Christmas is more than one day for Church as we celebrate the liturgy. Several important feasts come quickly within a couple weeks. Of course, the Christmas season begins with the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas). As is customary, we have many Masses on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. (See the schedule below)
On the Sunday after Christmas (this year, on the day after Christmas), we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Family. We are reminded that Jesus lived in a family and it gives us the opportunity to pray together for our families as well. On Sunday, December 26, we have our usual Sunday schedule of Masses.
January 1 is the Octave of Christmas and the Church celebrates the beginning of the new year with the Solemnity of Mary, the Mother of God. It is also a traditional day to pray for world peace. Our Mass on new years morning is at 9:00 am.
The fourth great feast of the Christmas season is the Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord. This feast proclaims that Jesus id the Savior of the whole world, not just his own Jewish people. The Magi represent the Gentile world. On the evening of January 1 and on Sunday January 2, we will have our regular weekend Mass schedule to celebrate this feast.
So, remember that Christmas does not begin and end on December 25. Join us in celebrating each of the feasts that help us appreciate the various dimensions of the Incarnation of the Lord. Each feast reminds us that the Lord came among us to bring salvation and peace.
I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all those who work so hard to make our celebration of Christmas very special. I am thinking of all of those who prepare the music, the various liturgical ministers, deacons and priests. I am also grateful to our parish staff who organize our Christmas Star gifts and the many generous parishioners who contributed. Your generosity was overwhelming!
I also want to thank all those who extended kind wishes, sent cards and gave us gifts. May the Lord bless you and your families.
As we spend another Christmas under the veil of the Covid-19 pandemic, let us be especially kind to one another. We need an extra measure of patience, understanding and cooperation. May Jesus, the Prince of Peace, brings us together in unity and compassion.
In one Heart,
Fr. Ron
PS: Our next email newsletter will be published on January 7, 2022.
Due to the current surge in cases of the Covid 19 virus with the omicron variant, we will be limiting the number of people at all Christmas Masses. When the church or parish hall has reached capacity, the doors will be closed. No one will be permitted to stand in the back or around the sides. Everyone is required to wear a face mask.
Due to the expected storm on Friday, we will not be able to have outdoor Masses on Christmas Eve.
Therefore, the 2:00 pm Family Mass will be celebrated in the church. There will also be an overflow Mass in the parish hall.
The 4:00 pm Mass in the church is already full with those who made reservations in advance. You will need to show your paper or electronic reservation form to the usher at the center doors.
There is an overflow 4:00 pm Mass in the Parish Hall.
Please do not to use the New Song church parking lot during the 4:00 pm Mass because they will be having their Christmas Eve services.
We ask for your understanding at this unprecedented time. The 4:00 pm Christmas Eve Mass is always our biggest Christmas Eve Mass. It is very possible that we will not be able to accommodate everyone who wants to attend. Please consider coming to a different Mass this year. We are trying to avoid congestion and an unhealthy environment.
Christmas Eve
2:00 pm - Family Mass in the Church No Reservations needed
2:00 pm - Overflow - Parish Hall-
No Reservations needed
4:00 pm in the Church- SOLD OUT
4:00 pm - Overflow -Parish Hall-
No Reservations needed
6:00 pm in the Church- SOLD OUT
8:00 pm – Spanish in the church
10:00 pm – Bilingual in the church
Christmas Day
NO reservations needed
7:30 am – English in the church
9:00 am – English in the church
11:00 am –English in the church
1:00 pm – Spanish in the church
Feast of the Holy Family
Sunday, December 26 is the Feast of the Holy Family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus. It always follows right after Christmas and reminds us that Jesus was born into a loving human family. It is a good day to come to Mass as a family and ask the Lord to bless our families.
Our Masses on December 26 follow the usual Sunday schedule: 7:30 am, 9:00 am, 11:00 am (all in English), 1:00 pm in Spanish, and 5:00 pm in English.
Face Mask Mandate
The Diocese of San Diego has requested parishioners to comply with the California mask mandate for indoor activities. Therefore, those attending indoor events at St. Patrick Parish (indoor Masses, Bingo, etc.) are asked to wear face masks. We also ask you to bring your own face mask with you. Thank you for understanding.
Protocolo para el uso de cubrebocas
La Diócesis de San Diego pide a los feligreses en nuestra Diócesis que observen el protocolo para el uso de cubrebocas de California para las actividades en espacios cerrados. Por lo tanto, aquellos que asistan a un evento bajo techo en la Parroquia de San Patricio (misas, bingo, etc.) están obligados a usar un cubrebocas. Les pedimos que traigan su propio cubrebocas. Gracias por su comprensión.
World Day of Prayer for Peace
Every year on January 1, the Holy Father marks the World Day of Peace with a special message inviting all people to reflect on the important work of building peace. This year’s message is the latest in a long tradition of messages for this day that began with St. Paul VI in 1967 and continued with St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis.
Lasting peace in the world can be achieved only by responding to the needs of current and future generations, the Vatican said as it announced the theme Pope Francis chose for his 2022 World Peace Day message.
Education, work and dialogue between generations: tools for building lasting peace will be the theme for the Jan. 1 commemoration and for the message Pope Francis will write for the occasion, said a Vatican communique published Nov. 13.
The Vatican said education, work and dialogue are consistently evolving and that Pope Francis' message will propose an innovative reading that responds to the needs of current and future times.
The pope's message, the communique said, will be an invitation to read the signs of the times with the eyes of faith, so that the direction of this change awakens new and old questions with which it is right and necessary to be confronted.
Pope Francis will seek to answer questions about education and how it contributes to lasting peace, the Vatican said. He will also address how work can respond more or less to the vital needs of human beings on justice and freedom.
Lastly, the Vatican said the pope's message also will look at the extent to which generations are in solidarity with each other and whether governments succeed in setting a horizon of peace.
The pope's full message for World Peace Day, traditionally released by the Vatican in mid-December, is sent, through Vatican diplomats, to the leaders of nations around the world.
The Christmas Story As Told By Kids
This video was made by some Christians who asked their children to tell them what happened at Christmas. The kids give their take on the Christmas Story and it is acted out by the adults.
San Diego Walk for Life: January 15, 2022 at Waterfront Park (NEW LOCATION)
The countdown to “Celebrate All Stages of Life” and defend the unborn is on! Spread the word! Visit: https://sandiegowalkforlife.org/for more information. If you would like to be a volunteer, please register at https://bit.ly/3cNhpYp.
Caminata por la Vida de San Diego: 15 de enero en Waterfront Park (nueva ubicación)
La cuenta regresiva para “Celebrar la vida en todas sus etapas” ha comenzado. Pasa la voz! Para más información, visita https://sandiegowalkforlife.org/. ¿Quieres ser voluntario? Inscríbete en https://bit.ly/3cNhpYp.
Traditional Christmas Music
Enjoy about an hour of traditional Christmas carols and seasonal music.
Year-End Giving
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.
Please remember to log in to your Online Giving account to make sure your payment method is up to date and your gifts are being processed.
You can also set up your Christmas or Year-End gift with Online Giving.
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!
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.
Which gospels do not include 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.com We will be pleased to add them.
Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas)
[Note: There are a number of choices for the readings at the various Masses on Christmas. The following are those which you will hear at St. Patrick’s this year.]
First Reading
Isaiah 9:1-6
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.
The Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, Cycle C
Sunday, December 26, 2021
First Reading
1 Samuel 1:20-22,24-28 (The first reading from Cycle A may also be chosen, Sirach 3:2-6,12-14.)
Hannah dedicates her son, Samuel, to the Lord.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 84:2-3,5-6,9-10 (The psalm from Cycle A may also be chosen, Psalm 128:1-5.)
Those who dwell in the Lord's house are happy.
Second Reading
1 John 3:1-2,21-24 (The second reading from Cycle A may also be chosen, Colossians 3:12-21)
We are God's children now.
Gospel Reading
Luke 2:41-52
The boy Jesus is found in the Temple.
Background on the Gospel Reading
Today we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family. This feast is part of the Christmas season, and we should place today's Gospel in the context of what Luke's Gospel tells us about the birth of Jesus. Luke has been answering the question “Who is Jesus?” through his stories of the births of John the Baptist and Jesus. Today's Gospel reading continues this theme. It has no parallel in the other Gospels and is the conclusion of Luke's Infancy Narrative.
Mary, Joseph, and Jesus are presented in this Gospel as a faithful Jewish family. They are participating in the annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem for the feast of Passover, an event shared each year with family and friends. When Jesus is found, Luke describes him as seated in the Temple in the midst of the Jewish teachers. Although he is young, Jesus seems not to need teaching about his Jewish tradition. In his dialogue with these learned teachers, Jesus astounds them with his insight and understanding. Jesus is a child of Israel. His Father is God.
The dialogue between Mary and Jesus contains many references to family relationships. In fact, in this Gospel reading Mary and Joseph are never identified by name. Instead they are referred to by their relationship to Jesus. Ultimately, this emphasizes Luke's point about the identity of Jesus. When Mary and Joseph find Jesus in the Temple, they question Jesus and express their anxiety. Jesus replies in words that many have thought to be disrespectful. Jesus says that he was never lost; he was at home. Jesus is God's Son, and he is in his Father's house. Luke will continue to suggest that faith in Jesus establishes new family relationships as he describes Jesus' public ministry.
In Luke's Gospel, Mary's importance is even greater than her role as Jesus' mother. Mary is the first disciple and will be present with Jesus' disciples after his Resurrection at Pentecost.
The Church celebrates a liturgical feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary on January 1, the Octave of Christmas. Only Christmas and Easter enjoy the privilege of an octave, which is an eight day extension of the feast. The honoring of Mary as the Mother of God can be traced back to the Council of Ephesus in 431.
The feast is a celebration of Mary’s motherhood of Jesus. The title “Mother of God” is a western derivation from the Greek Theotokos, which means “God-bearer”. On this day, we are reminded of the role that the Blessed Virgin played in the plan of our salvation. Through the Holy Spirit, God the Father prepared Mary to be the dwelling place where His Son and His Spirit could dwell among men. Christ’s birth was made possible by Mary’s fiat, or sanctioning of God’s plan with her words, “Be it done to me according to your word”.
Calling Mary “Mother of God” is the highest honor we can give to her. She is the mother of Jesus who in his two natures is fully human and fully divine. For that reason, we honor Mary with this title.
Just as Christmas honors Jesus as the “Prince of Peace”, the Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God honors Mary as the “Queen of Peace”. New Year’s Day is designated as the “World Day of Prayer for Peace”, further acknowledging the role of Mary in our hearts and in our world.
Our parish will have Mass in honor of Mary, Mother of God on January 1 at 9:00 am.
Solemnity of the Epiphany of
the Lord
Sunday, January 2, 2022
First Reading
Isaiah 60:1-6
Jerusalem shall be a light to all nations.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 72:1-2,7-8,10-11,12-13
Every nation on earth shall worship the Lord.
Second Reading
Ephesians 3:2-3a,5-6
Gentiles are co heirs in the promise of Christ.
Gospel Reading
Matthew 2:1-12
The Magi seek out Jesus and do him homage.
Background on the Gospel Reading
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.
Thank you to all who supported this appeal...we met our $92,000assessment!
Un Saludo del Diacono Miguel
¡Feliz Navidad a todos! ¡Hermoso día en que celebramos el nacimiento del Salvador, el Emmanuel, el Mesías! Siempre me maravilla la imagen, el lugar actual, del nacimiento de Jesús. Estamos acostumbrados de mirar los pesebres bajo de los árboles navideños o en otros lugares de nuestros hogares, y se ven tranquilos y sin peligro. Pero que no se nos olvide que NO fue fácil este momento significativo en la historia de la humanidad. El niño Jesús no nace de entre los ricos y famosos, pero afuera, en un lugar frio y a un lado de animales, porque nadie le quería dar posada a María y José para que naciera el niño. Pero, esto no detuvo el plan de Dios, en medio de ese lugar aislado, obscuro y frío, nace el Salvador del mundo. La promesa de Dios se cumple y siempre se cumplirá. Esto es importante para nosotros y qué nunca lo olvidemos. Porque también nosotros tendremos que traspasar por momentos difíciles, obscuros, fríos, y aislados, pero Dios cumple su promesa. Y hoy en el nacimiento del niño Jesús, encontramos Vida y la Luz verdadera. Por medio de Jesús, Dios nos demuestra su gran amor, Dios quiere estar entre nosotros. Pongamos atención, Dios viene en este bebé para que lo encontremos, para mirarlo, tocarlo y escucharlo. Tomemos tiempo de contemplar este momento de gran significado para nosotros. ¿Al mirar al niño Jesús nacer en el pesebre, qué vez? ¿Qué sientes? ¿Cómo te habla?
Por favor escuchen a los enlaces proveídos, espero que les ayude en su meditación.
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