I want to share with you some of the theological reflections I have had regarding our present situation regarding this worldwide pandemic. I am not a scientist, politician or medical researcher. So I will just briefly share a particular insight that came to me as a theologian.
In Catholic moral theology, particularly in the Church’s social teachings, we speak of two important principles that must be kept in balance: individual rights and the common good. As Americans we are certainly familiar with our rights as individuals. The Catholic Church also insists on basic human rights that all people should enjoy. The Catechism of the Catholic Church and The Compendium on Catholic Social Doctrine of the Church list all these rights and elaborate on them.
Side by side with the protection of individual rights, the Church teaches the need to protect and defend the common good. Simply put, it means that we are all responsible for society as a whole. Our individual choices and decisions affect the other members of the human community.
The Compendium states:A society that wishes and intends to remain at the service of the human being at every level is a society that has the common good — the good of all people and of the whole person — as its primary goal. The human person cannot find fulfilment in himself, that is, apart from the fact that he exists “with” others and “for” others.
For a fuller explanation of Catholic teaching on the common good, I encourage you to read the section of the Compendium that deals with it, namely sections 164-170.
There is always a need to balance individual rights and the common good. People may disagree on the ways that balance is achieved. From my perspective, given the current crisis, we have felt the need to give special attention to the common good. I think most reasonable people recognize that need. In order to protect the common good in today’s society, individuals will have to sacrifice certain individual rights for a time (the right to gather freely, for example). The teaching of the Catholic Church encourages the Christian faithful to freely make such sacrifices for the common good.
We hope and pray that this situation will change soon. But until it does, I think the wise decision for us as Christians is to stay the course and follow the guidance we have received on curbing and eventually defeating this pandemic. Scientists and researchers are still learning how to best achieve our goal of removing this scourge. The responsible thing for Christians is to do all that is possible to promote the common good of our society and world.
Please read the short article about Catholic Social Teaching and the Common Good in the link below.
An online Bible Study that offers a commentary on the Gospel accounts of the Resurrection of the Lord is available on our parish YouTube channel. It can also be accessed by the link on our parish website or below.
Fr. Ron gives a presentation which explains the background and context of each gospel’s account of the stories surrounding the resurrection of Jesus. He offers a few comparisons between the ways the evangelists share the good news. Rather than a very professional presentation, Fr. Ron just sits in his office and shares what he has come to learn about these important passages from the gospels.
You can already watch the two sessions on chapter 16 of Mark’s gospel. Commentary on the other gospels will be posted on the YouTube channel in the weeks to come.
A Message from Fr. Carlos
Cristo Resucitado catequiza a los discípulos de Emaús Lc 24, 1-34)
Casi todas las apariciones del Resucitado tuvieron lugar en el contexto de una comida, y eso significa que la primera comunidad apreció mucho la Eucaristía y no perdió oportunidad para hablar sobre ella. En el texto que hemos leído hoy, Jesús aparece como un catequista con muy buena experiencia:1) Él aparece como un desconocido,
2) Camina con los dos discípulos, escuchándolos atentamente, 3) Está interesado en su conversación, escucha sus argumentos; 4) Jesús les reprocha: “¡Qué tontos son! ¡Qué lento de corazón creer todo lo que hablaron los profetas!” 5) Jesús los evangeliza, "Luego, comenzando con Moisés y los profetas, les interpretó lo que se refería a él en todas las Escrituras"; 6) Dio la impresión de que iba más lejos; 7) Entró para quedarse con ellos; 8) Jesús realizó los mismos gestos que realizó en la Última Cena; 9) Jesús hace que lo reconozcan al partir el pan. Esta preciosa catequesis también es para cada uno de nosotros hoy. Estamos comprometidos a descubrir a Jesucristo al partir el pan, es decir, la Eucaristía.
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.
US Census
In the midst of everything else going on, don’t forget about the US Census. If you are at home looking for something to do, take 10 minutes to fill out the census form for your household (all who live in your house go on one form).
If you haven’t responded to the 2020 Census, it’s not too late. Households that have not yet responded to their census invitation should have started to receive a paper questionnaire in the mail as of April 8.
That means, while Californians are at home social distancing, they can now respond to the census by mail, online or by phone.
Completing the census only takes about 10 minutes and will help your community for the next 10 years! Census participation determines each community's share of federal funding for healthcare, schools, roads, and more for the next decade.
I realize that some of you are experiencing budget problems of your own at this time and I am not asking to cut yourself short. But please keep in mind the needs of our parish during these uncertain times.
Those of you who use weekly offertory envelopes, please enclose your giving into the special mailing envelope that comes in your packet
Many of you pay your bills using online banking bill pay, you can choose St. Patrick Church to receive donations to Sunday Collection this way
This may also be a time to consider using Online Giving as a way of contributing to the parish during this time. https://www.osvonlinegiving.com/58
Thank you for whatever you can do.
Third Sunday of Easter
Year A
April 26, 2020
First Reading
Acts 2:14,22-33
Peter and the apostles announce that Jesus has been raised from the dead.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 16:1-2,5,7-11
God will show us the path of life.
Second Reading
1 Peter 1:17-21
You were saved by Christ’s sacrifice.
Gospel Reading
Luke 24:13-35
Jesus appears to two disciples who are walking to Emmaus.
Background on the Gospel Reading
On most Sundays during the Easter season in Cycle A, our Gospel is taken from the Gospel of John. This week’s Gospel, however, is taken from the Gospel of Luke. As in last week’s Gospel, today’s Gospel shows us how the first community of disciples came to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead. In these stories we gain insight into how the community of the Church came to be formed.
When we read today’s Gospel, we may be surprised to learn that these friends of Jesus could walk and converse with him at some length yet not recognize him. Again we discover that the risen Jesus is not always easily recognized. Cleopas and the other disciple walk with a person whom they believe to be a stranger; only later do they discover that the stranger is Jesus. We learn that the first community met and recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread, just as we meet Jesus in the Eucharist.
We can imagine the feelings of the two disciples in today’s reading. They are leaving their community in Jerusalem. Their friend Jesus has been crucified. Their hope is gone. They are trying to make sense of what has occurred, so that they can put the experience behind them.
Jesus himself approaches the two men, but they take him for a stranger. Jesus asks them what they are discussing. He invites them to share their experience and interpretation of the events surrounding his crucifixion and death. When the two disciples have done so, Jesus offers his own interpretation of his crucifixion and resurrection, citing Jewish Scripture. In that encounter we find the model for our Liturgy of the Word—what we do each time we gather as a community for the Eucharist. We reflect upon our life experiences and interpret them in light of Scripture. We gather together to break open the Word of God.
In the next part of the story, we find a model for our Liturgy of the Eucharist. The disciples invite the stranger (Jesus) to stay with them. During the meal in which they share in the breaking of the bread, the disciples’ eyes are opened; they recognize the stranger as Jesus. In the Eucharist too we share in the breaking of the bread and discover Jesus in our midst. Just as the disciples returned to Jerusalem to recount their experience to the other disciples, we too are sent from our Eucharistic gathering. Our experience of Jesus in the Eucharist compels us to share the story with others.
come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.
Comunión Espiritual
Creo, Jesús mío,
que estás real
y verdaderamente
en el Santísimo Sacramento del Altar.
Te amo sobre todas las cosas
y deseo vivamente recibirte
dentro de mi alma,
pero no pudiendo hacerlo
ahora sacramentalmente,
ven al menos
espiritualmente a mi corazón.
Y como si ya te hubiese recibido,
te abrazo y me uno del todo a Ti.
Señor, no permitas que jamás me aparte de Ti. Amen
Hello Families,
Pat Clasby from our youth ministry office here. We’ve been trying to have some inspirational items up every day on our Instagrampage, mostly for our high school youth. But as a Dad myself, I recognize the importance for us parents (that’s parents of young and parents of adult youth too! We all need words of wisdom.) to have a little bit of inspiration and hope during these very unique times. I’ll be trying to get them into our e-newsletter on a weekly basis. Please feel free to reach out to me at my parish email address:
Our youth core team will be working on some prayer reflections as well that we hope to have up in the near future. In the meantime, I invite you to click on the below link to a YouTube video from the National Federation of Catholic Youth Ministry. In it, you’ll listen to a three minute presentation on “Message of Hope: Transformation & Renewal” by Kathryn Whitaker. Kathryn is a Catholic author, blogger, speaker, and freelance graphic designer and writes for/with Ave Maria Press. May her story inspire all of us during these unprecedented times.
Many Blessings,
Pat Clasby
Director of Youth Ministry
St. Patrick Parish
Things to do with your kids! Click below for English or Spanish
The church is open for private prayer every day from 7:00am - 11:00am, however the Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe is closed
The Parish Office will be closed until further notice, but you can call to leave a message: 760.729.2866
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.
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:
