Our nation sets aside November 11 as a day to remember those who have served our country in the military and to thank them for their service. As a community of faith, we also use this day to pray for all veterans, living and deceased. This observance became official in 1919 to mark the end of World War 1 and was first called Armistice Day. President Eisenhower changed the name in 1954 to Veterans Day.
My father and my uncles were veterans and served during World War II and the Korean War. I have so many friends and classmates who went off to Vietnam. Some of them made the ultimate sacrifice. I have several friends (priests and lay people) who did tours of duty in Afghanistan. We have many parishioners who served in the armed forces during times of war and time of peace. On behalf of our entire parish, I thank you for your years of service, however many they were.
As Veterans Day approaches this week, I invite you to join me in this prayer to our Loving God.
Almighty God, we thank you because you can satisfy our every need. Hear our prayer of thanks for our veterans who made great sacrifices on our behalf. We ask that you bless them and meet all their needs. We pray you would give them peace when they suffer from past trauma. We acknowledge the debt of gratitude that we owe them for the freedom of our country. Lord, bless them and keep them, make your face shine upon them. Grant eternal rest to all deceased veterans, especially those who died in the service of our country. Turn your face towards them and give them peace. Grant this through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Amen.
This year we will have two Masses on Veterans Day:the usual times of 7:00 am and 8:00 am. Our school children will have a Mass on Veterans Day at a later time.
Celtic Worship is a collective of some of Scotland’s most talented folk musicians who craft worship from a unique standpoint, blending traditional and contemporary Christian music with the sounds of their native roots. Here they take a traditional Christian praise and worship song and give it a new twist.
Christmas Gift Baskets
Applications for the Christmas Gift Baskets are now being accepted for individuals and families who need a little extra help this Christmas.
Please call the parish office at, 760-729-2866 for more details.
This program benefits parish families in need. All applicant information is strictly confidential.
Canasta de Navidad
Ya viene la Navidad. Si te encuentras necesitado, desempleado y no tendrás los recursos para proveer la cena de Navidad para tu familia, estaremos tomando solicitudes por teléfono o en persona en la oficina parroquial. Este programa es solamente para los miembros mas necesitados de esta parroquia.
Oficina parroquial 760-729-2866.
Showers of Blessings is growing!
We are pleased to announce an addition to our ministry to those who do not have homes. In addition to our services of hot showers, clothing, food, haircuts and medical care, we are now adding a mobile laundry service. This will give our guests the opportunity to do their laundry. We are partnering with the Lived Experiences Organization in Oceanside to provide these services to our guests. We are very excited to be able to provide these new services!!
Join Pope Francis in Prayer
Our Holy Father designates a specific prayer intention for each month. He invites everyone to keep this intention in mind throughout the month. Click below to see the prayer intentions for each month of 2021.
About 340 million Christians are persecuted worldwide. This Sunday, November 7 is an International Day of Prayer for Persecuted Christians. Let us add our voices in prayer for our brothers and sisters across the world. This video gives a brief description of the situation and offers a way to help.
St Joseph Patron of a Happy Death
As we come near to the end of the special year in honor of Saint Joseph, the month of November reminds us that he is often invoked as the patron saint of a happy death. This is based on a longstanding tradition in the Church even though we do not hear much about him in the New Testament.
There’s no mention in Sacred Scripture about how or when St. Joseph died. The last time the Gospels mention St. Joseph is right after he and Mary find the twelve-year-old Jesus teaching in the temple in Jerusalem. One can deduce that St. Joseph died sometime between then and when Jesus began public ministry, some eighteen years later.
Scripture does not reveal how he died, but it’s safe to assume St. Joseph died in the arms of Jesus and Mary. A peaceful and beautiful passing to eternity after a life of obedience to God’s call—a life totally devoted to the service of Jesus and Mary. He perfectly fulfilled his role in God’s plan of salvation.
St. Joseph’s death can be an excellent example for us and a guide for how we too can enjoy a happy, peaceful death. Let’s look at three ways he does that.
First, his death encourages us not to fear death when we’re in the state of grace, in union with our Lord. The graces available on Joseph’s deathbed are available to us on our deathbed, especially through holy Viaticum—the reception of Holy Communion by a sick person on their deathbed.
Second, St. Joseph can help us prepare for a good death by the example of his holy life, which teaches us how to properly prepare to die happily. We should not postpone or delay readying our hearts but demonstrate it daily by the way we live. The beautiful life of St. Joseph: his pious, devout life, his life filled with love for Jesus and Mary, teaches us how we should live our lives to prepare for our death. Nothing is more certain than death, and nothing more important, since at that moment, our eternity is decided.
Thirdly, St. Joseph will intercede for us for a happy death through our devotion to him. All the prayers that we pray in his honor will bring us his blessings at the hour of our death.
By clicking on the button below, you will find some prayers to St. Joseph that may inspire you to live well and to die one day in the grace of God.
As the end of the year moves into sight, you might think about making an end of the year donation to St. Patrick Parish. Click on the link for the most up to date information. It includes new information that relates to the CARES Act. It is relevant if you itemize or not.
"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.
Why was the sacrament of Extreme Unction changed to the Anointing of the Sick?
What is the Third Commandment as taught by the Church?
In Catholic morality, what are the three conditions necessary for a sin to be considered mortal (not venial)?
What are the Sacraments of Initiation?
Was John the Baptist one of those present for the death of Jesus?
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.
Through Elijah, a widow and her son are blest with enough flour and oil to supply them for a year.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 146:7,8-9 9-10
A prayer of praise to God who raises up the lowly
Second Reading
Hebrews 9:24-28
Christ died once to take away sin; he will return again to bring salvation.
Gospel Reading
Mark 12:38-44
Jesus notices a poor widow’s offering and commends her great sacrifice.
Background on the Gospel Reading
The context for today’s Gospel continues to be mounting tension between Jesus and the Jewish authorities. Mark reports some of Jesus’ teaching in the Temple area in today’s reading and in the preceding verses not included in our Lectionary sequence. In the first part of today’s Gospel, we hear Jesus warn the crowds not to follow the example of the scribes in seeking honor and attention from others. It is important to recall that Mark indicates that Jesus taught these things while in the vicinity of the Temple in Jerusalem. Mark is setting the stage for Jesus’ passion.
Jesus then observes how Jewish pilgrims are making their contributions to the temple treasury. The Temple in Jerusalem was the center of Jewish worship in the time of Jesus. It was expected that observant Jews would make pilgrimages to the Temple to offer prayer and sacrifices. Pilgrims were also expected to make a financial contribution to the temple treasury.
As we would expect to be the case, Jesus observes that those who were rich contributed large sums to the treasury. Those with less means made smaller contributions. A similar situation exists in most of our parishes as well. Jesus calls attention, however, to a poor widow who makes the smallest of contributions—two coins of little value. Jesus upholds the poor widow’s offering for his disciples’ consideration, commending her because her small offering was an act of profound generosity, giving from her livelihood rather than her surplus.
To give from our livelihood is not only an act of generosity, it is also an act of trust in God. We can only give from our need if we trust that God will provide for us. Jesus himself demonstrates the ultimate act of generosity and trust in God as he gives his life for us on the cross.
This motet was composed by Wolfgang Mozart in 1741. Here it is presented by The Romanian Foundation for Excellence in Music Sibiu/Hermannstadt International Music Festival in 2014.
Latin lyrics:
Ave Verum Corpus natum de Maria Virgine
Vere passum, immolatum
In cruce pro homine
Cuius latus perforatum
Fluxit aqua et sanguine
Esto nobis praegustatum in mortis examine
English translation:
Hail, true Body, born of the Virgin Mary,
having truly suffered, sacrificed
on the cross for mankind,
from whose pierced side
water and blood flowed:
Be for us a foretaste [of the Heavenly banquet] in the trial of death!
All Souls Month Remembrance
The entire month of November is traditionally dedicated to the remembrance of all the faithful departed. Throughout this month, any of your deceased relatives and friends can be included in each of our Masses. In addition to remembrance in our All Souls Novena of Masses, the names of those recommended to our prayers will be placed on the altar for the entire month.
In your packet of envelopes for October-November, there is an envelope marked for All Souls. There are spaces indicated under “Please Remember” on which you can write the names of your departed loved ones. You may list as many as you want. If you do not have the envelope, you can use any envelope and just write “All Souls” on it. These envelopes can be placed in our regular collection or sent to the parish office. All of these envelopes will remain on the altar for the entire month of November.
Bishop Barron on St. Irenaeus
Bishop Robert Barron speaks about St. Irenaeus who was a bishop in the 2nd century. Pope Francis recently announced that this saint will soon be declared a Doctor of the Church, which means that he is an outstanding teacher of the faith. Bishop Barron uses his weekly Word on Fire broadcast to explain why St. Irenaeus is so relevant today.
[Personal note from Fr. Ron: Bishop Barron tells how he learned about St. Irenaeus from Sr. Agnes Cunningham who was one of his teachers when he was a seminarian. It so happens that Sr. Agnes is a personal friend of Fr. Ron. She is also 98 years old.]
Diacono Miguel Enriquez
Un Saludo del Diacono Miguel
Jesús les dijo, “Yo les aseguro que esa pobre viuda ha echado en la alcancía más que todos. Porque los demás han echado de lo que les sobraba; pero ésta, en su pobreza, ha echado todo lo que tenía para vivir”. Esta pobre viuda del Evangelio siempre me reta. Tengo la tendencia de cuidar cómo y cuándo doy mi dinero a otros. Mi parte egoísta me dice que, “Cuida mi dinero y tiempo”. Pero la pobre viuda no la piensa dos veces cuando da lo único que tiene, dos moneditas de poco valor, a las alcancías del templo. En el tiempo de Jesús, si una mujer quedaba viuda y no tenía familiares, era responsabilidad de los escribas de cuidarlas, pero muchas veces ellos les cobraban una cuota por su cuidado, que no era lo que la Ley permitía. ¿Qué pasaba por la mente de la pobre viuda?Ella sabía, que Dios era fiel y que le iba a proveer lo necesario cómo siempre lo había hecho. Esa es la lección para nosotros. Todos hemos experimentado la fidelidad y providencia de Dios. De lo que damos a Dios y a los pobres, ¿es de lo que nos sobra como los escribas? O ¿damos de lo primero? Cuidado de aplicar esta pregunta a nuestro dinero solamente, porque también se refiere a nuestro tiempo y talentos, ¿Cómo compartimos nuestro tiempo y talento a Dios y a los pobres? Todo lo que tenemos es de Dios, todo lo que somos es por la gracia de Dios y es para construir el Reino de Dios aquí en esta tierra. Dar como la pobre viuda, sin temor a nada, confiando totalmente en Dios.
Por favor escuchen a los enlaces proveídos, espero que les ayude en su meditación.
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