Before Christmas fades from our memories (as if we could ever forget Christmas 2020), I want to express my deep appreciation to all those who made our Christmas Masses extra special.
First of all, I thank our parish staff who worked tirelessly to prepare the venue, to plan the liturgies, and to make sure everything went smoothly. Special thanks to Joni Yribe and the musicians and singers. I thank our office staff who not only helped to decorate the covered court but also organized and executed our annual Star Tree gift donation and give away. A big thank you to our maintenance staff under the supervision of Jim Nye, our business manager, who made sure our worship space was prepared and sanitized after each Mass.
Of course, our priests did so many things in addition to celebrating eight Masses outdoors. The weather conditions were less than perfect, and we did experience some high winds and a few raindrops. But it was Christmas!
I also need to thank all of our parishioners who joined together for this very unusual but special Christmas. By my count, we had about 2,000 people who attended our eight Masses. While that is fewer than we would have in a “normal” year, it showed the strength and vitality of the faith of our parishioners. Special thanks to our Lectors, Special Ministers of Holy Communion, and Ministers of Hospitality. Some of them even doubled up and served at more than one Mass. You folks are great!
On behalf of our priests and staff, I also thank the parishioners who sent cards, gifts and food. We appreciate your thoughtfulness and especially your prayerful wishes.
We are all praying that 2021 will be a better year. We have a long way to go before we beat this Covid thing. In the meantime, be safe, observe protocols, and take care of one another.
May the Lord bless you and your families with health, strength and a deep faith as we continue our journey together.
On behalf of all the priests, deacons and entire parish staff, we thank you for the gifts, cards and kind wishes that you shared with us during the Christmas season. May God continue to bless us all in this New Year. Please be careful and be safe.
General Absolution
General Absolution will be offered at all Masses on the weekend of January 9-10. It will be offered again on the second weekend of February. In addition, general absolution is given at the parish Masses every Friday morning.
The Hands That First Held Mary’s Child
As we close out the Christmas season and as we enter “The Year of St. Joseph” (requested by Pope Francis), this beautiful song sings of the earthly father of Jesus as the one who first received the newborn Child. It was produced in the Philippines by Jesuit Communications and the composer (Fr. Manoling Francisco, SJ) is a friend and former colleague of Fr. Ron.
In Memoriam
Rafael (Rafi) Cordova
With great sadness we announce the death of a dear friend and coworker. For more than 34 years, Rafi has served our parish community as a part of our maintenance staff. He was loyal, hard-working and reliable. He did his work in an efficient yet unassuming manner. But more than that, he was an integral part of the very fiber of our parish.
Rafi was loved and appreciated by all. As a true Christian, he was ready to help all those in need. He never sought recognition as he showed great humility in all things. His warm smile endeared him to many people.
He was a devoted and loving husband to Micaela and a good father to his children. Besides being a staff member, he was an active and generous parishioner. Our sympathy and prayers go out to his family and many friends.
On Saturday, January 2, 2021 he heard his Lord call him home: “Well done, good and faithful servant. Come and share your Master’s joy.” May he rest in peace.
Mary Did You Know?
Here is a more modern Christmas song that helps us make the transition from the baby Jesus to the grown up Jesus. The words for this song were written by former Gaither Vocal Band baritone singer Mark Lowry after his pastor asked him to write a Christmas musical for their church. It is performed here by Clay Aiken.
Open Wide Our Hearts
The United States Bishops issued a pastoral statement last year that addresses one of the most pressing issues that we face as a nation: the continued existence of racism and other forms of discrimination. Here is a summary of the document from the Bishops.
"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.
Who said it is more blessed to give than to receive?
Where do we find this maxim?
According to tradition, what number pope is Pope Francis? (If Peter is #1, then what number is Pope Francis?)
What does Catholic moral teaching mean by “the common good”?
What is the name of the encyclical of Pope Francis than deals with the earth as our common home??
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.
Isaiah 55:1-11 (The first reading from Cycle A, Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7, may also be chosen.)
Isaiah calls upon the people to return to the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm
Isaiah 12:2-3,4-6 (The psalm from Cycle A, Psalm 29:1-4,9-10, may also be chosen.)
A prayer of praise for God's salvation.
Second Reading
1 John 5:1-9 (The second reading from Cycle A, Acts of the Apostles 10:34-38, may also be chosen.)
The Spirit of Truth testifies on behalf of Jesus, God's Son.
Gospel Reading
Mark 1:7-11
Jesus is baptized by John the Baptist.
Background on the Gospel Reading
Today we celebrate the feast of the Baptism of the Lord. In most years, this feast is celebrated on the Sunday after Epiphany. When Epiphany falls on either January 7 or 8, the Baptism of the Lord is celebrated on the Monday after Epiphany.
In today's Gospel we hear John the Baptist contrast his baptism of repentance with the baptism that Jesus will inaugurate. John the Baptist says that he has baptized with water, but that the one who is to come will baptize with the Holy Spirit. John's baptism was not yet a Christian baptism; it was a preparation for the Christian Baptism we celebrate today, and through which sins are forgiven and the gift of the Holy Spirit is received. In accepting John's baptism, Jesus, though sinless, united himself with all sinners.
The baptism of Jesus is reported in each of the three Synoptic Gospels—Matthew, Mark, and Luke. Clearly, Jesus' baptism was an event of great significance for Jesus and for the early Christian community. Mark and Luke report the story from Jesus' perspective; the voice from heaven is addressed to Jesus. In Matthew's Gospel, the voice from heaven speaks to all who are present. The descent of the Holy Spirit on Jesus at his baptism shows that something new is beginning through the baptism and ministry of Jesus.
The baptism of Jesus is considered an important manifestation of God in the person of Jesus, another epiphany. Jesus' baptism inaugurates his mission. Mark's Gospel moves quickly from the report of Jesus' baptism to Jesus' temptations in the desert to his ministry in Galilee after John's arrest. The end of the ministry of John the Baptist is the beginning of Jesus' ministry. In an analogous way, our Baptism inaugurates our mission as Christians.
Surprisingly, on this the last day of the Christmas season the Gospel does not tell a story from Jesus' childhood. Instead the Gospel reveals Jesus' relationship to God: the Son of Mary and Joseph is also God's own Son. We believe that through Baptism we are also made children of God.
Queridos hermanos y hermanas en Cristo, les quiero desear un año lleno de paz y gracia. Confiados que el Señor está con nosotros siempre en los momentos alegres y en los momentos no tan alegres. Creo que todos están enterados de la muerte de nuestro hermano Rafael Córdova. Un servidor del Señor, siempre dispuesto a ayudar a quien lo necesitara. Oremos por la familia su familia, por su esposa Micaela, sus hijos e hija, sus nietos y nietas y todos sus familiares y amigos. Este fin de semana, la Iglesia nos invita a reflexionar sobre el Bautismo del Señor, y también reflexionar el significado de nuestro propio bautismo. Para ayudarlos en su reflexión hagan clic en los links indicados. Dios los bendiga.
Sleep is a very important part of our lives, yet many of us do not pay much attention to it. It is usually not until we have problems with sleep that we notice it and start to try to understand its nature.
In the previous newsletter, I shared some tips on sleep hygiene. Here are a few more that can help improve your sleep naturally.
No clock-watching: Many people who struggle with sleep tend to watch the clock too much. Checking the clock frequently during the night can wake you up (especially if you turn on the light to read the time) and reinforces negative thoughts such as: “Oh no, look how late it is, I’ll never get to sleep” or “It so early, I have only slept for 5 hours, this is terrible”.
Exercise: Regular exercise is a good idea to help with good sleep but try not to do exhausting exercise in the 4 hours before bedtime. Morning walks are a great way to start the day feeling refreshed!
Eat right: A healthy, balanced diet will help you to sleep well, but timing is important. Some people find that a very empty stomach at bedtime is distracting, so it can be useful to have a light snack, but a heavy meal soon before bed can also interrupt sleep. Some people recommend a warm glass of milk, which contains tryptophan, which acts as a natural sleep inducer.
The right space: Your bed and bedroom must be quiet and comfortable for sleeping. A cooler room with enough blankets to stay warm is best, and make sure you have curtains or an eye mask to block out early morning light and earplugs if there is noise outside your room.
Keep the daytime routine the same: even if you have a bad night's sleep and are tired you should try to keep your daytime activities the same as you had planned. That is, do not avoid activities because you feel tired. That can reinforce insomnia.
Avoid alcohol: It is better to avoid alcohol for at least 4-6 hours before going to bed. Many people believe that alcohol is relaxing and helps them to get to sleep at first, but it interrupts the quality of sleep.
El sueño es una parte muy importante de nuestras vidas, pero muchos de nosotros no le prestamos mucha atención. Por lo general, no es hasta que tenemos problemas con el sueño que lo notamos y comenzamos a tratar de comprender su naturaleza.
En el artículo anterior del boletín, compartí algunos consejos de la higiene del sueño. A continuación, comparto algunos más que pueden contribuir a mejorar su sueño de forma natural.
No mirar el reloj: Muchas personas que tienen dificultades para dormir tienden a mirar el reloj demasiado. Mirar el reloj con frecuencia durante la noche puede despertarte (especialmente si enciendes la luz para leer la hora) y refuerza pensamientos negativos como: "Oh no, mira lo tarde que es, nunca me voy a dormir" o “Es tan temprano, solo he dormido 5 horas, esto es terrible”.
Ejercicio: El ejercicio regular es una buena idea para ayudar a dormir bien, pero trate de no hacer ejercicio agotador en las 4 horas antes de acostarse. Las caminatas matutinas son una excelente manera de comenzar el día sintiéndose renovado.
Coma bien: Una dieta sana y equilibrada le ayudará a dormir bien, pero el tiempo es importante. Algunas personas encuentran que un estómago muy vacío a la hora de acostarse distrae, por lo que puede ser útil tomar un refrigerio ligero, pero una comida pesada antes de acostarse también puede interrumpir el sueño. Algunas personas recomiendan un vaso de leche tibia, que contiene triptófano, que actúa como un inductor natural del sueño.
El espacio adecuado: Es muy importante que su cama y su dormitorio sean tranquilos y cómodos para dormir. Lo mejor es una habitación fresca con suficientes cobijas para mantenerse caliente, y asegúrese de tener cortinas o una máscara para los ojos para bloquear la luz de la mañana y tapones para los oídos si hay ruido fuera de su habitación.
Mantenga la rutina del día igual: incluso si duerme mal por la noche y está cansado, debe tratar de mantener sus actividades del día como las había planeado. Es decir, no evite las actividades porque se sienta cansado. Eso puede reforzar la insomnia.
Evite el alcohol: Es mejor evitar el alcohol durante al menos 4-6 horas antes de acostarse. Muchas personas creen que el alcohol es relajante y les ayuda a conciliar el sueño al principio, pero interrumpe la calidad del sueño.
Our parish offices are open, Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 12:30pm.
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- 760-729-2866.
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:
