norfolk, 10 On Your Side spoke to Matthew Francis, a former youth bishop leader in Georgia who said he adored the pope and everything he represented. 'Someone who would always give — I think that he always kept people, the human race first, and for a lot of individuals, religion is a must, and that's a foundation for people,' Francis said. It's a foundation Pope Francis has continued to shape, with some calling him a Catholic church reformer. He spoke against income inequality and the treatment of marginalized people. The pope used his voice up until his death, which came just one day after Resurrection Sunday. He used that voice to bring people together. 'Regardless of what denomination, or whatever it is, or what country or what name, you always put the most high first and that, he stood on,' Francis said. Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Newport News will host a mass at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. All are welcome to come mourn the Pope and pray. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Black America Web
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Black America Web
Serving Family, Faith & Fashion: Keke Palmer & Kandi Burruss Amongst Celebrities Who Celebrated Easter In Style
Black America Web Featured Video CLOSE Source: Sara Jaye / Getty It was a Happy Easter for these celebrities! Over the weekend, they gathered with their families to celebrate the holiday. Check out a gallery of photos from their fun and luxurious celebrations inside. Stars like Keke Palmer, Tia Mowry, and Kandi Burruss shared their Easter celebrations on social media. Easter is also acknowledged as Pascha or Resurrection Sunday. It is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. The holiday is described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day of Jesus' burial following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary c. 30 AD. In Western society, families gather their children for Easter themed gatherings that involve Easter egg decorations, Easter egg hunts, and Easter bunnies. There's meaning behind each of these traditions. For example: Eggs represent new life and rebirth, and it's thought that this is how the ancient custom became an integral part of Easter celebrations. In the medieval period, eating eggs was forbidden during Lent (the 40 days before Easter) so on Easter Sunday, tucking into an egg was a real delight. Celebrities go above and beyond for their little loved ones to celebrate the occasion. This year celebrity families like Palmer and her son, Leo, posted creative photos perfectly in theme. While Burruss and her young ones smiled for an Easter themed photoshoot. However you like to celebrate, the most important part of the festivities is spending time with family. Check out how the stars celebrated Easter this year below: Serving Family, Faith & Fashion: Keke Palmer & Kandi Burruss Amongst Celebrities Who Celebrated Easter In Style was originally published on
Yahoo
21-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Louisiana leaders offer condolences in remembrance of Pope Francis
NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) — Louisiana officials are expressing condolences following the recent death of Pope Francis. He served for 12 years as the 266th Pope of the Catholic Church becoming history's first Latin American pontiff. New Orleans' Archbishop Gregory Aymond released a statement Monday morning, April 21. The pope made his final appearance Easter day on April 20 to conduct mass delivering the message on the resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is with great sadness that we share the news of Pope Francis' death. While we are sad as we will miss him in this world, as an Easter people we believe in the Resurrection and believe that Pope Francis has gone home to our Father and now shares in the life of the risen Christ. Pope Francis was a true man of God who called and challenged all of us to witness our faith in all aspects of our daily life. His ministry stretched beyond the normal boundaries into the peripheries of those who have felt marginalized by our society. He said God's name is mercy and witnessed for us how to live with love and mercy. He will always be remembered for his love, compassion, humility, and care for all of God's creation. Eternal rest grant unto Pope Francis, O Lord,and let perpetual light shine upon the souls of all the faithful departed,through the mercy of God, rest in peace.~Amen~ Archbishop Aymond Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry posted to social media: 'Rest in Peace Pope Francis. Sharon and I join Christians around the world in praying for him and the Church during this time.' Pope Francis dies at 88 Other state leaders have also expressed their condolences, including Congressman Troy Carter. It is with a heavy heart that I join the global community in mourning the passing of His Holiness Pope Francis. A shepherd to billions, a voice for the voiceless, and a living example of Christ's love in action, Pope Francis led with humility, compassion, and unwavering moral clarity. That he should leave us just after Resurrection Sunday is deeply symbolic—a final act of grace from a life lived in complete service to others. From the slums of Buenos Aires to the grandeur of the Vatican, his path was marked not by privilege, but by profound empathy and devotion to the dignity of all people. As a U.S. Congressman representing Louisiana—a state steeped in Catholic tradition—I have seen firsthand the depth of love and respect our community holds for this extraordinary Pontiff. He challenged us to care more, to judge less, and to walk humbly with our God. He reminded the powerful of their duty to the poor, the marginalized, and the forgotten. We will miss him terribly. But we are forever grateful for the example he gave us, the healing he brought to the world, and the enduring call he issued for justice, mercy, and peace. May his memory be eternal. May his soul rest in the peace of Christ. Congressman Troy Carter 'Pope Francis taught that the face of God is mercy. He preached Christ's mercy through his care for the poor, marginalized, and unwanted, not only through his words. My thoughts are with the Catholic church and Catholic faithful today,' said Senator Bill Cassidy. Both Congresswoman Julia Letlow and United States Representative Garret Graves shared photos of their visits with Pope Francis. 'Saddened to hear of the passing of Pope Francis. It was an honor to spend a few moments with him in 2023 while visiting the Vatican. I held great respect for the faith and humility he exhibited in his daily walk. May he rest in eternal peace,' said Letlow. 'Mourning the loss of Pope Francis. Had a chance to visit with him at the Vatican. It was awing to be inside this incredible building and meeting with the Holy Father. But something happened at the end that was interesting,' said leaders offer condolences in remembrance of Pope Francis House Democrats arrive in El Salvador to push for Abrego Garcia's return Hegseth blasts media, 'disgruntled former employees' over latest Signal controversy Two people shot in the head in Rayne, drive to police station How is the next pope selected? Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Egypt Today
20-04-2025
- Health
- Egypt Today
Egyptian Hospitals, Medical Facilities on High Alert During Easter and Sham El-Nessim Celebrations
Emergency entrance at one of Egyptian hospitals- press photo CAIRO – 20 April 2025: The General Authority for Healthcare, affiliated with Egypt's Ministry of Health, has announced its medical preparedness plan for the Easter holiday (Resurrection Sunday on April 20) and Sham El-Nessim (the national spring festival on April 21). According to a statement issued Sunday by Ahmed Al Subki, head of the Authority, a maximum state of alert has been declared across 267 family medicine centers and units, as well as 38 hospitals operating at various levels of care across the country. This brings the total number of healthcare facilities on alert to 305 in the governorates covered by the comprehensive health insurance system—namely, Port Said, Luxor, Ismailia, South Sinai, Suez, and Aswan. Specialized poison control centers, equipped with the latest technology and laboratories, have also been activated in these six governorates to promptly handle any potential food poisoning incidents. The move comes in anticipation of increased consumption of "fesikh," a traditional fermented fish dish popularly eaten during Sham El-Nessim.
Yahoo
20-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
For choir members at historic Detroit church, Faith, family and music are harmonious
It was 1919 and George and Minnie Kinney, along with their 12-year-old son Richard, were new arrivals to Detroit from Georgia as part of the Great Migration. For Black families establishing roots in Detroit heading into the 1920s — a period when the city's Black population would quadruple from about 41,000 residents to roughly 150,000 by 1930 — finding a space to bond with fellow community members spiritually and emotionally to foster a sense of shared purpose often was just as important as securing employment. The Kinneys would soon find such a space, at Plymouth Congregational Church. The church's Detroit history goes back to May 4, 1919, when nine former Alabama Congregationalists, led by Edward M. Dole, met in the home of Mrs. Carrie L. Thompson, at 620 Melbourne St., to begin the organization of the first Black Congregational church in Michigan. Today, the Kinney family still is proudly represented at what is now Plymouth United Church of Christ, whose current membership includes 90-year-old Marian Kinney Stephens, who says her church addresses the same fundamental community needs that it did more than 100 years ago when her grandparents and father joined. 'We use our church as a way of gathering and being with other people, leading to relationships that are lasting,' Stephens, who has been a member of Plymouth her entire life, explained. 'You begin to feel like it's your family, which is so important with the number of displaced people we have in the world right now.' As Stephens spoke on three consecutive days beginning April 15, she was looking forward to coming together with her "Plymouth family," at 600 E. Warren — Plymouth's home since March 24, 1974 — for a special Easter Sunday service. And while Stephens will no doubt have many stories to share about Easters past celebrated at Plymouth, most of her storytelling will have to wait until she carries out an important mission as a member of a Mass Choir that will be performing during Plymouth's 9:30 a.m. Resurrection Sunday Worship Service presided over by the Rev. Nicholas Hood III. More from Scott Talley: New Tigers season helps a son celebrate a mom who loved the team like she loved Detroit A love for baseball and Detroit youths is still a winning recipe for Coach Norm Taylor Resurrection Sunday, or Easter Sunday, is one of the biggest and most important holidays in the Christian church, celebrated with solemn reverence; in some cases, praiseworthy pageantry; and typically, in high fashion, especially in Black churches where the holiday takes the phrase "Sunday best" to a whole other level. And then, of course, there's the music. 'You always look forward to seeing all the people dressed in their finery,' said Stephens, a product of Cass Technical High School (Class of 1952) and Wayne State University, whose illustrious career as an educator and artist has included being named 'High School Art Teacher of the Year' by the Michigan Art Education Association when she was a teacher at Cass Tech. 'But singing on Easter is more than singing to entertain. We're singing to help our people gain more religious strength. It's food for the soul and we all need that.' On the evening of April 15, shortly before 6 p.m., Stephens settled into a seat in the first row of a cozy section of Plymouth's sanctuary near a piano. Stephens and her fellow choir members that sat alongside her appeared to be cool, calm and collected just minutes before a scheduled rehearsal was about to begin. However, one Plymouth choir member seated near her pointed out afterward that looks can be deceiving, especially when an Easter performance is nearing. 'I'm a little nervous because I'm still not as familiar with some of the music that we will be performing as a mass choir that I would like to be, but God always makes it work,' 78-year-old Brenda Jett, a 1964 Cass Tech graduate who was christened at Plymouth in 1947, said. 'And I just love being a choir member (since 1980) at Plymouth. I got my love of music from them.' Jett, who normally sings soprano with Plymouth's Renaissance Choir — known for its stirring renditions of praise songs in the tradition of spirituals and anthems — has followed in the footsteps of her mother, Margaret Turner Thornton, as a renowned soloist at Plymouth. Jett says her preparation for the Easter performance also provided an opportunity to reflect on the ways Plymouth choirs have impacted Detroiters outside of the church through the years: This includes a long-standing relationship that has taken some choir members across town on certain Sundays. 'We had a nursing home ministry, and every fourth Sunday we were on West Outer Drive (at the Hartford Nursing & Rehabilitation Center). It was my favorite Sunday of the month.' recalled Jett, a retired Detroit educator who taught English at Western High School and was an English teacher, librarian and English Department head at Chadsey High School. 'Margaret Lockard was in charge of our nursing home ministry all the way up until the time she passed away at 85. And we would have a complete service with music and a homily. We even had a printed bulletin. It definitely contributed to my spiritual growth because it was more than singing; I also was doing prayers. So, it made a big difference in my life, like the entire choir experience, it's been life-altering for me.' Like Jett, Cassandra Rimpson, a pioneering member of Plymouth's Gospel Choir, explained that preparing to sing with the Mass Choir on Easter requires some additional study and other adjustments here and there. But the 72-year-old, lifelong Plymouth member says the space she will be occupying on Easter, along with the people that will be around her, made all of the extra effort more than worthwhile. 'There's nothing like being in the House of the Lord, and our church is a family,' stated Rimpson, a 1970 graduate of Mackenzie High School who is now retired after a long career in the financial services and real estate services industries. 'As a choir member you feel so bad if you have to miss even one rehearsal because of the love we share for each other.' The smile worn on the face of Joseph Hurst as he played the piano and exuded positive energy and support throughout the April 15 rehearsal seemed to indicate that he has already come to love being the music director at Plymouth since assuming the position in February 2024. The lifelong Detroiter also seemed to have no doubt that members representing an array of Plymouth choirs — Renaissance, Gospel, Men's Chorus and Water — will not have a problem presenting an uplifting musical program that celebrates and reflects 'what Jesus did for us,' perhaps because of his unshakable belief in a Higher Power. 'I try my best to allow the Spirit to lead us to where we need to go,' explained the Osborn High School graduate (Class of 1990), who has already spent 30 of his 52 years of living as a 'minister of music' for various Detroit institutions and organizations. While further explaining how he was preparing for the Easter choir performance, during the afternoon of April 16, Hurst also expressed his gratitude for the ongoing feedback he receives from Rev. Hood and others that are responsible for maintaining the high standard of music performed at the church, including Kyle Rushing and Damon DeBose, who direct the Gospel and Renaissance Choirs, respectively. For DeBose, the Easter service and his continued work with the Renaissance Choir presents an opportunity to build on the rich musical tradition at Plymouth, which is part of an even larger legacy that covers the entire city of Detroit. 'It's an honor to be able to put my influence and fingerprints on so much history and tradition,' DeBose, a 1993 graduate of Renaissance High School, who also directs United Voices of Detroit, said. 'And it's also extra special to be a part of all the music that will be performed in Detroit on Resurrection Sunday. There will be all-star performances in churches throughout the city.' Gloria Cooley, a choir member at Plymouth since the early 1970s, knows all about Plymouth's rich musical history. But when she discussed her feelings leading up to the Easter service, she spoke mainly about doing what comes natural to her and keeping a promise that Cooley made to a man who is special to the entire Plymouth family. 'When I first started singing in the choir, Rev. Nicholas Hood II (June 21, 1923-April 10, 2016; Minister Emeritus of Plymouth United Church of Christ) said, 'I like your voice,' " Cooley recalled about an unforgettable interaction she had with a gentleman who also served Detroit as a city councilman and his nation as a longtime civil rights activist. 'Then he said, 'Do me a favor, I want you to always sing in the choir.' And that's what I have done and I have always looked forward to doing it. 'Music is just so much a part of me, like breathing.' Scott Talley is a native Detroiter, a proud product of Detroit Public Schools and a lifelong lover of Detroit culture in its diverse forms. In his second tour with the Free Press, which he grew up reading as a child, he is excited and humbled to cover the city's neighborhoods and the many interesting people who define its various communities. Contact him at stalley@ or follow him on Twitter @STalleyfreep. Read more of Scott's stories at Please help us grow great community-focused journalism by becoming a subscriber. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Rich musical tradition continues on Easter at historic Detroit church
