Dear Columban Friends,
As autumn deepens and the Church celebrates the beautiful feasts of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, we are reminded that we belong to a family that reaches far beyond the limits of time and place. These sacred days invite us to celebrate the faithful who have gone before us, to remember our loved ones with gratitude, and to renew our hope in God's promise of eternal life.
"For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's."
These words assure us that nothing—not even death—can separate us from God's loving care. They offer comfort as we remember those who have gone before us and inspire us to live lives of faith and service.
On All Saints' Day, we honor the countless women, men, and children whose lives reflected God's love. Some are well known, while many more lived quiet lives of faith, kindness, and generosity known only to God. Their examples remind us that holiness is not reserved for a few extraordinary people. Every act of compassion, every sacrifice made for another, every prayer offered with love helps build God's Kingdom here on earth.
The following day, All Souls' Day, calls us to pray for those who have died. As Catholics, we believe that our prayers for the faithful departed are a profound expression of love and hope. Though death separates us physically, it cannot break the bonds of God's love. We entrust our departed family members, friends, benefactors, and all who have died into the mercy of our Heavenly Father, confident that Christ has conquered death through His Resurrection.
"The souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment shall touch them. They seemed, in the view of the foolish, to be dead; and their passing away was thought an affliction."
These holy days also remind us that we are connected as one Church—the Communion of Saints. Together, the saints in heaven and the faithful on earth, all share in God's saving love. This communion encourages us to care for one another, support one another in prayer, and serve those who are most vulnerable.
We witness this communion every day through the generosity of faithful supporters like you. Your compassion reaches people who are struggling with poverty, hunger, loneliness, displacement, and hardship. Your gifts provide practical assistance, spiritual encouragement, and hope to those who often feel forgotten.
When you extend your hand in charity, you continue the mission entrusted to the Church by Jesus Himself. Your generosity becomes a living testimony of faith, reflecting the love shown by the saints we honor and offering comfort to those who need it most. Through your kindness, families receive food, children gain educational opportunities, communities grow stronger, and hearts discover renewed hope.
As we remember those who have entered eternal life, we also give thanks for faithful friends like you whose generosity leaves a legacy of compassion. We pray that God will richly bless you and your loved ones, both living and deceased. During our celebrations of All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day, we ask the Lord to surround you with His peace and grace. Please share the names of your loves ones you would like remembered on our website at https://columban.org/allsouls.
Thank you for walking with us in faith and for sharing God's love through your generosity. May the prayers of all the saints strengthen you, and may the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Gratefully yours in Christ,
Fr. Al Utzig | Director, U.S. Region
The Missionary Society of St. Columban is entrusted by the Holy Father with part of the Church’s mission to spread the Faith and saving work of Christ.” (Vat.II) The Society works under the guidance of the Sacred Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples and under the leadership of the bishops. We are listed in the U.S. Official Catholic Directory published annually by P.J. Kennedy and Sons. As such, the U.S. Internal Revenue Service recognizes us as a religious not-for-profit corporation, therefore contributions to our work are tax deductible. We employ no outside professional fund-raisers and pay no commissions.
