First Sunday of Advent – Year A

First Reading

Isaiah 2:1-5

Isaiah describes his vision in which all nations are gathered together by God in peace.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 122:1-2,3-4,4-5,6-7,8-9

Rejoicing, let us enter the house of the Lord.

Second Reading

Romans 13:11-14

Be prepared, salvation is near.

Gospel Reading

Matthew 24:37-44

Jesus tells his disciples that the coming of the Son of Man will catch many people unprepared. Jesus tells his disciples that they are to always be ready for the day of the Lord.

Background on the Gospel Reading

Today is the first Sunday of Advent, which is also the first Sunday of a new liturgical year for the Church. The Advent season includes the four Sundays that precede Christmas. It 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. Key themes of the Advent season are watchful waiting, preparation, and justice.

In this new liturgical year, the Gospel of Matthew will be the primary Gospel proclaimed (Lectionary Cycle A). In today's Gospel, we hear Jesus speak about the need for wakefulness, for watchful waiting, for the coming of the Son of Man.

Matthew's Gospel is dated by most scholars after 70 A.D. Most believe that Matthew wrote for a primarily Jewish community, but one that was no longer centered on the Temple in Jerusalem. These were Jewish Christians trying to come to terms with their relationship to Judaism in a new situation: Judaism after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. There may have been Christians who believed that the events of the world around them gave evidence of the imminent return of the Lord in glory.

The passage from Matthew we read today is rather straightforward. No one knows the precise time of the coming of the Lord in glory, so watchful waiting and vigilance are required. The passage speaks to the uselessness of looking for signs; there will be none. As a thief sneaks in during the night, so will the Lord's coming in glory be.

The question for us as members of the Christian community, then, is how do we prepare for this? Today's passage speaks more about the manner of waiting, rather than the details of the preparation. Jesus compares the vigilance required of Christians to the vigilance of a homeowner who knows the plans of the thief. If one knows that the thief's action is imminent, one remains watchful. As Christians, we know that our Lord is coming even if we cannot know the precise timing. Jesus calls us to be watchful and vigilant, like the homeowner. If we become lax in our Christian living, we may be caught unprepared.

Fanfare for the Common Man



Aaron Copland’s well-known dramatic orchestral piece is known as the “Fanfare for the Common Man.” It is performed here by the Marine Band of the Royal Netherlands Navy.

Christmas Flowers Offering

Before long we will be celebrating the birth of our Savior. We want to make our church festive for our celebration of Christmas. In your packet of envelopes that we mail to you, there is an envelope marked Christmas Flower Offering. 

If you would like to make a contribution to assist in paying for our Christmas flowers, please place your donation in that envelope (or a plain envelope) and write on the envelope the names of anyone you would like remembered at our Christmas Masses. Indicate if they are deceased (“In memory of…”) or living (“In honor of…”)

Place your envelope in the collection basket, mail it to the parish office or drop it off. If you use Online Giving, just put the names on a paper and put it in the collection. All the names will be listed in our parish bulletin and newsletter shortly after Christmas.

Senior Christmas Lunch



The 3rd annual Senior Christmas luncheon will be held on Thursday, December 11 in the Parish Center. This luncheon is open to all church members 55 and over. Reservations are required, you can sign up at one of the tables after Mass or call the office 760-729-2025 or email: stpatrickcarlsbad@gmail.com.

Year End Giving

Online Giving users please remember to login to your account and set up your Christmas gift.

Be sure to complete all gifts by Wednesday, December 31, 2025 to qualify for tax savings on this year’s tax return.

For guidance on making gifts of stock to benefit St. Patrick Catholic Community, visit the link below or call the parish office for more information.

Gifts made from an IRA or similar retirement plan may result in little or no tax on those withdrawals. Check with your tax advisor for specifics regarding your situation. Wills and Trusts-Naming of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Carlsbad is an excellent way to leave a legacy for our Parish. If you sold securities this year and will owe capital gains tax, remember that gifts to St. Patrick Catholic Community of cash or other securities may reduce your gains. Please check with your tax advisor.

Tax donation letters will be mailed out at the end of January 2026.

Pope Leo Speaks to Our Youth



Last week during the National Catholic Youth Conference in Indianapolis, Pope Leo XIV answered questions posed by young people from across the United States. He was able to see and hear them and they were able to see and hear via an internet connection. Not only did the young people get excited about this encounter, but the Holy Father clearly enjoyed it as well. This link gives you the full conversation which lasted about one hour. Thirty-five members of our parish were also present for this event.

Waiting in Joyful Hope: Daily Reflections for Advent and Christmas 2025-2026



Once again, we are pleased to make these small booklets available for free to our parishioners. They will be available on the patio on the First Sunday of Advent (November 29-30). One per family. Donations to cover the cost are welcome.



Esperando con alegre esperanza: Reflexiones diarias para Adviento y Navidad 2025-2026

Una vez más, nos complace poner estos pequeños folletos a disposición de nuestros feligreses de forma gratuita. Estarán disponibles en el patio el Primer Domingo de Adviento (29-30 de noviembre). Uno por familia. Se agradecen las donaciones para cubrir los gastos.

I Domingo de Adviento

Notas Pastorales

Primer Domingo de Adviento – Año A

“¡Manténganse despiertos! Porque no saben en qué día vendrá su Señor.”.

Al comenzar el Adviento y un nuevo año litúrgico, la Iglesia nos invita a entrar en una temporada de esperanza, expectativa y preparación espiritual. El Adviento es un tiempo para despertar el corazón, para disminuir el ritmo y prestar atención a las formas en que Dios ya está presente en nuestra vida. No se trata solo de prepararnos para la Navidad, sino también para la presencia de Cristo en nuestra vida cotidiana y en la plenitud de su venida.

El profeta Isaías nos ofrece un mensaje de esperanza: “En los días venideros, la montaña de la casa del Señor será establecida como la más alta de las montañas.” En medio de la incertidumbre, la decepción o las dificultades, Dios nos promete restauración. El Adviento nos recuerda que el Reino de Dios comienza de manera silenciosa, como un tierno brote que crecerá y florecerá. Tal vez no lo veamos de inmediato, pero Dios siempre está actuando, acercándonos a Él, formando nuestra vida y preparando al mundo para su justicia, paz y amor.

San Pablo nos anima a vivir como personas de luz: “Desechemos, pues, las obras de las tinieblas y revestíos de la armadura de la luz.” El Adviento es un tiempo para examinar nuestro corazón. Nos invita a dejar de lado hábitos o distracciones que nos alejan de Dios y a abrazar prácticas que nos acercan más: la oración, los actos de bondad, la reconciliación y la atención a los demás. No se trata de hacer más cosas, sino de abrirnos más plenamente a la gracia de Dios.

En el Evangelio de hoy, Jesús nos llama a “mantenernos despiertos” y vigilantes. No nos advierte por miedo, sino nos invita a estar atentos y llenos de esperanza. Mantenerse despiertos significa reconocer a Cristo en nuestras familias, en nuestra parroquia, en los pobres, los solitarios o necesitados, e incluso en los momentos de silencio y oración de nuestro día. Es vivir con intención y estar preparados para ver al Señor en cada aspecto de nuestra vida.

Al encender la primera vela de la corona de Adviento, que nos recuerde que la luz de Cristo ya brilla entre nosotros. Este Adviento, preparemos nuestro corazón con esperanza, vigilancia y alegría, para que cuando Cristo venga, podamos recibirlo plenamente y compartir su luz con el mundo que nos rodea.

P. George G. Pérez, CJM

3821 Adams Street

Carlsbad, California 92008

760.729.2866