June: The Month of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

               This Week's Letter From Father

Thirteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time A             

June 28, 2026
 
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
 
The first week of summer has flown by, and it’s exciting to soak up the gorgeous weather while enjoying the delightful sights of squirrels, birds, and dolphins. A warm welcome to all our visitors enjoying the breathtaking beaches of the Crystal Coast. It’s truly admirable that you choose to keep God close during your vacation and join us in worship. Remember, just as God rested after His work, we can all find joy in both relaxation and faith together.
 
Our second reading is taken from the Letter to the Romans 6:3-6,8-11. The authorship of this epistle by St. Paul is widely accepted. He probably wrote it in Corinth or Cenchreae during the winter of AD 57-58.
 
St.Paul reminds us, “Are you unaware that we who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We are indeed buried with him through baptism into death, so that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might live in the newness of life.”
 
During Paul’s lifetime, people who wanted to be baptized were immersed in water, symbolizing death and burial, and then brought out of the water, representing resurrection.
 
An individual does not need to be baptized by full immersion to receive the spiritual benefits of the sacrament, which include dying to sin and embracing a new life in Christ.
 
Did you know that there are three accepted forms of baptism: triple immersion, affusion (pouring), and aspersion (sprinkling) while aspersion is recognized as valid, it is not permitted in the Latin Rite of the Catholic Church.
 
1. Baptism of water:
-Affusion: this is done by pouring water on the person’s head during baptism while saying, “(name) I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.” This is a common practice for many.
-Triple immersion: people are baptized by being fully immersed in water three times, with the Trinitarian formula mentioned above spoken during each immersion.
-Sprinkling: sprinkling water on the person’s forehead during baptism while reciting the Trinitarian formula. While it is considered valid, it is not a permitted practice.
2. Baptism of Blood: This refers to an unbaptized person who achieves the grace of salvation through martyrdom.
3. Baptism of Desire: This occurs when someone desires baptism but passes away before actually receiving it.
 
A well-known Swiss theologian, Fr. Hans Urs von Balthasar, stated that “the Church does not dispense the sacrament of baptism to acquire for herself an increase in membership but in order to consecrate a human being to God and to communicate to that person the divine gift of birth from God.”
 
We must remember that, as St. Athanasius explains, “We receive the sacrament of baptism only once because there was only one death and one resurrection for the salvation of the world, and baptism is its symbol.”
 
Our baptism allows us to connect with the glorified Christ and experience his life daily. The renowned biblical scholar Joseph F. Fitzmyer, S.J, interpreted Paul’s word in our second reading by stating, “the Christian is not merely identified with ‘the dying Christ’ who has won victory over sin, but is introduced into the very act by which that victory has been won.” According to Fitzmyer, the new life of the Christian “is perceived only with the eyes of faith.”
 
Having been baptized, we are continually called to enact our baptism in our lives, to “live for God in Jesus Christ.” (Romans 6:11), and serve others.
                                …..
Next Sunday, we will celebrate Independence Day and our nation’s 250th birthday. As we come together on this Fourth of July and throughout the year, let’s embrace Mark Twain’s wisdom: “Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and your government when it deserves.”
 
Happy Fourth of July,

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.