By Kathy Cordes
Diocesan Archivist

I have had three Easter Resurrection Eggs on my mantle for many, many years. I knew they
were of the Easter story but didn’t quite remember where I got them or that story.  

I took advantage of my weekly #tbt posts on social media and asked for help from Facebook friends and some of my most steadfast friends and wow, did the cathedral parishioners respond to my plea. They had the exact same eggs! Some knew right exactly where they were, and others had to search their closets. I reminded one such follower, texting her ‘found your eggs yet?”  Great fun for an archival search.

One friend brought hers into the Chancery to show me, saying she had received these from her aunt some time ago. She also had the “long lost” pamphlet reminding me of the exact story.  Most have confirmed my memory that they were indeed a fundraiser for the new St. Thomas More Catholic High School. Another store in Rapid City also sold them at the time.  

This Easter Collection consists of three CZEGGS: the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection. Each of the eggs have a white background that symbolizes purity. The artwork on each tells their own story.

The Last Supper: showcasing wheat and grapes, Christ’s robe, and the thirteen people who were present at the Last Supper. There are also thirteen buds of wheat, thirteen grapes, and thirteen strokes on each side of Christ’s robe.

The Crucifixion: A crown of thorns, a cross colored red to signify the blood of Christ. On this, seven strokes symbolize the seven last phrases spoken by Jesus. 

The Resurrection: the egg is patterned in traditional Easter colors featuring a fishbone, the symbol of Christianity, bells and the rising Son (sun), “reminding us that Christ rose from the dead to bring us light and love to all and for all people, world without end.” 

Happy Easter from the diocesan Archives! May Christ’s light be present this Easter Season and thank you for helping me to preserve our Catholic history, one ‘egg’ at a time!