A Word from the Pastor



August 1, 2025

We rejoice in the Installation of our new bishop, Most Rev. Michael Pham, which took place on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at St. Joseph Cathedral. Fr. Bill and I were able to attend.

Bishop Pham fled Vietnam as a 13-year-old refugee in 1980, accompanied by his older sister and a younger brother, arriving first at a refugee camp in Malaysia, before being sponsored a year later in 1981 by an American family and relocating to Blue Earth, MN. A few months later, another sister came to live with them and in 1983 the remainder of his family – four more siblings and his parents – arrived in Minnesota. His family moved to San Diego in 1985.

He graduated from San Diego State University with a bachelor’s and started a master’s degree in aeronautical engineering before transferring to St. Francis Seminary at the University of San Diego. He completed his seminary training at St. Patrick’s Seminary in Menlo Park with Systematic Theology Baccalaureate and Master of Divinity degrees. He was ordained a priest of the San Diego Diocese in 1999. In 2009, he completed a Master of Science in Psychology. In 2020, he completed a Licentiate in Sacred Theology.

Bishop Pham served as associate pastor of our neighboring Oceanside parish of St. Mary Star of the Sea. He was diocesan vocations director as well as and pastor of Holy Family, St. Therese and Good Shepherd parishes.

He also has served on the College of Consultors, Diocesan Finance Council, Presbyteral Council, Personnel Board of Priests, Seminary Board, Priests Retirement Pension, Diaconate Council, Executive Board, Vicar for Ethnic and Intercultural Communities, and Vicar General.

Pope Leo XIV named him the seventh bishop of San Diego on May 22, 2025, the nation’s first Vietnamese American bishop.

We rejoice to have a bishop who has already been such an important part of our Diocese. He recently came to St. Patrick’s to celebrate Mass with our school children. We look forward to his next visit to our parish in his new role as Bishop of San Diego. May God bless him with all the graces he needs to lead our vibrant Diocese and to carry out his many responsibilities.

In one Heart,

Fr. Ron 

 rmbagley@yahoo.com

Congratulations to Maureen Simons

We are pleased that another parishioner of St. Patrick’s has been honored as a Carlsbad Citizen of the Year. The presentation took place at the July 29 meeting of the city Council.

 

We know Maureen Simons as a Special Minister of Holy Communion and an important member of our Funeral Ministry. Maureen is also well-known for her civic contributions in the local community. Congratulations, Maureen, on this well-deserved recognition. 

ATTENTIVE HOSPITALITY



The Word Exposed with Cardinal Chito Tagle

Warning!

Beware of AI-generated videos and audios of Pope Leo XIV which are populating rapidly online, racking up views as platforms struggle to police them.

An AFP investigation identified dozens of YouTube and TikTok pages that have been churning out AI-generated messages delivered in the pope's voice or otherwise attributed to him since he took charge of the Catholic Church earlier this year.

The hundreds of fabricated sermons and speeches, in English and Spanish, underscore how easily hoaxes created using artificial intelligence can elude detection and dupe viewers. Be sure of the source of such messages. In the case of Pope Leo XIV, it should be identified as clearly coming from the Vatican.

Other popular speakers (Bishop Barron, Fr. James Martin, et al.) have also been imitated by AI. Often, the fabricator is looking to make these people say what they want them to say, not necessarily what they actually said.

Experts say even seemingly harmless fakes can be problematic especially if used to farm engagement for accounts that might later sell their audiences or pivot to other misinformation.

Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA)

The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults (OCIA) is the process through which people become fully initiated into the Catholic community. This includes:

• Adults who have never been baptized
• Adults who were baptized in another Christian religion but now want to join the Catholic Church
• Adults who were baptized as Catholics but never received the Sacrament of Confirmation (OCIA is not for adolescents; adults only)

Our program meets on Sunday mornings after the 9:00 am Mass. It is held in the parish center from 10:00 to 11:00 am. Except for a few holiday weekends, it meets every Sunday. The first session will be Sunday, September 14, 2025.

Regular attendance is important. Those who complete the process will receive the sacraments at the Easter Vigil (April 4, 2026).

To get enrolled, you need to make an appointment with Fr. Ron. Email him at rmbagley@yahoo.com

Our Father by Malotte

This classic musical version of the Lord’s Prayer by Albert Hay Malotte is featured on the Joy of Music by Dianne Bish.

Help Hector with His Project

As you may or may not know, we have four youth from St. Pat’s that are currently serving on the National Youth Advisory Council (NYAC). Each member is supposed to organize a service project as part of their experience on the team. One of our members is reaching out to our community for help. His name is Hector Saldana. Please read what Hector has to say below:

Hi everyone. My name is Hector Saldana and I am one of four youth elected from St. Patrick’s youth ministry to be on the National Youth Advisory Council. Every year all the council members have to do a special project for their local communities. My project is a backpack drive for families and students in our local community that need supplies for this upcoming school year. I am asking for new or gently used supplies like Pens, Pencils, Colored Markers, Plastic folders and any other necessities for back to school. I can guarantee that each and every donation will be put to use. I ask you to bring those to the Mass of your choosing on August 2 and 3. Members of our youth ministry service team, along with myself, will be on the patio collecting the supplies. We will get them delivered to an assortment of elementary schools in the surrounding area. Thank you for your help ahead of time.

Annual Catholic Appeal

ACA is an important part of the Church’s outreach in the Diocese of San Diego. Every parish has to support the mission of the Diocese. Our goal this year is high: $105,875. It is a challenge for us to achieve it.



So far, we have only collected about $72,000. We need another $33,000 to reach our goal. If we do not reach our goal, our parish must make up the difference. Please help us and the Diocese by making your contribution. The brochures that describe the good ministries done by ACA and how to contribute are located at the doors of the church. If you have any questions, call the parish office or stop by. Thank you for your support.

Click the link below to make your contribution.

Online Giving Reminder

If you currently use Online Giving for your electronic giving, please make sure you login to the application frequently to make sure your payment method is current and your donations are being processed.

Click on the Online Giving icon below to create or access your account.

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.



1. Which woman's name is the Hebrew equivalent for the name Mary?
2. Which two gospels tell us about Mary giving birth to Jesus?
3. Which gospel speaks about "the mother of Jesus" two times but never uses her name?
4. What biblical event in Mary's life is celebrated with a liturgical feast on May 31?
5. What Marian feast is celebrated on the day after Pentecost each year?

Feel free to email Fr. Ron with ideas for future Catholic Trivia questions rmbagley@yahoo.com