This weekend we have much to celebrate. Of course, it is the Fourth Sunday of Easter. We continue to bask in the light of the risen Lord. His death and resurrection have conquered the darkness of sin and evil. We acknowledge him as our Mighty God and Conqueror.
Every year on this 4th Sunday of Easter, the Lectionary for Sunday Mass presents to us Scripture readings that focus on Jesus as a shepherd. He is a shepherd, the sheepgate, and the gatekeeper all rolled into one. (The gospel is always a portion of chapter 10 of John’s gospel in which Jesus speaks of these themes at length.) In the short gospel passage we hear this week, Jesus tells us: “My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.”
So, the Fourth Sunday of Easter has come to be known as Good Shepherd Sunday. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who dedicates himself totally to the care of the flock. Likewise, this Sunday is observed as the World Day of Prayer for Vocations. The purpose of this day is to publicly fulfill the Lord's instruction to, "Pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest" (Mt 9:38; Lk 10:2). While appreciating all vocations, the Church concentrates its attention this day on vocations to the ordained ministries (priesthood and diaconate), consecrated life in all its forms (male and female religious life, societies of apostolic life, consecrated virginity), secular institutes in their diversity of services and membership, and to the missionary life.
I think you know that our part of the world is experiencing a decline in vocations to ordained ministry and religious life. I encourage you to pray for more vocations. I also ask you to give your support to your son or daughter, relative or friend who might be considering a vocation in the Church. An encouraging word goes a long way in promoting vocations.
This Sunday we also observe Mothers’ Day. It is a time for us to give thanks to God for the great gift that mothers are to their families. We pray that God would continue to bless our mothers and strengthen them in their faith. We also pray for any mothers who are struggling to fulfill their call and need the grace of God in a particular way. We also commend our deceased mothers to the arms of our loving and compassionate God. At all our Masses this weekend, we will pray a special blessing for all mothers.
Several recent popes have spoken about the image of God as mother. Of course, we more frequently address God as father, yet we know that God is neither male nor female. Read the article in this newsletter that speaks about “Discovering God as Mother.” It is enriching to reflect on the biblical images that ascribe maternal qualities to our God.
Happy Mothers’ Day to all mothers, grandmothers, mothers-to-be, foster mothers, godmothers and all who fulfill the role of mother in any way.
Due to uncertain weather conditions, this Sunday (May 8) the 11:00 a.m. Mass will be celebrated in the church.
Mothers Day Remembrance
Throughout the month of May, we will be praying for all mothers, living and deceased. The names of those requested will be placed on the altar in the church. There is an envelope for this purpose in your packet of envelopes. Additional envelopes are available in the back of the church. Or you can use a plain envelope and write on it the names of any mothers you want to be included. Simply place your envelope in any collection or send it to the office.
On this Saturday, May 7 at 1:00 pm, Bishop John Dolan, auxiliary bishop of our diocese, will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation for our young people who have been preparing for two years. This Mass will be livestreamed on our YouTube channel by going to https://youtu.be/u4wp1uDoIl4.
It will also be stored there for later viewing.
Congratulations to our confirmandi, their families, sponsors and the youth ministry team.
Ecumenism and the Catholic Church
What is the relationship between the Catholic Church and other Christian religions? Are their beliefs and practices really so different? Are we allowed to pray in non-Catholic churches? What does it mean to be ecumenical?
Fr. Ron recently taught a four-week course on Ecumenism. He will give a summary of what he covered and answer questions from participants. The session will last one and a half hours with one hour for presentation and thirty minutes for questions. The same program will be offered twice on Tuesday, May 17. The morning session will be at 9:00-10:30 am and be repeated at 7:00-8:30 pm. The session is free and no reservations are necessary.
Seeing God in the World
around Us
St. Francis of Assisi had the ability to see the beauty of God in the created world. A contemporary spiritual author and theologian offers a similar vision – a sacramental vision.
At the end of March, we began to share the Grief Newsletters that have been prepared by Hospice of North Coast. There are 12 issues in all. Before Easter, we shared the first three issues. You can still see them in the newsletter section of our parish website. Now we resume sharing one each week, beginning today with issue #5 which you can access below.
Given by Rachel’s Hope on May 13-15, 2022. Professionally led. Held at the Diocesan Pastoral Center, 3888 Paducah Drive, San Diego. Confidentiality maintained. Closing Mass included. Group Size limited. Cost $60; partial scholarships available. Limited housing available. “Not judged, not lectured, just healed”. For information/registration call Rosemary Benefield (858) 581-3022; text (858) 752-9378 or email rachels_hope@juno.com
Here is a beautiful arrangement of the traditional hymn Jesus Christ Is Risen Today. It was recorded in happier times by the Kyiv Symphony Orchestra and Chorus. The verses are in Ukrainian, but “Alleluia” is the same in any language!
Whispering Winds Women’s Auxiliary Spring Retreat in Julian
We invite you to come to join us on the mountain for a weekend of faith renewal and fellowship. What a fantastic opportunity for us to come together to encourage, support, laugh, and strengthen our faith! May 13 - 15th, 2022 - Cost is $195 - Financial Aid is Available - contact Chris Villalobos for more info 619-977-7403.
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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.
One of our sacraments is Holy Orders (plural). What are the three orders of this sacrament?
Who is the ordinary minister of the sacrament of Holy Orders?
Can you name the other six sacraments?
What are the three vows that most religious take? Do some religious take other vows?
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.
Paul and Barnabas preach the good news among the Gentiles and are expelled by the Jews.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 100:1-2,3,5
A song in praise of God who shepherds us.
Second Reading
Revelation 7:9,14b-17
John describes his vision of the praises that the holy ones sing to the Lamb.
Gospel Reading
John 10:27-30
Jesus describes his care for his sheep.
Background on the Gospel Reading
The fourth Sunday of Easter is also called Good Shepherd Sunday. In each of the three lectionary cycles, the Gospel is taken from the tenth chapter of the Gospel of John. This chapter of John's Gospel follows Jesus' healing of the man born blind and the rejection of this miracle by Jewish leaders who question Jesus' authority to heal. Jesus responds to this challenge to his authority by calling himself the Good Shepherd. He is criticizing the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders. Already, the Pharisees and other Jewish leaders are so angered that they attempt to stone and arrest Jesus (see John 10:31 and 10:39). This controversy with the religious leaders continues until Jesus' death.
Set in a moment of tension and conflict in John's Gospel, today's Gospel reading is Jesus' answer to the question, “Are you the Messiah?” Jesus responds by saying, in essence, “If you have to ask, then you are not one of my sheep.” Then Jesus asserts his unity with the Father. At the conclusion of these words, John reports that the Jews intend to stone Jesus for blasphemy, but he escapes arrest.
We may be less familiar with the metaphors of sheep and shepherd than those to whom Jesus spoke. The image of Jesus as Good Shepherd and the community of followers as his sheep has endured over the centuries as a primary image in our faith tradition. Its power to describe the relationship between Jesus and his followers transcends direct experience with sheep. The image speaks to us about the protection, security, and care that shepherds represent for their sheep.
Today's Gospel speaks powerfully about the familiarity and intimacy between Jesus and his disciples, expressed as recognizing and knowing another's voice. Today's Gospel also speaks to the relationship between Jesus and the Father. In the Gospel of John, Jesus identifies so closely with the Father that he tells us that they are one—not just close, but actually one. To know Jesus is to know the Father. Jesus doesn't just bring us closer to the Father, Jesus puts us directly into contact with God the Father, removing all distance between us. Our relationship with Jesus is an invitation to share in the life of God.
This weekend (May 7-8) our Knights of Columbus will be holding a flower sale after the Masses. The cost is $15 per bouquet. The proceeds go to Birth Choice of San Marcos.
May: The month of Our Blessed Mother
Thank you
The ladies of St. Patrick Altar Society would like to thank the parishioners for their support of our Easter Boutique. Because of you, we were able to raise $3,062 for the church.
The winners of the raffle baskets were: Padre Basket was won by Shawn & Diana Nolan; Quilt Basket was won by Barbara Mathias; Wine Basket was won by Ann Pomphrey. Congratulations to the winners.
Ye Olde Garage
The "Shoppe" will be open on Sunday, May 15 for the "Once a Month Sunday Sale". Please take a few minutes after Sunday Masses to come and see what we have to offer.
Regular hours for the Ye Olde Garage are Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. If you are a parent or grandparent of a student at St. Patrick School, why don't you come a few minutes early before pick-up time and browse for spring and summer children clothing?
Million Meals Event
The deacons of the Diocese of San Diego have come together to live out their mission to serve the needy by coordinating an event that provides a million nutritious meals to children and families living in extreme poverty.
About half of the meals will be sent to Tijuana, Mexico, for distribution by the Franciscan Sisters at Casa de los Pobres, a non-profit organization that has served the poor for decades. The meals also will be sent to charities serving the poor in the Philippines and Africa.
To do this, the deacons plan to raise $250,000 dollars to be able to purchase the food ingredients and to recruit 3,000 volunteers to pack the equivalent of one million meals over one fun, inspiring weekend.
Our parish deacons will be accepting donations on the patio on the weekends of May 7-8 and May 14-15. You may also wish to volunteer to help pack the meals on the weekend of June 11-12 at Cathedral Catholic High School. For more information or to volunteer go to www.sdcatholic.org/millionmeals
En aquel tiempo, Jesús dijo a los judíos, “Mis ovejas escuchan mi voz; yo las conozco y ellas me siguen. Yo les doy la vida eterna y no perecerán jamás; nadie las arrebatará de mi mano. Me las ha dado mi Padre, y Él es superior a todos, y nadie puede arrebatarlas de la mano del Padre. El Padre y yo somos uno”. Tenemos la tendencia de vivir una vida apresurada, sobreviviendo, encontrándonos en situaciones buenas y llenas de rizas; pero también en situaciones duras, fuertes, que nos quitan la paz, que nos quitan el sueño y no descansamos. Pero cuando nos sentimos abrumadas con todo lo que cargamos sobre nuestros hombros, detengámonos y ponernos en silencio, y repetir el nombre de Jesús, diciendo lentamente, “Jesús, Jesús, Jesús”. Y recordar que somos de Jesús, el Buen Pastor. Jesús siempre camina con nosotros, siempre está a nuestro lado cuidándonos, nutriéndonos, guiándonos. Para sentir su presencia y escuchar su voz, tenemos que ponernos en silencio y dejar que su presencia penetre nuestro corazón. Jesús nos dice en el Evangelio “que nadie podrá arrebatarnos de la mano del Padre”. Hagamos la decisión hoy, diciéndole a Jesús, “aquí estoy, tómame en tus manos, soy tuyo y tu eres mío. Confió en ti, Señor”.
Hoy quiero felicitar a todos las Madres. Sé que a veces se sienten que no son apreciadas y necesitadas por sus hijos. A veces, los hijos e hijas, no sabemos, o se nos olvida, darles las gracias, de brindarles un poco de tiempo para escucharlas o demostrarles amor. Me atrevo hablar por todos los hijos e hijas, diciéndoles, “Mami, perdónanos por no ser atentos. Gracias por amarme siempre. Gracias por siempre estando a mi lado. Mama, que Dios te siga bendiciendo. Mami, te amo y feliz Dia de las Madres”.
Por favor escuchen a los enlaces proveídos, espero que les ayude en su reflexión.
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