A Word from the Pastor

July 12, 2024

The Catholic Church in the United States has been participating in a Eucharistic Revival for several years. We have had various observances and programs on the diocesan and parish level. The aim is to lead Catholics to a deeper appreciation of the great gift of the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist.

This week, the Church in the United States joins in the National Eucharistic Congress in Indianapolis. This brings together representatives from across the nation for some days of renewal, prayer and growth in faith. Fr. Azam and a small delegation from our parish will be present in Indianapolis for this event. We keep them in our prayers as they travel and join with thousands of Catholics from around the country.

One of the goals of the Eucharistic Revival is to highlight our Catholic belief that Jesus is really present in the Eucharist elements of bread and wine. This cherished belief reaches back to the earliest days of the Church. 

Around 154 AD St. Justin Martyr told his community: “The food which has been made into the Eucharist by the Eucharistic prayer… is both the flesh and blood of that incarnated Jesus.”

Around 295 AD St. Athanasius of Alexandria taught: “So long as the prayers of supplication and entreaties have not been made, there is only bread and wine. But after the great and wonderful prayers have been completed, then the bread is becomes the body, and the wine the blood, of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Likewise, St. Augustine writes (around 414 AD): “That bread which you can see on the altar, sanctified by the word of God, is the body of Christ. That cup, or rather what the cup contains, sanctified by the word of God, is the blood of Christ.”

Throughout the centuries, this belief has been articulated in various ways using both theological and philosophical terminology. For the last several centuries, the Church has favored the term transubstantiation, meaning that the substance of the bread and wine has been changed into the Body and Blood of Christ.

It is our privilege to be able to receive the Body and Blood of Christ every time we approach the altar for Holy Communion. We strive to do so frequently and with a deep awareness of the awesome mystery in which we share.

Recall the words of St. Paul: “Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be answerable for the body and blood of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 11:27)

“When we eat this bread and drink from this cup, we proclaim the death of the Lord until he comes again.”

In one Heart,

Fr. Ron 

 rmbagley@yahoo.com

A Great Article about the Eucharist

As the Church in the US continues to celebrate and reflect on the Eucharist, this recent article from America Media offers some marvelous insights

The author is Fr. Bruce T. Morrill, S.J., who holds the Edward A. Malloy Chair in Roman Catholic Studies at Vanderbilt University, where he is a distinguished professor of theology in the Divinity School. His books include Encountering Christ in the Eucharist: The Paschal Mystery in People, Word, and Sacrament.

Happy Birthday

Fr. Ron Bagley, CJM

July 14

Vivaldi Trumpet Concerto

This concerto for Two Trumpets in C, by Antonio Vivaldi is performed by Paul Merkelo and Neil Brough on trumpet, with the English Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Andrien Perruchon, conductor; at Cadogan Hall, London (UK) on January 22, 2022.

Baby Bottle Drive

• For Birth Choice San Marcos

• Bottles will be available on July 20-21 on the patio.

See the flyer below for more information.

Shenandoah

Shenandoah is a traditional American folk song of uncertain origin, dating to the early 19th century. This music video features VOCES8 performing an arrangement of Shenandoah by Hewitt-Jones. (C) 2016 VOCES8 Records

Altar Servers

We are ready to train more altar servers for our Masses at St. Patrick Parish. If you would like to be an altar server, you must fulfill the following criteria:

• Permission from a parent or guardian
• Be a baptized Catholic
• Attend our religious education classes or go to our parish school
• Have made your First Communion
• Have finished the 3rd grade
• Are willing to serve whichever Mass you are assigned 
• Will attend the training sessions this summer

If you meet these criteria and want to become an altar server, one of your parents should send an email to joinaltarservers@gmail.com

Include your name, age, grade you will enter in fall 2024, and contact information for the parent.

Annulment Seminar

What is “Marriage” in the understanding of the Catholic Church? How is it different than the understanding of marriage in our society? What is “Annulment” in the teaching of the Catholic Church? What are some of the common misconceptions about annulments? What is involved in pursuing a petition for annulment of marriage? Are there other options for addressing a failed marriage? 

Come find out the answers to these and other questions at a presentation given by Father Steve Callahan, Judicial Vicar of the Diocese of San Diego, next Tuesday, July 16 at 7:00 pm in the Saint Patrick Parish Center. Come with your questions.

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. In which gospels do we find Jesus giving his disciples the Eucharist at the Last Supper?
2. Where else in the Bible do we find a description of the Institution of the Eucharist?
3. The Institution of the Eucharist is included in which set of the mysteries of the rosary?
4. Why is Jesus called the Lamb of God?
5. Where did the term transubstantiation originate?

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

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.

Masses are available on our website www.stpatrickcarlsbad.com

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