Come to the Feast - Week 40 - Friday, October 9, 2026

St. Patrick Parish News & Updates

October 9, 2026 | Issue 40

Pastor’s Reflection

Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

The readings for the Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time present a powerful image of God’s generous invitation. Through the prophet Isaiah, we hear of a magnificent banquet prepared by the Lord, a feast where sorrow, death, and tears will be overcome. In the Gospel, Jesus tells the parable of a king who organizes a wedding banquet for his son. Together, these readings remind us that God’s desire is to gather all people into the joy of His Kingdom.

The wedding feast symbolizes the eternal communion God wants to share with humanity. The invitation is offered freely, yet many refuse to come. Some are too occupied with their businesses and daily concerns; others openly reject the king’s messengers. This reflects a recurring challenge in our spiritual lives. God continually invites us to deeper prayer, greater discipleship, and closer union with Him, but distractions, worldly priorities, and indifference often prevent us from responding.

The king then sends his servants into the streets to invite everyone they can find, both good and bad alike. This extraordinary gesture reveals the boundless mercy of God. No one is excluded from His invitation. The Church continues this mission today, reaching out to all people regardless of background, status, or past failures. Every Mass is a reminder that we are guests at the Lord’s banquet, welcomed by grace rather than by our own merits.

Yet the parable contains a serious warning. One guest arrives without the proper wedding garment and is cast out. The wedding garment represents the new life given through faith and lived through holiness. Accepting God’s invitation is only the beginning. We are called to be transformed by Christ, clothing ourselves with humility, charity, forgiveness, and obedience to God’s will. Genuine discipleship requires not only saying “yes” to God’s invitation but also allowing His grace to change our lives.

Saint Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, provides an example of this transformed life. He speaks of being content in every circumstance because he has learned to rely completely on Christ. His confidence comes from the Lord, who strengthens him in every trial and blessing. Paul teaches us that true fulfillment is found not in material success but in trusting God’s providence.

As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How am I responding to God’s invitation? Do I make time for prayer, worship, and service, or do other concerns take precedence? Am I wearing the garment of Christ through a life of faith and charity?

May we gratefully accept the Lord’s invitation each day, allowing His grace to prepare us for the eternal banquet where every tear will be wiped away and where we will rejoice forever in His presence. Amen.

Blessings always,

Fr. George G. Perez, CJM

Word of the Week: Soutane

A soutane is a long, ankle-length, buttoned-down black garment—also known as a cassock—worn by Roman Catholic priests and other members of the clergy. The word soutane is derived from the Italian sottana (meaning an undergarment), tracing back to the Latin subtus ("beneath" or "under").

Saint Carlo Acutis (1991–2006) was an English‑born Italian teenager whose deep love for the Eucharist, daily prayer, and acts of charity made him a powerful witness to holiness in ordinary life.

Born May 3, 1991, in London, Carlo moved with his Italian parents to Milan as an infant. From a young age he showed an unusual spiritual sensitivity: he prayed the Rosary, attended daily Mass after his First Communion at age seven, and developed a special devotion to Eucharistic adoration.

Carlo was also gifted with computers. He taught himself programming and web design, using these skills to serve the Church.

He lived his faith concretely: defending classmates who were bullied, helping the poor, and offering his time and resources quietly to those in need. His spirituality was deeply influenced by St. Francis of Assisi, and he often visited Assisi with his family.

In September 2006, Carlo fell ill with an aggressive form of leukemia. He offered his suffering for the Pope and the Church, saying, “I want to offer all my suffering to the Lord for the Pope and for the Church.” He died on October 12, 2006, at age 15, and was buried in Assisi. This is the day on which the Church celebrates his Feast Day.

The Church recognized his heroic virtue in 2018, beatified him in 2020, and canonized him on September 7, 2025, making him the first millennial saint and popularly known as the “patron saint of the Internet.”

Family Rosaries

The Office for Religious Education invites you to Family Rosaries in October.

We will meet in the Guadalupe Chapel on October 9, 16, and 23 from 4pm – 4:30pm.

Rosaries and prayer guides will be provided.

All are welcome!

Pope Leo Sings with Children

Pope Leo XIV invited 700 children to join him in the Vatican gardens to pray the rosary for peace. He even sang along with the children.

Bible Basics Class

As the title suggests, this course will cover the basics of reading and studying the Bible from a Catholic perspective. First and foremost, we will explore what it means to say that the Bible is the Word of God written by human authors. What is Revelation? What is inspiration? Is the Bible free of errors?

Equally important, we will explore why it is important to read the text in the context in which it was written. That includes the cultural, historical, religious and political situation in which the biblical author was immersed.

How did the New Testament develop? What is the relevance of the Old Testament? What is the relationship of the Scriptures and Tradition? What is wrong with fundamentalism?

These and many other questions will be explored and discussed during four classes. We will meet in the Patio Room on Mondays October 19 & 26 as well as November 9 & 16 (We skip November 2 because of the annual Parish All Souls Mass.) Classes will be from 6:30 – 8:00 pm.

There is no fee for this course and there is no book to buy. Just bring your Bible.

To register, send an email to Fr. Ron Bagley, CJM at rmbagley@yahoo.com or call him at the parish office.

Advent Food Drive

The Knights of Columbus will be collecting items for the Annual Food Drive to benefit:

St Patrick Parish Food Bank, Showers of Blessings, and Catholic Charities

See the flyer here for more information...

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

Online Giving Reminder

If you currently use Online Giving for your electronic giving, please make sure you login to the application frequently to make sure your credit card information is up to date.

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

Make your contribution to our ACA fund here...

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 commandment teaches that we must honor and respect our parents?
Which commandment forbids worshiping idols or false gods?
Which commandment calls us to keep holy the Lord’s Day?
Which commandment forbids bearing false witness against your neighbor?
Which commandment warns against coveting your neighbor’s goods?

Feel free to email Fr. Ron with ideas for future Catholic Trivia questions rmbagley@yahoo.com

Answers to Catholic Trivia here!

YouTube channel here...

Give to Your Church here...Online Giving

Read prior newsletters here

Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A

First Reading

Isaiah 25:6-10a

The Lord will provide richly for his people.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 23:1-6

The Lord is our shepherd.

Second Reading

Philippians 4:12-14,19-20

Paul tells the Philippians that God provides whatever he needs.

Gospel Reading

Matthew 22:1-14 (shorter form Matthew 22:1-10)

Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a wedding feast.

Background on the Gospel Reading

Immediately after criticizing the religious leaders through the parable of the tenants in last Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus proceeded to tell another parable, again directed at the religious leaders. We hear this parable in today’s Gospel.

In the parable of the wedding feast, Jesus offers an image of the kingdom of heaven using the symbol of a wedding banquet. In today’s first reading from the prophet Isaiah and in today’s psalm, the Lord’s goodness is evident in the symbol of a feast of good food and wine. Jesus’ listeners would have been familiar with the image of a wedding feast as a symbol for God’s salvation. They would consider themselves to be the invited guests. Keeping this in mind helps us to understand the critique Jesus makes with this parable. The context for this parable is the growing tension between Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders in Jerusalem. This has been the case for the past two Sundays and will continue to be true for the next several weeks.

The parable Jesus tells is straightforward. The king dispatches his servants to invite the guests to the wedding feast that he is planning for his son. The listeners would have been surprised to learn that the first guests refused the invitation. Who would refuse the king’s invitation? A second dispatch of servants follows. Again, to the listeners’ great surprise, some guests ignore the invitation. Some of the invited guests even go so far as to mistreat and kill the servants. The king invokes his retribution against these murderers by destroying them and burning their city.

We might stop here for a moment. Why would some guests kill the servants sent to invite them to the king’s wedding feast? It might be possible that the king was a tyrant, evidenced by the destruction of the city of those who refused his invitation. But if we follow this idea, then the allegory seems to be about something other than the kingdom of heaven. It is more likely that the destruction of the city would have been a powerful image corresponding to the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in A.D. 70, which would have been an important event for Matthew’s audience.

With the invited guests now deemed unworthy to attend the king’s wedding feast, the servants are sent to invite whomever they can find. The guests arrive, but it appears that accepting the king’s invitation brings certain obligations. The guest who failed to dress in the appropriate wedding attire is cast out of the feast. We are reminded that while many are invited to the kingdom of heaven, not all are able to meet its requirements. God invites us to his feast, giving us his salvation. Yet he asks us to repent for our sins.

Jesus’ message in the parable cautions against exclusive beliefs about the kingdom of heaven. The parable also teaches about humility. Those who assume that they are the invited guests may find that they have refused the invitation, and so others are invited in their place. To accept the invitation is also to accept its obligations. God wants our full conversion in complete acceptance of his mercy.

Come Now Is the Time to Worship

This song by Brian Doerksen has become a popular worship song. It’s words and melody lift our hearts in praise.

Christ Is Enough

This song is brought to us by Hillsong Worship from the Hillsong Worship album, 'Glorious Ruins'.

Ye Olde Garage

The Ye Olde Garage is having a wonderful Halloween Sale for the month of October. All Halloween costumes and Halloween items will be half price for the entire month. We have items for the Fall season as well. We hope you will come to visit us at the Ye Olde Garage which is located at the far North parking lot. Look for the green sign that says YE OLDE GARAGE.

The Monthly Sunday Sale will be October 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. We might even have Christmas items available by then.

SAVE THE DATE—

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18

2nd Annual St. Patrick Catholic Church

Trunk or Treat

To participate or to volunteer, please email

Erin Daraskavich—erinangelo@gmail.com

Read more about it here...

Come See Catholic Education

in Action

Whether you are considering kindergarten or another grade, we invite you to visit our campus and see Catholic education in action. A campus tour is an opportunity to experience our school firsthand, meet our teachers and students, see our classrooms, and ask questions.

We are blessed to be part of the St. Patrick Catholic community. St. Patrick Catholic School is a thriving K–8 community of approximately 480 students, where our mission is simple: to foster a community where students grow in faith and knowledge in order to bring Christ’s light to the world.

We are blessed with a dedicated faculty and staff who serve our Church, committed and loving families who partner with us in forming their children, and a wonderful parish community that supports our mission. Together, we help our students grow in faith, develop strong relationships, discover their God-given gifts, and learn what it means to live as disciples of Christ.

Our students gather for weekly Mass, participate in prayer and faith

formation, and are given opportunities to experience the sacramental life of the Church. Faith is not simply something we teach. It is something we strive to live each day as a school community.

Schedule a tour here... See what is happening at St. Patrick Catholic School

Reflexión del Párroco

XXVIII Domingo ordinario

Las lecturas de este Vigésimo Octavo Domingo del Tiempo Ordinario nos presentan una hermosa imagen del amor y la generosidad de Dios. El profeta Isaías anuncia un gran banquete preparado por el Señor para todos los pueblos, una fiesta de abundancia donde serán eliminados el sufrimiento, la tristeza y la muerte. En el Evangelio, Jesús continúa este mensaje mediante la parábola del banquete de bodas, revelando el deseo profundo de Dios de reunir a sus hijos en la alegría de su Reino.

La invitación al banquete simboliza la llamada que Dios dirige a cada persona. Sin embargo, en la parábola, muchos de los invitados rechazan la invitación porque están demasiado ocupados con sus negocios y preocupaciones. Esta actitud puede reflejar también nuestra realidad. Con frecuencia, las responsabilidades diarias, el trabajo, las preocupaciones económicas y las distracciones del mundo ocupan tanto espacio en nuestra vida que terminamos dejando a Dios en un segundo plano.

A pesar de los rechazos, el rey no cancela la fiesta. Envía a sus servidores a invitar a todos los que encuentren en los caminos. Este gesto nos muestra la inmensa misericordia de Dios. Su invitación es universal; nadie está excluido de su amor. La Iglesia continúa hoy esta misión, anunciando el Evangelio a todas las personas, sin importar su condición social, su pasado o sus limitaciones. Dios desea que todos participen de su mesa y experimenten la alegría de su salvación.

Sin embargo, Jesús añade un detalle importante: uno de los invitados no lleva el traje de boda adecuado. Este traje representa la conversión del corazón y la vida nueva que recibimos en Cristo. No basta con aceptar la invitación; también debemos permitir que la gracia de Dios transforme nuestra manera de vivir. El verdadero discípulo se reviste de fe, humildad, caridad, justicia y misericordia.

En la segunda lectura, san Pablo ofrece un ejemplo de esta transformación interior. Desde su experiencia personal, afirma que ha aprendido a vivir tanto en la abundancia como en la necesidad porque su fortaleza proviene de Cristo. Su confianza no depende de las circunstancias externas, sino de la presencia del Señor que lo sostiene en todo momento.

Hoy el Señor sigue invitándonos a su banquete, especialmente en la celebración de la Eucaristía. Cada Misa es un anticipo del banquete eterno prometido por Dios. Preguntémonos: ¿Estoy respondiendo con generosidad a la invitación del Señor? ¿Permito que su gracia transforme mi vida? ¿Estoy vestido con las obras de amor y servicio que identifican a un verdadero cristiano?

Que María, Madre de la Iglesia, nos ayude a responder con alegría a la invitación de su Hijo y a prepararnos cada día para participar plenamente en el banquete eterno de su Reino. Amén.

Bendiciones siempre.

P. George G. Pérez, CJM

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

Pray with Pope Leo XIV

Pope Leo, in his prayer intention for this month, invites us to pray for mental health ministry, so that we may know how to welcome those who suffer in silence, support those who care for them, and learn to integrate mental health care into our community life as a living sign of mercy.

3821 Adams Street

Carlsbad, California 92008

760.729.2866

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: gperez@eudistsusa.org

rmbagley@yahoo.com

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