Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,

With the observance of the 51st Earth Day and the five-year anniversary of Pope Francis' encyclical Laudato si', I thought it might be well for us to renew the appeal that the Holy Father made to the world.

10. "I do not want to write this Encyclical without turning to that attractive and compelling figure, whose name I took as my guide and inspiration when I was elected Bishop of Rome. I believe that Saint Francis is the example par excellence of care for the vulnerable and of an integral ecology lived out joyfully and authentically. He is the patron saint of all who study and work in the area of ecology, and he is also much loved by non-Christians. He was particularly concerned for God’s creation and for the poor and outcast. He loved, and was deeply loved for his joy, his generous self-giving, his openheartedness. He was a mystic and a pilgrim who lived in simplicity and in wonderful harmony with God, with others, with nature and with himself. He shows us just how inseparable the bond is between concern for nature, justice for the poor, commitment to society, and interior peace. 

13. "The urgent challenge to protect our common home includes a concern to bring the whole human family together to seek a sustainable and integral development, for we know that things can change. The Creator does not abandon us; he never forsakes his loving plan or repents of having created us. Humanity still has the ability to work together in building our common home. Here I want to recognize, encourage and thank all those striving in countless ways to guarantee the protection of the home which we share. Particular appreciation is owed to those who tirelessly seek to resolve the tragic effects of environmental degradation on the lives of the world’s poorest. Young people demand change. They wonder how anyone can claim to be building a better future without thinking of the environmental crisis and the sufferings of the excluded.

14. "I urgently appeal, then, for a new dialogue about how we are shaping the future of our planet. We need a conversation which includes everyone, since the environmental challenge we are undergoing, and its human roots, concern and affect us all. The worldwide ecological movement has already made considerable progress and led to the establishment of numerous organizations committed to raising awareness of these challenges. Regrettably, many efforts to seek concrete solutions to the environmental crisis have proved ineffective, not only because of powerful opposition but also because of a more general lack of interest. Obstructionist attitudes, even on the part of believers, can range from denial of the problem to indifference, nonchalant resignation or blind confidence in technical solutions. We require a new and universal solidarity. As the bishops of Southern Africa have stated: “Everyone’s talents and involvement are needed to redress the damage caused by human abuse of God’s creation.” All of us can cooperate as instruments of God for the care of creation, each according to his or her own culture, experience, involvements and talents."

God bless you.

Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,

The Principal Search Committee is pleased to announce the appointment of Mrs. Darcie Girmus as the next Principal of Saint Bernadette Catholic School. The Search Committee was comprised of representatives from the Diocese, the school and the parish. This dedicated group met numerous times to determine the qualifications needed in the individual responsible for carrying our school to the next level. The Committee reviewed numerous applications and interviewed several highly qualified candidates to ensure the right person was chosen to lead our school and build on our strong foundation. 

Mrs. Girmus currently serves as the Principal of Holy Family Catholic School in South Pasadena, California. Like St. Bernadette, Holy Family School had a highly successful and seamless switch to virtual learning last spring. Mrs. Girmus brings extensive knowledge of what it takes to successfully operate a school. She will begin her role here at Saint Bernadette on July 1, 2021. In the coming months, she will have opportunities to meet with Mrs. Dalmut, teachers, staff and parents in order to facilitate a seamless transition to the new school year.  

Mrs. Girmus comes to us with 35 years of experience in both public and Catholic school education. She began her teaching career in Nebraska in 1986, where she taught at the elementary and middle school levels for 17 years. In 2003, Mrs. Girmus and her family moved to Vienna, Virginia from Nebraska where they literally “sold the farm” to fulfill her lifelong dream of teaching in a Catholic School and obtaining a better education for her children. Mrs. Girmus was a founding faculty member at Saint Mark Catholic School. She taught across all  grade levels and subject areas while at Saint Mark. In 2010, Mrs. Girmus was asked to serve as Assistant Principal and in 2013 she rose to the position of Principal where she served for six years. While at Saint Mark, she led the school to a Blue Ribbon Award in 2015.
 
She holds both a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education (1986) and a Master of Arts in Curriculum and Instruction (1989) from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  Additionally, Mrs. Girmus earned a Master of Arts in 2011 from Marymount University in Catholic School Leadership and received certification from the State of Virginia in Elementary Education and Administration. 

Mrs. Girmus and her husband, Greg, are looking forward to joining our St. Bernadette community as parishioners. They have two grown sons, one in Germany and the other in Detroit. She has a sister who resides in Falls Church. In her spare time, Mrs. Girmus enjoys gardening, singing, all things science, woodworking and shoemaking.

Mrs. Girmus has worked diligently in her career to cultivate unity between school and parish communities. I look forward to working alongside her to carry on the great work started by Mrs. Dalmut, whom we will miss very much. Together, we will all work to form hearts and minds in Christ as we continue to build on the foundation that St. Bernadette established over the past 60 years.

God bless you.