This feast of the Ascension is about the absence of Jesus. It celebrates his departure from this world. After his resurrection he remains with his disciples for a while. The Acts of the Apostles says it was 40 days. That number may be more symbolic than literal. The disciples see him, hear him, they see him eat. They know it is Jesus. They know he is risen.
He wants them to be ready to continue the work he has begun. They are to announce the Good News that the Reign of God has begun. They are to continue to heal the sick and expel demons as signs that the Reign of God has begun. They are to proclaim forgiveness of sins in the name of Jesus. They are to announce that he has risen from the dead.
This is the work Jesus left them to do. As he is taken up from their sight, he commissions them to go forth. He must leave in order for them to take up the work he has given them. In his absence, a vacuum is created. We learned in science class, “nature abhors a vacuum.” The absence of Jesus creates a vacuum that the apostles fill. They take his place. They continue the same work he was doing. They are to minister in his name.
Today’s feast tells us that the absence of Jesus challenges us to be his presence. Jesus continues to heal through us. He continues to preach through us. He continues to bring compassion through us. He continues to feed the hungry through us. He still confronts evil through us. He inspires faith in others through us.
It is a challenge for every baptized person. It is a challenge for each family member to be the presence of Jesus in their homes. It is a challenge for students to be the presence of Christ in their schools. It is a challenge for workers to be the presence of Christ in the places where they work. It is a challenge for each of us to be the presence of Christ in our neighborhoods, city and nation.
Jesus becomes present in so many ways through his followers: A nurse brings healing through her profession, but a mother brings healing when she stays awake at night caring for her child. A student confronts evil when he refuses to allow someone else to cheat off his paper. A grandparent inspires faith in her children when she accompanies them to church every Sunday and then discusses the Bible readings with his family. Any of us feed the hungry when we share what we have with those in need or go out of our way to assist in a feeding program or another ministry that feeds the hungry. We bring the compassion of Christ to others when we take time to listen to the problems of a friend or neighbor, when we visit someone in prison, when we comfort someone who is grieving the loss of a loved one.
And there are so many other ways that we can be the hands, the feet, the voice, the body of Christ in our world. There are too many to mention. As we celebrate the Ascension of the Lord, the absence of Jesus, let us look for ways to be his presence.
The Solemnity of Pentecost marks the end of the Easter season. We celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples gathered together in fear. They became courageous witnesses.
One of the great signs of the presence of the Spirit on that day was the tongues of fire that appeared over each person. That’s one of the reasons RED is the liturgical color for this solemnity. The vestments and liturgical décor are resplendent with red. To carry the theme through the whole congregation, we invite you to wear red to church on Pentecost Sunday, May 28, next weekend.
Your presence in whatever red clothes or accessories you may have will add to the festivity of our celebration.
Father’s Day Novena of Masses
In the same way that we had a Novena of Masses for Mother’s Day, we will also have a Novena of Masses for Fathers (living and deceased). These Masses are scheduled for June 19-27 at the regular parish Mass times. To have your father remembered at these Masses, please use the envelope from your bimonthly packet marked Father’s Day. Envelopes are also available at the doors of the church. (Or just use a plain envelope.) Write on the envelope the names of your father, grandfather, godfather or father-figure. Put your envelope in the collection basket or send it to the parish office. These envelopes will be placed on the altar during this Novena of Masses.
Medical Personnel Needed
Our medical clinic at Showers of Blessings Carlsbad needs volunteer Physician Assistants (PA), Nurse Practitioners (NP) and/or physicians. This would be a few hours a week or a month on Tuesday mornings. Very flexible. This position would be serving our Carlsbad Barrio community as well as our clients who are homeless.
The Coptic Orthodox Church is a branch of the Orthodox Church which has ancient roots in Egypt. In recent years, great strides have been made to overcome divisions between the Coptic Orthodox and the Catholic Church.
Read these recent news articles for further details.
Each year, millions of Americans face the reality of living with a mental health condition. However, mental illness affects everyone directly or indirectly through family, friends or coworkers.
Please come and meet members of
St. Patrick’s Mental Health Ministry team on the patio next weekend May 27th and 28th. We will be sharing information about our ministry and providing Mental health resources. Hope to see you there!
If you need support or resources please call St. Patrick’s Mental Health Support line at 760-729-2866, ext393
Annual Catholic Appeal
Everyone knows all the good that is done through the Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA). Many important services aid our parish and school. The formation of priests is assured. Donations also enable Catholic Charities to help those most in need.
We are grateful for the generosity of all of our parishioners and visitors.
Online Giving Reminder
Please remember to log in to your Online Giving account frequently. You can make sure your payment method is up to date and that your gifts are being processed.
For help with forgotten passwords, please contact Online Giving technical support at 800.348.2886, ext. 2.
Click on the Online Giving icon below to create or access your account.
We appreciate your support!
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.
In which books of the Bible do we find a description of the Ascension of Jesus?
According to the Bible, how many people witnessed the Ascension of Jesus?
Was Mary present at the Ascension of Jesus?
Who was present from the coming of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost?
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.
Jesus is taken up to heaven in the presence of the apostles.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 47:2-3,6-9
Sing praise to God as he mounts his throne.
Second Reading
Ephesians 1:17-23
God raised Jesus from the dead and seated him at his right hand.
Gospel Reading
Matthew 28:16-20
Jesus charges his disciples to make disciples of all nations and promises to be with them forever.
Background on the Gospel Reading
Today’s Gospel is taken from the conclusion of the Gospel of Matthew. Matthew’s Gospel quickly moves from the disciples’ discovery of Jesus’ empty tomb, to Jesus’ appearance to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary, to the commission that Jesus gives his disciples in today’s Gospel.
The Final Commission, as this Gospel is sometimes called, is given on the mountaintop. Throughout Scripture, the most important events happen on the mountaintop, and Matthew has used this motif throughout his Gospel. Earlier in Matthew’s Gospel, Peter, James, and John had seen Jesus transfigured on the mountaintop (Matthew 17:1-8). Also in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus taught the crowds from the mountaintop in what we now call the Sermon on the Mount.
Here we are told that the eleven disciples go the mountaintop in Galilee, as Jesus had instructed through Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (cf. Matthew 28:9-10). They see Jesus, and both worship and doubt at the same time. Jesus approaches them and commissions them to baptize and teach, "to make disciples of all nations." It is a task which Jesus had previously prepared his disciples for; recall that Jesus had sent the twelve apostles to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal (cf. Matthew 10:1-15). However, earlier the Twelve were sent only to the House of Israel; in this Final Commission, the eleven are told to go to "all nations." The mission of Jesus is now to be taken to all people; the task now is to baptize and to teach.
Jesus commissions his disciples to baptize in the name of the Trinity, one of the clearest attestations found in Scripture for baptism in the name of the Trinity. In the Acts of the Apostles and in the Letters of Paul, baptism is more frequently offered "in the name of Jesus."
The ending of Matthew’s Gospel can be understood as the beginning of the Church. Jesus commissions his disciples to continue to teach in his name and to bring others into the community of disciples through baptism. The Gospel ends, as it had begun, with the promise that Jesus will continue to be Emmanuel, "God with us" (cf. Matthew 1:23), for all eternity.
Pick up after All Masses THIS WEEKEND - 5/20 & 5/21
The Monthly Sunday Garage Sale will be held this Sunday, May 21 from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. We hope you will come and visit us. We have so many wonderful things and we would love to see you. We are located at the far North Parking Lot. Just look for the Garage Sale Signs.
Save the date! As part of our commitment to our community, St. Patrick Catholic Church is hosting a blood drive this Sunday May 21, from 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM. When you donate blood, you are making a difference in someone's life. There is no substitute for your lifesaving gift.
Please make a commitment to save a life on 05/21/2023.
If this is your first time donating please review our FAQs.
Thanks to our Knights of Columbus for organizing this Blood Drive.
Country-Western Celebration
The Knights of Columbus and the Altar Society will begin selling tickets for the Country-Western celebration to be held in the Parish Hall on Saturday, June 10beginning at 5:30 pm. Tickets are $15.00 per person, $40.00 for a family ticket. There will be hot dogs and burgers, a live band and dancing.
Un Saludo de parte del Diacono Miguel,
Después salió con ellos fuera de la ciudad, hacia un lugar cercano a Betania; levantando las manos, los bendijo, y mientras los bendecía, se fue apartando de ellos y elevándose al cielo. Ellos, después de adorarlo, regresaron a Jerusalén, llenos de gozo, y permanecían constantemente en el templo, alabando al Señor. Hoy celebramos la Ascensión del Señor, pero ¿qué significa la Ascensión de Jesucristo? Que, en Jesucristo, todo lo que Dios había prometido desde el principio de la creación se ha cumplido; y ahora Jesús, “subió al cielo, y está sentado a la derecha del Padre”, así como lo rezamos en el Credo en cada misa dominical. Y de allí, Él vive y reina para siempre. El deseo más grande de Jesús para nosotros, sus discípulos, es que entendamos cuánto nos ama y que seamos uno, así como Jesús y el Padre son uno. No es un concepto fácil de entender, porque miramos cómo nos ganan nuestras tentaciones y caemos en el pecado. Los discípulos del tiempo de Jesús también luchaban con las sus tentaciones y pecados, pero perseveraban en el camino, recordando todo lo que Jesús les enseño, con la ayuda del Espíritu Santo seguían adelante. Jesucristo nos enseñó lecciones de fe, esperanza, misericordia, perdón, redención y amor. Jesús, quiere que tú y yo hagamos lo mismo, Él nos dio el ejemplo. Que todo lo que salga de nuestra boca, y todo lo que hagamos, que se vea que estamos en Jesús y que Jesús está en nosotros. Hoy es un nuevo día para retomar la bendición de Jesús que recibimos en nuestro bautismo, y responder “SI” a Jesús. No quedarnos sólo mirando al cielo, pero mirar cómo Jesús está presente en todo que nos rodea.
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