Last Saturday, August 8, we had two beautiful Masses on our covered court with Bishop Robert McElroy. He shared the Sacrament of Confirmation with 106 of our young people who had been preparing for this day for a long time. The bishop urged them to “leave a trace” in the world by making a difference in the world by the way they live their faith. In whatever places they find themselves, now and in the future, leave a trace by living a virtuous life.
Many thanks to our Youth Ministry Team who worked so hard to prepare our young people. Now is the time for any high school age students who want to be confirmed to enroll in our Confirmation preparation program. It is a two-year process. Call the youth ministry office for further details 760.434.3278.
Next Wednesday, August 19, is the Feast of St. John Eudes, founder of the Congregation of Jesus and Mary (Eudist Fathers) who serve here at St. Patrick Catholic Community. In this week’s newsletter I am sharing more about him and his life. You can also join the Eudist Fathers in prayer on several occasions to mark his feast day. The details are explained below.
In honor of the feast day of St. John Eudes, founder of the Congregation of Jesus and Mary (Eudist Fathers), all three parish Masses on the covered court will be the proper Mass for his feast. In addition, the online recorded Mass will also be the Mass of St. John Eudes.
Fr. Ron will also lead an online midday prayer service using Zoom at 11:00 am. It will include Scripture readings and a reading from St. John Eudes. All are welcome to join in. Just send Fr. Ron an email requesting a Zoom invitation. He will send it to you by Wednesday.
There will also be Spanish events online in honor of St. John Eudes on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. See the link in Spanish for the complete schedule.
We are happy to report that the recent county guidance for Places of Worship dated July 21, 2020 from the County of San Diego states that singing by the assembly is now permitted outdoors. This assumes that people are socially distant and wearing masks.
At the same time, we still need to try to minimize the length of time that people are together for worship. In other words, we still need to keep the Mass briefer than usual.
With that in mind, we are inviting the congregation to sing some of the parts of the Mass. A small sheet of paper will be on the table as you enter the outdoor worship space. It will have the lyrics of the Opening Song. We will also sing the Alleluia, Holy Holy and Great Amen. Please dispose of this paper as you exit in the trash cans provided. Do not put it back on the table. It cannot be reused.
Fill Us Up and Send Us Out, Lord
This song reminds us in a powerful way that the same God who offers us comfort and peace sends out to continue God’s work for justice and peace. As we are fed at the table of the Lord, we are also sent to feed the world.
Thank You for Your Generosity
Our parish is blessed by so many kind and generous people. Even in the midst of the ever-changing circumstances of parish life during a pandemic, many of our parishioners have continued to send or bring their contributions to the parish. Many have begun using online giving. I am so grateful that so many people have continued to contribute. It has been very helpful to the financial situation of the parish. While our income is down significantly, the generosity shown by so many has enabled us to maintain the parish complex, keep current with our bills, and pay our dedicated staff. Thank you all, very much!
Even as Masses are being celebrated outside on the school grounds, there will be specially marked baskets on the tables near the entrance to the field into which you can place your offerings. Of course, you can continue to mail us your contribution or drop it off at the office (8:30 am – 12:30 pm). Online giving remains a good option as well. Thank you for supporting your parish.
"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.
In what year was the dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary officially proclaimed by the pope?
Before his election as Bishop of Rome, in what country did Pope Francis serve as a priest and bishop?
The Council of Trent declared that there are seven sacraments. How many sacraments did Martin Luther and the other reformers say that there are?
Who is eligible to vote for a pope during a conclave?
According to Catholic tradition, to whom did Our Lady appear near Lourdes, France in 1858?
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.comWe will be pleased to add them.
We have opened a YouTube channel where we have daily and Sunday Masses as well as Fr. Ron's new Bible Study posted for the parish called St Patrick Church Carlsbad that you can subscribe to.
Jesus heals the daughter of the Canaanite woman because of her great faith.
Background on the Gospel Reading
Today we move ahead in our reading of Matthew’s Gospel. Last week we read about Jesus walking on the waterand the disciples’ confession of faith that Jesus is the Son of God. If we were reading Matthew’s entire Gospel, we would have read about Jesus’ debate with the Pharisees about Jewish purity laws. Jesus argues that it is not what goes into us that makes us unclean; he is referring to the strict Jewish dietary rules. Instead our words and our actions—what comes out of us—make us unclean because they emerge from a heart that is unclean.
Knowing about Jesus’ debate with the Pharisees helps us to understand today’s Gospel. In fact, the story heightens the surprise and shock we feel as we hear Jesus’ exchange with the Canaanite woman. The woman, who is not Jewish, approaches Jesus, requesting that he heal her demon-possessed daughter. At first Jesus ignores her; he says nothing. The disciples ask Jesus to send her away, and Jesus agrees, remarking that he was sent to minister to the Jews alone.
The woman persists, paying homage to Jesus, and yet Jesus denies her request again. He even insults her, using a Jewish word of derision for Gentiles, “dog.” But the woman cleverly turns Jesus’ insult into an affirmation of faith. Only then does Jesus grant her request and heal her daughter.
Jesus’ unresponsiveness to this woman may strike us as uncharacteristic or shocking. Yet in Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus’ ministry is directed primarily to the people of Israel. At only a very few points, such as the one found in today’s Gospel, do we find Jesus anticipating the later Christian ministry to the rest of the world.
Behind Matthew’s text we can hear this early Christian community’s struggle to understand how God’s selection of Israel is consistent with two events: Israel’s rejection of Jesus and the Gentiles’ acceptance of Jesus. Just as Jesus was surprised by the faith expressed by the Canaanite woman, so too the first Christians were surprised that the Gentiles would receive the salvation God offered through Christ. In today’s second reading from Paul’s letter to the Romans, we hear the apostle Paul considering this same concern.
The faith that the Canaanite woman expresses is an affirmation of and confidence in God’s abundant mercy. Yes, salvation comes through Israel, but it overflows for the benefit of all.
El cristiano supera la división con amor gratuito.
Los ciudadanos del reino encuentran la paz con quienes, como él, aceptan su propia muerte para que el otro viva, encuentre la comunión con los que viven en la esperanza. En cambio, con aquellos que no buscan la verdad, el amor y la justicia, se encontrará dividido y experimentará la realidad de las palabras de Cristo: "¿Crees que he venido a traer la paz a la tierra? No, les digo, sino división ”(Lc 12, 51). Pero supera la división con amor. Incluso si su palabra y su acción crean divisiones y oposiciones, no devuelve mal por mal, pero sabe vencer el mal con el bien. Paga el odio con amor. Como Jesús, su maestro, que "derribó el muro, la enemistad haciendo la paz en la sangre de su cruz" (cf. Ef 2, 14,16), así también el cristiano es portador del amor en todas partes.
Padre Carlos
Religious Education & Family Ministry
Registration Information for the 2020 -2021 School Year
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We are here to support you in forming your children in the Catholic Faith
with weekly emails for family time and prayer. We are happy to add you to the distribution list – just send us an email:
with a creative and blended program for onsite and at home teaching in the fall
Please check out our St. Patrick Church website at www.stpatrickcarlsbad.comif you need to find information or would like to register your child/ren for:
Sacramental preparation (Baptism, First Confession, First Communion age 6 and older)
Continued Faith Formation (Kindergarten, 3rd grade and older)
Family Catechesis with monthly themes – For families with children of all ages: Making the family the heart of the church
For questions about program choices, fees, or payment plans, contact the Office for Religious Education & Family Ministry at MDornisch@stpatrickcarlsbad.com or 760-729-8442.
Reflection: Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
A Canaanite woman begs Jesus for healing for her daughter. She is focused, courageous, and persistent. She does not need to take the food away from others – even scraps and crumbs will be enough. What amazing faith!
For parents:How has persistent faith in Jesus helped you in times of need?
For children:Who might need a helping hand this week? What could you share with others?
Outreach opportunities:
As you shop for school supplies, buy some extra and bring to the Parish Office (open 8:30am – 12:30pm) marked for Children at the Casa (House of the Poor in Tijuana). There is a great need for children’s socks and shoes. Thank you for your generosity!
United in prayer,
Margit Dornisch
Director of Religious Education for Children and Family Ministry
Preparing to Vote in the Upcoming Elections
It is clear in Catholic moral teaching that every Catholic who is eligible to vote should exercise that right as a moral responsibility. Every one of us needs to accept the responsibility to make a wise and informed choice in voting for elected officials at all levels of government.
It is also incumbent on each Catholic to make an informed choice. It is not about party loyalty or personal gain. We should be guided by a well-formed conscience in choosing for whom we will vote. Conscience is much more than a preference or an opinion. We have a responsibility to educate ourselves about the issues involved and to allow our consciences to be guided by Catholic social teaching.
The US Bishops have written a document called Faithful Citizenship. It explains the issues facing our nation and the Church’s position on these issues. A summary of this document has been made by the bishops’ conference. Part 1 of this summary is attached. Part 2 will be included in next week’s newsletter. Read it and be ready to make informed choices this November.
Our parish offices are open, Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 12:30pm.
During this time of inactivity, we will use our parish email system to communicate with parishioners to offer spiritual reflections and make announcements.
In case of an emergency, you can always reach us by phone. We will be checking regularly for messages and respond as soon as possible. If need be, the answering service can get in touch with one of our priests quickly.
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:
