August: A Month of Devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary

               This Week's Letter From Father

Eighteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time A 

August 2, 2026
 
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
 
In the Gospels, John the Baptist is presented as the forerunner of Jesus. He was not only Jesus’ cousin but also a close friend. John baptized Jesus in the Jordan River and served as his mentor for a time, as Jesus was initially one of his disciples.
 
In our Gospel reading, taken from Matthew 14:13-21, we witness a poignant moment as Jesus retreats to a quiet place to grieve and pray after hearing about John’s death. This beautifully illustrates his deep humanity and the profound emotions tied to loss. It’s a reminder that even Jesus, who cares so much, experiences sorrow. The next time we see this is when he mourns for his dear friend Lazarus.
 
As the disciples and the eager crowd follow him, he emerges from his solitude and notices that they are hungry. With genuine concern, he prompts his disciples to help him feed them. Rather than conjuring food from nothing, he inspires them to share what they already have, turning small offerings of bread and fish into a feast for all.
 
The story of Jesus multiplying the loaves and fish connects to an Old Testament account of God feeding the Israelites in the desert with manna (Exodus 16) and to the miracle performed by Elisha, who provided food for one hundred men (2 Kings 4:42-44).
 
The feeding of the multitude mirrors Jesus’ actions at the Last Supper: he took bread, blessed it, broke it, and shared it with others.
 
Today, we are reminded that the Lord continues to nourish us at the Eucharistic table with his Body and Blood. He warmly invites us to seek him without hesitation, during our hunger, loneliness, grief, suffering, or distress, especially when life feels overwhelming.
 
The apostle Paul, deeply moved by God’s love (Romans 8:35, 37-39), reminds us that, despite financial challenges or various forms of suffering- whether physical, emotional, or mental- our relationship with Christ can make us stronger and more resilient if we stay open to him.
                              ……
I visited our Book Club on Thursday and was delighted to see that we have parishioners who share a love for reading. As you may recall, Dr. Seuss encouraged us to “fill your house with stocks of books, in all the crannies and all the nooks.” However, we should make sure we read only the best books.
 
Thank you, Alison Vick, for bringing me a delicious diner. Your thoughtfulness was greatly appreciated, and I enjoyed every bite.
 
I am thrilled to feed the mother squirrels as they take care of their little ones. I eagerly anticipate the joyous moment when their adorable kids come to visit me, along with their moms. Plus, my garden is beautifully adorned with lovely white butterflies.
 
Watching Caroline wrens, red cardinals, house finches, house sparrows, catbirds and chickadees lovingly caring for their young in the garden is truly enchanting. What a beautiful and joyful experience to cherish.
 
With prayers,


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.