On the First Sunday of Advent, Father Tomasz Materna became the new parish priest of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish. One of his role models is the Servant of God Eduard Profittlich, and the Catholic Church is preparing to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the archbishop’s martyrdom on February 22, 2022. Father Tomasz has beautifully said the following about Profittlich’s martyrdom:
The blood of martyrs is the seed of new Christians. So it is with the martyrdom of the Servant of God Eduard Profittlich. Although he died 80 years ago, he is still alive. We believe he is with God in heaven. But he also lives among us. I remember speaking with Bishop Philippe one year before I came to work in Estonia. He told me that about 40 years ago, there were only a couple of Catholics in Estonia. The fact that the Catholic Church is growing in Estonia today is certainly thanks to Bishop Profittlich, who is our intercessor before God and who obtains grace for Estonia.
But Bishop Profittlich is not just his martyrdom. Of course, it was the result of his entire life, faith, and service. It was a kind of confirmation that the Gospel he preached is reasonable and leads to life. Today we can discover his life and turn back to his words and sermons. They are a valuable guide for us on how to live and act. One thing that fascinated me about his life was his complete dedication to God and people. He was a good shepherd until the end. He did not abandon his flock, because he knew that sheep without a shepherd perish. He did not abandon his sheep. He was still with them, despite arrest, imprisonment, and death. Therefore, he is an example for all priests to be good and faithful shepherds until the end.
Father Tomasz Materna