In scenes calling to mind the Marines raising the U.S. flag at Iwo Jima during World War II, groups of volunteers in the tornado-stricken town of Gifford in Champaign County on April 5 planted more than 200 donated trees. Around town other volunteers and workers, including a group of students from St. John’s Catholic Newman Center at the University of Illinois, did their part to restore the village.

“It’s a great day to be in Gifford,” said one volunteer leader.

New life. A new start. New hope. A community resurrection, if you will.

Stories of resurrection are not hard to find. On page 3 of this issue is the account of the razing of Immaculate Conception Church in Manito. A new church will soon be built on the site. At the diocese’s Faith-Based Leadership Workshop (page 8), speakers told how from their deepest lows God blessed them with new energy, direction and resolve. Look outside and see the trees finally budding, the brown earth turning green.

There is even a popular new TV series called “Resurrection.”

But there is only one Resurrection that affects all of human history. Please follow Jesus to Calvary and then Easter glory by attending the liturgies at your parish this week.

As Pope Francis said in a recent homily, all of us have some areas, some parts of our hearts that are a little dead. “Take away the stone of shame,” he encouraged us, “that is keeping you trapped inside a life that is dead or painful and be raised up again by Christ.”

There is no better week to do so than Holy Week. May our journeys through it be blessed. — Thomas J. Dermody