Love God, Love Others, Share the Good News!

This Week's Letter From Father

Third Sunday of Lent C

March 23, 2025 

Dear Brothers and Sisters, 

The third week of the Lenten journey is upon us. We make this journey together with the catechumens who will be entering the Church at Easter and the entire faithful, who will be renewing their Baptismal promises. Today, as every day, we ask the Lord to give us strength to be better followers of Jesus, better husbands and wives, better parents, better sons and daughters, better parishioners. 

We are called to holiness, which requires an ongoing conversion and reform-minded heart and mind. For this reason, we ask the Lord for grace so that our life in ordinary rhythms of living can be synchronized with the Gospel, and we can be the people God created us to be. 

God is patiently waiting for us to bear the fruit of holiness. The parable of Jesus about the barren, unproductive fig tree proves that point (Luke 13: 6-9). Jesus, the Compassionate Gardener, who loves each and every one of us, helps us in every way so we can attain to be all we aspire to. He gives us the opportunity over and over again because he sees in us, hope for the future and great potential for an abundant harvest. 

Saint Ursula Ledochowska said: “Holiness does not demand anything great, beyond the ability of the person. It depends on God’s love; every daily act can be transformed into an act of love.” 

Holiness is accessible to every person. According to Blessed Louis Tezza: “Sanctity consists in doing good, and in doing good in whatever condition and place God has placed us. Nothing more, nothing outside of this.” 

We should imitate the example of saints, like Saint Theresa of the Child Jesus who said: “I’m going to spend my heaven doing good on earth.”                       

                                                                             …..

Confirmation is one of the Sacraments of Initiation along with Baptism and the Eucharist. On Sunday, March 30, I will confer the Sacrament of Confirmation on 19 of our High School youth: Angel, Anyelina, Brayan, Catherine, Fabiola, Fatima, Jocelyn, Jonatan, Jose, Kevin, Landon, Leslie, Luis, Maritzel, Michelle, Socorro, Travis, Victoria and Xiomara. What a blessing for our parish and our Church! Please pray for the confirmands. May they be active participants in the Church’s mission.

Congratulations to Christine (School Counselor) and Matt Grossi (Church Organist) on the joyous birth of their first child Gabriella Irene. May God’s blessings shine upon your family always.

The 32nd Annual Ladies Guild Cards and Games Luncheon was very successful. Congratulations Ladies!

We are gearing up for the St. Egbert Catholic School Annual Auction next Saturday. This is an opportunity for fellowship, great food and lively action to support our parish school. Thank you, All Annual Auction Sponsors, for making this event possible.

Thank you, Annmarie Maxim, for bringing me a delicious chicken plate dinner and Irish soda bread. Your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated. I hope that you and your loved ones had a wonderful St. Patrick’s Day.

Thank you, Miranda and Gary Sanders, for taking me to lunch in a local restaurant. I enjoyed the time we spent together.

Please, pray for Pope Francis who still requires hospital care. He was admitted to the Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome on February 14. Pray also for those who asked for your prayers, and those you promised to pray for.

In Christ,

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.