Lenten Penance Service

Love God, Love Others, Share the Good News!

    This Week's Letter From Father

A Letter from Fr. Ryszard

Second Sunday of Lent

March 1, 2026

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

As we gather to celebrate the Eucharist on the Second Sunday of Lent, we reflect on the

Transfiguration of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew (17:1-9). In this passage, Jesus reveals his divine

nature to apostles Peter, James, and John. “His face became as dazzling as the sun, and his clothes as radiant as light.” This transfiguration signifies Jesus being enveloped in God’s presence and affirms his identity as God’s beloved Son, upon whom divine favor rests. According to Saint John Chrysostom, “the Transfiguration revealed something of His Divinity to them, as much and insofar as they were able to apprehend it, and it showed the indwelling of God within Him.”

The command to “listen to him” emphasizes that Jesus is God’s messenger, urging us to pay

attention to his words. Jesus is not only the genuine interpreter of the Mosaic Law and the

prophets but, most importantly, the Son of God and our Lord.

There are multiple instances of the Transfiguration of Jesus in the Gospels. The first occurs at the

Incarnation, when God becomes man, when the eternal Word becomes flesh, Emmanuel, God with us.

St. Athanasius beautifully expressed it as, “God became man so that man might become god.” We become more like God by sharing in His divine nature. In other words, through Jesus’ humanity, we gain access to his divinity.

During the Last Supper, another Transfiguration occurs as Jesus becomes the Eucharist by

changing the bread and wine into his Body and Blood.

The next incredible Transfiguration unfolds at Jesus’ death. Imagine the eternal and infinite God

willingly choosing to fully experience death. The Son of God accepts death because he became human out of immense love for us.

The last Transfiguration is the resurrection of Jesus.

These Transfigurations stem from God’s love for us. God desires to be with us, which is why God continually transfigured Himself to surprise us and draw us closer than ever. Through the Eucharist, we can connect with God everywhere, at any time.

The Transfiguration of Jesus serves as a reminder that the glory we witness in the transfigured Jesus will also be ours one day. It also inspires us to be devoted followers of the Lord, always pas-sionately engaged in improving the world we live in.

Archbishop Desmond Tutu stated, “God places us in the world as his fellow workers-agents of

transfiguration. We work with God so that injustice is transfigured into justice, so there will be more compassion and caring, more laughter and joy, and more togetherness in God’s world.”

                                                                                …..

The Body of Christ is graciously given to us by the Lord out of His love. Congratulations to Luis Gabriel Lara Torres on receiving his First Holy Communion. May the gift of Jesus’ presence bring you joy and abundant blessings.

Please pray for our Candidates in the OCIA Program as they prepare to begin their new lives as

members of the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil. May the Holy Spirit guide them as they prepare to make this wonderful commitment to the Lord and His Church.

Additionally, let’s keep in our prayers the students preparing for the Sacrament of Confirmation. May they remain open to the Holy Spirit’s guidance and joyfully participate as active members of our parish community.

I am thrilled to share that our parish’s Cooking Club hosted a wonderful dinner for those in need at Hope Mission. A heartfelt thank you to Adele, Kathy, Lisa, Mary, Michelle, Paula, and Peggy for their incredible efforts. It’s so important to come together to support the less fortunate in our Crystal Coast community.

Thank you so much, Alyson Vick, for the wonderful homemade cabbage soup and brownies. I

appreciate your thoughtful gesture and kindness.

Thank you, Mary and Maher Saikali, for inviting me to celebrate Michelle’s engagement to Brandon Bean. It was an honor to be part of such a joyful event. The party was fantastic, and the food was

delicious. I also enjoyed connecting with your family and meeting Brandon’s family. I am looking

forward to their wedding at the end of September. It’s sure to be an amazing celebration.

These are the final days, or perhaps just a few weeks, during which we can enjoy the birds that have spent the winter with us. Among these species are the pine siskin, song sparrow, yellow-rumped

warbler, hooded merganser, black-bellied plover, short-billed dowitcher, sanderling, and spotted sandpiper. Take the time to appreciate them while you can.

World Wildlife Day is just around the corner on March 3rd. Let’s come together to honor the amazing animals, birds, and fish that make our planet’s ecosystem so vibrant.

With prayers,

Father 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.