A Memorial Day Message from Bishop Erik Pohlmeier
On Memorial Day, we pause as a nation to remember with gratitude the men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Their sacrifice reminds us that freedom is never free and that the blessings we enjoy are often secured through acts of great courage and selfless love.
As Catholics, we are called not only to remember the fallen, but also to pray for them and for the families who continue to carry the weight of their loss. We entrust them to the mercy of God and ask the Lord to bring comfort, peace and hope to all who mourn.
This year, Memorial Day also carries special meaning for the Diocese of St. Augustine as the National Eucharistic Pilgrimage launches from the National Shrine of Our Lady of La Leche, the site where the Catholic faith first took root in what is now the United States. As our nation prepares to mark its 250th anniversary, we are reminded that faith and sacrifice have long shaped the American story.
May this day renew in us a spirit of gratitude, unity and prayer for peace. And may the witness of those who laid down their lives inspire us to live with faith, courage and love for one another.
With prayerful remembrance,
Most Rev. Erik T. Pohlmeier
Bishop of St. Augustine
