Many adolescents and young adults (and even some older adults) go through a stage that is called "searching faith.” It is not a denial of belief (though parents may wonder) but rather it is a time of asking the question, "Is this what I believe?" St. Thomas, as described in this Sunday’s gospel, is an example of searching faith. He will not blindly accept what others have said, but needs to find certainty for himself.
This stage of faith moves one from the "heart" to the "head." A person, like Thomas, is looking for a reason to believe. That is why many questions may arise about faith. This questioning stage can lead in either of two directions. Will the questioner become an unbeliever or move onto the next stage of faith? This is when many "drop-out" of church. Others will "regress" and live as adults with an immature faith.
It is a period of questioning traditional values and searching for understanding of the meaning of religious experience. It is a movement from the community’s understanding of faith to a personally appropriated understanding of belief. A necessary step in developing mature faith, it is often a difficult phase and may be misunderstood as losing faith. A person may withdraw from active participation in the life of the Church. This withdrawal may be for a short time or longer or forever.
As a stage of faith development, searching faith is the faith of questioning and internalizing what we have long been taught. Searching faith usually begins during late adolescence and often continues in earnest during young adulthood. For example, when I was a high school teacher many years ago, the most popular discussion question with my 12th grade students was "Does God Exist?"
This searching stage can be troubling for parents, teachers, etc. if not properly understood. And, of course, it's risky. However, only by questioning and testing what we have long been taught can we truly come to accept and internalize these teachings. Searching faith is a necessary prerequisite to owned faith. After exploring, "Is this what I believe?" one can, hopefully, discover an answer: "This is what I believe!" Owned faith is the strong, personal faith that one lives by, witnesses to and may even be willing to die for.
What can a parent or friend do to accompany someone in searching faith? It is important to take their questions seriously. Don’t dismiss them by saying “don’t ask that.” Open a dialogue to explore the questions. Be willing to share what your faith means to you. Be transparent. Be respectful of their questions. Be honest. And, of course, trust that God will touch their minds and hearts to know the love God has for them. Most importantly, love them and pray for them.
Everyone is invited to be a part of our celebration of the Golden Jubilee of Ordination for Fr. Bill Rowland, CJM. It begins with a Mass of Thanksgiving on April 16 at 11:00 am. A parish reception will follow in the Parish Center. Join us as we show our appreciation for Fr. Bill’s many years of service to Christ and His Church.
Fr. Bill does not want any personal gifts. He has requested that any gifts be given to the Eudist Fathers Retirement Fund. If you would like to show your appreciation to Fr. Bill with a gift, your check can be made payable to Eudist Fathers and sent to PO Box 3619, Vista, CA 92085-3619 or you may drop it in the collection basket at church. You may donate online at the link below, where you will find the button for the retirement fund.
What does it mean to say “Christ Is Risen?” That simple phrase has a profound meaning. Here is a brief reflection that “unpacks” some of the richness of those words.
The Lord Jesus constantly preached a message of the merciful love of God. He freely offered forgiveness to those who suffer, those who sinned, those who experienced loneliness or rejection. His message was that God’s mercy is available to all who turn to him.
In our time, this message of Divine Mercy is especially needed. With so many wars, so much disease, too much violence, and widespread division, we need to know the merciful love of God that is more powerful than hatred and sin.
In 1931, Jesus appeared to Sr. Faustina in Poland and expressed his desire for a feast celebrating this mercy. The Feast of Mercy was to be on the Sunday after Easter, this year on April 16.
This promise of mercy has been affirmed by the Church, which has made Divine Mercy Sunday an occasion for receiving a plenary indulgence, “the remission before God of the temporal punishment due to sin whose guilt has already been forgiven” (CCC, no. 1471). The plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful under the usual conditions (Confession, Eucharist, prayer for the intentions of the pope, and complete detachment from sin, even venial sin).
The Message of Pope Francis Urbi et Orbe
Every year at Easter and at Christmas, the pope shares a special message addressed to urbe (the city of Rome) and orbe (the whole world.
He then gives a blessing to the whole world. The blessing is announced from the central square of the Basilica of Saint Peter at The Vatican. This custom dates back to the twelfth century during the pontificate of Pope Gregory X.
Here is the Easter 2023 message and blessing of Pope Francis.
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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.
The apostle Thomas is referred to in the gospel as Didymus. What does that name mean?
When Jesus appeared to his disciples after the resurrection and Thomas was not there, with what words did he greet them?
According to the Acts of the Apostles, for how many days did Jesus remain with his disciples before returning to heaven?
How many times do the gospels record the risen Jesus appearing to his disciples?
What other names are given to the Second Sunday of Easter?
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.
The first community of Christians grows as its members meet to pray and break bread.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 118:2-4,13-15,22-24
God’s love is everlasting.
Second Reading
1 Peter 1:3-9
We have new hope because of Jesus’ Resurrection.
Gospel Reading
John 20:19-31
Thomas believes because he sees Jesus.
Background on the Gospel Reading
The Gospels tell us that Jesus appeared to the disciples on several occasions after they discovered that his tomb was empty. Part of the mystery of Jesus’ Resurrection is that he appeared to his disciples not as a spirit but in bodily form. The bodily form was not one that the disciples recognized though. In John’s Gospel, Mary of Magdala does not recognize that the figure standing before her is Jesus until he speaks to her. In Luke’s Gospel the disciples who meet Jesus on the road to Emmaus do not recognize him until he breaks bread with them. The resurrected Jesus had a physical presence, but the disciples couldn’t recognize Jesus unless he allowed them to. His resurrected body, nonetheless, showed the marks of his crucifixion.
From readings such as today’s Gospel, we also see that in his resurrected body, Jesus seems to be free of physical constraints. He appears to the disciples despite the fact that the doors were locked.
Jesus greets his disciples with the gift of peace and the gift of the Holy Spirit. In doing so, Jesus commissions his disciples to continue the work that he has begun: “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” During the meeting, Jesus also shows the integral connection between forgiveness of sins and the gift of the Holy Spirit.
The story of Thomas illustrates our Christian experience today: We are called to believe without seeing. In fact, all Christians after the first witnesses have been called to believe without seeing. Thomas’s doubt is hardly surprising; the news of Jesus’ appearance was incredible to the disciples who had seen him crucified and buried. Thomas’s human nature compelled him to want hard evidence that the Jesus who appeared to the disciples after his death was indeed the same Jesus who had been crucified. Thomas is given the opportunity to act on that desire. He is our witness that Jesus is really risen.
Our faith is based on the witness of the Church that has preceded us, beginning with Thomas and the first disciples. Through Baptism we receive the same Holy Spirit that Jesus brought to the first disciples. We are among those who are “blessed” because we believe without having seen.
Five Easter Hymns on Organ
Organist Paul Frey presents original harmonization's of five hymns associated with the Easter season. He offers them for our prayerful reflection and enjoyment.
Next Family Mass
Our Family Mass for this month will be on Sunday, April 23 at 9:00 am. We will joyfully welcome several new members of the Church through Baptism during this Mass. Bring your family to celebrate the new life we have all received through the risen Christ.
Spring Is Here!
Finally!
The volunteers at the garage wish you and your families a very Blessed Easter. The Ye Olde Garage Monthly Sunday Sale will be thisSundayApril 16 from 8:30 am to 2:30 pm.
We are hoping you will come and visit us and see what we have to offer at the Garage Sale. The location is the North/East corner of the Church Parking Lot. Just follow the Garage Sale Signs. Look for the Green Ye Olde Garage Sign and the American Flag.
Un Saludo de parte del Diacono Miguel,
“En los primeros días de la Iglesia, todos los hermanos acudían asiduamente a escuchar las enseñanzas de los apóstoles, vivían en comunión fraterna y se congregaban para orar en común y celebrar la fracción de pan”.(Hechos 2: 42) Continuamos la temporada de Pascua hasta el día de Pentecostés. La Iglesia, nos pide que tomemos tiempo para meditar y reflexionar el significado de Pascua. Este 2º Domingo de Pascua, la primera lectura de los Hechos de los Apóstoles, nos habla de cómo vivía la primera comunidad, que había una unidad ejemplar, todo se compartía por igual, nadie era más importante que otros. Y todos los días se reunían en el Templo para alabar a Dios. Y por medio de su ejemplo, la cantidad de cristianos aumentaba. El ejemplo que ellos demuestran debe ser nuestra meta también. Dios quiere que estemos unidos. Habrá diferentes opiniones e ideas, pero aun con estas diferencias, necesitamos buscar la unidad. En el Evangelio de este domingo, leímos que Jesús se presentó a sus discípulos, que estaban encerrados en una casa por miedo a los judíos, y les ofrece su “paz y el Espíritu Santo”. Pero uno de ellos, Tomás, no estaba con ellos y no vio al Señor resucitado. Pero ochos días después, Tomás estaba con ellos y ve al Señor cuando se presenta de nuevo a sus discípulos. Una vez más, es claro que el Señor quiere que estemos unidos, unidos con nuestras familias y unidos con el Cuerpo de Cristo. Manteniéndonos unidos requiere que seamos fieles a Dios, humildes y confiar que Dios esta en todo. Abramos nuestro corazón. Preguntémonos, “¿Soy un puente de unidad o un instrumento de división?
Evento: XVII Cruzada de Evangelización y Sanación. Haga clic aquí: (Mary, see attachment)
The diocese of San Diego treats all allegations of sexual misconduct by clergy or Church personnel seriously and deals with them in a prompt, confidential and thorough manner. To report sexual misconduct by clergy or Church personnel, including abuse, please call Mary Acosta, Victim Assistance Coordinator, (858) 490-8353, email misconduct@sdcatholic.org, or visit www.safeinourdiocese.org. Situations of recent or ongoing sexual abuse should be reported to local law enforcement.
Reportando denuncias de conducta sexual inapropiada
La diócesis de San Diego trata con seriedad todas las denuncias de conducta sexual inapropiada por parte del clero o del personal de la Iglesia y la trata de manera rápida, confidencial y exhaustiva. Para denunciar conducta sexual inapropiada por parte del clero o del personal de la Iglesia, incluyendo el abuso, llame a Mary Acosta, Coordinadora de Asistencia a Víctimas, (858) 490-8353, envíe un correo electrónico a misconduct@sdcatholic.org, o visite www.safeinourdiocese.org. Las situaciones de abuso sexual reciente o en curso deben informarse a la policía.
3821 Adams Street
Carlsbad, California 92008
760.729.2866
The Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe is open
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