Some people have pointed out that during this time of crisis, they have come to appreciate what is really important and to remember to thank the Lord for those important things. Speaking for myself, I already see how this pandemic and our need to adapt to it has made me reexamine my priorities. I hope it has done the same for you.
It is amazing how difficult times like these bring forth so much goodness and generosity from people. Of course, we see every day how health care workers, first responders, public servants and people who provide essential services are working tirelessly on our behalf. We see so many people and businesses stepping forward to make sure that people have food to eat (including the volunteers from our own parish). I see on a daily basis the diligence and self-sacrifice of our parish staff.
I am also very grateful to the many members of our parish who have taken the time to ask how our priests and staff members are doing. Thanks be to God, everyone is doing well. I am grateful to the many parishioners who have expressed their appreciation for the recorded Masses online, the email newsletters and the Easter Bible Study. I am especially grateful to the many parishioners who continue to support our parish financially. People are using online giving or mailing in their donations to the parish and the ACA. I know that we all have many financial concerns during this crisis, so I thank you for lessening my worries about parish finances through your regular contributions.
God’s grace is all around us. Maybe it is not in the usual places, but God never leaves us alone. Take some time as individuals or as families to notice the signs of God’s grace and give thanks for all God’s blessings.
What does it mean for me, as a parish priest, not to be able to celebrate a Mass with my parishioners?
For all of you, whether you are married or single, your primary vocation in life is to give a meaning to your lives both in your state in life, as married or singles, and in the work that you do to grow in your life as a married person or as a single person.
For us, priests, especially parish priests, our vocation is to be at the service of God’s people, especially the parishioners we are presently serving. And we serve, first, by celebrating the sacraments with them and, especially by celebrating Mass with them and for them. We are also available to share God’s forgiveness with them. We accompany them when they lose a loved one by celebrating a funeral Mass. We rejoice with couples who celebrate their love in the Sacrament of Marriage. And we’re always ready to help our parishioners grow in their spiritual lives and help them in their spiritual, emotional, or material needs.
This is our vocation. But right now we’re unable to fulfill our vocation the way we used to doing it. We’re still in touch with you through the parish website or through other technological means, which I’m not familiar with. But for me, as an old priest, I never had that experience and I don’t like it. Like all of you, we parish priests, we’re eager for the day when we will all be able to get together in church to celebrate Mass and all the other sacraments.
But, of course, if a loved one is seriously sick, don’t hesitate to call the parish. We’re allowed to go and pray for anyone who is seriously sick.
May the Lord fill all of you with His peace and His love!
La Eucaristía, nos dice el Concilio VATICANO II, es "la cumbre y la fuente de toda la vida cristiana". La comunidad cristiana no es un grupo reunido en torno a un interés humanitario, un ideal filantrópico, un código moral. Se reúne alrededor de una persona: el Cristo resucitado, la fuerza unificadora y la fuerza impulsora de la comunidad.
Al igual que los discípulos de Emaús, desanimados y decepcionados, presa del escepticismo y la desconfianza, el mundo de hoy reconoce a Cristo cuando los cristianos realmente saben cómo "partir el pan". La Eucaristía tiene un significado profundamente social. Compartir el pan eucarístico es un llamado preciso a compartir el otro pan, en un compromiso de justicia, solidaridad, defensa de aquellos a quienes se les roba el pan con las injusticias de los hombres y los sistemas sociales equivocados. La división del pan eucarístico nos presiona, por coherencia, a una distribución más justa de los bienes, luchando contra cualquier desigualdad económica, para que nadie pierda el "pan de cada día". Si no sabemos cómo partir nuestro pan, nuestra credibilidad cristiana se verá comprometida y el mundo del subdesarrollo buscará otras formas de obtener justicia, bajo el impacto de la "ira de los pobres".
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.
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.
What are the three theological virtues?
What are the four cardinal virtues?
Where is St. Peter buried?
Did St. Peter accompany St. Paul on any of his missionary journeys?
Can you name the Luminous Mysteries of the rosary?
I realize that some of you are experiencing budget problems of your own at this time and I am not asking to cut yourself short. But please keep in mind the needs of our parish during these uncertain times.
Those of you who use weekly offertory envelopes, please enclose your giving into the special mailing envelope that comes in your packet
Many of you pay your bills using online banking bill pay, you can choose St. Patrick Church to receive donations to Sunday Collection this way
This may also be a time to consider using Online Giving as a way of contributing to the parish during this time. https://www.osvonlinegiving.com/58
Peter and the other apostles baptize 3,000 people.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 23:1-6
The Lord is my shepherd.
Second Reading
1 Peter 2:20b-25
We have been healed by the wounds of Christ.
Gospel Reading
John 10:1-10
Jesus is the gate for his sheep.
Background on the Gospel Reading
This Fourth Sunday of the Easter season is sometimes called Good Shepherd Sunday because in each of the three lectionary cycles, the Gospel reading invites us to reflect on Jesus as the Good Shepherd. In each cycle the reading is from the tenth chapter of John’s Gospel. This chapter sets the framework for Jesus’ teaching about himself as the Good Shepherd.
Today’s reading falls between the stories of Jesus’ healing of the man born blind and the raising of Lazarus. Both of these stories were proclaimed in the Gospels found in this year’s season of Lent. Following the controversy that ensued when Jesus healed the man born blind, Jesus directs his allegory about the sheep and the shepherd toward the Jewish religious leaders of his time, the Pharisees.
Throughout John’s Gospel the Pharisees fail to accept Jesus’ ministry and teaching. They show themselves to be “robbers and thieves” because they try to lead the sheep without entering through the gate, Jesus. Through these metaphors, Jesus is telling his listeners that those who follow him and his way will find abundant life. He identifies himself both as the shepherd and the gate. The shepherds who are faithful to him are the ones whom the sheep (Jesus’ disciples) should follow.
The relationship between the sheep and their shepherd is based on familiarity. Sheep recognize their shepherd and will not follow a stranger. At the end of the day, shepherds lead their sheep from pastures to a common gated area called a sheepfold. There, one shepherd protects all of the sheep until the next day when each shepherd returns to lead his own sheep to pasture. As shepherds move among the sheep, the sheep follow only their shepherd.
Today’s Gospel also gives us the opportunity to reflect on Christian leadership. Jesus’ words suggest to us that those who will lead the Christian community will be known by their faithfulness to Jesus. The leaders will recognize that Jesus is the gate for all of the sheep and that having a good relationship with Jesus is the primary characteristic of a Christian leader. Jesus’ allegory also suggests that faithful Christian leadership requires a good relationship with the community: the shepherd knows his sheep, and they know him. Christian leaders follow the example of Jesus, the Good Shepherd, by being faithful to him and by being a good shepherd.
come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.
Comunión Espiritual
Creo, Jesús mío,
que estás real
y verdaderamente
en el Santísimo Sacramento del Altar.
Te amo sobre todas las cosas
y deseo vivamente recibirte
dentro de mi alma,
pero no pudiendo hacerlo
ahora sacramentalmente,
ven al menos
espiritualmente a mi corazón.
Y como si ya te hubiese recibido,
te abrazo y me uno del todo a Ti.
Señor, no permitas que jamás me aparte de Ti. Amen
Dedication to Mary, Mother of the Church
The Bishops of the United States and Canada will dedicate their countries to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Mother of the Church
I pray this e-newsletter finds you as well as can be expected during this unique time in our country, and indeed, our planet.
In talking with our youth leaders, we thought it might be nice to share with the greater parish community just a bit of what we've been doing in youth ministry since the end of last June.
The video you're about to watch is just over a minute long. One of the things that I have found over the years is that many people don't realize how much more than Confirmation/Faith Formation we do with regards to our youth ministry efforts. In this video you'll see pics from our Confirmation sessions but you'll also see pics from our Leadership Camp with our Core Team last June, prayer nights with our families, our youth distributing ashes on Ash Wednesday, families participating in the Advent Penance service, pics from our retreats, L.A. Youth Day, a youth night at the Pumpkin Patch, some Bonfire pics & more. We really have been pretty active. As I watched this video, it made me miss the youth and families I have the privilege of working with but it also reminded me of what a great community we have here at St. Pat's. I look forward to when we're able to be together and create new memories. Until then, let us keep each other in prayer. May the Lord bless and keep each of you in the palm of His hand.
Blessings,
Pat Clasby
Director of Youth Ministry
St. Patrick Parish
Online Giving users - set up your Sunday Donation here
You can also make donations using your smart phone when you download the Online Giving app in the Apple or Android stores.
If you are not a regular financial supporter of St. Patrick Church, please consider making a donation by using Online Giving.
The church is open for private prayer every day from 7:00am - 11:00am, however the Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe is closed
The Parish Office will be closed until further notice, but you can call to leave a message: 760.729.2866
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:
