Love God, Love Others, Share the Good News!

This Week's Letter From Father

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul

June 29, 2025

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

We have this feast in honor of the Chair of Peter. We also have the feast in honor of the Conversion of Paul. And today we celebrate the solemnity honoring both of them together.

The canonical Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles paint diferent portraits of Peter; showing both his strengths and weaknesses. He can be gentle, frm, strong, irritable, capable of anger and having a dominant personality.

When the disciples repeat others’ opinions regarding Jesus’ identity, Peter makes a great confession of faith: “You are the Messiah.” But while walking on water he becomes afraid: “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”, Jesus asks.

The apostle assures the Lord he would lay down his life for him, but in the course of time betrays him. Remorseful Peter reverses the triple denial with the triple assurance of his love for Jesus. The risen Christ entrusts the rehabilitated man with pastoral leadership and now Peter’s strength enables him to strengthen others. He preaches with enthusiasm and conviction, performs miracles, and heroically faces arrests and persecutions. Peter, the Rock dies a death of a martyr.

Paul was a man of notoriety and controversy before and after his conversion. To the Jews: a heretic, apostate and traitor. To Christians: an infuential teacher and missionary who brought good news of Jesus Christ beyond Jewish communities. Some have perceived him as devout and courageous. Others, as a fanatic with a big ego.

The encounter with the risen Christ on the road to Damascus became a turning point in his life. Sometime later, he had a mystical experience and an ecstasy in the Temple. Rejected by the Jews in Antioch, Paul turned his attention to the Gentiles.

He saw himself as a nurse nurturing new believers. He envisioned the Church as the Body of Christ and all the faithful as its members. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ.”

This great missionary was mistreated, rejected, lynched and finally suffered martyrdom.

The limitations of Peter are spelled out in the four gospels. The shortcomings of Paul are evident in his letters. They both struggled with their faith. However, despite their imperfections, they remained men of faith. As God worked with their weaknesses, God is and will work with ours too, helping us to live more fully our life of faith.

                                                                                 …..

I was honored to baptize Jane Balchikonis, a very happy little girl. She, her parents and family truly enjoyed the ceremony, as did I. May your parents and godparents be shining examples of faith for you. May the Lord guide you throughout your life.

We had a very successful Blood Drive. Thank you, Michele Roberts for organizing it and thanks to all blood donors. The next Red Cross Blood Drive will be sometime in September.

Thank you, Son Nguyen, for treating me and Kathleen to lunch. The Sashimi platter was a nice surprise. It was beautiful as well as being delicious. It was good seeing you again.

If you have too much stuff around the house and don't want to throw it away, you can repurpose it to someone else. The Knights of Columbus have started collecting donations for their annual Yard Sale in benefit of the Parish School and Parish Faith Formation Program. 100% of proceeds will be split between Faith Formation and the School.

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.