I am sure you noticed a new expression introduced into our cultural vocabulary in the last week: “quarantine fatigue.” For most of us, it needs no explanation. Even if “we know that it is for our own good,” we are getting tired of “distancing.” To a greater or lesser degree, everyone is suffering from the economic impact of the “shelter in place”
Yet we cannot forget those strategies that have brought us to the point that we can begin to think about a gradual reopening. It is something that we all want. But we must renew our commitment to work together for the common good. We cannot give in to impulsive actions without thinking through the consequences. We must listen to and obey those who are trying to coordinate our journey through this crisis. This is no time for individuals to decide “to do their own thing.”
I was pleased to hear the words of Pope Francis at one of his Masses this week. He was addressing the situation in Italy, but I think it applies to us and all people in the world as well.
The Holy Father said, “In this time in which dispositions are beginning to be made for exiting from the quarantine, let’s pray to the Lord that he gives his people, all of us, the grace of prudence and obedience to those dispositions, so the pandemic does not return.”
Do you ever feel that life is unfair? Is your faith in God still strong in the midst of hardship, confusion, anxiety and suffering? Can you love a God who leaves you with your suffering? If we look to the passion of Christ, we clearly see a God who does not eradicate or sidestep injustice and great suffering, but embraces them.
During this time of no public Masses, our priests continue to offer our recorded Masses for the intentions that people have requested. We are still able to schedule additional Mass intentions for your deceased family and friends or for your particular intentions. These intentions can be scheduled for a particular date or left to availability. These intentions are announced during the Prayer of the Faithful in our Masses online. You may call the parish office (760-729-2866), leave a message, and one of our secretaries will get back to you to get the information. Thank you.
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.
To whom did the angel of the Lord announce the future birth of Jesus? (Be careful!)
What is the official daily prayer of the Catholic Church?
What months of the year are dedicated in a special way to the Virgin Mary?
Who is the patron saint of youth?
Into what language did St. Jerome translate the Bible?
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.
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:
