Love God, Love Others, Share the Good News!

This Week's Letter From Father

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time C

January 19, 2025

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Some people in the Church today feel more important than others because they possess certain spiritual gifts. Similarly, certain followers of Jesus in the Corinthian community felt the same way and looked down on others.

Saint Paul, in our first reading (1 Corinthians 12:4-11), reminds the recipients of his letter that no one in the Church can claim superiority to anyone because of their ministry or possessing higher gifts. All the charisms are special gifts of God. God is the origin of those gifts. “To each individual, the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit … But one and the same Spirit produces all of these, distributing them individually to each person as he wishes.”

Each charism is intended for the benefit of the entire community and not for the gloating individual. The variety of gifts upbuilds the community and promotes unity among the members of the Body of Christ. These gifts are given for spiritual enrichment, not for personal gain or self-service. Thus, they are to be shared and bear fruit.

The Gospel reading depicts the wedding party in Cana (John 2:1-11) at which Jesus, with his mother and the disciples are invited guests. Mary, like a good wedding planner, works behind the scenes helping the newlyweds make their party memorable. She also helps her hesitant son to use his power for the beneft of others. “Jesus did this as the beginning of his sign at Cana in Galilee and so revealed his glory, and his disciples began to believe in him.”



Mary gives us an example of how to be sensitive to the people in need. As she assisted the bride and groom, she assists us too by interceding on our behalf with her son.

Wine was in the ancient world as it is in ours, a celebratory beverage. For the Jewish people of Jesus’ time, the abundance of wine symbolized God’s salvation and the messianic times. The wedding banquet stood for the relationship between the Holy One and His/Her people. God, in the Old Testament, is often called the bridegroom of God’s people.

Benjamin Franklin wrote: “We hear of the conversion of water into wine as a miracle. But this conversion is, through the goodness of God, made every day before our eyes. Behold the rain which descends from heaven upon our vineyards; there it enters the roots of the vines, to be changed into wine- a constant proof that God loves us and loves to see us happy.”

                                                                             …..

I love squirrels! January 21st (Tuesday) is National Squirrel Appreciation Day. Did you know there are over two hundred ffty species of these beautiful creatures, known for their fufy tails, agile movements, and acrobatic skills? They inhabit five continents.

Squirrels evolved more than thirty million years ago, while we, Hom sapiens, have existed for only three hundred thousand years. This difference serves as a reminder to remain humble in our relationship with nature. God blessed the Earth with squirrels long before our arrival.

Squirrels are fantastic gardeners, and they play a significant role in planting forests and gardens. By stashing nuts or seeds, squirrels efectively plant and reserve food for lean times.

Please pay attention to the road while driving. Unfortunately, I have buried several squirrels because drivers were careless or unaware of their surroundings.

I have witnessed the cruelty towards squirrels, including the heartbreaking loss of a mother squirrel and her baby. Currently, I am caring for a squirrel injured by people who knocked out her teeth; she has only one remaining.

If you must cut down a tree, please allow mother squirrels to relocate their babies first. They can do this quickly, so do not harm them. If they have made a nest in your home, please let the mothers move their babies before sealing the entry. It’s important not to separate families.

Consider adopting a squirrel and feeding her daily.

Happy National Squirrel Appreciation 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.