Lent, 40 Days of Renewal, and more - Week 10

St. Patrick Parish News & Updates

March 7, 2025 | Issue 10

A Word from the Pastor

March 7, 2025

Every year we hear about fasting as a Lenten practice. Some people think that we don’t practice fasting anymore. That’s not true. Fasting holds significant relevance within the Christian tradition, particularly as a spiritual practice aimed at fostering a deeper relationship with God and promoting personal transformation. The practice of fasting is deeply rooted in Scripture and has been a part of the Church's life since ancient times.

Fasting is primarily understood as a means of inner purification. It serves to detoxify the believer from the pollution of sin and evil, allowing for a more profound openness to God's grace. Pope Benedict XVI emphasized that fasting is not merely a physical act but a spiritual necessity that educates the believer to renounce unhealthy passions and to be more attentive to God's voice.

Historically, fasting has been a common practice across various religions, serving as a means of self-control and spiritual discipline. The early Church adopted fasting as a way to imitate Christ and to prepare for significant liturgical events, such as Easter.

The Lenten season, in particular, is a time when Christians remember the suffering of Christ. Fasting during this period is seen as an expression of solidarity with Jesus, who fasted for forty days in the desert. This connection to Christ's own experience of fasting underscores the importance of this practice as a form of spiritual combat against temptation and sin.

The practice of fasting is not limited to abstaining from food but can also encompass abstaining from other distractions or addictions, thereby fostering a more profound spiritual focus.

Fasting is often linked with prayer and almsgiving, forming a triad of essential practices during Lent. These three elements work together to cultivate a spirit of repentance and conversion. Pope Francis noted that fasting should not be a mere formality but should challenge one's security and lead to tangible benefits for others, embodying the spirit of the Good Samaritan.

And so, we see that fasting is a multifaceted practice that serves to purify the heart, strengthen faith, and foster a deeper connection with God. It is a vital aspect of the Christian life, particularly during Lent, as it encourages us to engage in spiritual combat, cultivate virtues, and express solidarity with the suffering of Christ. Through fasting, Christians are called to a transformative journey that leads to greater love, hope, and charity in their lives.

We are still encouraged to fast, but we need to decide from what, when and how. From what will you fast this Lent?

In one Heart,

Fr. Ron

rmbagley@yahoo.com

Lenten Penance Services in North County

Tuesday March 11 - Mission San Luis Re 1:00pm, 6:30pm

Wednesday March 12 - St. Francis- (bilingual) 12:30pm, 6:30pm

Tuesday March 18 - St. Thomas More 7:00pm

Monday March 24 - St. Mary Star of the Sea 7:00pm

Tuesday April 1 - St. John the Evangelist 7:00pm

Wednesday April 2 - St. Margaret’s 5:00pm

Thursday April 3 - St. Peter the Apostle 10:30am, and 6:00pm

Tuesday April 8 - St. Elizabeth Seton 7:00pm

Wednesday April 9 - St. Patrick 7:00pm

Monday April 14 - St. Mark (English) 6:30pm

Wednesday April 16 - St. Mark (Spanish) 6:30pm

Lent at St. Patrick Parish

Our Lenten brochure describes all the special activities for Lent and Holy Week. Pick up a copy in church or click here to download a pdf copy.

View Lenten Brochure here...

Anointing of the Sick

There will be a bilingual Mass with the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick on Tuesday, March 18 at 10:00 am. It will be concelebrated by our Eudist priests and offers an opportunity for anyone who is seriously ill or has a chronic condition to experience God’s healing and forgiving grace.

SAVE THE DATE!

Our Second Annual Catholic Trivia Night will be on Tuesday, May 6 at 6:30 pm.

Get your team of three together. Start practicing. More details to follow.

Congratulations to St. Patrick

Catholic School Decathletes!

Two teams were sent to this year’s Diocese of San Diego Junior High Academic Decathlon that took place on March 1st at St. Augustine High School. Both teams performed beautifully, and we are so proud of them! Here are the results:

Overall (33 teams)

St. Pats Gold – 4th Place

Logic Quiz – SPCS Gold – 1st Place

Logic Quiz – SPCS Green - 2nd Place

In the individual competition, St. Patrick students placed 1st in Fine Arts and Science, 3rd in Math, and 6th in Literature and English!

Scholarship to St. Patrick School

At St. Patrick Catholic School, we believe every child deserves access to a quality Catholic education, regardless of financial circumstances. That’s why we’re proud to offer the Larin Scholarship, a 9-year tuition award designed to support families in need. This scholarship provides a unique opportunity for students to receive a comprehensive education from kindergarten through 8th grade, helping families overcome financial barriers. If you're seeking an enriching academic environment grounded in faith and values, the Larin Scholarship is here to make your child's educational journey more accessible. Apply today and give your child the opportunity to grow, learn, and thrive at St. Patrick Catholic School!

Trip to Italy

If you would like to join a Jubilee Year trip to Italy, see this announcement from St. Luke Parish.

Trip Information here...

Catholic In Recovery Has Moved

Join the new addiction recovery ministry at St. Thomas More Church

Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. beginning March 12 (ARC in the parish center lower level)

Catholic in Recovery provides healing from addictions, compulsions, and unhealthy attachments. Meetings combine the spiritual principles of 12-step recovery and the sacraments of the Catholic Church. Join others in recovery as we overlap scripture from Sunday’s Mass readings, liturgical themes, and recovery topics with honest discussion and prayer. Confidentiality is protected.

For more information visit www.catholicinrecovery.com or contact Penelope W at 760-803-1835, Missy J-K at 760-717-0608 or PenelopeWCIR@gmail.com

40 Days for Life

You may join these 40 days of prayer and fasting for an end to abortion from March 5 to April 13. Come and peacefully pray outside Planned Parenthood at 1964 Via Centre, Vista, CA 92081

Watch Daily and Sunday Masses Livestreamed from St. Patrick Church here:

Online Giving Reminder

If you currently use Online Giving for your electronic giving, please make sure you login to the application frequently to make sure your payment method is current and your donations are being processed.

Click on the Online Giving icon below to create or access your account.

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.

What gospel story is always read on the First Sunday of Lent?
What gospel story is always read on the Second Sunday of Lent?
What gospel story is always read at the beginning of the Mass on Palm/Passion Sunday?
Which account of the Passion of the Lord do we hear on Palm/Passion Sunday?
When do we hear the Passion according to John read during the liturgy?

Feel free to email Fr. Ron with ideas for future Catholic Trivia questions rmbagley@yahoo.com

YouTube channel here...

Answers to Catholic Trivia here!

Online Giving

Read prior newsletters here

First Sunday of Lent – Year C

First Reading

Deuteronomy 26:4-10

Moses describes the offering of praise for God's deliverance of Israel.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 91:1-2,10-11,12-13,14-15

A prayer for God's protection

Second Reading

Romans 10:8-13

Paul teaches that we are saved by faith.

Gospel Reading

Luke 4:1-13

In the desert, Jesus is tempted by the devil.

Background on the Gospel Reading

In each of the three Synoptic Gospels, after his baptism, Jesus is reported to have spent forty days in the desert, fasting and praying. In Luke and in Matthew, the devil presents three temptations to Jesus. The devil tempts Jesus to use his power to appease his hunger, he offers Jesus all the kingdoms of the world if Jesus will worship him, and he tempts Jesus to put God's promise of protection to the test. In each case, Jesus resists, citing words from Scripture to rebuke the devil's temptation.

Each temptation that Jesus faces offers insight into the spirituality we hope to develop as we keep the forty days of the Season of Lent. We can trust God to provide for our material needs. We worship God because God alone has dominion over us and our world. We can trust God to be faithful to his promises. Jesus' rejection of the devil's temptations shows that he will not put God to the test. Grounding himself on the Word and authority of Scripture, Jesus rebukes the devil by his confidence in God's protection and faithfulness.

This Gospel highlights for us one of the central themes of the Season of Lent. We are dependent upon God for all that we have and all that we are. Anything that leads us to reject this dependency or to distrust its sufficiency, is a temptation from the devil.

Luke ends his report of Jesus' temptation in the desert by noting that the devil departs for a time. The implication is that the devil will return. Jesus knows that he will be tempted again in the Garden of Gethsemane. The depth of Jesus' trust in God is shown most fully when Jesus rejects the temptation to turn away from the task God has given to him. Jesus' final rebuke of the devil is his sacrifice on the Cross.

Jesus' responses to the temptations of the devil teach us how we can respond to temptation. As we start our journey through Lent, this Sunday's Gospel calls us to adopt the same confidence that Jesus had in the face of temptation: God's word alone will suffice, God's promise of protection can be trusted, and God alone is God.

Easter Boutique

The ladies of the Altar Society are starting to prepare for their upcoming Easter Boutique to be held on Palm Sunday weekend, April 12 and 13. Beautiful Easter baskets brimming with treats and toys will entice you.

To help us on this occasion, if you find treasures which you have tucked away in boxes or drawers, the Ladies will heartily welcome what you can give us. New or gently used small plush animals or toys are greatly appreciated. Your donations can be dropped off at the parish office, just designate it for the Altar Society.

Thank you!

On Sale This Weekend

We welcome back Bethlehem Artworks who will be present on our church patio after all Masses this weekend, March 8-9.

Beautiful hand-made olive wood religious articles made by Catholic families in Bethlehem and Jerusalem will be on sale. Stop by their tables and take a look at what they offer you.

Income for Catholics living in these holy cities is almost impossible to find. Because of the war, tourism has been completely shut down and these families have no other way of earning any income. Crafting the religious articles made of olive wood is the primary means for providing for the livelihood of Catholic families during these difficult times.

Stations of the Cross

We offer Stations of the Cross twice every Friday afternoon at 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm. If you cannot be present, consider this online version of the traditional prayer.

Busted Halo has created a series of virtual stations designed for personal devotion. These stations relate to Jesus’ teachings about the Kingdom of God and the reason his vision of this Kingdom led to his death. Find a quiet place to watch these stations, and as you do the devotions be open to how God is speaking to you through the Stations of the Cross.

Take a look!

St. Patrick Day Dinner Dance

It's that time of year again! Come join us next Saturday, March 15 for a lively evening of fun and celebration at St. Patrick's Parish Hall.

The Knights of Columbus will be on the patio selling the tickets for the annual St. Patrick's Dinner Dance celebration. The cost is $25 per person under 12 free. Price includes entry and a great Irish dinner. Beverages are sold separately.

MISIONES CUARESMALES, “VIVIENDO NUESTRO LLAMADO A LA EUCARISTÍA”. HAGA CLIC AQUÍ: (ATTACH FLYER) MARZO 10-12 EN LA IGLESIA, 7PM,,,Haga clic aquí:

Unción de los enfermos

Habrá una Misa bilingüe con el Sacramento de la Unción de los Enfermos el martes 18 de marzo a las 10:00 am. Será concelebrado por nuestros sacerdotes eudistas y ofrece una oportunidad para que cualquier persona que esté gravemente enferma o tenga una condición crónica experimente la gracia sanadora y perdonadora de Dios.

Un Saludo de

parte del Diacono Miguel,

“En aquel tiempo, Jesús, lleno del Espíritu Santo, regresó del Jordán y conducido por el mismo Espíritu, se internó en el desierto, donde permaneció durante cuarenta días y fue tentado por el demonio.” (Evangelio San Lucas 4: 1-13). Hoy celebramos el 1er Domingo de Cuaresma y leemos en el Evangelio de San Lucas, cómo el demonio tienta a Jesús tres veces en el desierto. Pero Jesús con su mirada fija en su Padre, puede resistir las tentaciones y no caí. ¿Cómo puede Jesús resistir las tentaciones? Ora al Padre. Jesús confiaba completamente en el amor del Padre, sabía que con el Padre a su lado podría resistir cualquier obstáculo que se encontraba en el camino. Ese es el modelo que nos presenta a nosotros y invita que los imitemos. ¿Acaso, tú y yo podemos resistir las tentaciones que el demonio nos ofrece? Si, si podemos. Dios nos ha dado la voluntad libre. Tú y yo tenemos “el poder” de decir sí o no a las tentaciones, el poder que sólo viene de Dios. Pero, para “conectarnos a ese poder” necesitamos orar cómo Jesús. Pensemos en esos momentos que fuimos tentados por las tentaciones del diablo y no hicimos nada, permitimos que esas tentaciones tomaran control de nuestra mente y corazón. ¿Cómo nos sentimos después?” Ahora, piensen en esas veces que fuimos tentados y esta vez acudimos a Dios que nos ayudara, orando, “¡Señor ayúdame!” ¿Cómo nos sentimos después? No somos perfectos, somos débiles, y fácilmente somos influidos a ser lo que no queremos ser. Oremos al Dios del amor y de la misericordia que nos acompaña y no fortalece. En esta Cuaresma, esforcemos para encontrarnos con Dios durante todo el día, consiente que somos sus amados y amados. Y no hay nada que podemos hacer para quebrar su amor por nosotros.

“Ven a Mí: Cómo hacer una Hora de Adoración”. Haga clic aquí:

OTRA REFLEXIÓN – “ESTA ESCRITO, NO SOLO DE PAN VIVE EL HOMBRE” Haga clic aquí

VIVIENDO NUESTRA FE - “CUARESMA: TIEMPO DE LIMPIEZA INTERIOR”. Haga clic aquí

Estudios Bíblicos en Español del Padre Ricardo Chinchilla, cjm... clic aquí

3821 Adams Street

Carlsbad, California 92008

760.729.2866

Our parish offices are open, Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 12:30pm and 1:30 to 4:30pm

In case of emergency, you can always reach a priest. Call the parish number 760-729-2866 and press number 6 which will connect you directly to one of our priests.

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To email a priest at St. Patrick Church click the address below:

rmbagley@yahoo.com

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