Advent is here, and more, from Fr. Ron, week 48

St. Patrick Parish News & Updates

December 1, 2023 | Issue 48

A Word from the Pastor

December 1, 2023

Advent begins this Sunday. Before we dive into the hectic preparations for Christmas, let us take some time to observe Advent. In this way we prepare spiritually to celebrate the birthday of our Savior.

Advent is a liturgical season in the Catholic Church that invites us to pause in silence and understand the presence of God in our lives. It is a time of waiting, conversion, and hope. During Advent, we prepare ourselves to celebrate the anniversary of the Lord's coming into the world as the incarnate God of love. The Church has arranged the Liturgy for this season to help us in our preparation. We will hear the call to adore "the Lord the King that is to come" as well as be reminded that "the Lord is already near".

Advent is a time of joyful anticipation, as we await the birth of Christ and the establishment of His Kingdom of justice and peace. It is a season that renews our hope and reminds us that God keeps His promises. Through the celebration of Advent, we prepare ourselves to welcome with readiness and gratitude the great event of the Savior's birth and to contemplate His entry into the world with wonder. Advent is a time to reflect on the presence of God in our lives and to consider the whole of our life as a "visit" from Him. It is an opportunity to see the world with different eyes, guided by the certainty of His presence. By celebrating Advent, we make our souls fitting abodes for the Redeemer and prepare ourselves for His final coming as judge.

Advent will be short this year since the 4th Sunday of Advent is December 24. It would be good for us as families or individuals to make a plan on how we observe Advent at home. Our parish has purchased some small books of daily reflections for Advent and Christmas – just a page a day. They will be available on the patio this weekend.

Our annual Advent Penance Service will be on Wednesday, December 13 at 7:00 pm. Many priests will be available to hear confessions in both English and Spanish. The schedule of Penance Services at our neighboring parishes is included in this bulletin. Likewise, our full schedule of Christmas Masses is included.

I also remind you that we will resume offering the Blood of Christ from the cup as Holy Communion beginning this Sunday, the First Sunday of Advent at the 9:00 am and 11:00 am Masses.

Let us observe this season of Advent with some time for reflection and prayer so that we may consciously and deliberately celebrate the joyful Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord.

In one Heart,

Fr. Ron

[email protected]

Advent Penance Services 2023

These are the many Penance Services offered in our area during Advent. Some penance services are bilingual but, in every case, there will be many priests available for confessions in either English or Spanish.

In addition, confessions are heard at St. Patrick’s on Wednesdays at 8:30 am and 6:00 pm. However, there will be no evening confessions on December 13 (but Penance Service at 7:00 pm) nor in the evening of December 20 (school Christmas program in the church).

Keep this list for future reference:

Advent Penance Services 2023

Immaculate Conception

December 8 is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. As such, it is a holy day of obligation. Masses on Friday, December 8 will be at 7:00 am, 8:00 am, 9:00 am (school), 5:30 pm (English) & 7:00 pm (Spanish).

Waiting in Joyful Hope: Daily Reflections for Advent and Christmas 2023-2024

Once again, we are pleased to make these small booklets available for free to our parishioners. They will be available on the patio this Sunday December 2-3. One per family.

Esperando con alegre esperanza: Reflexiones diarias para Adviento y Navidad

2023-2024

Una vez más, nos complace poner estos pequeños folletos a disposición de nuestros feligreses de forma gratuita. Estarán disponibles en el patio el Primer Domingo de Adviento (2-3 de diciembre). Uno por familia.

Christmas Mass Schedule

Mass Schedule here...

Shoes to the World

On the weekend of December 9-10, Shoes to the World will be at the church patio, fundraising to provide new shoes benefiting children and homeless adults.

DOUBLE THE BENEFIT OF YOUR DONATION WITH GIFT MATCH.

Gift matching applies to donations between $50 to $1,000, and up to a total of $4,000. A 100% of your donation will purchase NEW shoes to be distributed by volunteers to impoverished children and adults. Many of these poor currently wear bacteria filled worn-out hand-me-down shoes. Additionally, this event will also support our project with Fr. Azam to bring shoes to persecuted Christian children in Pakistan.

Please visit www.ShoestotheWorld.Org to see donations at work; this 501(c)(3) non-profit works as a volunteer only organization.

Communion from the Cup

We will begin offering the Blood of Christ from the cup beginning this Sunday, December 3. For the first weeks, it will be offered at Sunday Masses at 9:00 am and 11:00 am. We will add more Masses as we are able to recruit and train additional Ministers of Holy Communion. Would you like to become a part of this ministry?

You can help the Retired Religious

“Religious are blessed to serve,” says Dominican Father Bertrand Ebben, age 90. Please donate to the Retirement Fund for Religious next week. Your gift will provide essential care for nearly 25,000 senior sisters, brothers and religious order priests who have dedicated their lives to serving others. Let us show our gratitude to these selfless individuals by giving generously. Envelopes are available at the doors of the church.

Read More Here...

Ustedes pueden ayudar

“Los religiosos somos dichosos por poder servir”, dice el padre dominico Bertrand Ebben de 90 años. Les rogamos que donen al Fondo para la Jubilación de Religiosos la próxima semana. Su regalo proporcionará cuidados esenciales para casi 25,000 hermanas, hermanos y sacerdotes de órdenes religiosas ancianos que han dedicado su vida al servicio de los demás. Mostremos nuestra gratitud a estas abnegadas personas con un generoso donativo. Los sobres están disponibles en las puertas de la iglesia.

Haga clic aquí:

Knights Thank You

The Knights of Columbus would like to Thank You! They raised over $640.00 for Birth Choice during the flower sales event November 18^th & 19th. Many Thanks to the Parish for the support.

CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON

Complimentary for Seniors Thursday, December 14.

Luncheon Details here....

Watch Daily and Sunday Masses Livestreamed from St. Patrick Church here:

Sunday Collection for 11/26/2023

Envelope Collection - $7,222.00

Plate Collection - $10,633.00

Online Giving - $14,059.21

Total Collection: $31,914.21

We are grateful for the generosity of all of our parishioners and visitors.

Online Giving Reminder

Thank you for your generous support of our parish during our Celebrating Today, Planning For Tomorrow

Program!

We are beginning to see signs that our Sunday offertory collections are growing.

Thank you so very much to all who have chosen to participate in this very important program.

If you currently use Online Giving for your electronic giving, please make sure you go into the application and update your giving to reflect your new commitment.

Don't forget to add the Christmas Collection to your giving selections!

Your generosity shows your willingness, as a faithful steward, to be a part of the ongoing mission of St. Patrick Catholic Community.

Click on the Online Giving icon below to create or access your account.

We appreciate your support!

Catholic Trivia

"Catholic Trivia”... not because they are trivial but because these might be things that not everyone knows. Test your knowledge by reading the five questions, remember your answers (or jot them down), then click the link below to find the answers.

What does the word Advent (from the Latin adventus) mean?
True or false: Like the 40 days of Lent, Advent is a fixed number of days before Christmas.
What is the symbolism of the Advent candles being arranged in the shape of a circle?
What is a Jesse Tree and what does it have to do with the birth of Jesus?
What is the meaning of the Hebrew word "Emmanuel"?

Feel free to email Fr. Ron with ideas for future Catholic Trivia questions [email protected]

If you have other members of your family or your friends who would like to be on our email list, just let me know or write to Mary McLain at [email protected] We will be pleased to add them.

Masses are available on our website www.stpatrickcarlsbad.com

We have a YouTube channel where we have daily and Sunday Masses.

YouTube channel here...

Answers to Catholic Trivia here!

Online Giving

Read all of Fr. Ron's newsletters here

First Sunday of Advent – Year B

First Reading

Isaiah 63:16b-17,19b;64:2-7

Isaiah prays for the Lord’s forgiveness of the people.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 80:2-3,15-16,18-19

A prayer for the Lord’s protection

Second Reading

1 Corinthians 1:3-9

Paul gives thanks to God for the faith of the Corinthians.

Gospel Reading

Mark 13:33-37

Jesus warns his disciples to be watchful so that they will be ready when the Son of Man comes.

Background on the Gospel Reading

Today we begin the season of Advent, which marks the start of a new liturgical year for the Church. The readings for Sunday Mass are arranged on a three-year cycle. Each year features a different Gospel—Matthew, Mark, or Luke. Readings from the Gospel of John are interspersed throughout all three years. With this year’s first Sunday of Advent, we begin Cycle B of the Lectionary, which focuses our attention on the Gospel of Mark. This week and next week, our readings from Mark’s Gospel present two important Advent themes: the Lord’s return at the end of time and John the Baptist’s preparation for Jesus.

Today’s Gospel is taken from the end of Mark’s Gospel, the chapter that immediately precedes Mark’s account of Jesus’ Passion. Having been questioned repeatedly by the scribes and the Pharisees, Jesus is now questioned by his disciples—Peter, James, John, and Andrew—who want details about his prediction of the destruction of the Temple. Jesus answers with many warnings about the difficulties that the disciples will face.

Today’s passage comes at the conclusion of Jesus’ warnings to his disciples. Jesus emphasizes the need for watchfulness. The Son of Man will come without warning; only the Father knows the exact hour. The disciples must not be caught unprepared when this time comes.

Scholars believe that Mark’s Gospel was written around the time of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in A.D. 70. Mark’s audience consisted of Christians who were living in difficult social and political times, times of conflict. They were likely beginning to face persecution as followers of Jesus. In this difficult time, it helped to recall that Jesus had foretold of such difficulties. Early Christian communities took courage from Jesus’ warning to remain alert and watchful, and they found in his words a way to persevere through suffering.

Today’s Gospel reminds us that Advent is about more than our preparation for the Church’s celebration of Christ’s birth at Christmas. Advent is also about preparing ourselves for Christ’s return in glory at the end of time. Like the disciples and the faithful in Mark’s community, we must also stay alert and watchful. Our faithfulness to God, through the good times as well as the difficult times, shows us to be ready for the coming of the Son of Man.

Ye Olde Garage Sale

The Ye Olde Garage will be holding their Monthly Garage Sale on December 10 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Please come and join us. The Shoppe has many wonderful Christmas Decorations, clothing specials, and a super sale for the entire month of December.

Everything in the Shoppe is at half price. (Making room for the New Year). The Ye Olde Garage will be open every Monday, Wednesday and Friday during the month and will close December 20 for the Christmas Break. The Garage will open again on January 3. To find the "Garage" just follow the Garage Sale signs to the far NORTH Parking lot. Look for the American Flag. The gate will be open and a large green sign will be on the block wall fence.

All the volunteers at the Ye Olde Garage wish you and your families the most blessed Advent season and hope you have the most wonderful, joyous Christmas with family and friends.

Family Mass

Our next Family Mass will this Sunday, December 3 at 9:00 am. This is the First Sunday of Advent, and we will focus on the meaning of this season. Come and bring the whole family.

We will also have a Family Mass on Christmas Eve, December 24 at 4:00 pm in the Parish Center.

Christmas Flowers for

Our Church

Once again, we give our parishioners the opportunity to contribute to the beautiful flowers that will adorn our church for the Christmas season. There is an envelope in your packet of envelopes that is marked “Christmas Flower Offering.” On the front of the envelope there are spaces in which you can write the names of loved ones you would like remembered at our Christmas Masses. You may also use an ordinary envelope to write down the names. Simply put your envelope in any collection or send it to the parish office. The names will be published after Christmas.

Novena a

Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe

3 de diciembre –

11 de diciembre

Novena de Rosarios: Haga clic aquí

Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe festividades: Haga clic aquí:

Retiro de Adviento, “La Eucaristía en el Milagro Guadalupano” Dic. 4-6, 2023: Haga clic aquí:

Un Saludo de

parte del Diacono Miguel,

En aquel tiempo, Jesús dijo a sus discípulos: “Velen y estén preparados, porque no saben cuándo llegará el momento…Lo que les digo a ustedes, lo digo para todos: permanezcan alerta”. (Marcos 13:33-37). Jesús les dice sus discípulos, “que estén alertas, en vela y preparados” porque no saben cuándo vendrá el final de los tiempos. ¿Pero quién conoce la hora y el día en que este mundo terminará? Nadie lo sabe, ni Jesús mismo lo sabe, sólo el Padre conoce esto. ¿Porque escuchamos estas palabras de Jesús en este 1er Domingo de Adviento? Creo que la Iglesia nos da este texto del Evangelio de san Marcos, porque todos necesitamos “una pausa” en nuestra vida. Somos personas ocupadas, que corremos para allá y para acá, creemos que tenemos que estar ocupados y productivos para ser efectivos. Luego, llegamos a la casa, cansados y con hambre, y sin darnos cuenta nuestras relaciones con otros se enfrían. Esto incluye nuestra relación con Dios. ¿Cómo esta nuestra relación con Dios? ¿Le damos tiempo a Dios en la mañana y en la tarde, para “dialogar con Él”? San Ignacio de Loyola habla de la importancia de hacer un examen de conciencia todas las noches antes de dormir. Para mirar cómo Dios se nos ha presentado durante el día. Recordar donde lo vimos y le respondimos apropiadamente. También para mirar donde le fallamos. Nadie es perfecto, todos somos pecadores. Hoy iniciamos el tiempo de Adviento, cuatro semanas para prepararnos a recibir el Niño Jesús en nuestro corazón y en nuestro hogar. Comprometernos de hacer “una pausa” todos los días, hacer nuestro examen de conciencia, y mirar el gran amor que Dios para nosotros, para ti y para mí. Y así nos mantendremos alertas y preparados para el Señor.

LA MISA: PASO A PASO - “LA EPÍCLESIS”. Haga clic aquí

OTRA REFLEXIÓN: “CRISTO REY”. Haga clic aquí:

“A LA ESPERA DE LA LUZ” - Haga clic aquí:

“QUE LA GUERRA NO ME SEA INDIFERENTE”. Haga clic aquí:

Detente

Hablemos de

! Vigilar !

Estudios Bíblicos en Español del Padre Ricardo Chinchilla, cjm... clic aquí

3821 Adams Street

Carlsbad, California 92008

760.729.2866

The Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe is open

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