Our first weekend of public Masses went very smoothly. Thanks to all who attended. Everyone was very respectful of social distancing, face coverings and other protocols.
Special thanks to all the Lectors, Special Ministers of Holy Communion, Ministers of Hospitality, Musicians and Singers. A special thanks to our priests and deacons who were available for as many Masses as we needed. Thanks to the members of our parish staff who worked hard to make sure that everything and everyone was prepared. Everybody worked very hard to make our Masses prayerful yet in a safe environment.
Going forward, we will follow the same Mass schedule. The only exception will be that the outdoor Mass on the covered court of the school will be used only if we have reached the capacity of the church.
Once again, you are most welcome to attend Mass on the weekend, on weekdays or from the comfort of your home. The bishop’s dispensation from Sunday obligation continues. Our recorded Masses online continue. If you are not yet comfortable coming to a public Mass, that’s ok. Whenever you are ready, we welcome you.
It is important to remember that the resumption of public Masses in the church does not signal the resumption of all ministries, activities and events. We are not ready to schedule events that would take place in the next few weeks. Any church service or gathering has the same limitations as Mass (number of people, social distancing, masks, etc.). Even more challenging is the need to clean the church after every Mass or event. This impinges on the scheduling of events more (time in between for cleaning) and the demands placed upon our staff in constantly re-cleaning the church or other spaces.
We are optimistic that some of these restrictions will be loosened by the state and county in the coming weeks. Until such modifications are made, we ask for your understanding and patience.
Remember, we are not having public Masses because the pandemic is over. We are able to have public Masses because we know better how to manage health and safety in the time of the pandemic. That includes social distancing, wearing masks, hand washing and all the other things we have learned are necessary to live with Covid-19 in our midst. Let’s keep doing those things that we know work.
The Sacred Heart of Jesus according to St. John Eudes
Last week’s newsletter noted that St. John Eudes, the founder of the Congregation of Jesus and Mary, was the first person to compose a Mass (along with the various parts of the Liturgy of the Hours) for a liturgical feast in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This first celebration took place on October 20, 1672.
He had already established a feast in honor of the Immaculate Heart of Mary on February 8, 1648. In those intervening years, he pondered the close connection between the hearts of Jesus and Mary. In his mind, it was the love of God which united these great hearts. But, in order to avoid confusion and to more clearly show the centrality of Jesus to our Christian faith, he established this separate feast in honor of the Heart of Jesus.
The heart is a symbol of love. In the Heart of Jesus, we have a manifestation of the great love that God has for us in giving us his only begotten Son. Jesus is the greatest expression of God’s love. The gospel which St. John Eudes chose for the feast recalls the words of Jesus: “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Live on in my love.” Not only is Jesus the gift of the Father’s love for us, but Jesus himself gives us his Heart. This is how St. John Eudes understands the words that the prophet Ezekiel puts on the lips of God: “I will give you a new heart and place a new spirit within you, taking from your bodies your stony hearts and giving you natural hearts. And I will put my spirit within you.”
Our hearts are not capable of loving God and one another as we should. Sometimes our hearts can be hard and cold. This gives St. John Eudes the opportunity to return to one of the recurring themes in his spirituality: that we have to renounce those hard hearts, those hearts which find it difficult to love. In doing so, we open ourselves up to the loving Heart of Jesus. Jesus will give us his heart so that we can love in the way he does.
For St. John Eudes, the Sacred Heart of Jesus is a prototype or model of the way our hearts should be. As a symbol of God’s love, the Heart of Jesus embraces the poor and the suffering, it welcomes sinners, it reaches out to those who are neglected or shunned by society. So by giving up our hard hearts and receiving the Heart of Jesus, we are made able to love as we should.
So you can see that the spirituality of the Sacred Heart of Jesus proposed by St. John Eudes is quite apostolic. It is not merely about prayers, devotions and images. Those objects of devotion serve to remind us of the love of the Heart of Jesus in a way that moves us to love like he did. As we celebrate this feast, let our hearts be on fire with the love of God and show that love to all we meet, especially those who are in desperate needs of God’s love and mercy.
Stations of the Cross for an End of Racism
Catholic Bishops from across California have made a video of the Stations of the Cross to draw attention to the sin of racism and to ask God’s help in eliminating it. The video includes the leaders of all 12 California (arch)dioceses and two Catholic eparchies and is also available with subtitles in Spanish and Vietnamese.
Many of the 14 Stations of the Cross were taped at locations with deep racial meaning. Examples include Oakland’s Fruitvale BART Station, California’s first African-American Catholic Church, and a former KKK headquarters in San Diego. The video is about 40 minutes and can be a beautiful and thought-provoking prayer.
Showers of Blessings Wants to Open
As we look to an eventual re-opening of our services to people without a home, Showers of Blessings is looking for volunteers under 70 to help us with this important ministry. This important ministry will only be able to open if we get additional volunteers. We will be following all the guidance from state and county protocols. Volunteers can be sure that we will be exercising an abundance of caution with new procedures put in place. To sign up or to find out more, contact Chris Durnan at: chrisdurnan4@gmail.com
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 is the name of the consecrated oil used in the sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Orders?
What are the three Sacraments of Initiation?
What is the name of the cathedral church of the Bishop of Rome?
How many “signs” (john’s word for a miracle) are included in the Fourth Gospel?
If you are able to support this year’s ACA, you can put your donation or pledge in our collection basket, drop it off at or mail it to the parish office, or donate online:
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.
Jeremiah expresses confidence that the Lord will protect him.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 69:8-10,14,17,33-35
God responds to the prayers of those in need.
Second Reading
Romans 5:12-15
Sin came into the world through one person; so salvation came through one person for many.
Gospel Reading
Matthew 10:26-33
Jesus assures the Twelve that God cares about them.
Background on the Gospel Reading
We read today’s Gospel in the context of last week’s Gospel in which Jesus sent the twelve disciples to proclaim the kingdom of heaven. In between last week’s reading and today’s reading, Jesus has predicted that the disciples will face difficulties in their mission. Many people will not receive them well, even within the land of Israel. Even family members will turn away from the disciples because of the disciples’ commitment to Jesus and the kingdom. Today’s Gospel offers the disciples consolation against this difficult truth.
This section of Matthew’s Gospel should be read in the context of Matthew’s intended audience, a Jewish-Christian community. The Gospel alludes to the dangers and persecutions that this community has most likely already faced and will continue to face. To reassure this community, Matthew recalls for them the encouraging words of Jesus that we read today.
In this Gospel passage, Jesus might be understood as putting suffering in perspective. The disciples of Jesus are called upon to keep their focus on God. Those who can harm the body do not have ultimate power; God does. Still persecution and suffering can not be avoided or prevented. But Jesus reassures his disciples that God knows and cares about what happens to his children.
We might not face the same type of persecution, but we do experience difficulties as we endeavor to live a Christian life. Sometimes we let the opinions of others prevent us from doing what we know to be right. We need the reminder that what God thinks about us is more important. We are reassured by the promise that God cares for us and protects us.
General Absolution
Many people have expressed a concern about the fact that they have not been able to go to confession in these months of quarantine. They have asked if it is okay to receive Holy Communion without confession first. Since we will not be able to immediately resume our regular schedule for confessions, we are able to offer an alternative.
In the Rite of Penance of the Catholic Church, there is an extraordinary form of absolution of sin that is to be used only in exceptional circumstances. It is called general absolution. It is a way of celebrating the Sacrament of Reconciliation without individual confession. Yet the person’s sins are forgiven and the graces of the sacrament are given.
Bishop McElroy has extended to all the priests of the Diocese the special delegation and permission to use this extraordinary form of absolution. We are indeed living in a time of exceptional circumstances. With a particular concern for not exposing our priests to contact with large numbers of penitents who seek forgiveness, we will use this faculty to give general absolution.
On the first two weekends of public Masses (June 13-14 and June 20-21), the priest presider at each of our Masses will use the form of general absolution at the beginning of the Mass. He will briefly explain what is happening and invite you to dispose yourself to receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
You should prepare for general absolution in the same that you would prepare for confession and individual absolution. Before coming to church that day, spend some time reflecting on your own need for God’s forgiveness and on God’s great mercy. Make an examination of conscience and recall the specific sins for which you need to be forgiven. When the priest at Mass invites you to recall your sins, confess them to God in the quiet of your heart. The priest will then give you absolution along with the others who are at Mass.
Once we are able to schedule times for individual confession, you can go to individual confession again. However, since you have already been absolved, you do not need to repeat your sins again.
General Absolution at Daily Mass
Some people have asked if General Absolution could be offered at a daily Mass for those who are not ready to come to church on Sunday. We are happy to be able to do that. And so, in addition to this coming weekend (June 20-21),
we will offer General Absolution this week on two days: Monday June 22 and Tuesday June 23. It will be offered to those who wish at all three Masses on those days (7:00 am, 8:00 am and 7:00 pm). See the other article about General Absolution in this newsletter and how to prepare for it.
¡Ya Esta Abierta la Capilla de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe!
A medida que comenzamos a aumentar los servicios de la parroquia, ahora podemos abrir la Capilla de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe. Estará disponible para oración privada a las horas costumbre.
Guadalupe Chapel Opens
As we begin to increase the services of the parish, we are now able to open the Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe. It will be available for private prayer at the usual hours.
An Act of Spiritual Communion
My Jesus,
I believe that You
are present in the Most Holy Sacrament.
I love You above all things,
and I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot at this moment
receive You sacramentally,
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
Fathers Day Novena of Masses
Soon Fathers’ Day will be here: a special time to honor our fathers, pray for them and thank God for their presence in our lives. As is our custom, we will have a Novena of Masses for Fathers, living and deceased.
In order to remember the special Dads in your life, just send us the names on a piece of paper or an envelope. Indicate if each Dad is living or deceased and include an offering of any amount. Put your names in our donation boxes at Mass, mail it to the office or drop it off during office hours (8:30 am – 12:30 pm). All of these papers and envelopes will remain on the altar during all the Masses in the church during the month of June.
Your Contributions
Throughout the time during which we have not had public Masses, many of our parishioners have continued to send or bring their contributions to the parish. Many have begun using online giving. I am so grateful that so many people have continued to contribute. It has been very helpful to the financial situation of the parish. While our income is down significantly, the generosity shown by so many has enabled us to maintain the parish complex, keep current with our bills, and pay our dedicated staff. Thank you all, very much!
As we begin to celebrate public Masses, we will not be passing the collection basket (for obvious reasons). There will be specially marked containers near the entrance to the churchor near the gate to the field into which you can place your offerings. Of course, you can continue to mail us your contribution or drop it off at the office (8:30 am – 12:30 pm). Online giving remains a good option as well. Thank you for supporting your parish.
Fr. Ron
Bishops Challenge Us to Oppose Racism
The following two quotations come from the strong statement by the US Bishops entitled Brothers and Sisters to Us. They give us much food for thought and may spur us to think and act differently.
“The structures of our society are subtly racist, for these structures reflect the values which society upholds. They are geared to the success of the majority and the failure of the minority. Members of both groups give unwitting approval by accepting things as they are. Perhaps no single individual is to blame. The sinfulness is often anonymous but nonetheless real. The sin is social in nature in that each of us, in varying degrees, is responsible. All of us in some measure are accomplices. As our recent pastoral letter on moral values states: “The absence of personal fault for an evil does not absolve one of all responsibility. We must seek to resist and undo injustices we have not ceased, least we become bystanders who tacitly endorse evil and so share in guilt in it.”
“Each of us as Catholics must acknowledge a share in the mistakes and sins of the past. Many of us have been prisoners of fear and prejudice. We have preached the Gospel while closing our eyes to the racism it condemns. We have allowed conformity to social pressures to replace compliance with social justice.”
This quotation is from a pastoral letter of Archbishop Harry Flynn. He points out two of the forms of racism that need to be challenged:
“I believe that two broad types of racism need to be recognized and resisted: individual and institutional. Individual racism is evident when a person adopts attitudes or takes actions that are based on the assumption of racial superiority. Such attitudes and actions violate the rights and dignity of other people because of race. A second type of racism is institutional or structural. This type of racism exists where patterns of racial superiority are embedded in the systems and institutions of society. Such racism is less blatant and more complex, but it exists nonetheless. It is present wherever systems and institutions are created and maintained in such a way that they provide privilege or prejudice for one race over others. This type of racism can be seen, to varying degrees, in many of our social, economic, and political structures, including the structures of our Church.”
Registration for Confirmation Preparation Has Begun
Hello St. Pat’s Families,
We’ve started the first tier of registrations for Year One & Two Confirmation for the 2020/2021 School year. Please watch this video for more info and, please go to www.stpatrickcarlsbad.comto begin the online registration process.
The church is open for private prayer every day from 7:00am - 11:00am, and the Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe is Now Open!
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.
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:
