Living That Yes - Week 38 - Friday, September 25, 2026

St. Patrick Parish News & Updates

September 25, 2026 | Issue 38

Pastor’s Reflection

Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

This Sunday, Jesus invites us to reflect on the difference between saying “yes” to God and actually living that “yes.” In the Gospel, a father asks his two sons to go and work in the vineyard. The first son says no, but later changes his mind and goes. The second says yes, but never goes. Jesus then asks, “Which of the two did his father’s will?” The answer is the one whose actions ultimately reflected his father’s desire.

This simple parable speaks deeply to our life as Christians. It is possible to say the right things, attend Mass, pray, and identify ourselves as Catholic, while sometimes failing to allow our faith to influence the way we live. Jesus reminds us that authentic faith is not simply about words or appearances. Faith must become visible in our actions.

At the same time, the Gospel gives us great hope. The first son initially said no, but he changed his mind. His story reminds us that our past does not have to determine our future. We all have moments when we have resisted God, made poor choices, neglected our responsibilities, or failed to love as Christ asks us to love. Yet God never stops calling us. Through His mercy, He gives us the grace to change and begin again.

The first reading from the prophet Ezekiel emphasizes personal responsibility. Each person is invited to turn away from sin and choose the path of life. Conversion is not something that happens only once. It is a daily invitation to examine our hearts and ask: Am I allowing God to transform the way I think, speak, and act?

As a parish community, we might also ask ourselves what our “yes” to God looks like. Does our worship lead us to greater charity? Do we forgive those who have hurt us? Do we welcome those who feel forgotten or distant from the Church? Are we willing to serve our families, our parish, and those in need? Our Christian witness becomes most powerful when what we celebrate at the altar is reflected in our lives.

The Eucharist nourishes us for this mission. At every Mass, Christ gives Himself to us so that we can go forth and give ourselves in love to others.

Perhaps there are areas of our lives where we have been saying “no” to God. Today, Jesus does not condemn us; He invites us to begin again. It is never too late to change our hearts and say yes.

May the Lord give us the grace to move beyond words and live our faith with humility, generosity, forgiveness, and love. May our “yes” to God be seen not only in what we say, but especially in what we do.

Blessings always,

Fr. George G. Perez, CJM

The biblical concept kenosis comes from the Greek verb kenóō, meaning "to empty". It is based on the words of St. Paul in this week’s second reading, which states that Jesus "emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness".

It is a way of explaining how Jesus could be fully God and fully human at the same time. Jesus did not stop being God, but He laid aside the independent display of His divine glory and power. He accepted real human weaknesses, such as hunger, tiredness, pain, and death on a cross, living in submission to God the Father.

Christians view kenosis as the ultimate model of self-sacrificing love. Believers are called to emulate Christ by emptying themselves of pride, personal ambition, and selfishness in order to truly serve others.

St. Augustine High School

Open House

Sunday, November 8, 2026
11 am - 2 pm

More information here...

Marriage in the Catholic Church

Are you Catholic but you were not able to get married in the Church (or chose not to)? Sometimes people don’t understand that a decision made years ago not to get married in the Church can still be rectified.

Fr. Ron Bagley, our associate pastor, is available to help couples who would like to explore the possibility of recognizing their marriage as Catholic. Contact Fr. Ron to discuss this further. Don’t assume that it is not possible. The conversation will be totally private and without judgment of any kind.

Contact Fr. Ron at rmbagley@yahoo.com or

760-729.2866.

World Day of Prayer for Migrants and Refugees

Bishop Michael Pham invites us to join him and other faith leaders from the area in a time of prayer and peaceful solidarity for those who have had to flee war, persecution and hardship. It takes place at Balboa Park on Sunday, September 27 at 2:00 pm. See the link below for further details and the agenda.

Visit the Diocese of San Diego website for more information...

Read about the World Day of Prayer here...

Bible Basics Class

As the title suggests, this course will cover the basics of reading and studying the Bible from a Catholic perspective. First and foremost, we will explore what it means to say that the Bible is the Word of God written by human authors. What is Revelation? What is inspiration? Is the Bible free of errors?

Equally important, we will explore why it is important to read the text in the context in which it was written. That includes the cultural, historical, religious and political situation in which the biblical author was immersed.

How did the New Testament develop? What is the relevance of the Old Testament? What is the relationship of the Scriptures and Tradition? What is wrong with fundamentalism?

These and many other questions will be explored and discussed during four classes. We will meet in the Patio Room on Mondays October 19 & 26 as well as November 9 & 16 (We skip November 2 because of the annual Parish All Souls Mass.) Classes will be from 6:30 – 8:00 pm.

There is no fee for this course and there is no book to buy. Just bring your Bible.

To register, send an email to Fr. Ron Bagley, CJM at rmbagley@yahoo.com or call him at the parish office.

Sonata in D major, TWV 44:1 – Bremer Barockorchester

This vibrant Baroque piece was composed by Georg Philipp Telemann (1681–1767). While not as well known as other Baroque pieces it is lively and interesting in three short movements.

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 credit card information is up to date.

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

Make your contribution to our ACA fund here...

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.

Which three actions make up the penitent’s part in the Sacrament of Reconciliation?
What is the essential act of the priest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation?
What is meant by the term “the seal of confession”?
According to Catholic teaching, who forgives sins in the Sacrament of Reconciliation?
What is meant by the term “perfect contrition?”

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

Answers to Catholic Trivia here!

YouTube channel here...

Give to Your Church here...Online Giving

Read prior newsletters here

Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year A

First Reading

Ezekiel 18:25-28

It is possible to turn from sin and preserve one’s life.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 25:4-9

A prayer to God for mercy.

Second Reading

Philippians 2:1-11 (shorter form Philippians 2:1-5)

Be like Christ who humbled himself and was exalted by God.

Gospel Reading

Matthew 21:28-32

Jesus poses a question to the chief priests and elders on the meaning of obedience.

Background on the Gospel Reading

The context for today’s Gospel is the mounting tension between Jesus and the Jewish religious leaders. Jesus has entered Jerusalem and overturned the money changers’ tables in the Temple. Jesus has caught the attention of the religious authorities; the chief priests and elders question Jesus about the source of his authority. Jesus refuses to name for these religious leaders the source of his authority. Instead, he questions the priests and elders through the parable we hear in today’s Gospel. The answer given by the religious leaders is correct, but it convicts them for their failure to heed the call of John the Baptist and for their inability to recognize the Kingdom of God.

The situation Jesus proposes is rather straightforward. Given the same task by their father, one son asserts his disobedience in words, but then obeys in his actions; the second son obeys with his words, but disobeys in his actions. The question that Jesus poses is pointed and direct: Which son did what the father wanted? All would agree that “actions speak louder than words” and that even if his words were disobedient, the son who did the work as ordered did the father’s will.

Jesus’ conclusion is also direct. The chief priests and elders, the ones who speak most often about God, did not act accordingly. They did not respond to the message of repentance announced by John the Baptist with a change of heart. Instead, John’s message was heeded by those one would not expect to repent: tax collectors, prostitutes, and other sinners. Because of their actions, these sinners will enter the Kingdom of God ahead of the religious leaders.

Jesus could ask us the same question. Do our words indicate our obedience to God? If not our words, do our actions? God desires a full conversion of heart, that our actions (and our words as well) will give evidence of our love for God.

The King of Love My

Shepherd Is

This traditional Christian hymn based on Psalm 23, the great 'Shepherd Psalm', was written by H.W. Baker and is sung throughout the world. The song's beautiful melody and harmonies accentuate the words of the Psalm perfectly.

SAVE THE DATE—

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 18

2nd Annual St. Patrick Catholic Church

Trunk or Treat

To participate or to volunteer, please email

Erin Daraskavich—erinangelo@gmail.com

Read more about it here...

Altar Servers Training...

There is Still Time to Sign Up

We will be conducting training for altar servers on Monday and Wednesday afternoons beginning on September 21 at 3:00 pm in the church. Students from St. Patrick School will be brought over to the church after dismissal time and returned to the school at 5:00 pm. Students from other schools should be brought directly to the church.

The following requirements must be met:

Child should be baptized, received First Communion and in the 4th grade or higher
Be available to serve parish Masses. Altar servers from our school may not choose to serve only at school Masses.
Attend the training sessions
Have permission of their parents

To sign up for the training sessions, send an email to joinaltarservers@gmail.com.

JORNADA MUNDIAL DEL MIGRANTE & REFUGIADO

DOMINGO | 27 DE SEPTIEMBRE |

2 P.M.

La ubicación ha cambiado

a Balboa Park

clic aquí...

Reflexión del Párroco

XXVI Domingo Ordinario

Este domingo, Jesús nos invita a reflexionar sobre la diferencia entre decir “sí” a Dios y vivir verdaderamente ese “sí”. En el Evangelio, un padre pide a sus dos hijos que vayan a trabajar a la viña. El primero responde que no, pero después se arrepiente y va. El segundo dice que sí, pero finalmente no va. Entonces Jesús pregunta: «¿Cuál de los dos hizo la voluntad de su padre? La respuesta es clara: el que finalmente puso en práctica la voluntad de su padre.

Esta sencilla parábola habla profundamente de nuestra vida cristiana. Es posible decir las cosas correctas, asistir a Misa, rezar y llamarnos católicos, pero al mismo tiempo no permitir que nuestra fe transforme verdaderamente nuestra manera de vivir. Jesús nos recuerda que la fe auténtica no consiste solamente en palabras o apariencias. La fe debe hacerse visible en nuestras acciones.

Al mismo tiempo, este Evangelio nos ofrece una gran esperanza. El primer hijo inicialmente dijo que no, pero después cambió de corazón. Su historia nos recuerda que nuestro pasado no tiene que determinar nuestro futuro. Todos tenemos momentos en los que nos hemos resistido a Dios, hemos tomado malas decisiones, hemos descuidado nuestras responsabilidades o hemos dejado de amar como Cristo nos pide. Sin embargo, Dios nunca deja de llamarnos. Por medio de su misericordia, nos da la gracia para cambiar y comenzar de nuevo.

La primera lectura del profeta Ezequiel destaca nuestra responsabilidad personal. Cada uno está llamado a apartarse del pecado y escoger el camino de la vida. La conversión no es algo que sucede solamente una vez. Es una invitación diaria a examinar nuestro corazón y preguntarnos: ¿Estoy permitiendo que Dios transforme mi manera de pensar, hablar y actuar?

Como comunidad parroquial, también podemos preguntarnos cómo estamos viviendo nuestro “sí” a Dios. ¿Nuestra participación en la Misa nos lleva a una mayor caridad? ¿Perdonamos a quienes nos han ofendido? ¿Acogemos a quienes se sienten olvidados o alejados de la Iglesia? ¿Estamos dispuestos a servir a nuestras familias, a nuestra parroquia y a quienes tienen necesidad? Nuestro testimonio cristiano se vuelve más poderoso cuando aquello que celebramos en el altar se refleja en nuestra vida diaria.

La Eucaristía nos alimenta para esta misión. En cada Misa, Cristo se entrega a nosotros para que también nosotros podamos salir al mundo y entregarnos a los demás mediante el amor.

Tal vez existen áreas de nuestra vida en las que hemos estado diciendo “no” a Dios. Hoy Jesús no nos condena; nos invita a comenzar de nuevo. Nunca es demasiado tarde para cambiar nuestro corazón y decirle sí a Dios.

Pidamos al Señor la gracia de ir más allá de las palabras y vivir nuestra fe con humildad, generosidad, perdón y amor. Que nuestro “sí” a Dios pueda verse no solamente en lo que decimos, sino especialmente en lo que hacemos.

Bendiciones siempre.

P. George G. Pérez, CJM

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.

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 address below: gperez@eudistsusa.org

rmbagley@yahoo.com

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