You have all seen the large portrait of St. John Eudes in the back of our church. It is adjacent to the large image of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It is said that this is a good likeness of him and perhaps he actually posed for the artist.
As you know, John Eudes was a priest in France in the 17th century. He was filled with great pastoral zeal and a deep compassion for those in need. He had a great desire to share the Good News of Jesus and to renew the Church. That is why he devoted so much of his time to preaching parish missions. Through them, many people were brought back to the practice of the faith.
During his parish missions, he came across women who had fallen into prostitution. Rather than look down upon these women, he reached out to them and offered them support in their desire to reform their lives and get back on the right path. To this end, he founded a religious community of women to care for them. They were called Our Lady of Charity (now known as the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd).
In order to continue his mission of evangelization through parish missions and to work in the formation of good workers for the Gospel (then, primarily priests), he founded the Congregation of Jesus and Mary (also known now as the Eudist Fathers). They continue to dedicate themselves to that two-pronged mission of evangelization and formation of Church ministers.
The picture you see here shows the statue of St. John Eudes that is located in the main aisle of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City. It was placed there in 1932, several years after his canonization in 1925. Most saints do not have a statue in St. Peter’s Basilica and certainly not in such a prominent place. This is something for which the Eudist Fathers feel rightly honored and blessed.
This coming Friday, August 19 is the feast day of St. John Eudes. We invite all of our parishioners and friends to join us for one of our two morning Masses on the day. A continental breakfast will be served on the patio following the 8:00 am Mass. Please plan to join us.
This contemporary rendition of a popular old hymn is not as lively as the version from Sister Act. But these two young adults radiate their love for Mary, the Mother Jesus, who has been assumed into heaven.
St Michael Parish in Togo
You probably recall that we were able to help St. Michael the Archangel Parish in Togo in their effort to help young people improve their reading ability and study habits. With the money we sent them, they were able to build an enclosure for the tutoring program. You can see the students studying in the first picture. In the other two pictures, you can see the beginnings of a library which is awaiting furniture.
Fr. Edem Afoutou, Eudist pastor of the parish, sends his thanks once again to the generous parishioners of St. Patrick Parish.
Have you wondered about becoming a Catholic?
Do you have a family member who is considering the Catholic faith?
Were you baptized but never received Christian formation or the other sacraments?
Are you an adult who was never confirmed?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions or if you just have a lot of questions about being Catholic, the Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is for you. A new group is forming now. They will meet every Tuesday beginning in September and continuing until Easter 2023.
If you would like to know more about it, contact Jayce McClellan at
This brief reflection appeared in the August 4 issue of AmericaToday, an online publication of the Jesuits. The author is a freelance writer, a columnist for The Bakersfield Californian and the author of Overdue: A Dewey Decimal System of Grace. She and her husband Randy have four children and three grandchildren.
On behalf of the Eudist Fathers, we would like to announce the opening of our Eudist Retirement Campaign. Our twofold goal: thank the Fathers for all they’ve done and raise $40,000 towards retirement expenses. According to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, which evaluates our retirement funds yearly on the basis of financial stability, we are over 50% underfunded. While $40,000 is a small portion of the ultimate goal ($3.6 million), it will keep us on track to reach the final number in five years.
We have created the Tribute & Contribute campaign page on the Eudist website as a way for you to thank the fathers in your parish personally. We invite you to share your favorite photos, memories, and stories of Eudist Fathers who positively impacted your life! Submit your own post by clicking the link below.
To contribute to our retired fathers’ living expenses, visit:
To learn more or ask questions about the campaign, give us a call at 209-783-8337 or email us at communications@eudistsusa.org
The Knights of Columbus are holding a Shoe Drive for La Posada on the weekend of August 27-28. We are requesting new and gently used men's shoes, preferably work boots and athletic shoes.
Bring your shoes to the church on that weekend or drop them off at the parish office during the week.
We are pleased to announce that the next Blood Drive hosted by the Knight of Columbus will be held on Sunday, August 28th from 8:00 am to 1:30 pm in the Parish Hall.
It is safe to give blood and it is an act of charity which gives someone the gift of life.
Our parish Mental Health Ministry is hosting a presentation on suicide prevention on Saturday, September 17 at 10:00 am. The presenter will be Judy Bruggeman, Executive Director of Survivors of Suicide Loss (SOSL).
Please remember to log in to your Online Giving account to make sure your payment method is up to date and that your gifts are being processed.
Please support the Parish Construction and Repair Fund using Online Giving
For help with forgotten passwords, please contact Online Giving technical support at 800.348.2886, ext. 2.
Click on the Online Giving logo 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.
Which Marian feasts are celebrated by the Church as Solemnities (the highest rank for liturgical observances)?
What are the four Marian dogmas that have been officially defined by the Church?
Who added the five Luminous Mysteries to the traditional fifteen mysteries of the Rosary?
Who said: The divine maternity would not have profited Mary if she had not first borne Jesus Christ in her Heart more happily and advantageously than in her womb?
What is the meaning of the Latin expression Per Mariam ad Jesum?
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 mmclain@stpatrickcarlsbad.com We will be pleased to add them.
Jeremiah is punished for criticizing the wealthy for their corruption and their injustice to the poor.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 40:2-4,18
A prayer for God's help
Second Reading
Hebrews 12:1-4
Let us persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus.
Gospel Reading
Luke 12:49-53
Jesus has come not only to bring peace but also division.
Background on the Gospel Reading
Having reminded the apostles and the crowd that facing the coming judgment takes patience, Jesus now goes on to speak of how difficult it will be to wait. He tells them that he has come to set the earth on fire. Recall that in chapter 3 of Luke's Gospel, John the Baptist tells the crowd that he is baptizing with water, but someone mightier is coming who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. The fire Jesus speaks of here is the distress caused by the coming judgment. It is also the fire of the Spirit that Luke, in the Acts of the Apostles, will describe descending on the disciples on Pentecost. That fire will strengthen them to go out to the whole world to preach the good news of Jesus' Resurrection.
Jesus will be the first to experience the distress of the coming judgment. His baptism will be the conflict into which he will be immersed as he approaches Jerusalem and his death on the cross. His followers will not be spared that distress. The angels at Jesus' birth proclaimed peace on earth, and Simeon, holding the baby Jesus in the Temple, said to God: “Master, now you may let your servant go in peace.” Here Jesus tells the crowd not to think he has come to bring peace; he has come to bring division. Simeon said as much when he turned to Mary and said that the child was destined for the rise and fall of many and to be a sign that will be contradicted. Peace is the ultimate end of the Kingdom of God, but peace has a price. Jesus is warning the crowd that wherever the Word of God is heard and acted upon, division occurs. Fathers will be divided against sons and mothers against daughters.
The coming judgment forces us to look at the implications of our commitments. As Jesus warned in last Sunday's Gospel, a commitment of faith requires us to change our attitude toward material possessions and to take even more seriously our moral responsibilities. Here he reminds the crowd that those who commit to him will find it affects the way they relate to friends and family members. The angel who announced the birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah said John would go before Jesus to turn the hearts of fathers toward their children. But a commitment to Jesus forces us to change the way we live our lives, and this can put strains on relationships.
We don't expect to hear such difficult words from Jesus in the Gospel. But it is good to be reminded once in a while that the decision to do the right thing, the good thing, is not always easy and without conflict. Jesus himself did not make easy decisions and avoid conflict. In today's reading, he reminds his followers to be prepared for difficult decisions and conflict as well.
Words and Music by Kate & Miles Simmonds. Performed by a virtual choir under the direction of David Wesley.
Ye Olde Garage Open on Sunday
The monthly Sunday garage sale at Ye Olde Garage is this Sunday, August 14, 8:30 am to 2:30 pm. Stop by and see the improvements and discover a treasure.
Religious Education for Children and Family Ministry
We offer faith formation for students in Preschool through Jr. High school, including preparation for the sacraments of Baptism, Reconciliation, and First Holy Communion. Our class times are Sunday morning and Monday and Wednesday afternoons.
En aquel tiempo, Jesús dijo a sus discípulos: "He venido a traer fuego a la tierra, ¡y cuánto desearía que ya estuviera ardiendo! Tengo que recibir un bautismo, ¡y cómo me angustio mientras llega! ¿A qué se está refiriendo Jesús que él ha venido a traer fuego a la tierra y cómo desearía que ya estuviera ardiendo? Conocemos bien la destrucción causada por el fuego. Arboles y casas se convierten en cenizas y sólo el recuerdo queda. Jesús está hablando de fuego que debe de arder, sin apagar, en nuestro corazón. Un fuego que purifica, que quema lo viejo, que da calor y da vida. Ese fuego que traemos adentro de nosotros cuando fuimos bautizados y confirmados. Ese fuego que aumenta cada vez que rezamos o leemos la biblia; o cuando hacemos un acto de caridad; o cuando nos confesamos o recibimos la eucaristía. Ese es el fuego de que habla Jesús y su deseo de que arda en cado uno de sus discípulos, que somos tu y yo. A Jesús le urgía porque él miraba las injusticias de su tiempo, pero esas mismas injusticias las vemos ahora en nuestro mundo. Miramos las indiferencias, el racismo, las discriminaciones a nuestro alrededor. ¿Podemos mirar a esas personas que no tienen voz, que no se sienten amados o aceptados? ¿Qué hacemos? ¿Hablamos o nos quedamos callados?
No es fácil. Pero pertenecemos al Reino de Dios, ese fuego del Espíritu Santo viveen nosotros, y todo los demás es secundario.
Por favor escuchen a los enlaces proveídos, espero que les ayude en su reflexión.
¿Eres mayor de 18 años y no estás bautizado en la Iglesia Catolica?
O, ¿no has recibido la primera eucaristía o la confirmación?
¡Entonces, este proceso es para ti!
Las clases inician en septiembre.
Para más información, llama a la oficina parroquial,
pregunte por el Diácono Miguel o Jose Jiménez, para inscribirte.
Concurso de Arte Juvenil
El Ministerio Diocesano de Cuidado de la Creación está lanzando un Concurso de Arte Juvenil
que enfatiza la belleza y las maravillas de la creación y nuestra responsabilidad de cuidar todos
los dones de Dios. Este concurso es para estudiantes de 4 a 12 grado de nuestras escuelas primarias y secundarias, clases de formación religiosa y estudiantes que pertenecen a los grupos de ministerio parroquial de jóvenes y adultos jóvenes. El concurso comenzará con el año escolar
y finalizará el 24 de Septiembre. Todos los detalles se explican en el volante y la hoja de cálculos adjuntos a este anuncio. Inscríbanse en https://bit.ly/diocese-of-sd-art
Todos los premios se entregarán al final de la Misa del Día de San Francisco en la Iglesia Parroquial de Santa Rita el 1
The Diocesan Creation Care Ministry is launching a Youth Art Contest, stressing the beauty and wonders of creation and our responsibility to care for all of God’s gifts. This contest is for
students from 4th through 12th grades in our parish grade and high schools, religious formation classes, and students who belong to the youth and young adult parish ministry groups.
The contest will begin with the school year and end on September 24. See attached flyer for more information. Register at https://bit.ly/diocese-of-sd-art . All awards will be given out at the end of the St. Francis Day Mass at St. Rita’s Parish Church on October 1.
Our parish offices are open, Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 12:30pm and 1:30 to 4:30pm
In case of emergency, you can always reach a priest. Call the parish number 760-729-2866 and press number 6 which will connect you directly to one of our priests.
If you know someone who does not receive our emails, please forward this to them, or have them reply to this message.
To email a priest at St. Patrick Church click the address below:
