Archbishop Jerome Listecki, of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, wrote an open letter to parishioners in which he shared a special Easter message.

"Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, As we come together this Easter, it gives me great pleasure to once again proclaim for all to hear: Alleluia! He is Risen!" Listecki said in his letter, posted on Facebook recently. "Our churches are open, most restrictions are removed and there is nothing separating us (physically) from the sacraments. We are back!" 

For the first time in a couple of years, parishioners can celebrate together, as the COVID-19 pandemic required Masses to be off limits.

"It was one of the hardest decisions we as a Church ever had to make, and one I hope will never happen again," Listecki said in the letter. "We need to be in communion with God and each other at Mass, as we are called to fully embrace the Gift of Sunday in our lives."

The coming together is even more important as the Church kicks off its Easter season, one of the holiest times of the year.

The Easter season lasts 50 days, from Easter Sunday until Pentecost, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) said. The word Easter comes from Old English and means "East." The sun rises in the east, lighting the world with warmth and hope, and in the same way the risen Christ is the Light of the world.

Some seven weeks after Jesus' resurrection, and approximately 10 days after his ascension into heaven, Jesus' followers were gathered inside a room; a report on Christianity.com said. While there, they heard a sudden sound, as if the blowing of a great wind had rushed into the room, and tongues of fire appeared over the heads of Jesus' followers. The Holy Spirit filled them, and they began speaking in other tongues. As a crowd gathered around them, everyone in the crowd could hear Jesus' followers speaking in that person's native language. Peter's message to the crowd about Jesus converted 3,000 people to Christianity that day.

The Ascension of the Lord will be celebrated on May 29 this year, the USCCB said. The Gospel reading that day describes Jesus leading his disciples out of Jerusalem. He blessed them, and then he "was taken up to heaven." His disciples returned into the city and spent their time in the temple praising God.