Advent Penance Services

Posted by Barbie Matthiesen

Reconciling yourself to the Lord in preparation for His Coming is a vital part of the Advent Season. We, and our neighboring parishes, are hosting Advent Penance Services. Each event will start with a Communal Penance Service, followed by an opportunity for Private Confessions with 6-25 priests.

Monday, Dec 5 at 7 p.m. at Se. Elizabeth Seton in La Costa
Tuesday, Dec 6 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Peter in Fallbrook
Tuesday, Dec 6 at 6 p.m. at St. Peter in Fallbrook
Friday, Dec 9 at 7 p.m. at St. Mary Star of the Sea in Oceanside
Tuesday, Dec 13 at 7 p.m. at St. John in Encinitas
Wednesday, Dec 14 at 7 p.m. at St. Patrick in Carlsbad
Thursday, Dec 15 at 6:30 p.m. at St. James in Solana Beach
Monday, Dec 19 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Mark in San Marcos (in English only)
Tuesday, Dec 20 at 12:30 p.m. at St. Francis in Vista
Tuesday, Dec 20 at 6;30 p.m. at St. Francis in Vista
Wednesday, Dec 21 at 6:30 p.m. at St. Mark in San Marcos (in Spanish only)

The Blessed Virgin Mary: Our Model of Stewardship

Posted by Barbie Matthiesen

During the Advent and Christmas seasons, we have a number of opportunities to reflect on and honor the Blessed Virgin Mary, who is a model of stewardship par excellence. Mary teaches us the meaning of stewardship by her own life witness.

On December 8, we celebrate the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, the conception of Mary in her mother’s womb without the stain of original sin.

On December 12, we celebrate Mary as Our Lady of Guadalupe. In 1531 she appeared to Juan Diego on a hill outside Mexico City. A life-size figure of the Virgin as a young, dark-skinned American Indian woman with the face of a mestizo was imprinted on his cloak. The image gave the indigenous people of the Americas assurance that our Blessed Mother was loving and compassionate toward them.

On December 25, when we celebrate the Nativity of Our Lord, we celebrate the birth of Jesus through his mother, Mary. The Incarnation took place through Mary’s own flesh, and the infant Jesus was nourished by Mary’s own body.

On January 1, Mary is honored as the “Mother of God,” the greatest of her titles. This title is the foundation for every other title attributed to her as she became the mother of God from the instant Jesus was conceived in her womb by the power of the Holy Spirit.

First Sunday of Advent

Posted by Barbie Matthiesen

Weekend of November 26/ 27, 2022 On this first Sunday of Advent Jesus urges his disciples to stay awake and prepare themselves for the Lord’s coming. Good stewards prepare themselves and await Christ’s judgment in joyous expectation. This attitude requires genuine spiritual maturity, of course; the kind that is cultivated by prayer, participation in the sacraments, loving attention to family and one’s communion of faith, and love for one’s neighbor. Are we prepared for the Lord’s second coming? Are we ready to receive Christ? Are we ready to look joyously for Christ’s judgment?

What is the meaning of the candles in the Advent Wreath?

Posted by Anthony Hernandez

The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word meaning “coming.”

The Advent wreath–4 candles on a wreath of evergreen–is shaped in a perfect circle to symbolize the eternity of God. Three of the candles are purple in keeping with the color of the Advent season and, on the third Sunday of Advent (called Guadete Sunday–meaning “Rejoice“), a rose or pink candle is used to represent joy. There is also a white candle added on Christmas Eve which is the Christ candle.

The Advent wreath is part of the long-standing Catholic tradition that came to be used as part of spiritual preparation for Christmas around the Middle Ages. At that time, the candles had a two-fold purpose: to symbolize the coming of Christ as well as to bring light to the interior of the churches.

During each Sunday of the Advent season, we focus on one of the four virtues Jesus brings to us: Hope, Love, Joy, and Peace. As an alternative, the lighting of the candles can also symbolize: Expectation, Hope, Joy, and Purity.

The lighting of the Christ candle on Christmas Eve reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world. During the four weeks of Advent, the wreath continually reminds us of who we are called to be as followers of Jesus.

We wish you a Happy Advent Season!

Stewardship Saint for November

Posted by Barbie Matthiesen

Saint Columban is our Stewardship Saint of the Month.

The life of Saint Columban (also referred to as Columbanus) reveals a man who exercised remarkable stewardship over his life of faith and his gifts for evangelizing. He was born into a noble family in West Leinster, Ireland, in about 543; a time when the great Celtic monasteries were being established in Ireland. He received a classical education and as a young man became attracted to the monastic practice of integrating prayer, manual labor and study of the scriptures into one’s daily life. He entered the renowned monastery of Bangor and for many years embraced a life of asceticism.
In mid-life, he believed he was being called by God to preach the Gospel in foreign countries. He responded to this call, becoming one of the great Irish missionary saints. He established a number of monasteries in present-day France and Italy STEWARDSHIP SAINT for November including the famous monastic community at Luxeuil in France, where he served as abbot for more than 20 years.

At age 70 he resumed his missionary journey, traveling to what is now Switzerland and then, over the Alps to Lombardy where he finally settled on gifted land in Bobbio. Here he founded the monastery that has the greatest claim to him. He remained there until his death on November 23, 615.
His followers continued to preach the Gospel in France, Germany, Switzerland and Italy, and are credited with founding over 100 monasteries. Saint Columban possessed gifts well-suited for evangelizing. He invariably attracted large crowds who were struck by his enthusiasm for the Gospel, his persuasiveness and humility. He and his monks led the simplest of lives, and their meals oftentimes consisted of nothing more than forest vegetation, herbs and berries. He developed a monastic rule and promoted penitential practices which emphasized private confession to a priest and doing penance. He also wrote a commentary on the Psalms.

In 2004, a portion of Saint Columban’s journey from Ireland to Italy was highlighted in a travel memoir entitled, The Accidental Pilgrim: Travels with a Celtic Saint. The author wrote about his experience of retracing the missionary journey of St. Columban on bicycle. Saint Columban’s feast day is November 23.

Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Posted by Barbie Matthiesen

Weekend of November 19/20, 2022. In today’s Gospel we hear of the rulers who sneered at Jesus, the soldiers who jeered at him, the criminal who reviled him, and the people who just stood by. At our own parish church the cross stands high. Yet, every Sunday there are those who sit in front of it and are not moved by it. There are people who walk right by the cross, unmoved by it. Perhaps they’ve walked by it so many times they no longer give it a second thought. Could it be they are unmoved because the heart of this unbelieving thief is in them? Good stewards walk by the cross, notice it and ask themselves: “All this you did for me, what have I done for you?”