One of the things I have been enjoying during these weeks of staying close to home is having time to read and reflect on the Easter gospels. I have had the opportunity to look more closely at the uniqueness of the way each evangelist shares the wonderful news of the Resurrection of the Lord.
Likewise, it has been a pleasure for me to try to share what I have been learning with all of you. Not only have I learned more about the Word of God, but I have learned how to record on my laptop, upload videos to our YouTube channel, and have meetings on Zoom. All this hasgiven me the opportunity to exercise my love for teaching.
I hope you are growing from viewing and listening to these presentations. So far, I have covered the Easter stories of Mark (in two parts) and I have just added presentations on Matthew (in two parts). You can access them through the link here, or on the parish website, or directly on our YouTube channel.
Our Bishop Robert McElroy was one of three bishops interviewed by phone for an article that appears in today’s National Catholic Reporter. In this article, the three bishops focus on the challenges and opportunities the current pandemic brings to the pastoral ministry of the Church.
You know that St. John Eudes founded the Congregation of Jesus and Mary (Eudists) in France in 1643 as a response to the great need for evangelization and the formation of the clergy at that time. He dedicated much of his life to the preaching of parish missions.
It was during this missionary preaching throughout France that Fr. Eudes became increasingly aware of the moral distress and exploitation of many girls and women. In 1641, in order to help and assist women who wanted to change their lives, he established a refuge in Caen which he entrusted to some women who wished to share with him this service of charity. It was the beginning of what would become the Order of Our Lady of Charity. To demonstrate the beauty of their vocation and to ensure that the Sisters remained faithful to their specific mission, he gave them a fourth vow: zeal for the salvation of souls.
During the French Revolution, like most of the religious in France, the congregation was decimated. Over time almost all of the communities gradually reestablished themselves, though remaining in precarious conditions. Tours, which had been founded in 1714, was restored as a community in 1806. It is in Tours that Rose Virginie Pelletier entered the Order of Our Lady of Charity. She was given the name Mary of St. Euphrasia. Formed in the sources of the Sacred Scriptures and the Eudist spiritual traditions, she spent the early years of her religious life serving in an active ministry taking care of young women.
Sr. Mary Euphrasia had a great vision for this precious work. She longed that the whole world would benefit from the saving work that John Eudes initiated. She saw the need for a central government so that the Sisters could be sent to all parts of the world. Upon her death on April 24, 1868, there were 110 houses worldwide.
Today known as the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd, they are on every continent and continue to show special care and concern for women and girls who have special needs, especially those who are the victims of exploitation. As we celebrate the feast day of St. Mary Euphrasia on April 24, we thank God for the zeal still exhibited by her spiritual daughters throughout the world.
Cristo Resucitado catequiza a los discípulos de Emaús Lc 24, 1-34)
Casi todas las apariciones del Resucitado tuvieron lugar en el contexto de una comida, y eso significa que la primera comunidad apreció mucho la Eucaristía y no perdió oportunidad para hablar sobre ella. En el texto que hemos leído hoy, Jesús aparece como un catequista con muy buena experiencia:1) Él aparece como un desconocido,
2) Camina con los dos discípulos, escuchándolos atentamente, 3) Está interesado en su conversación, escucha sus argumentos; 4) Jesús les reprocha: “¡Qué tontos son! ¡Qué lento de corazón creer todo lo que hablaron los profetas!” 5) Jesús los evangeliza, "Luego, comenzando con Moisés y los profetas, les interpretó lo que se refería a él en todas las Escrituras"; 6) Dio la impresión de que iba más lejos; 7) Entró para quedarse con ellos; 8) Jesús realizó los mismos gestos que realizó en la Última Cena; 9) Jesús hace que lo reconozcan al partir el pan. Esta preciosa catequesis también es para cada uno de nosotros hoy. Estamos comprometidos a descubrir a Jesucristo al partir el pan, es decir, la Eucaristía.
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.
Catholic Trivia
Here is something new that will now be a regular part of this newsletter. It’s called “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. We will start out easy.
How many sacraments does the Roman Catholic Church celebrate?
Can you name all the sacraments of the Church?
How many books are in the Catholic edition of the Bible?
How many popes have there been in the history of the Church (according to official Church records)?
Which country in the world has the largest Catholic population? Which are 2nd and 3rd?
I realize that some of you are experiencing budget problems of your own at this time and I am not asking to cut yourself short. But please keep in mind the needs of our parish during these uncertain times.
Those of you who use weekly offertory envelopes, please enclose your giving into the special mailing envelope that comes in your packet
Many of you pay your bills using online banking bill pay, you can choose St. Patrick Church to receive donations to Sunday Collection this way
This may also be a time to consider using Online Giving as a way of contributing to the parish during this time. https://www.osvonlinegiving.com/58
Peter and the apostles announce that Jesus has been raised from the dead.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 16:1-2,5,7-11
God will show us the path of life.
Second Reading
1 Peter 1:17-21
You were saved by Christ’s sacrifice.
Gospel Reading
Luke 24:13-35
Jesus appears to two disciples who are walking to Emmaus.
Background on the Gospel Reading
On most Sundays during the Easter season in Cycle A, our Gospel is taken from the Gospel of John. This week’s Gospel, however, is taken from the Gospel of Luke. As in last week’s Gospel, today’s Gospel shows us how the first community of disciples came to believe that Jesus had risen from the dead. In these stories we gain insight into how the community of the Church came to be formed.
When we read today’s Gospel, we may be surprised to learn that these friends of Jesus could walk and converse with him at some length yet not recognize him. Again we discover that the risen Jesus is not always easily recognized. Cleopas and the other disciple walk with a person whom they believe to be a stranger; only later do they discover that the stranger is Jesus. We learn that the first community met and recognized Jesus in the breaking of the bread, just as we meet Jesus in the Eucharist.
We can imagine the feelings of the two disciples in today’s reading. They are leaving their community in Jerusalem. Their friend Jesus has been crucified. Their hope is gone. They are trying to make sense of what has occurred, so that they can put the experience behind them.
Jesus himself approaches the two men, but they take him for a stranger. Jesus asks them what they are discussing. He invites them to share their experience and interpretation of the events surrounding his crucifixion and death. When the two disciples have done so, Jesus offers his own interpretation of his crucifixion and resurrection, citing Jewish Scripture. In that encounter we find the model for our Liturgy of the Word—what we do each time we gather as a community for the Eucharist. We reflect upon our life experiences and interpret them in light of Scripture. We gather together to break open the Word of God.
In the next part of the story, we find a model for our Liturgy of the Eucharist. The disciples invite the stranger (Jesus) to stay with them. During the meal in which they share in the breaking of the bread, the disciples’ eyes are opened; they recognize the stranger as Jesus. In the Eucharist too we share in the breaking of the bread and discover Jesus in our midst. Just as the disciples returned to Jerusalem to recount their experience to the other disciples, we too are sent from our Eucharistic gathering. Our experience of Jesus in the Eucharist compels us to share the story with others.
come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You. Never permit me to be separated from You.
Comunión Espiritual
Creo, Jesús mío,
que estás real
y verdaderamente
en el Santísimo Sacramento del Altar.
Te amo sobre todas las cosas
y deseo vivamente recibirte
dentro de mi alma,
pero no pudiendo hacerlo
ahora sacramentalmente,
ven al menos
espiritualmente a mi corazón.
Y como si ya te hubiese recibido,
te abrazo y me uno del todo a Ti.
Señor, no permitas que jamás me aparte de Ti. Amen
Showers of Blessings
We are over a month now into this stay at home order and many of us are experiencing a whole new normal. We are in our homes, Zooming here and there, reading books and playing games. We are comfortable and cautious. Most of us...
Many of our homeless neighbors and our neighbors who are jobless are not so lucky. Many of them who were immune system compromised and elderly have found refuge in hotels that the city and county have opened for them. They are doing pretty well. But with parks closed and Showers of Blessings closed, life has become very difficult for the rest.
One of the good things that has come out of this quarantine is that we have found a place where people in need can go to get food. Because of the efforts of one man, Richard Hostetter, all of the churches and organizations that have been helping our homeless community eat most nights, have been organized to feed them every day. His church’s pastor opened his church- Church of the Advent, as a central location for people to come and get food and other essentials.
Now each group has taken a day to supply food and toiletries. St. Patrick’s is part of that group and we are responsible for food on Mondays.
Another organization that has been supplying an abundance of hot food each day at our distribution center is the Oceanside Kitchen Collaborative. From donations of food around the area (restaurants, farms and ranches), they are able to cook up balanced and nutritious meals. At last count they were supplying 1,400 meals a day to needy people in North County. St. Patrick's receives over 100 per day.
We are now feeding between 100-150 people each day. So a lot of food is needed. If you are interested in helping out monetarily or with food items please contact Chris Durnan at chrisdurnan4@gmail.com.
Things to do with your kids! Click below for English or Spanish
The church is open for private prayer every day from 7:00am - 11:00am, however the Chapel of Our Lady of Guadalupe is closed
The Parish Office will be closed until further notice, but you can call to leave a message: 760.729.2866
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:
