This weekend the Church celebrates Gaudete Sunday – Rejoice! Let me begin by saying that joy is one of the fruits of a true Christian life in the Spirit. In other words, True Christian holiness is always marked by joy.
The dictionary defines joy as “the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires.” As Christians we can do better than that definition. For the Christian, it is “the inner attitude of rejoicing in one’s salvation regardless of outward circumstances. One of the fruits of a right relationship with God.”
What joy IS and IS NOT: Joy is something that is unaffected by circumstances of daily life. It is a state of mind and an orientation of the heart. It is a settled state of contentment, confidence and hope.
Joy does not mean that I feel good all the time. It is not about telling jokes or making people laugh. Joy is deep. It is abiding. It is not destroyed by problems, dilemmas or setbacks in our lives or work. It is rooted in a confidence that finds its origin in a relationship with the Lord Jesus.
In 1975, Pope St. Paul VI wrote an Apostolic Exhortation called Gaudete in Domino (Joy in the Lord). In it he said quite accurately, “Our technological society has succeeded in multiplying occasions of pleasure, yet has found it very difficult to engender joy.” That was true in 1975 and is even truer now in 2021.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church discusses joy and happiness by saying: “…True happiness is not found in riches or well-being, in human fame or power, or any human achievement…or indeed in any creature, but in God alone, the source of every good and of all love.” [CCC 1720] In other words, temporal happiness is not enough to satisfy us; we long for the “joy of the Lord” Recognizing that God is our Creator and that we rely totally on Him is a “source of wisdom and freedom, of joy and confidence” [CCC 301].
In other words, the only thing that brings a person lasting joy is a relationship with the Lord. As we think about joy on this Gaudete Sunday, we are reminded that if we really want to be happy, if we seek deep and lasting joy, we will find it in God. All the material things and passing pleasures that our world offers cannot bring true Christian joy.
As we prepare for the joyful season of Christmas, let us take some time in our homes and families to reflect on what brings us joy. Where do we look for joy? Where do we find joy?
2:00 pm Family Mass (outside on covered court)No Reservations
4:00 pm – English in the church (RESERVATION REQUIRED) **
6:00 pm – English in the church (RESERVATION REQUIRED) **
8:00 pm – Spanish in the church (RESERVATION REQUIRED) **
10:00 pm – Bilingual in the church (RESERVATION REQUIRED) **
Christmas Day (NO reservations)
7:30 am – English in the church
9:00 am – English in the church
11:00 am –English in the church
1:00 pm – Spanish in the church
** To avoid overcrowding,reservations will be required for those attending the Masses on Christmas Eve in the church.
There will be a website to make your reservations that will open on December 10 at 4:00 pm. For those who do not have internet access, you may call or visit the parish office during business hours beginning at 9:00 am on December 10.
Reserved places are limited to 400 persons per Mass. This applies to the indoor Christmas Eve Masses only.
Before long we will be celebrating the birth of our Savior. We want to make our church festive for our celebration of Christmas. In your packet of envelopes that we mail to you, there is an envelope marked Christmas Flower Offering.
If you would like to make a contribution to assist in paying for our Christmas flowers, please place your donation in that envelope (or a plain envelope) and write on the envelope the names of anyone you would like remembered at our Christmas Masses. Indicate if they are deceased (“In memory of…”) or living (“In honor of…”) Place your envelope in the collection basket, mail it to the parish office or drop it off. If you use Online Giving, just put the names on a paper and put it in the collection. All the names will be listed in our parish bulletin and newsletter shortly after Christmas.
Wake Awake
This traditional Advent hymn is performed the St. Olaf Massed Choirs under the direction of Anton Armstrong at the 2018 St. Olaf Christmas Festival. The arrangement is rich and complex.
Advent Penance Services
Advent is an appropriate time to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. The following Penance Services are available in North County parishes next week:
Tuesday, December 14 at 12:30 PM (Bilingual) St. Francis, Vista
Tuesday, December 14 at 6:30 PM (Bilingual) St. Francis, Vista
With the sounds of Taizé music, Father Ricardo presented some of the most important themes of St. Luke for this year, please watch this spiritual journey.
An Advent Poem
by St. John of the Cross
1542-1591
If you want, the Virgin will come walking down the road
pregnant with the holy, and say,
“I need shelter for the night,
please take me inside your heart, my time is so close.”
Then, under the roof of your soul,
you will witness the sublime intimacy,
the divine, the Christ, taking birth forever, as she grasps your hand for help, for each of us is the midwife of God, each of us.
Yes there, under the dome of your being does creation come into existence eternally,
through your womb, dear pilgrim – the sacred womb of your soul,
as God grasps our arms for help:
for each of us is his beloved servant, never far.
If you want, the Virgin will come walking down the street
As the end of the year moves into sight, you might think about making an end of the year donation to St. Patrick Parish. Click on the link for the most up to date information. It includes new information that relates to the CARES Act. It is relevant if you itemize or not.
Please remember to log in to your Online Giving account to make sure your payment method is up to date and your gifts are being processed.
You can also set up your Christmas or Year-End gift with Online Giving.
For help with forgotten passwords, please contact Online Giving technical support at 800.348.2886, ext. 2.
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.
According to Catholic tradition, where was St Joseph, husband of Mary, at the time of the crucifixion?
Who was the mother and father of John the Baptist?
How many brothers and sisters did Jesus have?
According to the gospel of Luke, in what town was Jesus born?
According to the gospel of Matthew, who came to visit the child Jesus shortly after his birth?
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.
John the Baptist teaches the path of repentance and announces Christ.
Background on the Gospel Reading
This Sunday's Gospel continues last week's focus on John the Baptist and his role in preparing the way for Christ. Recall that last week's reading described John's appearance in the desert and established his connection with the prophetic tradition of Israel. If we were to read Luke's Gospel continuously, we would learn about John the Baptist challenging the crowds who came to him and calling upon them to show evidence of their repentance. John tells his listeners that they cannot rely on their lineage as Israelites because children of Abraham can be raised up from stones. Repentance, rather, must be observable in one's actions. Here, Luke is continuing to set up two important themes of his Gospel message: the Christian faith is expressed in one's actions, and the call to salvation is extended to everyone, Jews and Gentiles.
In today's Gospel reading, the crowds ask John the Baptist for specifics. What evidence of repentance is required? John replies by naming concrete actions: crowds should share their food and cloaks; tax collectors should be just; soldiers should act fairly. The concern for justice is a hallmark of Luke's Gospel.
When the crowd begins to wonder if John the Baptist might be the Messiah, John interprets his baptism and makes it clear that his ministry is in preparation for the Messiah. John the Baptist knows his place and role in God's plan of salvation. By encouraging the crowd to act similarly in accordance with their stations in life, John's teaching suggests that each person has a role to play in God's salvation. It is the great mystery of our salvation that God permits and even asks for human cooperation in his divine plans.
The third Sunday of Advent is also called Gaudete Sunday. Gaudete is a Latin word that means “rejoice.” This name is taken from the entrance antiphon for Sunday's Mass, which is also echoed in today's second reading from Paul's letter to the Philippians. Some people mark this Sunday by lighting a pink candle instead of a purple one on their Advent wreath. It is a reminder that the Advent season is a season of joy because our salvation is already at hand.
Saturday 12/18 & Sunday 12/19, STTW will be fundraising on the church patio. Donations will be gift-matched these two days up to $1500 total.
At the beginning of the pandemic, we changed our by-laws to include distributing food. STTW distributed 3,706 family food bags that were purchased at grocery chain cost to families who were desperately hungry. Many of the poor had lost their jobs that supply their meager daily food purchases. In 2021, STTW volunteers also distributed 5,497 pairs of shoes via a monthly distribution to our local homeless and in providing school shoes to impoverished children. Please see our mission results at www.shoestotheworld.org. We are an IRS 501c3 organization and ask for your continued support. Thank you.
Persecuted Missionary Released
Sister Gloria Cecilia Narvaez Argoty is a Colombian religious who was kidnapped by terrorists in the African desert and spent 4 years, 8 months and 2 days in captivity, always in danger of death. Read her amazing story of faith and perseverance.
OCP announces the launch of its USCCB-approved Catholic missal app,
Breaking Bread 2022 eMissal
Oregon Catholic Press announces the launch of its USCCB-approved Catholic missal app, Breaking Bread 2022 eMissal, which is now available to download on Android and iOS smartphones and tablets.
For those who like to have quick access to the readings for Mass, the Order of Mass and even music, this app has it all. It even has the full readings for weekday Mass.
The Breaking Bread 2022 eMissal app is a trusted and effective resource for preparing for Catholic Mass, active participation in the liturgy and for personal prayer and reflection. To learn more, visit ocp.org/breaking-bread-emissal.
David Fray plays Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria & Variation 1
2021 Annual Catholic Appeal
Reflect. Pray. Respond.
$92,000 -Our Diocesan Assessment
$83,011.50-Received- 191 donors
$8,988.50 -Amount needed before December 31, 2021
Now, more than ever, your help is needed. We have struggled to meet our assessment in recent years. If we do not meet our Diocesan assessment by December 31, 2021 the parish will have to make up the difference through parish funds.
Your gifts make possible the work that impacts so many in our diocese.
Whatever you can give is most appreciated by the parish and by the many people who will benefit from your donation.
Response Cards are available in the parish office or click the button below.
Elderly Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests have offered their lives in service to others—educating the young, comforting the sick, and ministering to the less fortunate. Today, many are frail and need assistance. Your gift to the Retirement Fund for Religious helps furnish medications, nursing care, and more. Please give generously by using the special envelope in our regular collection.
Ayuden a los religiosos y religiosas ancianos.
Las hermanas, hermanos y sacerdotes mayores de órdenes religiosas católicas han dedicado su vida en servicio a los demás: educaron a los jóvenes, cuidaron a los enfermos y sirvieron a los menos afortunados. Hoy, muchos son ancianos y necesitan ser atendidos. El regalo deducible de impuestos al Fondo para la Jubilación de Religiosos ayuda a proporcionar medicamentos, cuidado de enfermería y más. Sean generoso con la colecta de hoy.
Un Saludo del Diacono Miguel
Maria dijo, “Mi alma glorifica al Señor y mi espíritu se llena de júbilo en Dios, mi salvador’. En este Tercer Domingo de Adviento, celebramos el Dia de La Virgen de Guadalupe, un gran día para todo el Pueblo Americano, especialmente para los mexicanos. La imagen de nuestra Madre cuando se apareció a San Juan Diego nos habla profundamente. Sus colores, los símbolos, sus palabras, la respuesta del indígena Juan Dieguito merece mucha reflexión de nuestra parte. Dios por medio de su Madre nos da un regalo y promesa. El regalo es eterno tierno y la promesa que siempre estamos acompañados por Dios y su Madre. En el Evangelio de este domingo leemos la Anunciación, el ángel va con María y le dice que concebirá en su seno y dará a luz al Salvador del Mundo, el Mesías. María era una jovencita con sus propios sueños cómo cualquier “teenager”. Pero sus sueños y sus proyectos los pone a un lado y se pone a la disponibilidad de Dios. Amamos a Dios y queremos que Dios nos llene de Paz. Dios quiere lo mismo para nosotros. Perotenemos que poner de nuestra parte, y es responder cómo Maria, confiando completamente en la providencia de Dios. Contemplando a la imagen de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe, reflexionemos qué son esas cosas que nos impiden a decirle sí a Dios y a responderle a Él en la misma manera que Maria lo hizo.
Por favor escuchen a los enlaces proveídos, espero que les ayude en su meditación.
Maria dijo a Juan Dieguito, “Porque yo soy vuestra Madre misericordiosa, de ti, y de todos los hombres que viven unidos en esta tierra, y de todas las personas que me amen, los que me hablen, los que me busquen y los que en mí tienen confianza. Allí les escucharé sus lloros, su tristeza, para remediar, para curar todas sus diferentes penas, sus miserias, sus dolores.”
Our parish offices are open, Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 12:30pm and 1:30 to 4:30pm
In case of an emergency, you can always reach us by phone. If need be, the answering service can get in touch with one of our priests quickly- 760-729-2866.
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 link below:
