A Word from the Pastor



July 18, 2025

I share the concern of many Church leaders regarding the treatment migrants in our country are receiving. Archbishop Jose Gomez has expressed it well; I quote him at length:

“Here in Los Angeles, I have been deeply disturbed by the reports of federal agents detaining people in public places, apparently without showing warrants or evidence that those they are taking into custody are in the country illegally. These actions are causing panic in our parishes and communities. People are staying home from Mass and work, parks and stores are empty, the streets in many neighborhoods are silent. Families are staying behind locked doors, out of fear.

“This situation is not worthy of a great nation. We may agree that the previous administration in Washington went too far in not securing our borders and in permitting far too many people to enter our country without vetting. But the current administration has offered no immigration policy beyond the stated goal of deporting thousands of people each day. This is not policy, it is punishment, and it can only result in cruel and arbitrary outcomes. Already we are hearing stories of innocent fathers and mothers being wrongly deported, with no recourse to appeal. A great nation can take the time and care to make distinctions and judge each case on its merits.

“It is estimated that as many as two-thirds of those in the country illegally have been living here for a decade or more. In the case of the so-called “Dreamers,” brought here as small children by undocumented parents, this is the only country they have ever known. The vast majority of “illegal aliens” are good neighbors, hardworking men and women, people of faith; they are making important contributions to vital sectors of the American economy: agriculture, construction, hospitality, health care, and more. They are parents and grandparents, active in our communities, charities, and churches.

“The last reform of our immigration laws was in 1986. That is two generations of neglect by our political and business leaders. It is not fair to punish only ordinary working men and women for that neglect. It is time for a new national conversation about immigration, one that is realistic and makes necessary moral and practical distinctions about those in our country illegally.

“I want to suggest some starting proposals for this new conversation, based on the principles of Catholic social teaching, which both recognize the duty of nations to control their borders and respects the natural rights of individuals to emigrate in search of a better life: First, we can agree that known terrorists and violent criminals should be deported, but in a way that is consistent with our values, that respects their rights to due process. We can tighten border security and use technologies and other means to help employers verify the legal status of their employees. We should reform legal immigration policies to ensure that our nation has the skilled workers it needs while continuing our historic commitment to uniting families through our immigration policy. We should restore our moral commitments to providing asylum and protective status to genuine refugees and endangered populations. Finally, and most importantly, we should find a way to offer legal status to those who have been in our country for many years, beginning with the Dreamers.

“These are not new ideas, but they are the start of a new conversation. And it is time that we start talking again and stop fighting in our streets.”

Thank you, Archbishop Gomez, for these wise and measured proposals. Let’s encourage our national leaders to adopt a sane and well-intentioned response to the situation in our country.

In one Heart,

Fr. Ron 

 rmbagley@yahoo.com

The Church Will Not Endorse Political Candidates Despite

IRS Change



This brief article explains why the US Catholic Bishops have said that the Catholic Church will not endorse political candidates for public office, even though it will now be allowed by the IRS.

Catholic Widows and Widowers of North County

San Diego Catholic Widows and Widowers of North County (CWWNC) is a social group dedicated to having fun and good conversation. We offer opportunities for Catholic men & women whose spouses are deceased to meet and share activities with others. Members understand because they have experienced a similar loss.

• Wide array of activities
• Monthly potluck
• Pray at a communal Mass followed by brunch
• Annual picnic
• Celebrate the Christmas season at a special luncheon
• Volunteer opportunities



For more information, go to: https://www.cwwnc.com/

Annual Catholic Appeal

ACA is an important part of the Church’s outreach in the Diocese of San Diego. Every parish has to support the mission of the Diocese. Our goal this year is high: $105,875. It is a challenge for us to achieve it.

So far, we have only collected about $72,000. We need another $33,000 to reach our goal. If we do not reach our goal, our parish must make up the difference. Please help us and the Diocese by making your contribution. The brochures that describe the good ministries done by ACA and how to contribute are located at the doors of the church. If you have any questions, call the parish office or stop by. Thank you for your support.

Click the link below to make your contribution.

 Birth Choice Baby Bottle Drive

Once again, St. Patrick Parish will conduct a baby bottle drive to support the work of Birth Choice of San Marcos. Birth Choice is a pregnancy center and medical clinic that counsels women who are in unplanned or crisis pregnancies. They provide free ultrasounds to all clients and receive no government funding.

The Baby Bottle Drive funds those ultrasounds. Each one costs about $250 and the machines are in excess of $25K. St. Patrick’s donations last year enabled Birth Choice to provide our clients with over 25 free ultrasounds. Of those many were abortion minded. Birth Choice will soon be establishing a Fatherhood counseling program and also an Abortion Pill Reversal regimen.

Baby bottles will be distributed on the patio on the weekend of July 26-27. Please take a bottle and put your change, currency or a check in it. Each cent goes into the ultrasound ministry. (Make checks payable to Birth Choice of San Marcos.) Please return the filled bottles in the next week or two to the black bins located at the entrance of the church.

Parish Bookkeeper Needed for Immediate Start

Our parish is in need of a full-time bookkeeper to join our parish staff. We are looking for a person of faith with a commitment to our parish and mission. The person should have a college bachelor’s degree or equivalent in finance, accounting, communication or equivalent and we prefer at least 5 years of successful work experience managing business enterprise(s). It is important that the person has proficiency with Cloud-based QuickBooks, Excel and church-management software. The successful applicant needs strong organizational, communication, and confidentiality skills, as well as attention to detail. A valid California drivers’ license is also necessary.

If you or someone you know is a good fit for this position, share the attached job description or call the parish office at 760-729-2866

Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA)

The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is the process through which people become fully initiated into the Catholic community. This includes:

• Adults who have never been baptized
• Adults who were baptized in another Christian religion but now want to join the Catholic Church
• Adults who were baptized as Catholics but never received the Sacrament of Confirmation (OCIA is not for adolescents; adults only)

Our program meets on Sunday mornings after the 9:00 am Mass. It is held in the parish center from 10:00 to 11:00 am. Except for a few holiday weekends, it meets every Sunday. The first session will be Sunday, September 14, 2025.

Regular attendance is important. Those who complete the process will receive the sacraments at the Easter Vigil (April 4, 2026).



To get enrolled, you need to make an appointment with Fr. Ron. Email him at rmbagley@yahoo.com

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.



1. What is the difference between doctrine and dogma?
2. What does ex cathedra mean in defining dogma?
3. How many dogmas are there in Catholic teaching?
4. How many Marian dogmas are there?
5. According to Catholic practice, what is the Magisterium?

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