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October: The Month of the Holy Rosary

               This Week's Letter From Father

Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time A                                       

October 11, 2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters,                             

In our second reading (Philippians 4:12-14, 19-20), St. Paul, imprisoned in Ephesus (or possibly elsewhere), expresses gratitude to the Philippians for their concern, which prompted them to send a generous monetary gift through one of their own, Epaphroditus. However, the physical and emotional suffering he endures is evident between the lines of this epistle.

Philippi was an important city in the Roman province of Macedonia when Paul began his missionary work in Europe. Because the city lacked a Jewish synagogue, Paul began preaching by the Crenides River. His exorcism of a slave girl who had been a source of income for her exploitative owners led to the arrest, flogging, and imprisonment of Paul and Silas.

During the night, an earthquake allowed Paul and Silas to escape. However, Paul chose to stay and publicly defend his cause by revealing his Roman citizenship.

In Philippi, women such as Lydia, Euodia, and Syntyche played leading roles and labored alongside Paul as evangelistic co-workers.

In 42 BC, Philippi was the site of the battle in which Mark Antony and Octavian (Augustus) defeated Brutus and Cassius, the assassins of Julius Caesar.

In our second reading, Paul reassures the Philippians that he can thrive in all circumstances. He can manage life's highs and lows, whether he has abundance or need, plenty or little, because God has given him strength. "I have learned how to cope with every circumstance- how to eat well or go hungry, to be well provided for or do without. In him who is the source of my strength, I have strength for everything."

Paul reminds us of two virtues: detachment and resilience. We should not become overly attached to material possessions. We can own them without allowing them to own us. In other words, we need to preserve our freedom and inner strength.

Everyone experiences ups and downs in life because it is a journey filled with highs and lows that affect us physically, materially, and spiritually. With resilience and consistent prayer, we can rise above any challenge. Together with God's empowering presence, we can navigate obstacles and emerge stronger than ever.   

October is traditionally dedicated to the Rosary, a beautiful, Scripture-inspired prayer that helps us meditate on Jesus' life. The term "rosary" derives from the Latin "rosarium," meaning "garland of roses." Isn't it lovely to think of the Rosary as a delightful bouquet of prayers, each enriching our spiritual journey?

How did the Rosary originate? In the first thousand years of our era, monks developed the practice of praying the Psalms, which eventually led to the creation of the breviary. Among the illiterate, the "Our Father" was used in place of the Psalms.

In the XII century, Cistercians who couldn’t read found a unique way to keep up with their daily prayers. They would recite 50 prayers each day, and to make it easier, they used a cord with beads to help them count.

Throughout the next century, Marian piety inspired many to adopt the practice of reciting the Hail Mary repeatedly.   

In the 15th century, the Carthusians organized prayers into decades and connected them to significant events in the lives of Jesus and Mary. Later, the Dominicans formalized the number of mysteries, setting the total at fifteen and dividing them into three sets: the Joyful, the Sorrowful, and the Glorious. In the 16th century, Pope Pius V established the standard set of 15 Rosary mysteries. In 2002, Pope John Paul II added five additional mysteries, known as the Luminous Mysteries.

When we pray the Rosary, we embark on a beautiful journey of grace and reflection. We are not alone in this devotion; our fingers glide over the beads as we cycle through five decades, reciting one Our Father, ten Hail Marys, and one Glory Be. No one pressures us to count the prayers as our fingers move from one bead to the next. There is no rush—just a comforting rhythm that lets us immerse ourselves in the significant events of Our Lord's and the Blessed Mother's lives.

The Joyful Mysteries: 1 The Annunciation (Luke 1:26-27); 2 The Visitation (Luke 1:39-42); 3 The Nativity (Luke 2:1-7); 4 The Presentation in the Temple (Luke 2:21-24); 5 The Finding in the Temple (Luke 2:41-47).

The Luminous Mysteries: 1 The Baptism of Jesus in the Jordan (Matthew 3:16-17); 2 The Wedding Feast at Cana (John 2:1-5); 3 Jesus' Proclamation of the Kingdom of God (Mark 1:15); 4 The Transfiguration (Matthew 17:1-2); 5 The Institution of the Eucharist (Matthew 26:26).

Sorrowful Mysteries: 1 The Agony in the Garden (Matthew 26:36-37); 2 The Scourging at the Pillar (Matthew 27:26); 3 The Crowning with Thorns (Matthew 27:27-29); 4 The Carrying of the Cross (Mark 15:21-22); 5 The Crucifixion and Death (Luke 23:35-46).

Glorious Mysteries: 1 The Resurrection (Luke 24:1-5); 2 The Ascension (Mark 16:19); 3 The Descent of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4); 4 The Assumption (Luke 1:48-49); 5 The Coronation of Mary (Revelation 12:1).

Recite the Joyful Mysteries on Mondays and Saturdays; the Luminous Mysteries on Thursdays; the Sorrowful Mysteries on Tuesdays and Fridays; and the Glorious Mysteries on Wednesdays and Sundays.

Fr. Ronan Murphy once said, "The Rosary is the Bible on a String." Pope St. Pius X remarked, "If you wish for peace to reign in your homes, recite the family Rosary."

Let's embrace a beautiful rhythm of prayer.

                                                                      .....

The Knights of Columbus will distribute baby bottles after every Mass today for the annual change collection benefiting the Coastal Pregnancy Center. Please take a bottle on your way out, fill it with spare change and/or cash, and return it to the Knights here at church.

The Men's Club will also sell Annual Raffle Tickets after each Mass today. The drawing will be held next Sunday. Proceeds will benefit Parish Projects and Community Outreach Programs. Please be sure to get your Raffle tickets.

Thank you, Anne and David, for the delightful seafood dinner. I enjoyed spending the evening with you and savoring the meal. Your canaries are very joyful, as you are. You must greatly influence them by your example.

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.