The celebration of the Birthday of our Lord Jesus Christ is upon us. While some traditions and customs may be curtailed or dropped this year, the true reason for our celebration will remain unchanged. In fact, this may be a good year to focus as families and individuals on the deeper meaning of the birth of our Lord.
We are celebrating the Incarnation of the Son of God. Literally, the “enfleshing” of God in our world. So great is God’s love for us, so close did God want to be to us, that God actually became one of us in the person of Jesus Christ. What an awesome mystery! I have attached a couple short articles that explore the meaning of this sacred mystery. You may want to reflect on their message during the quieter moments of the coming days.
Of course, a highlight of our observance of Christmas is the celebration of Christmas Mass. The schedule below gives you the times of our eight Masses. All of them will be celebrated outdoors on the covered court of the school. I look forward to greeting you then.
I pray that this year’s celebration of Christmas may strengthen your faith and deepen your appreciation of this great feast. I wish each of you the peace of that first Christmas night. May the peace of Christ fill your hearts, your homes and your families, and our whole world.
Here is a video greeting from the Eudist Priests of St. Patrick, Carlsbad
Holiday Schedule
Parishes offices will close on December 24 and reopen on January4.
The next issue of this parish email newsletter will be January 8.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all.
Traditional Christmas Music
Enjoy about an hour of traditional Christmas carols and seasonal music
Christmas Mass Schedule
Christmas Eve – December 24
12:00 noon - Mass for Children and Families
2:00 pm - English Mass
4:00 pm - English Mass
6:00 pm - Misa en espanol
Christmas Day – December 25
7:30 am - Mass in English
9:00 am - Mass in English
11:00 am - Mass in English
1:00 pm - Misa en espanol
Please note:
All Masses will be outdoors on the covered court of the school
There are no reservations. First come, first seated.
Masks are required and social distancing will be observed.
Please support the parish with your donations which are collected at the entrance
Christmas Flowers
We would like to add some flowers to our worship spaces for the Christmas season. We will place flowers in the church so that it looks festive for our online Masses. We will add some Christmas flowers to our outdoor worship space as well.
If you would like to make a contribution to assist in paying for our Christmas flowers, please place your donation in a plain envelope and write on the envelope the names of anyone you would like remembered at our Christmas Masses. Place your envelope in the collection basket, mail it to the parish office or drop in off. Those names will later be listed in our parish bulletin.
Thank you for your help.
PARKING FOR CHRISTMAS
MASSES AND MORE...
NO PARKING at the New Song Church on Pio Pico Dr. on Thursday, December 24, Christmas Eve, AFTER 5:00PM.
YES, you may park in the New Song Church parking lot on Thursday, December 24, Christmas Eve ONLY
UNTIL 5:00PM.
YES, you may park in the New Song Church parking lot on Friday, December 25, Christmas Day.
NEVER PARK at the Chevron Gas Station or at the
Village Pie Shop next door. They will tow.
PLEASE be mindful of our neighbors and PLEASE BE PATIENT with one another as the parking situation is very tight during the Christmas season.
Thank you!
Nativity Play
This is a school Nativity dramatization (with much drama). NOT OUR SCHOOL!
Masses
December 26 to January 6
All Masses from Saturday December 26 up to Sunday January 6 will be on the covered court of the school (during school’s Christmas break).
The Mass schedule is as follows:
Saturday, December 26 – 8:00 am
Sat-Sun, December 26-27 – regular weekend schedule
Mon-Wed, December 28-30 – regular weekday schedule
On Christmas Eve, Fr. Ron will celebrate a special Mass for children and families. It will take place on the covered court of the school at 12:00 pm (noon). The readings, homily and music will be geared to children and their families.
Children are encouraged to dress like one of the principal characters of the Nativity story: Mary, Joseph, an angel, a shepherd, Magi, etc. They will sit with their families and remain socially distant from one another. They will also need to wear the usual masks or face coverings.
Young people, families and parishioners of all ages are invited to this special celebration!
Fr. Ron Speaks about Our Financial Situation
I want to share a few thoughts with you, our parishioners, about the financial situation of our parish as this pandemic drags on. First of all, there is the good news. So many of our parishioners have continued to support the parish with great generosity. Many have started or continued using Online Giving. Many others have mailed in or dropped off their envelopes. And, of course, people still place their offerings in the baskets at the entrance of our worship area. For all of these generous people, I am extremely grateful. Your generosity has enabled us to pay our bills and retain our staff members.
On the other hand, we have been dippinginto our cash reserve funds. Like everyone else, we are struggling financially in these times. Even though many people have continued to be generous, our overall contributions have decreased. Since the initial shutdown in March 2020, our weekly offertory has run a deficit of over $110,000, in a year to year comparison of collections. It is noteworthy that by not having Masses on Easter, we lost $50,000 in income on that weekend alone. We cannot afford to lose out on that much again at Christmas.
I just want to bring this to your attention. If you are doing all that you can for the parish, thank you and God bless you. If you find yourself in a position to donate more at this time, I would greatly appreciate it. There are some tax benefits available if you give before the end of the calendar year. Please read the article below on the CARES Act and Year End Giving.
I feel very blessed to be the pastor of St. Patrick Parish. I feel very affirmed and supported by all of you and your generosity to your Parish. I appreciate all that you do to help our parish continue to be lifegiving and spiritual. I thank you for the time, talent and treasure that you generously offer. May God continue to bless you and your families.
Merry Christmas!
In one Heart,
Fr. Ron
The CARES Act and Year End Giving
The CARES Act of March 2020 has created two new tax benefits for donors to non-profits.
The first change allows individual taxpayers to take a deduction of up to $300 for cash donations made in 2020 when they file their tax return in the spring.
Typically you can deduct charitable donations only if you itemize your personal deductions, rather than taking the standard deduction. Because this deduction can be taken "above the line", it reduces, by up to $300, your adjusted gross income.
The second change lifts the cap on how much a donor can deduct in charitable gifts in a single year. Thus, a donor can fully deduct gifts equal to as much as 100 percent of their AGI this year.
Please consult your tax professional for more information. For ways to make a gift to St. Patrick Church, contact Mary McLain in the Stewardship and Development office: 760,729.0717 or by email- mmclain@stpatrickcarlsbad.com
Online Giving Reminders
Please remember to make your Christmas gift by logging into your Online Giving account and adding Christmas as a gift choice.
For help with forgotten passwords, please contact Online Giving technical support at 800.348.2886, ext. 2.
Click on the Online Giving icon below to create or access your account.
We appreciate your support!
9th Annual San Diego Walk for Life
Stand up for Life at the 9th annual San Diego Walk for Life: a hybrid week-long event (January 11-16, 2021) which includes a series of webinars, a virtual concert, two masses, and a vehicle caravan that will replace the actual walk. The theme is “Never Alone: Meeting their Needs at Every Turn.” Mass will be outdoors with a live-stream option. We encourage you to show your pro-life spirit by wearing blue for the webinars and Mass and by decorating your cars with life-affirming signs. Check the entire program at https://www.sdcatholic.org/event/san-diego-walk-for-life/.
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La 9ª Caminata por la Vida de San Diego
Levante su voz en defensa de la vida y participe en la 9ª Caminata por la Vida de San Diego: evento hibrido del 11 al 16 de enero, 2021. El evento consistirá en seminarios en línea, concierto virtual, Misas y caravana de automóviles. El tema es “Nunca Solos: Respondiendo a sus Necesidades en Cada Momento.” Las misas serán al aire libre y se transmitirán por internet. Los invitamos a que muestren su espíritu en favor de la vida participen en los eventos, ponganse una prenda azul cielo y decorando su automóvil con letreros y pancartas pro-vida. Para más información
"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 gospels record some events surrounding the birth of Jesus Christ?
What does the word Epiphany mean?
Who are the Holy Innocents?
Does the Bible specify how many Magi visited the Holy Family?
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.
To those in darkness, a child will be born who will have dominion over the earth.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 96:1-2,2-3,11-12,13
Sing a new song to the Lord.
Second Reading
Titus 2:11-14
God has appeared, bringing salvation to all.
Gospel Reading
Luke 2:1-14
Jesus is born in a manger in Bethlehem as the angel appears to the shepherds.
Background on the Gospel Reading
During the Christmas season, our liturgy invites us to consider the birth of the Lord from many vantage points. As we begin this season, it is useful to remember that the stories of Jesus' birth and childhood are found in only two of our Gospels, Matthew and Luke. Throughout this season, we will hear stories from both Gospels. Those Gospels tell different but complementary stories about Jesus' birth, highlighting items of theological importance about the Incarnation and the salvation that Jesus brings.
On this day, the Feast of Christmas, we are given the details of Christ's birth as found in the Gospel of Luke. Here we learn about the census that brings Mary and Joseph from Nazareth to Bethlehem, where Jesus is born. We also hear about the angel's announcement of this good news to the shepherds. In these details, we find two of Luke's particular concerns: (1) to locate the coming of Christ in the wider framework of salvation history as good news for all people, Gentiles and Jews, and (2) to show the Lord's favor upon the poor and lowly.
In Luke's Gospel, Jesus is born as one of the poor. Laid in a manger in a stable, because there was no room at the inn, he comes into the world through obscure and surprising means. Yet, as the angel proclaims this good news to the shepherds, this infant is announced as the Messiah and Lord. In the song of the angels, all are invited to give glory to God for this miraculous birth, in which God comes to share our humanity.
The angels sing that Jesus' coming brings peace. Yet there is little in the details of this Gospel that gives evidence of peace. Jesus is born as a traveler away from home, born in a stable in a crowded city under the occupation of foreigners. The appearance of the angel to the shepherds frightens them. When the angels proclaim Jesus' birth as the harbinger of “peace on earth,” the evangelist Luke clearly wants us to take the long view. The shepherds are invited to claim a faith that will enable them to see this infant as a sign of God's promise of a messiah. It is through such faith that one finds the peace of which the angels sing.
Feast of the Holy Family
December 27, 2020
First Reading
Genesis 15:1-6; 21:1-3
(or the first reading from Cycle A: Sirach 3:2-7,12-14)
God fulfills his promise to Abraham, and Sarah gives birth to a son.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 105:1-6,8-9 (or the psalm from Cycle A: Psalm 128:1-5)
A prayer of thanksgiving to God for his faithfulness to his covenant.
Second Reading
Hebrews 11:8,11-12,17-19 (or the second reading from Cycle A: Colossians 3:12-21)
Paul examines Abraham’s example of faith.
Gospel Reading
Luke 2:22-40 (or shorter form: Luke 2:22,39-40)
Mary and Joseph present Jesus at the Temple in accordance with the Law of Moses.
Background on the Gospel Reading
Today the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Family. This celebration is assigned to the Sunday within the octave of Christmas. The Gospel for today is taken from the Gospel according to Luke and is part of Luke’s Infancy Narrative.
Today’s Gospel describes the presentation of the child Jesus in the Temple and shows Joseph and Mary as devout Jews, following the prescriptions of the Law of Moses. The Gospel alludes to several aspects of the Law of Moses: circumcision, the dedication of the firstborn son to the Lord, and the purification of a woman after childbirth.
According to the Law of Moses as presented in the Book of Leviticus, a woman was considered ritually unclean during her menstrual period and for a prescribed period of time following the birth of a child. After the birth of a son, a woman was considered ritually unclean for 40 days. After the birth of a daughter, a woman was considered unclean for 80 days. In order to be restored to ritual purity, a Jewish woman performed the appropriate rites of purification and made the prescribed ritual offering.
Today’s Gospel notes that Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day after his birth, in accordance with the Mosaic Law. At that time, he was called Jesus, the name he was given by the angel Gabriel. On the 40th day after Jesus’ birth, Mary performed the appropriate purification rites and made her offering at the Temple. Although the Law of Moses required an offering of a lamb, those who could not afford a lamb could substitute two turtledoves or two pigeons. In this scene, Luke identifies Joseph and Mary as being poor, and indeed throughout Luke’s Gospel, Jesus will show special concern for the poor.
Another Jewish rite referenced in this Gospel is the dedication of the firstborn son to the Lord. In remembrance of the feast of Passover, when the firstborn children of the Israelites in Egypt were saved from death, the Law of Moses prescribed that all firstborn males of Israel should be consecrated to the Lord. In this tradition, Mary and Joseph present the infant Jesus in the Temple in Jerusalem.
In Jerusalem, Luke reports that Mary and Joseph encounter two devout Jews, Simeon and Anna, who recognize the infant Jesus as the fulfillment of Israel’s hope for redemption. In Simeon’s words we find a prediction of Mary’s witnessing of Jesus’ death on the cross. The Canticle of Simeon, also called by its Latin name, Nunc Dimitis, is prayed at night prayer, or compline, during the Liturgy of the Hours.
The visit of the Magi occurs directly before the story of the Holy Family’s flight into Egypt. Matthew’s Gospel tells a version of Jesus’ birth that is different than the one in Luke. Of the actual birth of Jesus, Matthew tells us little more than, “When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod . . . ” The story of the census is found only in Luke’s Gospel, but we hear about the visit of the Magi only in Matthew’s Gospel.
We know little about the Magi. They come from the East and journey to Bethlehem, following an astrological sign, so we believe them to be astrologers. We assume that there were three Magi based upon the naming of their three gifts. The Gospel does not say how many Magi paid homage to Jesus. In Matthew’s Gospel, they represent the Gentiles’ search for a savior. Because the Magi represent the entire world, they also represent our search for Jesus.
We have come to consider the gifts they bring as a foreshadowing of Jesus’ role in salvation. We believe the meaning of the gifts to be Christological. Gold is presented as representative of Jesus’ kingship. Frankincense is a symbol of his divinity because priests burned the substance in the Temple. Myrrh, which was used to prepare the dead for burial, is offered in anticipation of Jesus’ death.
The word Epiphany means “manifestation” or “showing forth.” Historically several moments in Christ’s early life and ministry have been celebrated as “epiphanies,” including his birth in Bethlehem, the visit of the Magi, his baptism by John, and his first miracle at Cana.
Diacono Miguel Enriquez
¡Feliz Navidad! Mi oración para ustedes es que sus corazones y hogares estén llenos de la Paz de Cristo. Este año 2020 ha sido un año diferente por causa de la pandemia, que ha afectado a tantos de diferentes maneras. Pero que este tiempo difícil nos haiga hecho más conscientes del amor de Dios para nosotros y que somos enviados a ser más amorosos en nuestra vida cotidiana con todos que nos rodean. Abajo, hay una Rito que pueden usar para bendecir su pesebre en familia. Por favor hagan clic en la Bendición para un Pesebre en casa. También, les he puesto unos videos que pueden usar para su reflexión de como podemos ser diferente este próximo año. Por favor hagan clic en los Videos.
When was the last time you went to bed and naturally fell asleep? Many of us spend the nights in bed struggling with thoughts and desperately wanting our minds to settle down, to be quiet for some sleep, but everything we try just fails. Every time we force ourselves not to think, our thoughts become more persistent. And when we tell ourselves that we should not worry, we suddenly find countless new things to worry about.
The following are some tips that may help you to improve your sleep. They are found at the Centre for Clinical Interventions at https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/
Set a regular schedule: One of the best ways to train your body to sleep well is to go to bed and get up at the same time every day, even on weekends and days off! This regular rhythm will make you feel better and will give your body something to work from.
Sleep when sleepy: Only try to sleep when you feel tired or sleepy, rather than spending too much time awake in bed.
Get up & try again: If you have not been able to get to sleep after about 20 minutes or more, get up and do something calming or boring until you feel sleepy, then return to bed and try again. Avoid doing anything too stimulating or interesting, as this will wake you up even more.
Avoid caffeine & nicotine: It is best to avoid consuming coffee, tea, cola drinks, and chocolate as they contain caffeine or cigarettes for at least 4 to 6 hours before going to bed. These substances act as stimulants and interfere with the ability to fall asleep.
Bed is for sleeping: Try not to use your bed for anything other than sleeping, so that your body comes to associate bed with sleep. If you use the bed as a place to watch TV, eat, read, work on your laptop, etc., your body will not learn this connection.
No naps: It is best to avoid taking naps during the day, to make sure that you are tired at bedtime. If you cannot make it through the day without a nap, make sure it is for less than an hour and before 3 pm.
Sleep rituals: You can develop your rituals of things to remind your body that it is time to sleep, some people find it useful to do relaxing stretches or breathing exercises for 15 minutes before bed each night or sit calmly with a cup of caffeine-free tea.
Bath time: Having a hot bath 1-2 hours before bedtime can be useful, as it will raise your body temperature, causing you to feel sleepy as your body temperature drops again. Research shows that sleepiness is associated with a drop in body temperature.
In the next newsletter, I will continue to share more tips that can help you sleep better.
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LA ESQUINA DE SALUD MENTAL
Buen Sueño: Un regalo invaluable
¿Cuándo fue la última vez que se acostó y se quedó dormido de forma natural? Muchos de nosotros pasamos las noches en la cama luchando con los pensamientos y deseando desesperadamente que nuestra mente se calme, que esté tranquila para dormir un poco, pero todo lo que intentamos simplemente falla. Cada vez que nos obligamos a no pensar, nuestros pensamientos se vuelven más persistentes. Y cuando nos decimos a nosotros mismos que no debemos preocuparnos, de repente nos encontramos con innumerables cosas nuevas por las que preocuparnos.
Los siguientes son algunos consejos que pueden ayudarlo a mejorar su sueño. Se encuentran en el Centro de Intervenciones Clínicas en https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/
Establezca un horario regular: Una de las mejores formas de entrenar su cuerpo para que duerma bien es irse a la cama y levantarse a la misma hora todos los días, ¡incluso los fines de semana y días libres! Este ritmo regular te hará sentir mejor y le dará a tu cuerpo algo con lo que trabajar.
Duerma cuando tenga sueño: trate de dormir solo cuando se sienta cansado o con sueño, en lugar de pasar demasiado tiempo despierto en la cama.
Levántese y vuelva a intentarlo: Si no ha podido conciliar el sueño después de unos 20 minutos o más, levántese y haga algo relajante o aburrido hasta que sienta sueño, luego vuelva a la cama y vuelva a intentarlo. Evite hacer algo que sea demasiado estimulante o interesante, ya que esto lo despertará aún más.
Evite la cafeína y la nicotina: Es mejor evitar consumir café, té, bebidas de cola, y chocolate ya que contienen cafeína o cigarrillos durante al menos 4 a 6 horas antes de acostarse. Estas sustancias actúan como estimulantes e interfieren con la capacidad de conciliar el sueño.
La cama es para dormir: Trate de no usar su cama para otra cosa que no sea dormir y tener relaciones sexuales, para que su cuerpo llegue a asociar la cama con el sueño. Si usa la cama como un lugar para ver televisión, comer, leer, trabajar en su computadora portátil, etc., su cuerpo no aprenderá esta conexión.
No siesta: Es mejor evitar tomar siestas durante el día, para asegurarse de que está cansado a la hora de acostarse. Si no puede pasar el día sin una siesta, asegúrese de que sea por menos de una hora y antes de las 3 pm.
Rituales para dormir: puede desarrollar sus rituales de cosas para recordarle a su cuerpo que es hora de dormir, algunas personas encuentran útil hacer estiramientos relajantes o ejercicios de respiración durante 15 minutos antes de acostarse cada noche o sentarse tranquilamente con una taza de té sin cafeína.
Hora de bañarse: tomar un baño caliente 1-2 horas antes de acostarse puede ser útil, ya que aumentará la temperatura de su cuerpo, causando que se sienta somnoliento a medida que su temperatura corporal baja nuevamente. Investigaciones muestran que la somnolencia está asociada con una disminución de la temperatura corporal.
En el próximo boletín, continuaré compartiendo más consejos que pueden ayudarlo a dormir mejor.
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:
