A Word from the Pastor

May 31, 2024

This year’s feast in honor of the Body and Blood of Christ comes as we enter into the third and final year of our National Eucharistic Revival and focuses on the theme of “missionary sending.” The Catholic Church teaches that the Eucharist is the "heart and summit" of the Church's life, and is deeply connected to the Church's mission in the world.

The Eucharist is the sacrifice of Christ's Body and Blood that he instituted to perpetuate his sacrifice on the cross. Through the Eucharist, Christ unites the faithful into one body - the Church. The Eucharist "feeds and forms the Church" and is the "fountain-head" of the Church's life and mission.

By receiving the Eucharist, the faithful are united more closely to Christ and to one another. This unity empowers the Church to carry out Christ's mission in the world. The Eucharist gives the faithful the "strength to commit [themselves] ever more generously" to works of development, peace, and witness to God's love.

Pope Francis emphasizes that the Eucharist is not something the Church creates, but a gift of Christ himself that shapes the Church's identity and mission. The Eucharist must lead the faithful to an encounter with Christ, which then transforms their lives and actions in the world.

Both the Catechism of the Catholic Church and papal teachings affirm that the Eucharist is the source and summit of the Church's life, uniting the faithful to Christ and to one another, and empowering them for the Church's mission of evangelization, service, and witness in the world.

Think of the dynamics of the Mass. It begins by gathering the People of God from the various places in which they live and work. They are molded into a community of faith. (Introductory Rite) Then they are nourished by the Scriptures (Liturgy of the Word) and strengthened in faith. The Mystery of Faith is celebrated through the offering of the one sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the faithful are fed on his Body and Blood. (Liturgy of the Eucharist) The final act of the Mass sends forth the community that has been fed and nourished to be living witnesses in the world. The old Latin dismissal says it well: Ite, missa est. “Go, you are sent.” 

Did you notice that the origin of our word Mass comes from the Latin word missa, sent forth? We are gathered to be sent forth. The U.S. Bishops have said: “In the celebration of the Mass we are shown what love truly is, and we receive grace that enables us to imitate the love that Christ shows us” As St. Augustine said: “If we receive the Eucharist worthily, we become what we receive” (Easter Sermon, 227). We become Christ’s Body, Christ’s presence in the world, continuing his mission.

In one Heart,

Fr. Ron 

 rmbagley@yahoo.com

Exploring the Eucharist

As we continue through this National Eucharistic Revival, this series of podcasts on the Eucharist can be enlightening and inspiring. They come from Ave Maria Press and are free for the listening.

Solemnity of the Sacred Heart

of Jesus

On Friday, June 7, the Church celebrates a feast in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. As you may know, St. John Eudes was the first to compose a Mass and celebrate a liturgical feast in honor of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

On this feast day, at both of our parish Masses, we will use the Mass of St. John Eudes with the readings he chose and prayers he composed. At 9:00 am, you are invited to Breakfast with St. John Eudes in the parish library which is located by our offices. Fr. Gerard Lecomte, CJM will go into more detail about the rich spirituality of the Heart that is at the center of the spirituality of St. John Eudes. Everyone is welcome!

Path Clear for First

Millennial Saint



You might remember hearing about an Italian boy named Carlo Acutis. He was only born in 1991 and died when he was 15 yo. However, after having been beatified in 2021, he has now been cleared for canonization. Read about his life and this latest acknowledgement of his holiness in this article.

Three U.S. bishops discuss turning down the heat in our polarized church and country

Gloria Purvis, the host of America Media’s “The Gloria Purvis Podcast,” moderated a roundtable online discussion joined by Cardinal Robert McElroy of the Diocese of San Diego, Bishop Robert Barron of the Diocese of Winona-Rochester and Bishop Daniel Flores of Brownsville on May 14. The discussion, “Civilize It: Unifying a Divided Church,” focused on ways polarization is affecting the U.S. church.

Bach Fugue



This “Little” Fugue in g minor for Low Recorder Quartet was composed by J.S. Bach as a part of the Brandenburg Concerto. Although in a minor key, it is light and airy, a bright and happy fugue. It is performed on Tenor, Bass, Great Bass and Contrabass recorders – not a frequently heard combination.

A Course on Biblical Mariology



Fr. Azam will teach this course on Mondays in June and early July. It is part of the Diocesan Institute. Click below to open the flyer and see a course description and details on registration.

A Course on Vatican II

Have you ever wondered exactly what the Second Vatican Council really said? It has received credit and blame for things it never said or did. So, what did those bishops really work on for over four years? What did they say about the Church, about the world, about our role as Christians in the world?

This course is part of the Diocesan Institute and will be offered here at St. Patrick Parish Center. Fr. Ron Bagley, CJM is the teacher. It runs for five Tuesdays, June 4 – July 2, 6:00-9:00 pm. Registration must be made through the Diocesan Institute online: https://sdcatholic.org/office-for/diocesan-institute/course-registration-pay-online/

You can contact Fr. Ron at the parish if you have questions.

Like Jacob in the desert,

God invites us to a

wrestling match

Mary’s sons and daughters Divine Will Prayer Group will be gathering to grow closer to Jesus through Mary, by the Gift of His Spirit, in growing in knowledge of the Gift of Living in God's Divine Will. We will be praying and sharing on Francis Hogan’s online study on the Gift of Living in God’s Divine Will, based on the approved mystical revelations of Jesus to Servant of God, Luisa Piccarreta. If interested in joining or for more information, please call or text your contact information to Mary May at 760-525-9861. It takes place on Mondays beginning June 10, 9:45-11:45am in the Patio Room in the Parish Center.

Million Meals Event

June 8 and 9

The deacons of the Diocese of San Diego have come together to live out their mission to serve the needy by coordinating an event to provide nutritious meals to children and families living in extreme poverty. The meals will be sent to charities serving the poor in Tijuana, Mexico, the Zambia Africa.

To do this, the deacons need to:

- raise $375,000 dollars to purchase food ingredients and for shipping.

- recruit 4,000 volunteers to pack the 1.5 million meals during an inspiring and enjoyable i weekend community experience.

St. Patrick's deacons are inviting all members of our parish community to participate next weekend June 8 & 9 at Cathedral Catholic High School.

For more information / to donate, view shift times, and register to help pack meals:

a) Please visit: sdcatholic.org/millionmeals



b) Or scan the attached QR code:

More than 4,000 faithful of all ages packed 1.5 million meals in our 2023 event.

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. The word “Eucharist” comes from the Greek word eucharistia. What does that word mean?
2. What does “transubstantiation” mean?
3. During what part of the Mass does the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ?
4. Where in the Bible does Jesus say “I am the Bread of Life”?
5. Who wrote the words to the traditional Eucharistic hymn Pange Lingua (and its well-known final verses Tantum Ergo?)

Feel free to email Fr. Ron with ideas for future Catholic Trivia questions rbagley@stpatrickcarlsbad.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.