Love God, Love Others, Share the Good News!

This Week's Letter From Father

All Saints  Day

November 1, 2024

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We begin the month of November by celebrating the Solemnity of All Saints. It was originally instituted to honor the  Christian martyrs in the late Roman Empire. Saint Martin of Tours (+397) was the first saint, not a martyr.

The Eastern Feast of All Martyrs was first mentioned by Saint Ephrem of Edessa in the 4th century. In 609, the Roman  Pantheon was dedicated under the title Santa Maria ad Martyres. Many historians of the Church and theologians see this as the beginning of All Saints. In the 9th century, Pope Gregory IV chose November 1 as the feast dedicated to the martyrs. In 935 Pope John XI decided that this feast will honor martyrs and non-martyrs together.

The list of Saints includes not only formally canonized saintly figures, but also countless men, women and children whose lives are only known to God. They all achieved holiness by loving God and neighbor and are now with God in heaven. We honor them for their exemplary, beautiful manner of life which reveals to us a glimpse of the loving and merciful God.

We all have known people who inspired us to raise above our limitations, overcome our obstacles to be the best Christians we can be; who showed us that in this imperfect world it is possible to live a life of virtue; who taught us to be  compassionate, emphatic and loving; who gave us hope; who strengthened our faith; who made this world a better place for all. Among them are our parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters, family members, friends, neighbors, coworkers, priests and nuns.

Today we ask them to pray for us so we can continue to grow in holiness and join them one day in heaven.

Happy All Saints’ Day,

Fr. Ryszard

All Souls’ Day

November 2, 2024

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today we celebrate All Souls’ Day. Saint Odilo of Cluny established the memorial of all the faithful departed in 988. It was accepted in Rome in the 13th century. Afterwards, it became more and more widespread throughout Christendom. 

People don't like to talk about death but dying is a part of life. Saint Benedict encouraged his monks: “Day by day remind yourself that you are going to die.” These words in his Rule were not to scare them, but to point to the fact that all human beings are mortal creatures created for immortality. We should be grateful for each day we are given. 

Are people afraid of dying? Yes, they are. Epicurus, an Ancient Greek philosopher, tried to calm down fears of his contemporaries: “If you are not dead, you have nothing to worry about, and, if you are dead, you cannot worry.” 

Centuries later, Miguel Unamuno, one of the most important Spanish religious thinkers and a precursor of the metaphysics of existence, anxiously searching for God, struggling with his faith and riddled with doubts, wrote the epitaph for his tomb:

“Put me, eternal Father, in your blossom, mysterious home. 

I will sleep there, for I have come back disheveled from the hard work.” 

Today, we are reminded that death is not the end. It is a transition to eternal life. The consolation comes from the love God has for each one of us. Jesus assures us: “And this is the will of the Father who sent me, that everyone who He gave me- I shall lose none of Him, I shall raise Him on the last day” (John 6:39). 

As we celebrate All Souls’ Day, we remember our loved ones and friends who passed away and now live on with God and in our memories. We are who we are because of them. They still continue to inspire us. We share their stories of love, faith and hope. We thank God for them and for all the blessings their lives brought to us. We also ask the Lord to forgive their shortcomings. 

Let us also not forget all those, unknown to us, who have populated this earth. They need our prayers too. 

Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they all rest in peace. 

During this time, people in Poland lay beautiful flowers and wreaths, and light candles on the graves of their loved ones, relatives and friends in the cemeteries. The candles that are placed on the graves are specially made so they can burn for several days. On All Souls’ Day even the forgotten graves are full of lit candles. 

Compared to the United States, graves and tombs in Poland are large and constructed from granite or marble. They are for one person or an entire family. 

If your family members or acquaintances are buried nearby, visit their grave or a columbarium. Say a prayer for them. If they are buried far away, also keep them in your intercessions. 

May God bless you on All Souls’ Day,

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.