The Magi, and more, from Fr. Ron, week 1

St. Patrick Parish News & Updates

January 5, 2024 | Issue 1

A Word from the Pastor

January 5, 2024

As the Christmas season winds to a close, this Sunday’s feast is the climax: the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. In some cultures, it is referred to as “little Christmas” and in other cultures, it takes on a greater significance than Christmas itself.

The Epiphany is the Christian feast that commemorates the manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles. It is a celebration of the adoration of Jesus by the wise men from the East, who represent the first-fruits of the nations accepting the good news of salvation through the Incarnation.

The word "epiphany" itself means the manifestation of the Lord, who reveals himself to all nations. It signifies the glory of a God who has come for everyone, welcoming and loving every nation, language, and people.

The feast of the Epiphany is a feast of light, symbolized by the star that guided the wise men to Jesus. It is a reminder that Jesus is the true light who illuminates all things and welcomes people from all cultures and peoples.

The Epiphany also highlights the mystery of Jesus' revelation, as he is manifested not in the grandeur of the world but in humble circumstances, such as his birth in Bethlehem and his baptism in the Jordan. Through the Epiphany, the Church is also manifested as the Body of Christ, reflecting the light of God's love and glory to the world.

The Epiphany reveals the mystery that the Gentiles are now coheirs with the Jews, members of the same body, and co partners in the promise of salvation through Christ Jesus and the gospel.

Since most of us are Gentiles, this is a special feast for us. Jesus is revealed as the Savior of all peoples. We are also challenged to bring that good news to every corner of our world, starting with our families, our neighborhoods, and our nation. We are to become an epiphany, a manifestation of God’s love for all people.

Blessings for a new year full of peace and joy. Let us continue to pray for peace in the Middle East.

In one Heart,

Fr. Ron

[email protected]

Six New Year’s Resolutions Inspired by the Synod

The Synod on Synodality has a lofty goal: bringing together the perspectives of Catholics from around the world to listen, pray, and discern a path forward for our church. But the lessons of the synod aren’t just for the institutional church; they can provide valuable insight about moving forward as Catholics. As many of us set resolutions for the new year, it may be wise to look to the synod for inspiration. Here are some suggestions from the writers of America Media and magazine, published by the Jesuits.

Read Here...

'Prelude in G Minor' on the most famous Pipe Organ in the World

We have listened to the talented young organist Paul Fey in previous newsletters. Here he plays an original composition on the world-famous pipe organ of St.-Sulpice in Paris.

Two Courses Offered in

North County

St. Patrick Parish will host two courses of the Diocesan Institute in the new year. Both are being taught by Eudist Fathers.

Fr. Azam Mansha, CJM, will teach a course on the Psalms. The course offers an introduction to the Psalms for contemporary prayer life. It will meet on Mondays, January 8 – February 12, 2024; 6:30pm – 9:00pm.

Fr. Ron Bagley, CJM, will teach a course on Ecumenism. The course offers an overview of the different Christian faiths, their differences and common ground with Catholicism. It will meet on Tuesdays, January 30 – March 5, 2024; 6:30pm – 9:00pm.

Registration for these courses needs to be made through the Diocesan Institute link below.

Click here to register...

Class on Church History

Filling Up Quickly!

There are still a few spaces left in Fr. Ron’s 10-week class on Church History. It will meet on Wednesday evenings, 6:30-8:00 pm, beginning January 24.

There will be a limited number of students (12-15 max) and it will meet in the library of the parish offices. The participants will need to purchase the book The History of the Catholic Church which is published by Ave Maria Press and available on Amazon for $30.00. The book has 10 chapters and we will use a chapter as the basis for discussion each week (for 10 weeks). Participants will need to read the chapter in preparation. We will sit around the table and discuss what we have read.

This book was chosen because it is basic and easy to read. It was actually written as a text for a high school religion class. It does not use complicated language but contains a wealth of information.

A famous person once said: “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.” To sign up for this course, contact Fr. Ron directly at [email protected] or call 760-727-2866.

James R. & Geraldine F. Bertelsen Scholarship

This $10,000 scholarship is open to high school seniors and current college students who will be attending a four-year Roman Catholic college or university for the 2024-2025 academic year. Students must live in Carlsbad, Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos or Encinitas to be eligible.

The Bertelsen Scholarship will be available on the San Diego Foundation’s on-line Common Scholarship Application starting on January 17, 2024, with a submission deadline of 2:00 PM PST on March 6, 2024. The application link available to students for the Bertelsen

Email:

[email protected] or call 619-814-1343 if you have additional questions.

Scholarship and other scholarships can be found here:

Application Link Here...

Watch Daily and Sunday Masses Livestreamed from St. Patrick Church here:

Sunday Collection for: 12/24/2023

Envelope Collection - $9,225.00

Plate Collection - $38,877.64

Online Giving - $19,435.46

Total Collection: $67,538.10

Christmas 2023

Envelope Collection - $29,762.00

Plate Collection - $20,619.00

Online Giving -as of 12/31 $12,978.00

Total Collection: $63,359.00

12/31/2023

Envelope Collection - $7,182.70

Plate Collection - $13,233.00

Online Giving - $32,764.21

Total Collection: $53,179.91

We are grateful for the generosity of all of our parishioners and visitors.

Online Giving Reminder

Thank you for your generous support of our parish during our Celebrating Today, Planning For Tomorrow

Program!

If you currently use Online Giving for your electronic giving, please make sure you go into the application and update your giving to reflect your new commitment.

Your generosity shows your willingness, as a faithful steward, to be a part of the ongoing mission of St. Patrick Catholic Community.

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.

1. What does the term “heresy” mean?

2. What major heresy of the early Church denied that Jesus was divine, the Son of God, since he was a created being?

3. One of the earliest Christian heresies declared “All matter is evil.” What is this called and why is it a heresy?

4. Where did Jansenism come from?

5. Where can one find a good summary of the Deposit of Faith in order to be clear about authentic Church teaching?

Feel free to email Fr. Ron with ideas for future Catholic Trivia questions [email protected]

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 [email protected] We will be pleased to add them.

Masses are available on our website www.stpatrickcarlsbad.com

We have a YouTube channel where we have daily and Sunday Masses.

YouTube channel here...

Answers to Catholic Trivia here!

Online Giving

Read all of Fr. Ron's newsletters here

Epiphany of the Lord - Year B

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 coheirs 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.

Every Nation on Earth Will Adore You

Here is a lively musical rendition of this Sunday’s Responsorial Psalm set to music by Scott Soper.

The Ye Olde Garage will be holding their Monthly Garage Sale on Sunday, January 14 from 8:30am to 2:30pm. Please come and join us.

To find the "Garage" just follow the Garage Sale signs to the far north parking lot.

Blood Drive Coming Up

The next opportunity to give blood at our parish will be Sunday, January 21. See the attached flyer for details on how to make a reservation.

Read here...

Thank You and Happy Retirement to Mary McLain

After 16 years as an employee serving our community, Mary McLain is retiring. During her years on our staff, she has contributed in many ways. As the Director of Stewardship and Development, she managed our Capital Campaign from 2010 – 2017 raising over $8M for the renovation of our church and the building of our new school. Mary then worked on the repayment of the parish loan by starting the Gold envelope collections, which transitioned into our current Parish Construction and Repair Fund after the loan was paid off.

She also implemented and expanded our Online Giving program and has dealt with all those thorny questions about special donations and bequeaths. With Mary’s departure, all those areas will be assigned to other staff members.

Mary will continue to produce our weekly e-newsletter. Since its inception almost four years ago, she has supplied all the design and layout work. Fr. Ron provides the content, but Mary makes it look beautiful and appealing. Happily, for us, Mary has agreed to continue doing that editing and layout as a “contract worker.”

Mary says she will always remember and be grateful for the wonderful and generous parishioners she has worked with at St. Patrick Catholic Community, and the dedication of Fr. Bill Rowland.

It is with great gratitude that we thank Mary for her years of service. At the same time, we rejoice to have her continue to collaborate with us on the newsletter. Mary may God bless you with health and happiness in this New Year and beyond.

Cathedral HS Applications

Cathedral Catholic High School invites 8th grade students at Saint Patrick, Carlsbad to apply for the Dons Class of 2028. Applications are available now, and due on January 27, 2024. Cathedral Catholic will also be hosting the Placement Test on January 27, 2024. Each student who has applied to attend Cathedral Catholic High School is automatically registered to take the exam.

Read about scholarships here...

Un Saludo de

parte del Diacono Miguel,

“Israel fue el encargado de realizar la misión de reunir a todos los pueblos en la descendencia de Abraham, y realizar, de esta manera, la promesa de la universalidad. Israel creyó erróneamente, hacer esta unidad a partir de un cierto número de prácticas particulares: la ley, el sábado, la circuncisión. Pero sólo la fe de Abraham era la capaz de reunir a todas las naciones. Y los hebreos no supieron desvincular la fe de Abraham de sus prácticas legales. El anuncio de un nuevo Pueblo de Dios, de dimensiones universales, que fue prefigurado y preparado en el pueblo elegido, se realiza plenamente en Jesucristo, en quien converge y se recapitula todo el plan de Dios. En Él, todo lo que era división encuentra plena unidad. Convocando a los magos de oriente, Jesús comienza a reunir a los pueblos, y a dar unidad a la gran familia humana, la cual será realizada perfectamente cuando la fe en Jesucristo hará caer las barreras existentes entre toda la humanidad. Y en la unidad de la fe, todos se sentirán hijos de Dios. Este nuevo pueblo que es la Iglesia, comunidad de los creyentes, a través de los siglos realiza y testimonia la llamada universal de todos a la salvación, por medio de la obra unificadora de Jesucristo. Es significativa la visión final del nuevo testamento, una multitud de razas, de pueblos y de lenguas que saludan en Dios al Rey de la Naciones, y que habitarán en la nueva Jerusalén, donde la familia humana reencontrará la verdadera unidad. La unidad que nos trae Cristo no es uniformidad, sino que respeta la originalidad de cada uno. Cada originalidad está llamada a seguir la estrella de Dios, estrella de Dios que podemos identificar con el mandamiento del amor: ‘Amarás al Señor, tu Dios, con todo tu corazón, y a tu prójimo como a ti mismo’”. (Reflexión tomada de eucaristiadiaria.cl) ¡Feliz Epifanía!

ORACIÓN EUCARÍSTICA: “LA EPIFANÍA DEL SEÑOR”. Haga clic aquí:

“¿CÓMO NOS CAMBIA NUESTRO BAUTISMO?” - Haga clic aquí:

OTRA REFLEXIÓN, “LOS MAGOS PREGUNTAN: “¿DÓNDE ESTÁ EL REY DE LOS JUDÍOS?”. Haga clic aquí:

Perspectiva: El Cuidado de la Creación, ¿Cómo responder al ‘Clamor de la Tierra’?”. Haga clic aquí

Detente Hablemos de

« Los Magos »

Estudios Bíblicos en Español del Padre Ricardo Chinchilla, cjm... clic aquí

3821 Adams Street

Carlsbad, California 92008

760.729.2866

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