First Sunday of Advent – Year C

First Reading

Jeremiah 33:14-16

The Lord will fulfill his promises to Israel and Judah.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 25:4-5,8-9,10,14

The Lord will teach us his paths.

Second Reading

1 Thessalonians 3:12—4:2

Paul encourages the Thessalonians to be holy and to please God.

Gospel Reading

Luke 21:25-28,34-36

Jesus teaches his disciples to be vigilant so that they will be ready when the Son of Man comes in glory.

Background on the Gospel Reading

Today is the first Sunday of Advent, which is also the first Sunday of the new liturgical year. The Advent season includes the four Sundays that precede Christmas. Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of the Lord. In this season, we recall two central elements of our faith: the final coming of the Lord in glory and the incarnation of the Lord in the birth of Jesus. The key themes of the Advent season are watchful waiting, preparation, and justice.

In this new liturgical year, the Gospel of Luke will be the primary Gospel proclaimed (Lectionary Cycle C). Today's Gospel is taken from the last chapter before the passion narrative in which Jesus is teaching in the Temple. We hear Jesus speak to his disciples about the need for vigilance and prayer as they wait for the coming of the Son of Man in glory. This passage marks the conclusion of a lengthy dialogue in which Jesus predicts the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, warns about the persecution and tribulations to follow, and identifies the signs that will signal the coming of the Son of Man in glory.

The community for whom Luke wrote his Gospel may have believed that they were already experiencing some of the events Jesus described. Most scholars believe that Luke's Gospel was written after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 A.D. At the time, many Christians interpreted this event as an indication that Jesus' second coming was near.

Though Jesus predicts a time of destruction and fear, Jesus indicates that others will be frightened; Jesus' disciples are not to fear, but are to stand tall. Yet Jesus does not promise deliverance from anxiety or tribulations. He encourages his disciples to pray for strength. The early Christian communities did not find consolation in the promise of a utopia, nor should we. Instead, we find in our Christian faith the means by which we witness to God's unfailing love for us in all circumstances.

Jesus' predictions about the end times may sound dire, but in the next paragraph Luke tells us that people woke early to listen to Jesus' teaching in the Temple area. In his person and in his message, those who heard Jesus found strength and consolation. Like the first Christians, we may encounter events and circumstances that could lead us to despair. Through prayer, however, we find strength and consolation in Jesus' words and in his continuing presence with us to endure all things and to witness to the action of God in our world.

O Come, O Come Emmanuel

Here are two versions of this traditional Advent hymn. The first is the original version in English and Latin with the chant melody. 

The second rendition comes from the Pentatonix and is a modern interpretation.

Family Mass for Advent

The next Family Mass will be celebrated this Sunday, December 1 at 9:00 am. We will explore the meaning of Advent as preparation for Christmas. Advent candles will be on sale after the Mass for $5.00 and a limited supply of brass rings for an Advent wreath will be available for $10.00. (Cash only.)



Come and bring the whole family.

Christmas Flowers Offering

Before long we will be celebrating the birth of our Savior. We want to make our church festive for our celebration of Christmas. In your packet of envelopes that we mail to you, there is an envelope marked Christmas Flower Offering. 

If you would like to make a contribution to assist in paying for our Christmas flowers, please place your donation in that envelope (or a plain envelope) and write on the envelope the names of anyone you would like remembered at our Christmas Masses. Indicate if they are deceased (“In memory of…”) or living (“In honor of…”) Place your envelope in the collection basket, mail it to the parish office or drop it off. If you use Online Giving, write the names on a paper and put it in the collection. All the names will be listed in our parish bulletin and newsletter shortly after Christmas.

Ye Olde Garage

Ye Olde Garage December Sunday Sale is December 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

The whole month of December is our Half-Off Sale.  Everything in the Shoppe is at half price.  Clothing: men, women, children, household items, books, pictures, crafting, linens and  Christmas items.  EVERYTHING.  You won't want to miss this sale.  

We hope you will visit us on Sunday, December 8 and throughout the entire month of December.  Just follow the Garage Sale signs to the northeast parking lot and look for the green Olde Garage Sale sign and the American Flag.  We will be there waiting for you. The regular hours for the Ye Olde Garage are Monday, Wednesday and Fridays from 9:30 to 2:00.  

The volunteers at the Shoppe wish you and your families the Most Blessed Christmas and a Joyous and Healthy New Year.

Coffee with St. John Eudes

The next Coffee with St. John Eudes will be held at St. Patrick Parish on Friday, December 13 at 9:00 am in the library next to the parish office. Fr. Ben Drapeau, CJM will share thoughts of St. John Eudes about Advent, including his acts of love for Jesus in the sacred womb of his most Blessed Mother; and on the season of Christmas, including acts of love in honor of the birth and holy childhood of Jesus. 



If you’re interested in joining "Coffee with St. John Eudes" or have further questions, email Fr. Azam Mansha, CJM: azamvianney@eudistsusa.org.

Two Young Saints to Be Canonized in 2025

A Jubilee Journey to Assisi and Rome Under the Spiritual Leadership of Bishop Ramon Bejarano and Bishop Felipe Pulido and Bishop Michael Pham

Diocese of San Diego, California

12- Days: October 27 to November 7, 2025

NAVIDEÑO GRATUITO PARA

PERSONAS MAYORES

Un Saludo de

parte del Diacono Miguel,

“Velen, pues, y estén preparados, porque no sabe qué día va a venir su Señor.” Hoy celebramos el 1er Domingo de Adviento. La Iglesia nos da cuatro semanas para prepararnos para recibir el nacimiento del Hijo de Dios, el Mesías, el que viene a salvar toda la humanidad y el mundo entero. Cada año recorremos este tiempo de preparación para recibir al niño Jesús. Algunos preguntan, “¿por qué tenemos que hacerlo cada año? Con una vez es suficiente”. Para los judíos, recordar algo que Dios hizo en el pasado no significa que es algo histórico, sino que ellos lo viven como si lo estuvieran viviendo por primera vez. Quizás esa es la actitud que deberíamos tomar nosotros en este adviento. Las luces, los arbolitos de navidad, los regalos son parte de esta temporada, pero desafortunadamente nos distraen de lo que debemos estar haciendo para recibir al niño Dios. Comparto con ustedes lo que dijo el Papa Francisco, “En este Adviento, hazte pequeño, hazte humilde, hazte servidor de los demás y el Señor te dará la capacidad de comprender cómo se hace la paz”. Que este adviento sea diferente para todos nosotros. Que este adviento lo vivamos como si fuera el primero, el último, el único. Dejemos que nuestro corazón se haga suave para recibir el niño Jesús. Y como dice el Papa tenemos que hacernos pequeños, humildes y servidores para comprender la paz que el Niño Jesús ofrece. Reflexionemos, ¿Cómo podemos hacernos pequeños? ¿Cómo podemos hacernos humildes? ¿Cómo podemos hacernos servidores de los demás? 

3821 Adams Street

Carlsbad, California 92008

760.729.2866