Next week we as a Church celebrate the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. While it is not a holy day of obligation, it is an important feast day for us. This solemnity joyfully celebrates our belief that the Virgin Mary enjoyed the great privilege of being taken body and soul to heaven. Every mystery in the life of the Virgin Mary has a parallel mystery in the life of her Son Jesus. Obviously, the Assumption of Mary corresponds to our belief in the Resurrection and Ascension of her Son into heaven.
After Jesus, Mary was the first to experience the blessedness of heaven.
Belief that Mary has been taken up and is now in heaven with both her body and her soul has been part of the teaching of the Catholic Church since the earliest centuries of Christianity. While it was a part of our devotion and piety, it was only formally defined as Catholic dogma in 1950 which was being observed as a Marian Year. The proclamation of the dogma was part of a plan of Pope Pius XII to honor Mary during this yearlong observance. (Is it a coincidence that I was born that year?)
Even faithful Catholics can get confused about the history and meaning of this doctrine. That is why I have attached a link to the website of the University of Dayton. It is the home of the International Marian Research Institute and the Marian Library. You can be sure that the information about Mary that you read on their website is accurate and in keeping with the authentic teaching of the Church. There are other websites that exaggerate or distort the actual teaching of the Church about Mary.
After you read the link article, you may want to explore other topics that they explain concerning our Blessed Mother. Because August 15 is a Saturday this year, we will have two regularly scheduled Masses in honor of the Assumption of Mary: Friday, August 14 at 7:00 pm; and Saturday, August 15 at 8:00 am.
There was a tremendous response to last week’s appeal for donations to pay for our new chairs for Masses on the covered court. We received more than enough to pay for the chairs. We are looking at ways to make a few simple improvements in our outdoor worship space. Some of the extra funds will be used for that. We will also look into storage facilities for the chairs when we are no longer using them outside. Thank you for your generosity.
To see the good in stressful times
Two young ladies from Utah, Abby and Annalie Johnson, sing this beautiful song by Laura Story. They offer it as an invitation to look for the blessings hidden in the trials of life. They said, “We hope that, even with the fears and limitations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, you have also noticed some good things happening in your life during this stressful time.”
Prayer for Racial Healing
The brief prayer service that is attached may be used in your family, your prayer group, your Bible Study group, a group of friends or just for personal prayer and reflection. Prayer and self-examination are essential first steps to eliminate racism in our world.
Do you love the music from Hamilton? Look at the parody put together by a priest of the Episcopal Church. It is lively, a bit irreverent, but hilarious.
Thank You for Your Generosity
Our parish is blessed by so many kind and generous people. Even in the midst of the ever-changing circumstances of parish life during a pandemic, 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!
Even as Masses are being celebrated outside on the school grounds, there will be specially marked baskets on the tables near the entrance 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
God made all of creation and it is good.
We show our gratitude for all that God created by preserving and protecting our world and all it contains.
"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.
This week’s trivia is a bit more difficult. You are a Catholic trivia expert if you get these right.
What is a Jubilee Year in the Catholic Church?
How often does the Catholic Church celebrate an Ordinary Jubilee Year?
When was the last Ordinary Jubilee Year?
When was the last Extraordinary Jubilee Year?
In what book of the Bible is the Jewish practice of Jubilee Year explained?
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.
Paul speaks of the blessings that have come to the Israelites.
Gospel Reading
Matthew 14:22-33
Jesus walks on water, and the disciples acknowledge him as the Son of God.
Background on the Gospel Reading
Today’s Gospel directly follows last week’s account of Jesus feeding a crowd of more than 5,000 people with just five loaves of bread and two fish. For the sake of the crowds, Jesus had postponed his time of solitude. Now, at last, Jesus finds some time for quiet and prayer. He sends his disciples ahead of him by boat, dismisses the crowds, and then withdraws to the mountain to pray.
The disciples do not fare well. They struggle to weather the wind and waves, making little progress in their journey. We are reminded of a previous story in Chapter 8of Matthew’s Gospel, when Jesus calms the seas. This time, however, Jesus does not calm the seas, and the disciples do not express fear until they seeJesus walking toward them on the water. In this story it is not the storm that is feared but the sight of Jesus before them, whom they mistake for a ghost.
Clues like these suggest that this story is about the disciples’ growing understanding of the identity of Jesus. In continuity withlast week’s Gospel about the feeding of the multitude, today’s Gospel is also about what the disciples’ faith in Jesuswill enable them to do. In last week’s Gospel, when the disciples see the crowds, they ask Jesus to send the crowds away. Jesus turns the situation around, telling the disciples to feed the crowd with the provisions that they have. Both of these Gospels tell us much about ministry.
Jesus calls to the disciples and calms their fears. He is not a ghost. The impulsive Peter seeks proof that the person is indeed Jesus. He asks Jesus to call him out onto the water, and Jesus grants this request. Peter’s fear and doubt overtake him, however, once he is walking on the water. Jesus reaches out to Peter and saves him. When Jesus and Peter enter the boat, Matthew reports that the wind ceases, and the disciples confess that Jesus is the Son of God.
Faith in Jesus will enable the disciples to do the work that Jesus has done. Peter walks on water. The five loaves and two fish feed a multitude of people. The disciples can and will participate in the work of the kingdom of heaven. When Peter fears and doubts the person of Jesus, however, he falters. Peter’s example teaches us that true Christian ministry emerges from the faith that Jesus is the Messiah, God’s only Son.
Unfortunately, due to the looming presence of the virus that causes Covid-19, we are still not able to offer traditional confessions on a regularly scheduled basis. The principal reason for this is simple: all of our priests are over 70 years of age and considered part of the vulnerable population. We cannot put them at greater risk.
Our priests are very generous and, if you have a serious need to ask for confession, they will agree. But please do not ask for confession just out of personal piety. Be considerate of the health and safety of our priests. For the same reason, please do not ask for a priest to come to your home for a house blessing, anointing of the sick (unless in danger of death), Holy Communion to the sick or a hospital visit. Most hospitals are not allowing priests to visit.
However, we can make greater use of General Absolution as a way to experience the Sacrament of Reconciliation. As this pandemic drags on, we will offer General Absolution on a more regular basis.
On the 2nd weekend of each month, General Absolution will be given at all the weekend Masses, which means it will be offered this weekend, August 8-9. In addition, General Absolution will be given at all three Masses on every Friday. This is appropriate since Friday is a traditional penitential day in the liturgical cycle of the Church.
This practice gives us another way to celebrate the forgiveness of Christ extended to us through the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
El hombre descubre a Dios a través de signos.
En el mundo ateo y secularizado, Dios no le habla tanto al creyente a través de la naturaleza y los fenómenos cósmicos, opacos y obtusos; él reconoce a Dios en mil otros "signos del tiempo" que revelan su voluntad, su plan para el mundo y para el hombre.
No siente tanto a Dios a través del maravilloso pero ambiguo lenguaje de la creación, sino a través del signo privilegiado de Dios en el mundo: el hombre, hecho a imagen y semejanza de Dios, descubre su presencia en su ser, en su historia, en sus aspiraciones profundas por las cuales "el hombre supera infinitamente al hombre" (Pascal).
"Dado que todo fue creado en Cristo, a través de Cristo, en vista de Cristo, cada aspecto de la verdad, belleza, bondad, dinamismo, que se encuentra en las cosas y en todo el universo, en las instituciones humanas, en las ciencias, las artes, todas las realidades terrenales y, en particular, el hombre y la historia: todo esto es una señal y una forma de anunciar el misterio de Cristo.
Padre Carlos
Religious Education & Family Ministry
Registration Information for the 2020 -2021 School Year
Dear Parents and Guardians,
We are here to support you in forming your children in the Catholic Faith.
Currently, we are sending weekly emails to families with simple ideas for family fun and prayer. If you think your family might benefit from this, we are happy to add you to the distribution list – just send us an email to: MDornisch@stpatrickcarlsbad.com😊
Looking towards the fall: we are committed to finding creative and safe ways to offer faith formation with a blended program for onsite and at home teaching. For the time being we cannot meet onsite; all faith formation will be done in the home with lots of support from our office.
Please check out our St. Patrick Church website at www.stpatrickcarlsbad.comif you need to find information or would like to register your child/ren for:
Sacramental preparation (Baptism, First Confession, First Communion age 6 and older)
Continued Faith Formation (Kindergarten, 3rd grade and older)
Family Catechesis with monthly themes – For families with children of all ages: Making the family the heart of the church
For questions about program choices, fees, or payment plans, contact the Office for Religious Education & Family Ministry at MDornisch@stpatrickcarlsbad.com or 760-729-8442.
Reflection: Nineteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Peter dared to walk towards Jesus on the water but became frightened as he saw the strong waves. He cried out to Jesus who immediately reached out his hand and caught him with a firm grip. Jesus can calm all our fears; in faith, we respond courageously to adversity and unrest.
For parents:How has Jesus been there for you in times of turmoil?
For children:Who might need a helping hand this week? Share your ideas and experience with each other.
United in prayer,
Margit Dornisch
Director of Religious Education for Children and Family Ministry
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:
