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Streaming Masses and Announcements for the week of 1 May 2022

STREAMING SUNDAY AND WEEKDAY MASSES

Today's Live-Streamed Mass

Worship Aid for the Third Sunday of Easter

fleur cross logo Due to the priests' schedules, there will be no 7am weekday Masses this week or next week, May 2-6 and May 9-13.

fleur cross logo Mothers' Day Novena Mass cards are available for remembering moms, grandmothers, and anyone who has been a mother to you – living or deceased. All intentions will be included at all Masses for nine days beginning on Mothers' Day. Envelopes are available in the vestibule and the office, and are also included in the offertory envelopes.

fleur cross logo Buy your colorful flowering baskets and annuals for your flower beds from our Youth Ministry the weekend of May 7-8 in front of church, just in time for spring planting. Funds raised will help support this years' Workcamp.

fleur cross logo On Saturday, May 21, Saint Bernadette is conducting a drive-thru food drive for hungry kids. A Saint Lucy truck will be in the front parking lot to receive donations from 9am to 1pm..

 

Fr. Don's Weekly Letter ~ 1 May 2022

Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,

Last couple of weeks was a welcome change from the past couple of years or three. Not only was I invited to take a tour of the beautifully renovated Temple of The Latter Day Saints, but I participated in my first face-to-face dialogue with the Vaishnava Hindus last Saturday, and spoke at an iftar, the evening breaking of the Ramadan fast, at the Pakistani Embassy last Wednesday. Our world is filled with beautiful diversity.

I may have mentioned it in a homily, and I spoke about this at the Hindu-Christian Dialogue, how a young priest recently asked my why I was involved in dialogue with people of other faiths. I didn't have the best answer at the time, something about advancing mutual understanding and eradicating false stereotypes, breaking down the divisions caused by xenophobia that are so common today.

In a real sense, it is a quest to replace ignorance with knowledge. But the reason I am involved is much more. I have discovered that the way our heart seeks for and aligns with the divine is the same for all people. Relationship with God is exactly the same for every person. It can't be otherwise, it is how we are wired. When I encounter another person who is actively engaged with the Divine, especially if they are willing to share such a personal thing, I grow in my relationship with God. We are strengthened. When I see authentic holiness in another human being, I grow in holiness.

There was a document published by the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue in the Vatican in 1991, Dialogue and Proclamation, which speaks of the four dialogues we enter into as human persons. These are:
• the dialogue of life, in which people of different faiths and spiritual traditions strive to live in an open and neighborly spirit – includes socializing and hospitality;
• the dialogue of action, in which people of spiritual commitment and faith collaborate with others in building a just society – includes service and working for justice;
• the dialogue of religious experience, in which people steeped in their spiritual traditions share their ways of searching for God or the Absolute – includes prayer, worship, celebration;
• the dialogue of theological exchange, in which specialists seek to deepen their understanding of other spiritual heritages.

The first is simply a sharing of space in this place and time, accompanying one another, as Pope Francis would say; the second, a sharing of compassion when we realize the purpose of life is service; the third, a sharing of the movement of our hearts, or soul to God; and the fourth is the academic one we usually think about between theological experts.

But it is more than just a selfish seeking of deeper personal holiness for yourself. The shared experience of dialogue is something that exalts all involved! Imagine what could happen if we sought to witness the holiness of each other and the world could become a holy place.

Easter blessings. The Lord be with you,

Streaming Masses and Announcements for the week of 24 April 2022

STREAMING SUNDAY AND WEEKDAY MASSES

Today's Live-Streamed Mass

Worship Aid for the Second Sunday of Easter

fleur cross logo Join us for Divine Mercy Devotions Sunday, April 24, at 3pm in the church.

fleur cross logo On Tuesday, April 26 we will celebrate our patronal feast of Saint Bernadette (observed) with a special Mass at 7pm

fleur cross logo 
Mothers' Day Novena Mass cards are available for remembering moms, grandmothers, and anyone who has been a mother to you – living or deceased. All intentions will be included at all Masses for nine days beginning on Mothers' Day. Envelopes are available in the vestibule and the office, and are also included in the offertory envelopes..

Fr. Don's Weekly Letter for 24 April 2022

Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,

Looking back on the wonderful attendance at our beautiful liturgies fills me with gratitude. Thanks to all whose talents made precious liturgies so moving, especially David Mathers and Sylvia Malinowski, all our musicians, choirs and vocalists. I don't think people realize the sheer volume of music that must be prepared and practiced for Palm Sunday, the Triduum, the Tre Ore and Easter. And all of it was done so well. Thanks, too, to Cedric D'Cruze and our amazing ushers and ministers as well as our helpers who decorated the church in record time this year. It was beautiful and, I hope, memorable.

I am hoping that it was especially memorable because we need to start restocking the shelves with some good memories. People are just now starting to realize the impact that two years of risk, uncertainty, isolation and death are having on the entire world. We, all of us, went through this together, separately. Humans are pretty resilient and we tend not to hold onto the bad memories, but that doesn't mean we still don't carry around the effects of trauma in our bodies in every moment. Many are speculating on the effect the senseless war in Ukraine will have on a generation of children who are suffering (but adults, too...). The whole world has been sorely tried.

Suddenly, something happened to me on Easter Sunday. As I entered the church in procession at the 9am Mass, I was aware that the assembly was huge, perhaps one of the most full Masses I have ever experienced here at Saint Bernadette. As I got to the altar to reverence it before going to the chair, I looked out over the church, at all of you. It was an overwhelming realization, a strong wave of relevation. For that instant, we were back. We are back. I became aware at that moment that the profound loss we experienced two years and one month ago – a loss of safety and freedom and lightheartedness and, at times, hope – was something that I had never fully processed. Maybe we couldn't fully process it, it was so unthinkable what was happening. At that moment I felt that, whatever all this had been – not that it is probably over, but we are back. I felt an energy and a joy at that Mass that I haven't known for two years.

That is my prayer for you all this Easter Season. Let that joy grow every day, learn to trust the growing light. Permit yourself to experience the glory that God has placed in you in this new life of Easter.

In my homily last weekend I spoke about how the Church understands the reality of the glorified Body of Jesus – and the way all of us will be like him once in his final Kingdom. Maybe not superheroes, but definitely superhumans. It isn't science fiction, it is Gospel truth. It isn't something that exists in active imaginations, it is something the Apostles experienced over and over in their time with Jesus after his resurrection and before his ascension into heaven. I don't know about you, but I think of all those who I loved who have died, many who suffered from great illness and pain, and it makes me smile when I think of them stepping from one end of the cosmos to the other in an instant, walking through doors and appearing and disappearing when they want to.

Easter blessings. The Lord be with you,

Streaming Masses and Announcements ~ 17 April 2022

STREAMING SUNDAY AND WEEKDAY MASSES

Today's Live-Streamed Mass

Worship Aid for Holy Thursday
Worship Aid for Good Friday
Worship Aid Holy Saturday
Worship Aid for the Easter Sunday

fleur cross logo The parish office is closed today and tomorrow, Easter Monday, for the holiday. Spring break for school is this week, classes resume April 25.

fleur cross logo Join us for a free concert, Ephrem Brass Quintet, Friday, April 22 at 7:40pm in the church!

fleur cross logo The great ECHO Yard Sale returns to the school gym, Saturday, April 23 beginning at 8am.

fleur cross logo On Tuesday, April 26 we will celebrate our patronal feast of Saint Bernadette (observed) with a special Mass at 7pm.


Holy Week Schedule

 
HOLY THURSDAY
8am Morning Prayer/Office of Readings
7:30pm MASS OF THE LORD'S SUPPER
Procession to gym, adoration until midnight
 
GOOD FRIDAY
8am Morning Prayer/Office of Readings 
12-3pm Seven Last Words of Jesus, 3pm Stations of the Cross
 
PASSION AND VENERATION OF THE CROSS, 4:30 Spanish, 7:30 English
 
HOLY SATURDAY
8am Morning Prayer/Office of Readings
10am blessing of Easter Food, 10am in the church
8:30pm EASTER VIGIL MASS
 
EASTER SUNDAY 
Sunday Mass schedule: 7am, 9am, 11am, 1pm (Spanish).  NO 5pm

Fr. Don's Weekly Letter ~ Easter Sunday 2022

Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,

Happy Easter to you. He is risen! The world is a different place because of the Mysteries of Christ we have become. Now we must live out the reality. This might not be the picture you get looking at the world around us, with such terrible images of war and killing. It is as if the world is indifferent to what we have seen and known.

Last weekend in my homily I asked you to imagine how the Body of Jesus absorbs all of this evil, the hate, violence, inhumanity and death into his humanity, so that all of it might be transformed into love by his ultimate act of love. He empties himself so completely that he even experiences, as love itself, the abandonment in his relationship as Son. "My God, why have you abandoned me?" He has gone farther than we will ever go, emptying himself so completely that he loses even himself, void of his awareness of the Father. He has done this so we can know that wherever he goes, we can safely follow. He hasn't eliminated the reality of sin in our world, but he has shown that we are no longer slaves to it. In him, we know the freedom: he is our Passover. As members of his Body, we must absorb the hate with him, and transform it into love.

In many ways what I speak of here seems conceptual to young people. Granted, the historical account of Jesus is verifiable through the witness of Sacred Scripture and an unbroken, continuous Tradition that hands on not only his words but also his deeds, as well as the lived life of the Church throughout centuries, a spiritual life that continues to grow every day in her saints. But faith is still required, and faith is a fragile thing.

I wish everyone could know the joy of Jesus at this moment of new life, a joy that is so powerful that the world could not contain it if it weren't for the fact that Jesus has willed it so. Joy despite pain and loss, in the face of adversaries and persecution, neglect and uncharity. His joy despite the Cross. We know this to be true in the realm of ideas, but we see the stark reality of division, of tribalism, of exclusion. How do you reveal joy to those who seek it so desperately and can't find it?

It is said that the largest group of Christians outside the Catholic Church are ex-Catholics. How many people do you know - each of you - who have left the practice of the Church over the practices of the Church? The recent listening sessions were, I believe, intended to open the conversation to those who have suffered at the hands of the Church, by clergy and leaders who have excluded and rejected, diminished or dismissed the genuine gifts of lay people, men and women, who wish they could have a real place in the Church's life. I don't think the resulting dialogue was largely successful, becoming more of a conversation about what the Church should be doing for me, rather than how I can become part of the solution. The pain is real; faith is fragile.

I have talked to so many who have left because of something that someone did on behalf of the Church or in the name of faith, intentionally or not. Perception is reality. If I can help, I want to say that I am sorry if it is suffering and not joy that we have caused you. How can we make amends? How can we walk forward on this morning of resurrection and share with each other the wonders we have seen?

Easter blessings. The Lord be with you,

Streaming Masses and Announcements for the week of 10 April 2022

STREAMING SUNDAY AND WEEKDAY MASSES

Today's Live-Streamed Mass

Worship Aid for the Palm Sunday

fleur cross logo THANK YOU to all families who made a pledge or a our participation in the 2022 Bishop's Lenten Appeal a success. We have met our goal! Stay tuned for news about our reboot of our parish Capital Campaign.

fleur cross logo Join us for a free concert, Ephrem Brass Quintet, Friday, April 22 at 7:40pm in the church!

fleur cross logo The great ECHO Yard Sale returns to the school gym, Saturday, April 23 beginning at 8am.

fleur cross logo On Tuesday, April 26 we will celebrate our patronal feast of Saint Bernadette (observed) with a special Mass at 7pm.


Holy Week Schedule

 
HOLY THURSDAY
8am Morning Prayer/Office of Readings
7:30pm MASS OF THE LORD'S SUPPER
Procession to gym, adoration until midnight
 
GOOD FRIDAY
8am Morning Prayer/Office of Readings 
12-3pm Seven Last Words of Jesus, 3pm Stations of the Cross
 
PASSION AND VENERATION OF THE CROSS, 4:30 Spanish, 7:30 English
 
HOLY SATURDAY
8am Morning Prayer/Office of Readings
10am blessing of Easter Food, 10am in the church
8:30pm EASTER VIGIL MASS
 
EASTER SUNDAY 
Sunday Mass schedule: 7am, 9am, 11am, 1pm (Spanish).  NO 5pm

Fr. Don's Weekly Letter ~ 10 April 2022

Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,

The liturgy of Palm Sunday each year confronts us with a most unbelievable turn of events. The Mass begins with the Gospel of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem as the crowds are singing and shouting hosannas to him, addressing him as the Son of David, the King of Israel. How quickly the aspect of the crowd changes into a bloodthirsty mob as we listen moments later to the account of his arrest, torture and death.

Perhaps you have sometimes found yourselves grappling with many images this year, wondering how public opinion could have been swayed to result in such violence. How can peoples' minds be changed so radically and quickly? We have seen cities burning, groups motivated by hate, rage on our streets and highways, now even armed agression against an entire nation as if they could simply be erased.

Obviously on that first Palm Sunday nothing caused leaders more rage than the fact that their people were waving palms and acclaiming Jesus as Son of David, and King. "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD!" The collective will, once turned, was capable in causing the most cruel suffering.

This is a complicated reflection: Jesus willingly accepted this suffering which was the product of real evil. The suffering was itself wrong, but Jesus was able to make it purposeful, freely choosing to use it to fulfill the sacrifice of reconciliation which we were unable to make of and for ourselves. Even though it was still evil, Jesus was able to turn it into an opportunity of hope, even joy on the cross knowing he had fulfilled his mission.

Perhaps you, also, have at times found yourselves grappling with real suffering this year. Privation, loneliness, judgment, illness, abuse, addiction, violence, injustice. It does us no good to deny that we have known real suffering in these past two years, real loss. However, it is useful to consider that there are two basic categories of suffering: that which is the result of impersonal circumstances like natural disasters and disease, and that which is the product of sin like violence, greed, or selfishness. Both sufferings are real, but the latter suffering is unnecessary and preventable. We choose what to do with the anger that results, to use it to pursue justice, or to cause further harm. We see Jesus often reacting with anger at injustice or hypocrisy, yet we know that Jesus could never have sinned.

The ultimate question is how do you process the experience of anger? It is this underlying anger that is orchestrated by some to produce destructive movements and initiatives, even war.

As we watch Jesus endure false testimony, unjust condemnation, rejection by his own followers and ultimately his abandonment, passion and death, see especially how Jesus accepts even their hatred and, at the same time begs for them to be forgiven. May it be so for us, as we identify with him in our challenges and suffering, tranforming it with faith, hope and love as a personal offering of ourselves to God.

The Lord be with you,

 

 

Streaming Masses and Announcements for the week of 3 April 2022

STREAMING SUNDAY AND WEEKDAY MASSES

Today's Live-Streamed Mass

Worship Aid for the Fifth Sunday of Lent

fleur cross logo  THANK YOU to all families who have already made a pledge or a given a gift to the 2022 Bishop's Lenten Appeal. Our diocesan goal is 30% participation but truly every family should make some contribution to the ongoing work of the Diocese in her many ministries and offfices. If you have not yet made a pledge or a gift, please prayerfully respond to this appeal. As of March 11, we are at 93%.

fleur cross logo Our Parish Penance Service will be Monday, April 4 at 6:30pm, a time that we will have at least eighteen priests (English and Spanish) who will be here for you. Please plan to come.

Holy Week Schedule
 
HOLY THURSDAY
8am Morning Prayer/Office of Readings
7:30pm MASS OF THE LORD'S SUPPER
Procession to gym, adoration until midnight
 
GOOD FRIDAY
8am Morning Prayer/Office of Readings 
12-3pm Seven Last Words of Jesus, 3pm Stations of the Cross
 
PASSION AND VENERATION OF THE CROSS, 4:30 Spanish, 7:30 English
 
HOLY SATURDAY
8am Morning Prayer/Office of Readings
10am blessing of Easter Food, 10am in the church
8:30pm EASTER VIGIL MASS
 
EASTER SUNDAY 
Sunday Mass schedule: 7am, 9am, 11am, 1pm (Spanish).  NO 5pm


Lenten Observances

Fasting:
Food equivalent to one regular meal, one small meal - Ash Wednesday and Good Friday

Abstinence:
No meat - Ash Wednesday and ALL Fridays

Stations of the Cross:
Fridays at 7pm (English), 8pm (Spanish)

Lent Confessions: 
Please plan Parish Penance Service, Monday, April 4, 6:30pm. We will have 16 priests present. In addition to the regular Saturday confessions (3:30-4:30pm), we will have a priest available for confessions on Wednesdays of Lent from 6:30-7:30pm. Please plan confessions early in the season to avoid running out of time,

Fr. Don's Weekly Letter ~ 3 April 2022

Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,

It seems like my letter last week got a lot of response! I did not intend to criticize, only to say how fortunate we are in this age when all information is literally at our fingertips. You don't have to request rare books from lending libraries or learn that the document you are seeking is out of print. There was a time when we could claim that those who had the resources weren't (effectively) teaching them to us, but now all of us have the resources. In addition to what the parish is able to provide, we need to take responsibility for ourselves and our families.

As some of you replied, it does raise some questions. Which flavor of Catholicism do we subscribe to? The Church is so divided, right from the top with our bishops. I find this so disconcerting and discouraging as a priest, I can only imagine how this effects our faithful, especially our young who tend to be less patient with the shortcomings of leadership.

Here is a short answer. If what you are reading self-identifies as a flavor, spit it out. This is how politicized media have taken control of the narrative of the Church. Don't read somebody's commentary on the documents of Vatican II, read the documents themselves. Don't read a commentary on the writings of a saint, read the saint's own words. Don't read a news article about the Pope's recent encyclical, read the encyclical itself. Otherwise you will never never actually get to know the Church, or the saints, or the Pope personally, first-hand. Respect your own reflection on the texts, then enter into a discussion with others and, if necessary, theologians. Digest your faith, no Cliff's Notes.

My mom used to say that when she was in high school "they" told the students to never read the Old Testament because they would not be educated or qualified enough to know what to do with it. Such a shame. Even if that were so, a precursory reading would at least have empowered them to enter into a conversation. Read the documents, trust your goodness and your instincts, not someone else's. As I have said before, if someone is trying to shape your understanding of a person or teaching through their lens, they are trying to claim the power by controlling the narrative. These documents do not need narrators.

One of the most pivotal moments in the history of the Church was the Second Vatican Council, coming up on 60 years ago. At the time the media coverage on the news and in the press (both Church and secular) sensationalized the meetings and the moral issues of the Council so that public opinion was established before anyone had even read the documents. As you can imagine, these documents were not available in translation until several years later, and already the damage had been done, it was old news. Opinions set, texts unopened. If you want a place to start, start with the Constitutions and the Decrees of Vatican II. I would also say don't miss the declaration Nostra aetate. Actually read Pope Francis' texts that you are hearing about from others: his writings on the Light of Faith, The Joy of the Gospel, The Face of Mercy, Love in the Family, Fraternity and Social Friendship, and Climate Change and Inequality. Then, too, there is always and first the Scriptures.

So much to be done! It is easier to start a conversation about a text if you come somewhat prepared. So, read, and hopefully we can discuss.

The Lord be with you,