On Death

Death is the end of earthly life. Our lives are measured by time, in the course of which we change, grow old and, as with all living beings on earth, death seems like the normal end of life. That aspect of death lends urgency to our lives: remembering our mortality helps us realize that we have only a limited time in which to bring our lives to fulfillment.

-Catechism of the Catholic Church, §1007

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My earthly desire has been crucified; . . . there is living water in me, water that murmurs and says within me: Come to the Father.

-St. Ignatius of Antioch

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Saints of God, come to his/her aid!
Come to meet him/her, angels of the Lord!
R: Receive his/her soul and present him/her to God the Most High.
May Christ, Who called you, take you to Himself; may angels lead you to Abraham's side. R.
Give him/her eternal rest, O Lord,
and may Your light shine upon him/her forever. R.

The reality of death and the reality of Christ's resurrection are both always before our eyes at St. Peter Parish. Join us in reflecting on these last things through the witness of Msgr. Louis LeBourgeois and our summer seminarian, Sylvester Adoga.

After 54 faithful years of priesthood, Msgr. Louis LeBourgeois returned to his faithful Father.

We were blessed to weekly experience his service during his "retirement," as he regularly celebrated the 8:30am Mass on Fridays.

He celebrated what-would-become his final Mass on Friday, July 19th at St. Peter Parish. A week earlier, we captured one of his final homilies.

A link to Msgr. LeBourgeois's homily

Having lost both of his parents the last two years, our summer seminarian, Sylvester Adoga, received the shock of the death of his youngest brother, Gregory. Before he returned to Nigeria to be with his family, Sylvester shared a reflection on the life and death of his brother in the video below.