Welcome to the season of Advent. It is a joyful season of hope that prepares us for the celebration of the Lord’s birth. The Scripture readings of Advent invite us to think of the various ways the Lord Jesus comes into our lives: in the historical past, in the present moment, and in his future return in glory. There is a clarion call during Advent to prepare the way of the Lord and rejoice in his coming.
It is a time of spiritual preparation for Christmas. Each of us will need to find a way to cherish some moments of spiritual preparation for the birthday of the Jesus. Advent is a season that is quite short. There is a great risk that the shopping, decorating and parties will consume us and the spiritual dimension of the season will be lost. I invite you to reflect and discuss how you will observe Advent in your home. Perhaps an Advent wreath on the table, some prayers together around mealtime, reading the Scriptures of the season, participating in Mass more often, going to Confession. Try to be creative! Look at some of the resources that are included in this issue of the newsletter.
Here at the parish, we will offer several additional opportunities to prepare yourself spiritually. Early in Advent, we will have three days of Advent reflection – an Advent Triduum. On Monday, December 6 at 7:00 pm, we will have our Advent Penance Service. Sixteen priests will be available for confession. On Tuesday, December 7 at 7:00 pm, Fr. Ricardo Chinchilla will offer an Advent Evening of Reflection entitled “Tune Your Heart to God’s Frequency.” It will include song and prayer as well as input on the gospel of Luke. You will find a fuller description of the program in this bulletin. Wednesday, December 8 is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Under this title the Blessed Virgin Mary is the patroness of our country. For this reason, it is a holy day of obligation. In addition to our regular daily Masses at 7:00 and 8:00 am, we will have a Mass in English at 5:30 pm and a Mass in Spanish at 7:00 pm.
Try to attend these three days for a spiritual uplift during Advent. If you can’t come to all three days, try to attend two or at least one. This bulletin also contains a schedule of additional Advent Penance Services in neighboring parishes.
Consider this question for yourself or as a family: How will this Advent be special?
The liturgical season of Advent is upon us. Part of our preparation for Christmas is the Sacrament of Reconciliation. This year we will return to our practice of individual confessions during a Parish Penance Service. Our Parish Penance Service will be on Monday, December 6 at 7:00 pm. Sixteen priests will be available for confessions. Click below to see the complete list of the 13 penance services being held in various North County parishes. You may want to print it and post it in your house. There will not be General Absolution given this Advent.
This Advent and in the new liturgical year, we will listen to the Gospel of Luke. In its beautiful narratives, Luke strives to present God's loving care for His creation with the human person as the primary recipient.
Our Advent reflection on December 7 will offer an early taste of this Gospel. We will discover the traces of the heart of God that wishes to beat in every Christian's life.
Guided through prayerful songs in Taizé style and brief reflections, we will turn the Gospel into prayer. We are invited to hear and see how Luke extends the possibility of living the Virgin Mary's joy to each of us.
Let's get into a spiritual journey with the Gospel of Luke as our compass leading us in God's direction.
Join us on Tuesday evening, December 7, 2021,
7:00pm- 8:00pm in the church.
Masses for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception will take place on Wednesday, December 8 at 7:00 am, 8:00 am, 5:30 pm (English) and 7:00 pm (Spanish). This solemnity is a holy day of obligation.
As the end of the year moves into sight, you might think about making an end of the year donation to St. Patrick Parish. Click on the link for the most up to date information. It includes new information that relates to the CARES Act. It is relevant if you itemize or not.
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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.
Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving, this week’s trivia questions all relate to the celebration of Thanksgiving Day
What Native American tribe celebrated the first Thanksgiving with the Pilgrims?
Presidents originally had to declare Thanksgiving a holiday every year, up until Lincoln made it a national holiday during his tenure. However, one president refused to recognize this event, because he believed so firmly in the separation of church and state. Who was he?
Which US president made pardoning a turkey an annual event?
Canada also celebrates Thanksgiving but on a different day. What day is that?
What state consumes the most turkey every Thanksgiving?
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.com We will be pleased to add them.
The Lord will fulfill his promises to Israel and Judah.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 25:4-5,8-9,10,14
The Lord will teach us his paths.
Second Reading
1 Thessalonians 3:12—4:2
Paul encourages the Thessalonians to be holy and to please God.
Gospel Reading
Luke 21:25-28,34-36
Jesus teaches his disciples to be vigilant so that they will be ready when the Son of Man comes in glory.
Background on the Gospel Reading
Today is the first Sunday of Advent, which is also the first Sunday of the new liturgical year. The Advent season includes the four Sundays that precede Christmas. Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of the Lord. In this season, we recall two central elements of our faith: the final coming of the Lord in glory and the incarnation of the Lord in the birth of Jesus. The key themes of the Advent season are watchful waiting, preparation, and justice.
In this new liturgical year, the Gospel of Luke will be the primary Gospel proclaimed (Lectionary Cycle C). Today's Gospel is taken from the last chapter before the passion narrative in which Jesus is teaching in the Temple. We hear Jesus speak to his disciples about the need for vigilance and prayer as they wait for the coming of the Son of Man in glory. This passage marks the conclusion of a lengthy dialogue in which Jesus predicts the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, warns about the persecution and tribulations to follow, and identifies the signs that will signal the coming of the Son of Man in glory.
The community for whom Luke wrote his Gospel may have believed that they were already experiencing some of the events Jesus described. Most scholars believe that Luke's Gospel was written after the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 A.D. At the time, many Christians interpreted this event as an indication that Jesus' second coming was near.
Though Jesus predicts a time of destruction and fear, Jesus indicates that others will be frightened; Jesus' disciples are not to fear, but are to stand tall. Yet Jesus does not promise deliverance from anxiety or tribulations. He encourages his disciples to pray for strength. The early Christian communities did not find consolation in the promise of a utopia, nor should we. Instead, we find in our Christian faith the means by which we witness God's unfailing love for us in all circumstances.
Jesus' predictions about the end times may sound dire, but in the next paragraph Luke tells us that people woke early to listen to Jesus' teaching in the Temple area. In his person and in his message, those who heard Jesus found strength and consolation. Like the first Christians, we may encounter events and circumstances that could lead us to despair. Through prayer, however, we find strength and consolation in Jesus' words and in his continuing presence with us to endure all things and to witness the action of God in our world.
Concern for the Poor
Thanksgiving is not only a time for us to count our blessings, it also bids us to reach out and help those who have much less than we do. This concern for the poor was expressed by Pope Francis in his homily on November 14, the World Day of the Poor. He challenged all Christians to action, not just concern or good wishes. He said:
“Unless our hope translates into decisions and concrete gestures of concern, justice, solidarity and care for our common home, the sufferings of the poor will not be relieved, the economy of waste that forces them to live on the margins will not be converted, their expectations will not blossom anew…”
Click here to read more about what the Holy Father said.
'Maranatha' is an Aramaic phrase that means 'Come, Lord'. This beautiful Advent hymn by Janet Sullivan Whitaker evokes the longing of a people for their Savior, Jesus Christ.
Jesús dice, “Velen, pues, y hagan oración continuamente, para que puedan escapar de todo lo que ha de suceder y comparecer seguros ante el Hijo de Hombre”. Parece que fueran unos cuantos meses que han pasado cuando estábamos celebrando Navidad en medio del COVID-19. En ese tiempo, nuestra esperanza era que para la próxima Navidad el COVID-19 ya fuera algo del pasado. Pero no fue así, nos encontramos en anticipación de otra Navidad y el virus no se ha ido. El virus nos ha impactado a todos de diferentes maneras, unos se han enfermado y sobrevivido. Pero otros desafortunadamente no lo sobrevivieron y no están con nosotros, se han ido con el Señor. En medio de nuestro dolor, traumas y sufrimiento, necesitamos mantenernos con la mirada fija en Jesucristo. Sólo Él puede darnos la paz que necesitamos y recordarnos que somos de Él. En las próximas semanas, miraremos muchos recuerdos del porque vivimos con la esperanza. Los árboles decorados de luces, ornamentos, y fotos, regalos, convivios con la familia. Celebramos el nacimiento del Mesías, el Hijo de Dios, que viene para enseñarnos el amor del Padre. Hagamos algo diferente en este Adviento, (cada año se nos dice lo mismo), crear un espacio en nuestras vidas ruidosas y ocupadas, hagamos ese espacio en nuestro corazón para escuchar la voz de Dios, sentirlo y mirarlo en cada cosa y persona que nos rodea. Que ese sea nuestro reto para este adviento, crear en espacio para estar con el que nos ama, nuestro Dios.
Por favor escuchen a los enlaces proveídos, espero que les ayude en su meditación.
We have a wonderful tradition here at St. Patrick Catholic Community of having a single bilingual Mass on Thanksgiving Day. The whole community joins together in giving thanks for the blessings we have received in our families, in our parish and in our nation.
The Mass on November 25 will be at 9:00 am. In keeping our tradition, you are invited to bring the bread and wine that you will be having with your Thanksgiving meal. They will be blessed at the end of the Mass. In a small change from previous years, please keep your items with you at your seat in church. Father will come around and bless them before the final blessing and dismissal.
3821 Adams Street
Carlsbad, California 92008
760.729.2866
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