Love God, Love Others, Share the Good News!

This Week's Letter From Father

Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary

August 15, 2025

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The New Testament offers no information about Mary’s death or assumption. The first interest in the Assumption can be found in the Apocryphal Gospels. They illustrate an interest among early Christians regarding what happened to the Mother of God at the end of her earthly existence.

Today’s solemnity points out to the importance of human flesh, not only to us, but also to God who created us, loves us, and wants to spend eternity with us in heaven. We are so unique and unrepeatable individuals in the eyes of God that there will never be another identical person like you and me. Thus, Mary’s privilege of being with God in Heaven will one day be ours as well.

Pope Francis said: “The Blessed Virgin is she who goes before us on the journey, reminding us all that our life is also a continuous journey toward the horizon of the final encounter with the Lord.”

Mary, in the Magnificat (Luke 1:46-56), proclaims the greatness of the Lord. She offers thanks for all God has done, and will continue to do, not only in her life but in the life of every believer. The promise of good news is also valid for the entire world and creation.

As Mary totally entrusted herself to God, we too are invited to entrust ourselves to the Holy One.

Like Mary who carried her son Jesus in her womb, and brought him to life, we are called to bring the Lord to this world by our words and deeds.

Happy Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary,

Fr. Ryszard

Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time C

August 17, 2025

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

When infant the Jesus was brought to the Temple by Mary and Joseph, Simeon predicted that “this child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against” (Luke 2:34). He prophesied that when the boy reaches adulthood, he will become a divisive person. Some will reject him and his message; others will follow him. As history shows, the cost for accepting or rejecting Jesus’ message has been high, resulting in split families, persecutions, and even martyrdoms.

In traditional interpretation, the passage from our Gospel reading (Luke 12: 49-53), reflects on Simeon’s prophecy. Peace can be obtained neither by compromising God’s word proclaimed by Jesus nor his future followers. The ongoing battle between those who follow and those who reject him continues, and so does the battle between good and evil.

However, there is much more to learn while reflecting on today’s Gospel reading. According to John Dominic Crossan, the axis of separation is between generations, not faith. “The attack has nothing to do with faith but with power. The attack is on the Mediterranean family’s axis of power, which sets father and mother over son, daughter and daughter-in-law … The family is society in miniature, the place where we first and most deeply learn how to love and be loved, hate and be hated, help and help, abuse and be abused. It is not just a center of domestic serenity; since it involves power, it invites the abuse of power, and it is at that precise point that Jesus attacks it.”

Jesus tears the patriarchal family along with its dehumanizing effects marked by domination and subordination. His ideal group is the Kingdom of God which negates such abuse of power and promotes an egalitarian style of a family.

Barbara Reid OP, and Shelly Matthews point out that this anti-family saying has its limit because “the ancient household was a slaveholding household”. Lukan Jesus “does not disturb the slave relation within the household”. It does not set master against slave and slave against master.

We bring to church our own struggles within ourselves, with our family, neighbors, colleagues, coworkers, politicians or the world, yearning for peace in our lives. The second reading (Hebrews 12:1-4) encourages us to persevere in difficult times and have our eyes fixed on Jesus. He is the source of peace.

The letter to the Hebrews also reminds us that we are “surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses”, people who achieved holiness with God’s grace and enjoy eternal life. Some of them died a natural death without major health problems, some suffered throughout their lives from debilitating illnesses, some were killed for their faith. Some suffered for the church, some from the church, some from both. But till the last breath, regardless of their physical and mental condition, they all remained faithful to God and worked hard according to their abilities, so that our world would be a better place for all. You can read about many of them in my books: Beacons of Life, A Cloud of Witness, and Sparkles in a Bonfire.

Like them, we are all called to run and endure in the race of faith. Like them, we are to keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, “the leader and perfecter of faith.”

                                                                                   …..

All families with children participating in the Sunday Sessions, First Communion and/or Confirmation for the 2025-2026 school year are required to attend an important orientation on August 24 at 11:45 AM in the church. Registration packets will be available, and we will cover essential topics during this meeting. A back-to-school picnic will follow Immediately after the orientation. We hope to see you there.

If you are praying or considering becoming Catholic and wish to learn more about our faith, Church, and parish community, join the Order of Christian Initiation Program. Sessions begin this September.

Our students are back in school, and it’s always a pleasure to see them cheerful on campus. Before the new school began, we held two meetings. The first was an orientation meeting for parents of new students. In the second meeting, both the parents and students had the opportunity to meet their teachers and explore their new classrooms.

Thank you, Angela and George Briggs, for inviting me to a delightful dinner. I had a wonderful evening with you, your children, Stephanie and Jean, their spouses, Lloyd and David, as well as your grandchildren, Abigail, Rebeca, and John. I enjoyed your company, shared many laughs, and savored a delicious meal.

Thank you, Rouaida Khalil and Sophia Haddad, for yet another delicious lunch. I truly appreciate the way you prepare and cook Lebanese food, as well as your baking skills. The last dessert, the lemon-lime cheesecake, was fantastic. I am grateful for our friendship.

I was so thrilled to see dolphins again. One of them jumped out of the water, and it was such a beautiful sight!

South Korea will be the first non-Christian country to host the next World Youth Day, scheduled for August 3-8, 2027. This event represents a significant milestone, as it will be the first global gathering of Catholic youth held in a non-Christian nation.

Currently, 31% of the South Korean population identifies as Christians, while 51% report having no religious affiliation. Nevertheless, there has been a steady growth of conversions to Catholicism in the country. Catholics account for 11% of South Korea’s population, which is approximately 52 million people.

With blessings,

Fr. Ryszard

Welcome Message

Greetings in Christ Jesus!

Whether you are just visiting for a short while, have moved here and are joining our parish, or are returning to your Catholic Faith, on behalf of our parish community, we welcome you to St. Egbert Catholic Church and the beautiful Crystal Coast of North Carolina.

When Jesus was asked which of all the commandments was the greatest, he replied, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the great, and first commandment. And a second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” These two Commandments form the foundation of our mission to Love God, Love Neighbor, and to Share the Good News.