The Storms of Life, and more, from Fr. Ron, week 25

St. Patrick Parish News & Updates

June 21, 2024 | Issue 25

A Word from the Pastor

June 21, 2024

I remember my first typhoon in the Philippines. I had only been there about a month. Although by Philippine standards it was not a “super typhoon,” it sure frightened me. We actually survived it with little damage. Storms that we can weather are not the worry. Worrisome are the ones that leave only a wasteland in their wake.

We may be quite frightened during a storm. In this Sunday’s gospel the disciples are terrified in a storm on the sea, even though Jesus was in the boat with them. When he calms the storm, their fear is gone.

Here St. Mark is using the storm as a symbol. There are events that terrify us, set us adrift from others, shake all sense of security from us. Of course we pray during the course of such storms. Then the storm abates; the terror takes its leave; and a welcome sense of security returns. Our prayers were answered.

But what of those storms that leave only a wasteland in their wake? The one who was your life is gone. Your way of life has ended. There is no landmark to orient you. No anchor for hope. Where is your God now? Who is Lord of the wasteland?

There is a Gospel answer to such questions, but it comes with a Gospel goad. The Lord Jesus could calm the fury of nature, yet he submitted to the folly of men and women. He dies with nothing left. “It is finished” (Jn 19:30). He dies, gazing in expectation upon the Father of Mercies. “Into your hands, I commend my spirit” (Lk 23:46). Can we do the same? Accept the wasteland and look to heaven?

The cross standing amid the rubble reveals two great truths about ourselves and about the course of our lives. The first is our indigence. We are not complete within ourselves, and the storm sweeps away any delusion that we ever were.

Here is the second. There is a going forth and a return in human life, a time to increase and a time to diminish, a time to receive and a time to return. When all is lost, we should realize that everything was always a gift. What came to us through the agency of another must return. We are not our own. We come from another.

But remember who God is, the one who makes the wasteland bloom again. Thus, we read in the Book of Lamentations.

But this I will call to mind;

therefore I will hope:

The Lord’s acts of mercy are not exhausted his compassion is not spent;

They are renewed each morning—

great is your faithfulness! (3:21-23).

In one Heart,

Fr. Ron

rmbagley@yahoo.com

A BIG THANK YOU to the many volunteers helping, decorating, cooking, setting-up and cleaning up at Father Frank’s Aloha Receptions on June 16th, sponsored by the Serra Club of SD - North Coast and Muchas gracias to all the members of our different ministries at St Pat’s, both in the English and Spanish speaking communities!

With us all working together, it was a special celebration for our dear Fr. Frank, who will be greatly missed! He was deeply touched and greatly appreciated everyone praying for him and his move to Florida. It was not a time of goodbyes (thank goodness!) because he will return on visits!

Kudos to the Ruah Adonai Bible Study, Knights of Columbus, Altar Society, Legion of Mary, Matrimonios, Groupo de Mujeres, Groupo de Oracion, RCIA Adults, Catequesis Ministry, St Patrick School principal, teachers and students, St Patrick Church Staff and members of the Serra Club!

A Generous Grant

The Showers of Blessings team is happy to announce that we have received a very generous grant of $10,000 from the Carlsbad Charitable Foundation. This will help support our laundry program, dental clinic and the many supplies we provide for our unhoused neighbors through the year. We thank them from the bottom of our hearts for believing in and supporting our ministry here at St Patrick's.

Down in the River to Pray

The southern folk hymn "Down in the River to Pray" is here performed in Apollo's Fire's 2010 hit crossover program "Come to the River: An Early American Gathering" by Jeannette Sorrell. A covered-wagon journey becomes a journey of the soul.

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.

The first training session will be this Saturday, June 22 at 5:30 pm in the church (immediately after the 4:30 pm Mass). New servers should be able to begin serving in the fall. If you have questions, contact Fr. Ron at rmbagley@yahoo.com

Godspell – Live at St. Patrick Church

June 26, 27, and 28 at 7:00 pm
You can buy your tickets in advance for $15 or at the door for $20.

Ticket information here...

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, on Tuesday, July 16 at 7:00 pm in the Saint Patrick Parish Center. Come with your questions.

Pray for Our Priests

The calendar of prayer for the priests of the Diocese is available for June, July, August and September is now available. Consult it and pray for at least one priest each day.

Calendar here...

Praying Without Ceasing

Read here...

Fifteen of the Biggest Churches in the World

This video claims to identify the 15 biggest churches in the world. He provides us with a quick tour. It seems pretty accurate. Notice how many of them are Catholic churches.

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

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.

A habitual and firm disposition to do good is the definition of what moral term?
What is the Third Commandment?
What are vices?
What is conscience (according to Catholic teaching)?
What is the Sixth Commandment?

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.

YouTube channel here...

Answers to Catholic Trivia here!

Online Giving

Read all of Fr. Ron's newsletters here

Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time – Year B

First Reading

Job 38:1,8-11

The Lord answers Job's complaints.

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 107:23-24,25-26,28-29,30-31

A song of praise to God for rescue

Second Reading

2 Corinthians 5:14-17

Those in Christ are a new creation.

Gospel Reading

Mark 4:35-41

Jesus calms the storm.

Background on the Gospel Reading

As we continue in Ordinary Time, our reading today is taken from the Gospel of Mark, the primary Gospel reading in Lectionary Cycle B. Mark's Gospel presents a vivid portrait of Jesus, whose words and deeds show that he is the Son of God. Today's Gospel describes the end of a day of teaching in Jesus' ministry. Jesus taught the crowd in parables and then offered explanations of these parables to his disciples. Jesus then led his disciples away from the crowds and into the boats that they will use to cross the Sea of Galilee. The sea and its surrounding area are the settings for Jesus' teachings and miracles in this part of Mark's Gospel. Today's reading describes how Jesus calmed a storm at sea. It is the first of four miracles that are presented in sequence at this point in Mark's Gospel.

As is typical in Mark's Gospel, Jesus' disciples are frightened by the sudden storm; they do little to inspire confidence in the reader. Mark notes the contrast between the disciples' terror and Jesus' peace. Jesus is sleeping, untroubled by what is going on around him.

The disciples' words to Jesus are telling. They are familiar enough with Jesus to dare to wake him. Their words to him are words of reproach, questioning his care for them. A careful reader might wonder what the disciples expected Jesus to do. Are they more troubled by the storm or by Jesus' inattentiveness to their needs? How many of us have chided a family member or friend for not agreeing with our assessment of the severity of a situation?

Today's Gospel offers evidence of Jesus' power and authority as he calms the storm. In his day, power over nature was believed to be a sign of divinity—only God calms storms. Jesus' rebuke of the storm also echoes the rebuke he uses when he talks to and expels demons. In each situation, Jesus' power and authority is a sign of his divinity. Indeed, the disciples are left wondering about Jesus' identity at the conclusion of today's Gospel. They see before them a human being who acts with the authority and power of God. The disciples' uncertainty about Jesus' identity is a recurring theme in Mark's Gospel.

This Gospel is a metaphor for our lives. We are in the boat, the storms of life are raging around us, and like the disciples, we may believe that Jesus is unconcerned, or “sleeping.” We hope that we will be as familiar with Jesus as his disciples. If we feel that Jesus is sleeping, are we comfortable enough to wake Jesus and present him with our needs? Jesus does not chide his disciples for waking him. Instead, he chides them for their lack of faith, for their lack of perspective. When we bring our worries to God in prayer, we might just begin to learn to see things from God's perspective.

We Walk by Faith

The words to this beautiful hymn reminds us of the scriptural assurance that our faith will guide us and God will protect us. The musical setting is by Marty Haugen.

Let the Little Ones Come to Me!

In the summer month we offer Liturgy of the Word for Children during the 9am Mass. Children ages 5-9 that attend Mass with their family have the opportunity to hear the Word of God in a language they can understand and reflect on in their own words. (Not done on Family Mass Sundays)

Following the Opening Prayer, the presider calls forth the children, and we send them along with the adult catechist to the church basement classroom. The catechist will proclaim the readings from the Lectionary for Masses with Children, a translation that is more comprehensible to young children and approved by the US Catholic Conference of Bishops. The children will discuss how to share the good news with others. They will be brought back to their family at the time of the Preparation of the Gifts to continue the celebration of the Eucharist with the entire assembly.

Religious Education Preschool to 8th Grade

We are here to support parents in forming their children in the Catholic Faith and to engage families in our parish community where we worship and grow together in faith.

The online registration of sacramental preparation and faith formation for children age 3 to 8th grade is open. Visit the Parish Religious Education website:

Religious Education info here...

You will find general information about the program and learn what we offer for early faith formation, sacramental preparation and classes for students as they continue after their First Communion.

For more information and to register in person, please contact our office at 760-729-8442 or MDornisch@stpatrickcarlsbad.com

Blessings. Margit Dornisch

Religious Education and Family Ministry

Un Saludo de

parte del Diacono Miguel,

“De pronto se desató un fuerte viento y las olas se estrellaban contra la barca y la iban llenando de agua. Jesús dormía en la popa, reclinado sobre un cojín. Lo despertaron y le dijeron: “Maestro, ¿no te importa que nos hundamos?” (Marcos 4:35-41). Los discípulos y Jesús iban en la misma barca cuándo se suelta una tormenta fuerte que espanta a los discípulos. Y ellos llenos de temor, van a despertar a Jesús que esta dormido en la popa, y le hacen esta pregunta, “Maestro, ¿no te importa que nos hundamos?” Jesús se despierta y ordena al viento, ¡Cállate, enmudece! Y nos dice el texto, que vino una “Gran Calma”. Jesús mira a sus discípulos y les pregunta, “¿Por qué tanto miedo? ¿Aún no tienen fe?” Los discípulos se preguntaban, “¿Quién es este, a quien hasta el viento y el mar obedecen?” ¿Qué pasa nosotros sentimos temor? ¿Pensemos cuándo fue la última vez que sentimos temor? ¿Qué causo que el temor? ¿Quizás sentimos temor cuando vimos las malas decesiones de una hija o un hijo? ¿O sentimos temor cuando descubrimos a nuestro cónyuge mirando pornografía o tomando mucho alcohol o usando droga? ¿Quizás sentimos temor cuando se nos dijo que alguien tiene una enfermedad muy avanzada o que nuestro ser querido falleció? El temor “nos paraliza” y nos lleva a un estado emocional muy triste y pensamos que nunca vamos a salir de “ese hoyo”. Pero no es así, si saldremos. Jesús vive cada momento alegre y triste con nosotros. Todos experimentaremos el temor cuando menos lo esperamos, pero que el temor no nos gane, que miremos a Jesús, extendiendo nuestras manos hacía Él, digámosle con estas o semejantes palabras, “Señor, tú a mi lado, es todo que necesito para seguir viviendo”.

“PURIFICACIÓN DE LOS VASOS”. HAGA CLIC AQUÍ:

VIVIENDO NUESTRA FE: “DIOS ESTÁ EN LOS ORDINARIO”. Haga clic aquí:

OTRA REFLEXIÓN: “¿POR QUÉ TENÍAN TANTO MIEDO? ¿AÚN NO TIENEN FE?’” Haga clic aquí:

Detente

Hablemos de Tormentas

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

3821 Adams Street

Carlsbad, California 92008

760.729.2866

Our parish offices are open, Monday through Friday, 8:30am to 12:30pm and 1:30 to 4:30pm

In case of emergency, you can always reach a priest. Call the parish number 760-729-2866 and press number 6 which will connect you directly to one of our priests.

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To email a priest at St. Patrick Church click the address below:

rmbagley@yahoo.com

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