Love God, Love Others, Share the Good News!

    This Week's Letter From Father

Ash Wednesday                           

February 18, 2026
 
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
 
Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the liturgical season of Lent, which runs from Ash Wednesday until the Evening Mass of the Lord’s Supper on Holy Thursday, thereby initiating the Sacred Paschal Triduum.
 
Ash Wednesday originated from ancient Jewish Traditions of penance, and reconciliation with God.
 
Throughout Lent, the faithful set spiritual goals, embracing prayer, fasting, and acts of generosity to prepare for Easter.
 
We have experienced many Lenten seasons and understand that complete transformation may not always occur. However, Lent offers us an opportunity to focus on specific areas, such as behavior, habits, prayer, and generosity.
 
Nobody is perfect. Carl Jung once said, “Show me a normal man, and I will cure him.” Everyone has their struggles. There is no need to dwell on the past or what we have done or failed to do. Regardless of our experiences or our current relationship with God, we all have faults and weaknesses. Let us allow God to love us as we are. Let us be open to God’s grace and embrace the love He offers. Instead of fixating on past actions and regrets, let’s celebrate our shared journey toward our Creator.
 
18th-century Jesuit Pere de Caussade stated, “Leave the past to the indefinite mercy of God; leave the future to his ever-compassionate providence … and, as for the present, give it totally to his love being, here and now, grateful for his gifts and faithful to his grace.”
 
May the ashes on our heads serve as a constant reminder of God’s unending and unconditional love for us,


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.