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Streaming Masses and Announcements for the week of 2 October 2022
STREAMING SUNDAY AND WEEKDAY MASSES
Today's Live-Streamed Mass
Worship Aid for the Twenty-seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time
Consider RCIA, The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults for all those interested in becoming members of the Catholic Church. Monday meetings begin this week, September 12. Call the parish office to register!
Sunday, October 2 is Respect Life Sunday. Join us as we participate in the 35th annual Life Chain, praying and quietly standing in public witness to the sanctity of human life! Please, see page 7. The St. Lucy Project will have a food drive the weekend of October 1& 2. A St. Lucy truck will be in the front parking lot to receive donations. Be sure to pick up blue bags for food collection this weekend!.
Concerts at Saint Bernadette presents the first concert of our 2022-2023 season, welcoming international concert pianist John Robilette, Wednesday, October 12 at 7:30pm, in the church.
Save the Date! You are invited to our Saint Bernadette Parish Picnic and Fall Festival Family Day, October 22. Volunteers will be needed to make this family event a success. Please contact the office if you'd like to give a hand. More information and details will be in next weekend’s bulletin.
All are invited to the Lord of the Miracles (El Senor De Los Milagros) celebration. on Saturday, October 15 at 10am. The Lord of the Miracles is a mural painted of Jesus Christ that is venerated in the country of Peru and throughout the world by Peruvians. The mural became famous after it withstood the many violent earthquakes that shook the City of Lima and for this reason it became known also as “The Lord of Earthquakes,” a divine sign that recognizes the Lord God as all powerful. There were many who swore the image was responsible for miracles that happened in their lives. The image became known as the “Lord of Miracles” and now is the Patron Saint of Peru
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+Mark your calendars for these upcoming dates!
Anniversary Mass for the Dedication of our church, Friday, October 14
El Senor de los Milagros/Lord of the Miracles Mass and Procession – Saturday, October 15, 10am
Parish Family Picnic, Saturday, October 22
Echo Yard Sale, Saturday, October 29
Fr. Don's Weekly Letter ~ 2 October 2022
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
The results of our Parish Life Weekend Ministry Fair are in. You can see the list to the left where we have listed parish ministries' leadership/service commitments. (Please notice, those who signed up for classes, Bible studies, social or prayer groups as participants are not included.) These leadership/service commitments represent both the sign-up sheets from the ministry fair as well as the back commitment page of the parish Ministry Catalogue booklet which were returned (32). Since people making commitments signed up for as many as six different ministries, the number of persons (both new and renewing) totals about 150.
Please don't read this number as a bleak forecast for the coming year, however! For example, we already have more than 60 catechists and aides in our Religious Education Program and they didn't fill out a commitment page. Another good example is our RCIA team, with six members already plus the two new ones are listed here. Our choirs and other liturgical ministers are obviously already meeting and serving at Masses, so these numbers largely represent new commitments.
It is not too late to make commitments. Please return them within this week so you will be included in the communications as we begin to respond to your commitments.
I have a couple of observations. Especially since the Gospel in these weeks squarely addresses the fact that it is not okay to do nothing for the poor, our outreach to those in need needs your serious attention.
We would all agree that the youth of our parish are a priority and we need to help them know the faith and that they belong. This response to Youth Ministry also needs your serious attention.
In the next few weeks we will start meeting about the Parish Capital Campaign Part 2. If there are any of you with campaign experience, especially those who helped with the first three-year campaign which just ended in July, please contact me directly. This is also a priority if we hope to make the window before the BLA starts again in January – and needs your serious attention. More about this will come very soon.
Response to the ministries that take place outside of normal Mass times are admittedly thin, but I am confident that the right leaders, with prayer and determination, will be able to build around them groups of dedicated servers to accomplish something new this year. If not, we will wait until God raises up those needed to succeed in the future.
Accept our thanks, those of you who made commitments for the coming year in parish ministry. Our parish staff is only as successful as you who serve in those ministries which bring a parish to life. Thanks especially to those of you who are trying something new this year, I hope you find the ministry that makes your heart light and draws you closer to God and our parish family.
The Lord be with you,
Streaming Masses and Announcements for the week of 25 September 2022
STREAMING SUNDAY AND WEEKDAY MASSES
Today's Live-Streamed Mass
Worship Aid for the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Consider RCIA, The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults for all those interested in becoming members of the Catholic Church. Monday meetings begin this week, September 12. Call the parish office to register!
Did you miss a wedding anniversary celebration due to the pandemic? All couples are invited to a Wedding Anniversaries Mass on Friday, September 30 at 7:30 pm to celebrate. A light reception will follow Mass. Unfortuantely, without sufficient response, the event will be canceled. Please call the parish office to register no later than Monday, September 26. THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELED
The St. Lucy Project will have a food drive the weekend of October 1& 2. A St. Lucy truck will be in the front parking lot to receive donations. Be sure to pick up blue bags for food collection this weekend!.
Sunday, October 2 is Respect Life Sunday. Join us as we participate in the 35th annual Life Chain, praying and quietly standing in public witness to the sanctity of human life! Please, see page 8.
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+Mark your calendars for these upcoming dates!
Wedding Anniversaries Mass on Friday, September 30 at 7:30 pm
Anniversary Mass for the Dedication of our church,
Friday, October 14
El Senor de los Milagros/Lord of the Miracles Mass
and Procession – Saturday, October 15, 10am
Parish Family Picnic, Saturday, October 22
Echo Yard Sale, Saturday, October 29
Fr. Don's Weekly Letter ~ 25 September 2022
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
I would like to share with you a couple of reflections on parish life after the ministry fair last weekend. One can only gather ministry leaders and put together a ministry fair for an entire weekend once a year with the hopes that you will step forward and assume responsibility for parish ministries. Done. But when it doesn't happen, what else is there to do?
We are hoping that your commitments continue to come in for ministry leadership in the next week or so. Response was pretty slight, and we will probably not be able to move forward with many of the ministries that a parish should provide. I can tell you it is a sinking feeling to stand out there before and after all Masses on a weekend and watch everyone just walk quickly past. The recent need for catechists in first and second grade shone a bright light on the fact that parish ministries cannot survive without your generous hearts. A parish must provide religious education (at the very least) so that children can receive first Holy Communion, right? Thank God, two weeks into the year, you provided the help we needed last weekend.
First Communion formation is an example of something that everyone assumes the parish will provide. Another is a program for youth to let them know they have a place in the Church and belong. We have as many hired staff as our budget can afford to coordinate ministries, but the work cannot be completed without you. Hopefully we will have a report for you about the relative success of our Ministry Fair next weekend.
I learned once at a Catholic stewardship conference that we might as well stop using the word "volunteer." Ever. A volunteer is a person who steps up when asked but doesn't necessarily have a passion for the work, other than a willingness to help where needed. That willingness is good and we are grateful for it, but without that passion or calling it is easy to burn out and become resentful of a commitment made that becomes a burden.
"It was not you who chose (called) me; it was I who chose (called) you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain..." Jn 15:16. Commitment to ministry requires a discernment of where God is actually calling you out of yourself to serve him and others. It usually has a particular context and time, and often changes as we explore our gifts and where we can best use them to build up the kingdom.
It is easy to misunderstand the meaning of the word ministry which is often used too freely. Ministry is always a response to need, not simply something I want to do. For some ministries, the more the merrier, like choir, or outreach to the poor and hungry, or ecumenical commissions members. For others, there are only so many needed, such as catechists or extraordinary members of Holy Communion.
We will contact all who have indicated an interest and get organized, especially now that we have Maria Paniagua, one of whose responsibilities is coordinator of ministers. To those of you who have responded, we thank you. To those who are still considering serving, you have our encouragement and our prayers.
The Lord be with you,
Streaming Masses and Announcements for the week of 18 September 2022
STREAMING SUNDAY AND WEEKDAY MASSES
Today's Live-Streamed Mass
Worship Aid for the Twenty-fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Our Parish Life Ministry Fair weekend is THIS WEEKEND, September 17 & 18 when you will be able to visit with ministry leaders and representatives outside under the tents about various ministries and choose one for your commitment this year. In addition to this bulletin, please take a Ministry Catalogue home with you to discover the many ministries already happening here in the parish.
Consider RCIA, The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults for all those interested in becoming members of the Catholic Church. Monday meetings begin this week, September 12. Call the parish office to register!
Join us for Taizé Prayer, Monday, September 19 at 8pm. Come pray for Christian unity in our community and in the world. All Christians are warmly invited; invite your friends!
Did you miss a wedding anniversary celebration due to the pandemic? All couples are invited to a Wedding Anniversaries Mass on Friday, September 30 at 7:30 pm to celebrate. A light reception will follow Mass. Please call the parish office to register.
The St. Lucy Project will have a food drive the weekend of October 1& 2. A St. Lucy truck will be in the front parking lot to receive donations. Blue bags will be available on September 24 & 25.
Sunday, October 2 is Respect Life Sunday. Join us as we participate in the 35th annual Life Chain, praying and quietly standing in public witness to the sanctity of human life! Please, see page 8.
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+Mark your calendars for these upcoming dates!
Anniversary Mass for the Dedication of our church, Friday, October 14
El Senor de los Milagros/Lord of the Miracles Mass and Procession – Saturday, October 15, 10am
Parish Family Picnic, Saturday, October 22
Echo Yard Sale, Saturday, October 29
Fr. Don's Weekly Letter ~ September 18, 2022
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
As we celebrate Parish Life Weekend it is important to take a moment and ask some serious questions. Who are we, as a parish family, and why are we here?
Personal gain is not the answer, not even growth in personal spirituality. These things are byproducts of Christian action which is the catalyst for holiness. If we aren't serving God and others, we are not living out the call of our baptism and we are empty.
I remember reading that one of the reasons the Christians in the early centuries in the Roman Empire grew in number so quickly was their witness of compassion to those who were abandoned. Approximately 1/3 of all children in ancient Rome died by 10 years of age. The average life expectancy for men would have been as low as twenty-two and, for women, twenty years. So many orphans would be picked up by slavers and sold into slavery.
One might think life would become more precious. Rather, people were considered expendable. Infanticide was universal in ancient Greece and Rome. Babies would often be rejected if they were illegitimate, unhealthy or deformed, or of an undesired gender (male heirs were sought), or too great a burden on the family. Female infants were particularly vulnerable. In Roman society an infant could be abandoned without penalty or social stigma for any of these reasons. They would die of exposure to the elements.
Christians came to be known as the ones who would go out, find these children, and adopt them. Christians were known for their love in a cruel world. This witness of reverence and compassion was incredibly attractive to people who were living in a world which lacked a moral compass. People joined the Church.
You can look around today and wonder if we aren't back there again in many ways. So much division, indifference to others' suffering, lack of regard and overwhelming self-interest. The Church needs to act, and stop gazing in the mirror. We are at risk of forgetting who we are and why we are here: to do as Christ does, to be Christ to the world. He did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. This is our mission statement, what we are to do.
Pope Francis is really clear about this, how we must go out to the hidden places and byways and find everyone who is abandoned and gather them back together. It isn't enough to simply meet with the people we like or agree with, it is time to bring all the parts of the Body of Christ together, especially those who suffer from ignorance, poverty, trauma and isolation. This is who we are called to be.
Let us make a plan of action for the coming year by getting involved in the life and work of our parish family. This is the weekend to respond.
The Lord be with you,
Streaming Masses and Announcements for the week of 11 September 2022
STREAMING SUNDAY AND WEEKDAY MASSES
Today's Live-Streamed Mass
Worship Aid for the Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Religious Education program still seeks catechists for six Sunday classes. Training and support are provided. Please prayerfully consider this ministry and contact Lynn Jones. Also, as a reminder, Parent Religious Education classes are this week.
This is the last week to purchase tickets for the Parish Peruvian Chicken Dinner next Saturday, September 17, from Noon-5 pm. You can buy tickets after Mass or at the Parish office. Tickets will not be sold at the door. To sign up to donate parboiled potatoes for the event, please visit our signup here.
Did you miss a wedding anniversary celebration due to the pandemic? All couples are invited to a Wedding Anniversaries Mass on Friday, September 30 at 7:30 pm to celebrate. A light reception will follow Mass. Please call the parish office to register.
Our RCIA program begins this Monday, September 12, at 7:15 pm in the Bradican Room. If you consider joining the Catholic Church, check out our program and call the office to register.
All High School families are invited to a Barbeque tomorrow/today after the 5 pm Mass in the school gym. We’ll have hot dogs, burgers, games, ice cream, and more! We look forward to seeing you there!
Our Parish Life Ministry Fair is next weekend, September 17 & 18. Ministry leaders and representatives will be outside the church giving information about various ministries for you to be involved in this year. Please grab a ministry catalog on your way out today. Please fill out the commitment page on the back with your time, talent, and treasure commitments. Bring this page back next weekend.
The St. Lucy Project will have a food drive the weekend of October 1& 2. A St. Lucy truck will be in the front parking lot to receive donations. Blue bags will be available on September 24 & 25.
+Mark your calendars for these upcoming dates!
Parish Life Weekend – September 17-18
La Gran Pollada (Parish Super Peruvian Chicken Dinner) – Saturday afternoon, September 17
Anniversary Mass for the Dedication of our church, Friday, October 14
El Senor de los Milagros/Lord of the Miracles Mass and Procession – Saturday, October 15
Parish Family Picnic, Saturday, October 22
ECHO Yard Sale, Saturday, October 29
Fr. Don's Weekly Letter ~ 11 September 2022
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
Approach this upcoming Parish Life Weekend with me, with a great deal of hope and excitement as we consider how we can become personally involved in refreshing the many ministries found at Saint Bernadette, as well as building new opportunities for us to go deeper into the life of prayer, formation and service in our community.
These last couple of years of COVID have done real damage to communities of faith. It isn't as apparent with the Catholic Church as with many other churches because our worship and sacramental life are incarnational: it is necessary to be present to receive and live Holy Communion! The sense of being together is what forms us as a community, and we need to find all ways possible to be together, to be a strong family of faith.
Next weekend you will find tents all around the entrance of the church, with representatives from parish ministries with whom you can visit and learn more about the many ways to get involved. Also, pick up a ministry catalogue which lists all the ministries and has some information about how we become a discipleship parish by coming together and using our gifts for the good of all. We are printing 1,500 catalogues – if, for some reason, they are suddenly gone, you will also find the catalogue available on our website.
I invite everyone in the family to get involved in some way. Youth of the parish, I challenge you to overwhelm us with your loving service in every way you can. Regardless of nationality or language, these ministries are open to all, and all will benefit from our beautiful diversity.
At the back of the ministry catalogue you will find a page listing all the ministries, and blank spaces to the left and the right for your name and the names of members in your family. I ask that you write your name(s) in the left column if you are currently serving in that ministry and wish to continue serving in that ministry in the coming year. In the column on the right, write your name(s) in the spaces corresponding to the ministries you would like to try out in the coming year.
Please note: the ministry fair is for those who lead ministries, or commit to roles of service. For example, our RCIA ministry is looking for people who would like to serve on the RCIA team, to accompany catechumens and candidates through the process of coming into the Church - the ministry fair is not a sign-up for those who would like to become Catholic. Even so, if you would like to become Catholic, or participate in a class or prayer group or Bible study, you can tell our leaders and they can direct you to the right place to register.
The ministry fair at Parish Life Weekend is a direct call to you, to serve God and his people in a new and more deeply intentional way. Often we think of the Church as the place were we go to get what we need: next weekend we will think of ourselves as that Church who provides what is needed for others. I ask your prayerful consideration this week about the ways you plan to commit yourself in the coming year to prayer, formation and service.
The Lord be with you,
Streaming Masses and Announcements for the week of 4 September 2022
STREAMING SUNDAY AND WEEKDAY MASSES
Today's Live-Streamed Mass
Worship Aid for the Twenty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Our Parish Office will be closed Monday, 5 September in observance of Labor Day.
We have changed our parish office hours to the summer schedule. We will not be open weekday evenings or on Sundays until after Labor Day.
Consider RCIA, The Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults for all those interested in becoming members of the Catholic Church. Monday meetings begin September 12, please call the parish office to register!
Purchase your Peruvian chicken dinner tickets after Masses this weekend for our celebration on Saturday, September 17, 12-5pm in the gym. LA POLLADA BAILABLE will be a celebration of delicious food, as well as cultural dancing and music during the afternoon. Meals may be purchased for dining in, or carry out, cash or credit card. There will be NO tickets sold at the door, as all meals must be prepared in advance! Celebrate unity with us! Proceeds will go to the Capital Campaign for the Parish Life Center. Volunteers are needed for all logistics of setting up, serving and cleaning up, as well as bringing lots of boiled potatoes to serve as a side! Talk to our folks after Mass to learn more.
Please support our NOVA Blood Drive and donate blood between 8:30am and 1:30pm on Saturday, September 10, 2022 in the school cafeteria.
See page 6 for more information about scheduling an appointment.
All High School families are invited to a Barbeque hosted by the Youth Ministry on Sunday, September 11th. Join us for the 5:00pm mass, followed by games and a hot dogs and burgers cooked by the Knights of Columbus.
+Mark your calendars for these upcoming dates!
Parish Life Weekend – September 17-18
La Gran Pollada (Parish Super Peruvian Chicken Dinner) – Saturday afternoon, September 17
Anniversary Mass for the Dedication of our church, Friday, October 14
El Senor de los Milagros/Lord of the Miracles Mass and Procession – Saturday, October 15
Parish Family Picnic, Saturday, October 22
ECHO Yard Sale, Saturday, October 29
Fr. Don's Weekly Letter ~ 4 September 2022
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
These past few couple of weeks with the return of our students and parish activities have brought a lot of joy as we begin again to add new memories to life as we knew it before the pandemic. Watch the calendar and don't miss all the fun in September and October – the calendar is full!
In two weeks we bring back our "annual" Peruvian Chicken Dinner on September 17. It was the "first annual" in 2019 and, as things went, will now be our "second annual" in 2022! Please plan to join us and buy your tickets in advance. Tickets will not be sold at the door. We will be serving throughout the afternoon, and meals can also be available for carry-out. It will be a great afternoon of food and cultural entertainment.
That same weekend will be our parish ministry fair, Parish Life Weekend. Coming out of the pandemic it is time to rebuild, and build upon, the many ministries and activities our parish has sponsored. We are publishing a ministry guide which will be available the weekend of September 10-11 in preparation for the following Parish Life Weekend.
Look through the catalogue and figure out where you can get involved in parish life. Return the back page with your commitments. There are suggestions of ministries which we do not have yet, perhaps some of them might interest you. Bring your gifts and start something new.
For example, we do not have a Care for Creation Committee here at Saint Bernadette. We tried to start something during the last couple of years but without being able to actively meet it was difficult to start new groups. Especially with September 1 declared as World Day for Care of Creation by Pope Francis, we need to figure out how we as a community can contribute to helping our environment. Perhaps some of you, adults or youth, might have some great ideas.
After Parish Life Weekend save the date on October 22 for the return of our Parish and School Picnic! It is moving to a Saturday afternoon this year and will feature the same attractions, games, live music and food under the tents as past years. Remember, we arrange names alphabetically to determine who brings a side dish, desserts, or non-perishable snacks (what is left over we give to ECHO and homeless ministries in the diocese). It is a great effort which requires the help of many to provide such a memorable annual event for parish life. In past years we have had as many as several thousand people over the course of the afternoon.
If you haven't yet, give a warm welcome to our new deacon, Deacon Orlando Caicedo who has moved to the parish from Atlanta. We are so grateful for his ministry and look forward to how his gifts will help us grow as a community. Originally from Colombia, he is a great help which we have really needed in meeting the needs of the Spanish-speaking parishioners in the parish, with marriage and baptism preparation, RCIA in Spanish and other ways we will be able to better integrate parish events and services, social and spiritual. Welcome, Deacon!
The Lord be with you,
