Advent will be a little different this year. We will all be staying home a lot more to avoid spreading the virus but if you feel safe at the Masses on our covered court, I hope to see you on the next four weekends.
On any of the weekends of Advent, you can receive General Absolution at the beginning of our Masses. This replaces our usual Advent Penance Service. I have recorded a penance service and it is on our YouTube channel. I highly recommend that you spend some time listening to it and reflecting on its message prior to receiving General Absolution. It includes music, Scripture, a brief homily and an examination of conscience.
On the first three Mondays of Advent, we will offer time for reflecting and discussion of some of the Advent readings. We are calling it An Advent Journey to Reconciliation. On each of these evenings, our priests will lead us in appreciating better the various aspects of reconciliation. See the description below along with information on how to register. Of course, it is free.
See also the information in this newsletter on creating an Advent Wreath for your home and prayers for you to use. With extra time on our hands, this would be a great activity to undertake with your family and loved ones.
Stay tuned for updates in the next few weeks about our Christmas Mass schedule. Whether we are able to be inside or not, Christmas Masses will be celebrated at the times indicated on the earlier schedule.
We join together in giving thanks for our many blessings by celebrating the Eucharist on Thanksgiving Day, November 26. Our one and only parish Mass will be at 9:00 am on the covered court of the school. Fr. Ron will lead our bilingual celebration.
In keeping with tradition here at St. Pat’s, you are invited to bring bread and wine that you will be having with your Thanksgiving meal to be blessed. Please keep your items with you and Fr. Ron will come around at the end of the Mass bless the bread and wine you brought with you.
On Friday, November 27, there will only be one Mass at 9:00 am on the church patio.
In observance of the holiday weekend, our parish offices will be closed on November 26 and 27.
Attending a Penance Service during Advent is a treasured practice. In Advent 2020 this opportunity for confession will not be available.
However, our priests will offer General Absolution at all Masses on each of the four Sundays of Advent.
During Advent, our priests will also offer brief teachings on forgiveness and reconciliations to help us prepare for and appreciate the graces that come from receiving General Absolution.
Join us on three Monday evenings from 6:30pm – 7:45pm. We will meet via zoom call.
Monday November 30, with Fr. Bill
Monday, December 7, with Fr. Ben
Monday, December 14, with Fr. Ron
Passages from the Sunday Advent Readings will be our map.
Our priests will be our guides on the journey to reconciliation.
We will have an opportunity to share in small groups.
Each evening stands on its own. There is no fee to participate.
Please email Carole King at carole32240@gmail.com if you would like to attend.
We will send out a separate zoom link for each Monday evening.
For the protection and safety of both parishioners and priests, our Bishop has indicated that we will need to forego our traditional Advent Penance Services this year. Normally, each deanery offers a series of Penance Services in each parish of the deanery.
Instead, since these are not normal times, we will continue to offer the Sacrament of Reconciliation through General Absolution. At the bishop’s suggestion, we will offer General Absolution at all the weekend Masses on the four Sundays of Advent (Nov 28-29, Dec 5-6, Dec 12-13, 19-20). We will also continue to offer General Absolution at both of our Friday Masses.
Fr. Ron has recorded a prayerful preparation for the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It includes music, a reading from the Bible, a homily and an examination of conscience. It is available on our YouTube channel. Those who will receive General Absolution during Advent are strongly encouraged to view this video as a way of preparing for the worthy reception of this sacrament.
The Sacrament of Reconciliation
In the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church (Lumen Gentium) of Vatican II, we read:
“Those who approach the sacrament of Penance obtain pardon from God’s mercy for the offense committed against him, and are, at the same time, reconciled with the Church which they have wounded by their sins and which by charity, by example, and by prayer labors their conversion” (LG11.2; repeated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1422).
While this sacrament (also called the Sacrament of Reconciliation) has taken many forms over the history of the Church, the focus is always on the Lord who forgives. In various centuries, the People of God have expressed their need for forgiveness in differing ways. The essential attitude is the desire for forgiveness on the part of the penitent. The Church through its priests offers the assurance of God’s forgiveness in a sacramental ritual that has change over the years.
The attached article explains the History of the Sacrament of Reconciliation with a few more details.
"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.
How many days are there in the season of Advent?
By what Latin world is the Third Sunday of Advent named?
On the liturgical calendar, what is the last day of the Christmas season?
According to the gospel of Luke, who announced to Mary that she would be the mother of the Messiah?
What book of the Bible is sometimes referred to as volume 2 of the Gospel of Luke?
Isaiah prays for the Lord’s forgiveness of the people.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 80:2-3,15-16,18-19
A prayer for the Lord’s protection
Second Reading
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Paul gives thanks to God for the faith of the Corinthians.
Gospel Reading
Mark 13:33-37
Jesus warns his disciples to be watchful so that they will be ready when the Son of Man comes.
Background on the Gospel Reading
Today we begin the season of Advent,which marks the start of a new liturgical year for the Church. The readings for Sunday Mass are arranged on a three-year cycle. Each year features a different Gospel—Matthew, Mark, or Luke. Readings from the Gospel of John are interspersed throughout all three years. With this year’s first Sunday of Advent, we begin Cycle B of the Lectionary, which focuses our attention on the Gospel of Mark. This week and next week, our readings from Mark’s Gospel present two important Advent themes: the Lord’s return at the end of time and John the Baptist’s preparation for Jesus.
Today’s Gospel is taken from the end of Mark’s Gospel, the chapter that immediately precedes Mark’s account of Jesus’ Passion. Having been questioned repeatedly by the scribes and the Pharisees, Jesus is now questioned by his disciples—Peter, James, John, and Andrew—who want details about his prediction of the destruction of the Temple. Jesus answers with many warnings about the difficulties that the disciples will face.
Today’s passage comes at the conclusion of Jesus’ warnings to his disciples. Jesus emphasizes the need for watchfulness. The Son of Man will come without warning; only the Father knows the exact hour. The disciples must not be caught unprepared when this time comes.
Scholars believe that Mark’s Gospel was written around the time of the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in A.D. 70. Mark’s audience consisted of Christians who were living in difficult social and political times, times of conflict. They were likely beginning to face persecution as followers of Jesus. In this difficult time, it helped to recall that Jesus had foretold of such difficulties. Early Christian communities took courage from Jesus’ warning to remain alert and watchful, and they found in his words a way to persevere through suffering.
Today’s Gospel reminds us that Advent is about more than our preparation for the Church’s celebration of Christ’s birth at Christmas. Advent is also about preparing ourselves for Christ’s return in glory at the end of time. Like the disciples and the faithful in Mark’s community, we must also stay alert and watchful. Our faithfulness to God, through the good times as well as the difficult times, shows us to be ready for the coming of the Son of Man.
A popular way to observe Advent in the home is the custom of the Advent wreath. While an Advent wreath can be bought in a store or online, they are also easy to make (Google on YouTube and several videos will show you how.) Your wreath can be simple or more elaborate. Making a wreath would be a good family activity during the additional “at home time” we now have.
Attached are some prayers that can be used in your home as you pray around the Advent wreath.
Este año va pasando, a veces despacio y a veces rápido. Y por causa de la Pandemia para que nuestras vidas son diferentes y deseamos con ansias a regresar a como estábamos antes de la pandemia. Pero, enfoquemos en lo que tenemos en frente de nosotros, y mirar a Dios allí, presente en cada cosa y persona. Nada es perfecto, pero nunca dudemos del amor de Dios. ¡Démosle gracias a Dios! También hagamos consciencia que el nuevo año litúrgico se inicia este fin de semana y entramos al tiempo de Adviento, un tiempo para reflexionar cómo y qué necesito hacer para que el Rey del Universo nazca en mi corazón.
St. Patrick’s has a tradition of supporting Shoes to the World. Due to the presence of Covid-19, we are being asked to help in a different way. Click on the link for details.
A maximum of four (4) shepherds will be allowed in the manger. Each must wear the mask and respect the social distance.
Joseph, Mary and the Child Jesus will be allowed to stay together because they are part of the same family bubble.
The donkey and the lamb must have a certificate of non-contamination issued by a veterinarian certified by the Department of Agriculture.
The Kings will have to be quarantined for fifteen (15) days, whether or not they have a negative Covid-19 test, since they come from abroad.
Straw, moss, pots, fir branches and other decorations will be disinfected with alcohol gel.
The angel will not be allowed to fly over the crib because of the aerosol effect produced by the beating of its wings.
There will be no angel choir, only a soloist who will sing traditional carols.
No shepherds allowed over 70 years of age or older since this a high risk group.
All non-essential participants are prohibited.
For explanations on the best technique to use for proper hand washing, please contact Mr. Pontius Pilate.
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.
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.
3821 Adams Street
Carlsbad, California 92008
760.729.2866
The Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe is Open
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- 760-729-2866.
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:
