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Fr. Don's Weekly Letter ~ 20 February 2022
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
I am finishing this bulletin Tuesday afternoon before our Town Hall meeting tonight. I had hoped to write about it in this bulletin but we won't be able to get this to the printer in time if we wait. We are not live-streaming the meeting, but will be recording it. If you would like a link to the recorded meeting, please email the office for a link.
Today all the priests of the diocese attended an in-service day and our former director of Catholic Charities, Art Bennett, was the featured speaker. I consider him one of the finest people I have known.
His presentation was on the high level of anxiety and stress that surrounds all of us, and how we can best approach one another with respect and help. The emotions of fear and compassion, he says, are impossible to experience at the same time, our brains are wired to know only one or the other. They block each other out. When confronted with fear and anxiety, he said, we must focus on mercy. Mercy is the process of identifying the suffering of another person and compassion is helping them to move beyond it. Because the only way to get to the other side of pain – emotional or physical – is to go through it, we accompany one another. The experience of our compassion allays their fears, the empathy we feel for the other cancels out our anxiety. It is a process of truly connecting with another, identifying simply and honestly the reality of that suffering, and making a commitment to walk with that person through whatever form of suffering is present.
He quoted an interesting sentence from the Catechism, quoting Thomas Aquinas: In themselves, passions (feelings) are neither good nor evil. They are morally qualified only to the extent that they effectively engage reason and will. Strong feelings are not decisive for the morality or the holiness of persons (CCC, 1767). Thomas is saying that feelings of fear or anxiety, doubt or despair, aloneness or impatience are not good or bad in themselves. Right or wrong is what we choose to do with these feelings. The best thing we can do for another is listen and walk with them through their experience. Listening in charity to one another is actually the healing needed. We heal each other.
He added that, in his experience with clients in therapeutic settings, it is often what causes us fear and anxiety that God is asking us to work on, to work through and find healing. That healing doesn't come in isolation, however. You can't do it alone. We need a community.
The Lord be with you,
Streaming Masses and Announcements for the week of 13 February 2022
STREAMING SUNDAY AND WEEKDAY MASSES
Today's Live-Streamed Mass
Worship Aid for the Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Hopefully you have received a letter from Bishop Burbidge about our 2022 Bishop’s Lenten Appeal. The theme for the 2022 BLA is “”. Prayerfully consider making a pledge to this important appeal that funds many programs and ministries serving thousands of people in our Diocese, furthering the Lord’s work among usCommitment Weekend will be February 26-27 at all Masses. Your generosity is what makes our Church’s response possible.
Join the Police and Faith Community of West Springfield for the Fairfax County Public Safety Career Fair at Saint Bernadette Saturday, February 12, 2022 from 11am – 3pm. Meet Police Officers, Deputy Sheriffs, Animal Protection Officers, Firefighters, and 911 Dispatchers to learn about the amazing opportunities that a career in public safety offers. Enjoy lunch, live demonstrations, and the chance to talk with recruiters! Can’t make it, visit www.governmentjobs.com/careers/fairfaxcounty/ for job information Plan to attend our long-awaited parish Town Hall meeting about future construction planning, the capital campaign and a vision for moving forward on Tuesday, February 15 at 7pm in the church.
A beautiful icon of St. Joseph will be on display in the Church all this week, and the Knights will host a special Holy Hour with Rosary in Honor of St. Joseph on Wednesday, February 16 from 7 to 8pm in the church. All are welcome. We are temporarily expanding our office hours. The office will be open until 8pm on Tues, Thurs and Fridays with weekend hours on Sundays, 8:30am until 1pm.
Based on guidance released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we recommend that everyone, including individuals fully vaccinated, wear a mask in public indoor settings.
Fr. Don's Weekly Letter ~ 13 February 2022
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
Hopefully we finally find ourselves in a time of diminishing COVID spread. It has gone on a long time and we are all weary.
Throughout this time it has been difficult to be a person in any sort of mid-level leadership position—pastor, principal, teacher, school board member. The situation is always changing, and the signals coming from those whose guidance we are expected to follow are often contradictory. The result has been conflict, protest, division. The recent executive order of the governor was huge disruption in a situation that was, seemingly, finally under control and hoping for resolution in a few weeks. We all agree, if we had just another few weeks the recent controversy might be avoided altogether.
Particularly where the school is involved, there is no solution that is going to please everyone. We have families who have decided that the mask is of no value, despite the success we ourselves have shown. Others are requesting to go back to virtual education, an alternative that was relatively successful last year only because there was no other option. I have thought that the Catholic Church might have responded differently when faced with circumstances. My heart aches for the parents of children with disability or illness that places them gravely at risk with increased chances of infection. And I acknowledge that most are deeply concerned, and in many cases, angry.
Now the division we see nationally has come to education. Parents will never agree, and yet there needs to be education for our kids. That is why they elect school boards. But people must live with elections. Otherwise we are back on the frontier and everyone has to homeschool.
So. Situation stated. We still have an obligation to guarantee each other the assurance of protection in as much as others might demand freedom from that protection. We have watched how this pandemic has often brought out the worst in us. Let us concentrate on ways it can bring out the best. If you want to be inspired, pay attention to those who continue to bring out the best in our parish and school, particularly our teachers and leaders who continue to do what is necessary to take care of our children whatever the shifting context. We cannot thank them enough for their sacrifice. And, always, pray that this ends quickly.
So much is happening this time of year as we try to get past all our "business" to focus on the spiritual season of Lent. It seems like a lot of requests for money... it is. I'm sorry for it, but this is what happens this time of year. All causes and charities are so important and you are their hope—the Bishop's Lenten Appeal, the School Annual Fund, the car raffle for students' tuition assistance, Catholic Relief Services Rice Bowl program for the poorest in the world—not to mention the many other requests that are made of you at this time. Please consider what you can for the charities you are most passionate about, and be very generous. One of the ancient traditions of Lenten penance is almsgiving to those who have so much less than we have.
The Lord be with you,
Fr. Don's Weekly Letter ~ 6 February 2022
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
As I mentioned these last couple of weeks, we are now at a place where we can look back at the impact of the pandemic on our parish finances and planning for the future. As you know, we started a Capital Campaign several years ago for the purpose of funding a new parish hall and a renovation of the existing office spaces so they would be functional and, with an elevator, accessible.
In preparation for our Town Hall meeting on Tuesday, Feb 15 at 7pm, I would like to ask you to brainstorm what possibilities you would like to be considered with the construction of new spaces. I can share with you now the considerations we identified with the architect to prepare a preliminary concept. Of course, this is a wish list and we may need to determine priorities due to budget limitations. This is what we started with:
• a parish center with a welcoming reception area;
• large parish hall, with a capacity to seat 300 at tables
- commercial kitchen for food service
- entrance across from the entrance of the church, same level
- plenty of bathrooms;
• meeting rooms for parish groups, accommodating groups of 50 up to large conferences of, perhaps, 750 in the hall;
- rooms would be accessible after hours without compromising the security of the rest of the building
• rooms which can also be available for parish outreach to the community, hosting various groups and ministries of service, arts and cultural events;
• staff offices configured in such a way so as to promote collaboration and teamwork;
• large choir practice room, accessible by elevator, freeing the church for weeknight use.
It is virtually impossible to build a vibrant parish community if we don't have spaces where a community can meet. So far, we don't have a place. And people who come to the property are always confused where to go. Whatever we decide, we need to make our campus more hospitable and welcoming.
How many times have we wished we could host a gathering of the parish, or a diocesan program, or a cold night shelter or feeding program for the poor and we just don't have the facility to do it. The school works great for youth religious education, but we only have the Bradican Room for adult formation and group gatherings.
I love going to events at the Kennedy Center, and am constantly grateful to the persons who had a vision to provide a place where performing arts can have a home in the United States. Sure, we could have lived without the Kennedy Center, but just think about how much has been made possible and available to the people and the arts just because someone built a place for it to happen. It is the same with any community or parish. I look forward to our meeting.
The Lord be with you,
Streaming Masses and Announcements for the week of 30 January 2022
STREAMING SUNDAY AND WEEKDAY MASSES
Today's Live-Streamed Mass
Worship Aid for the Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Our annual National Catholic Education Association Day of Giving Campaign is this week, Feb 1 & 2. Please help support Saint Bernadette School. See page 6 for information how you can participate. Please join us for First Friday Adoration this Friday, February 4 in the Church. Take a moment and spend some quiet time with our Lord. Holy Hour begins at 7pm. Plan to attend our long-awaited parish Town Hall meeting about future construction planning, the capital campaign and a vision for moving forward on Tuesday, February 15 at 7pm in the church. The scheduled Admissions event for this weekend has been postponed. However, Mrs. Weaver will be reaching out to those who had registered to make alternate arrangements to tour our wonderful school. Want to learn more? Please contact Mrs. Nancy Weaver at 703-451-8696 or nweaver@stbernschool.org Thank you to all that made this past weekend's St. Lucy Food Drive a success. The total weight of donations came to 4,589 pounds of needed food and $760 in monetary donations. Catholic Charities is grateful for our partnership and kindness serving those with the most need in our community.
This year's annual Bishop’s Lenten Appeal kicks off in just a few weeks. Please prayerfully consider making a pledge to this important appeal that funds many programs and ministries that serve the people in our diocese. Commitment Weekend will be February 26-27 at all Masses. Your generosity is what makes our Church’s response possible. Year-end Contribution Statements will be mailed this upcoming week. Please contact the parish office if there are any questions. We are temporarily expanding our office hours beginning this week. The office will be open until 8pm on Tues, Thurs and Fridays with weekend hours on Sundays, 8:30am until 1pm.
Based on guidance released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we recommend that everyone, including individuals fully vaccinated, wear a mask in public indoor settings.
Fr. Don's Weekly Letter ~ 30 January 2022
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
We have a few dates we want you to save in your calendars!
First, we will hold a long-awaited parish Town Hall meeting about future construction planning, the capital campaign and a vision for moving forward on Tuesday, February 15 at 7pm in the church. Please plan to attend for the latest developments.
Since our parish pilgrimage to Italy has been postponed to the fall, we have these solid dates for out annual parish celebration of 40 Hours Adoration. If you remember, last year we did a very shortened version of 40 Hours due to the pandemic and limited crowds. Hopefully, this year we will be back to normal and I encourage you to actively participate. Basically, we begin with the 5pm Mass on Sunday, March 20 and have adoration of the Blessed Sacrament continuously (unless there is a Mass) until Mass on Tuesday night, March 22. In addition to an additional Mass on Monday and Tuesday evenings, we will have our parish mission talks each of three evenings. This year we welcome Soren and Ever Johnson, founders of the Trinity House Community in Leesburg, with "Heaven in Your Home," a Lenten challenge to transform Catholic family life. I will write more about this in the coming weeks as we prepare for Lent. You will not want to miss it.
Also in the next few months, we will be entering into the process of practicing synodality at Pope Francis' request, when we will host parish listening sessions to check in on the local level to hear how we are doing, living out the mission of our church. As a part of the process, we intend to hear from you who are here every Sunday, as well as those who have left the Church or aren't practicing anymore. We seek to hear from those who are forgotten and set aside. We need to hear the truth of how things are today, not just how we think things ought to be.
I was reading an interview with a European Cardinal about the synod. "I have to be the one to listen," he said. "If I make a lot of proposals, it will discourage people who have a different opinion. This is a synod: it must be open. As the pope says, it is the Holy Spirit who is the master builder, so we must leave room for the Holy Spirit."
The synod's vision responds to the fact that "top-down" orders aren't working any longer, whether in societies, politics, business or religion. "We are looking for a new language that must be based on the Gospel. And the whole Church must participate in the development of this new language: this is the meaning of the synod."
These meetings will be scheduled from February to April, and results will be compiled and reported to the diocese in May, in turn to the US Conference of Catholic Bishops later in the year. The global results will be presented in 2023 at the Vatican Synod of Bishops.
It is a process which I will be directing on behalf of the diocese, as well, with representatives of other Christian churches, and members of other religions. One of the questions I will be asking of them, as well as of Catholics, is what impact the presence of our local church has had on their lives, if any. We will find their answers challenging, I think.
The Lord be with you,
Streaming Masses and Announcements for the week of 23 January 2022
STREAMING SUNDAY AND WEEKDAY MASSES
Today's Live-Streamed Mass
Worship Aid for the Third Sunday in Ordinary Time
Join us for our rescheduled monthly Taizé Prayer Service, Monday, January 24 at 8pm. Come pray for Christian unity in our community and in the world. All Christians are warmly invited; invite your friends!
Come and see what makes Saint Bernadette School special at our Admissions Event on January 30! Please check the bulletin for sign-up or contact the registrar at the school. Spots are limited and reservations are required. See page 5.
This weekend the second is for the Church in Latin America. Please prayerfully consider supporting this collection, which strengthens the faith of our brothers and sisters in Latin America and the Caribbean. Share your faith and support the second collection. To learn more, please visit usccb.org/latin-america
Mark your calendar to take advantage of this terrific opportunity to support and promote Many Gifts, One Nation: A Day of Giving to Catholic Schools on February 1-2, 2022. To donate, please go online to stbernschool.org between Noon February 1 and Noon February 2.
Based on guidance released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we recommend that everyone, including individuals fully vaccinated, wear a mask in public indoor settings.
Fr. Don's Weekly Letter ~ 23 January 2022
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
It is finally time to start a conversation again about our Capital Campaign and future building plans for our parish.
Four years ago we began planning for a capital campaign with a parish survey asking you for your priorities. The first priority for four out of five who replied was the construction of a parish hall with generous meeting spaces. Second priority, nearly as important, was the renovation of our parish offices, to make them more useful as well as fully accessible to people with disabilities. The third priority was improvements to the church which included two additional confessionals, liturgical alterations and handicap accessibility to the sanctuary.
Four years seems like a lifetime ago. The Capital Campaign was launched with a goal for a needed $5 million, and you generously responded. We weathered a global pandemic and for a long time just worried if the parish offertory was going to survive. Survive we did and, to date, you have pledged over $3.3 million, and $2.5 million in pledges have been fulfilled. Obviously, we have a ways to go in order to achieve the amount we need to break ground, whatever it looks like.
We also learned a lot from the last few years and COVID. Our solution for a parish hall on top of the middle school wing was great that it didn't add to the ratio of impermeable surfaces on parish property, but became obvious as not viable with regard to security of the school during the school day, and the need to keep school and parish populations separated during a pandemic. The hall would be available only when the school was not in session, which was a huge drawback. And, due to the pandemic, costs have increased as much as 40%, so we have decided to re-think our project.
We are just now beginning that re-thinking stage, but I thought I might share with you our few preliminary considerations. We had a meeting this week with an architect who will help us explore the possibility of a solution that would, rather than requiring major addition and renovation to two buildings, add on to the parish center and providing meeting rooms, a parish hall and enhance office facilities. New construction is less expensive, and our goal would be to accomplish both original objectives with one construction project with the same $5 million budget, even taking into account higher construction costs.
As this process unfolds, we will hold parish meetings in the future to receive your input for consideration, and hopefully have concept drawings of a possible solution (like the preliminary concept drawings in the vestibule of the church) so that we will have a visual to start a Phase II on our Capital Campaign. If we receive the balance of pledges already promised, our Phase II will not be as large an undertaking. It all depends on the post-pandemic cost of doing business.
We will have a lot more to talk about in the next couple of months!
The Lord be with you,
Streaming Masses and Announcements for the week of 16 January 2022
STREAMING SUNDAY AND WEEKDAY MASSES
Today's Live-Streamed Mass
Worship Aid for the Second Sunday in Ordinary Time
Parish Offices are closed Monday, 17 January in observance of the Martin Luther King Holiday. Religious Education classes and Youth Ministry activities are not schedued for this weekend and Monday January 17 in observance of the Martin Luther King Holiday. Please watch Flocknote and the Parish website for updates on class and activity schedules as we navigate the current COVID surge. Our Saint Bernadette School special Admissions Event is scheduled for January 30! Please check the bulletin for sign-up or contact the registrar at the school. Spots are limited. See page 5. In following our published guidelines for Inclement Weather, our Monday, 17 January monthly Taizé Prayer Service has been canceled and rescheduled for Monday, 24 January, at 8pm. Come pray for Christian unity in our community and in the world. All Christians are warmly invited; invite your friends! Invite all your Christian friends and neighbors to join us for an ecumenical prayer service here at Saint Bernadette with Bishop Burbidge on Wednesday, January 19 at 7:30pm as we observe the international Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Be sure to contact the churches in your neighborhoods and invite them. Watch our website and social media for announcements to like and re-tweet. The Annual March For Life will be on Friday, January 21. Please consider joining our Parish rallying and marching. The parish will provide transportation if there is adequate response; a minimum of 50 persons will make this possible. Please visit that parish website to reserve a seat. For more information please see bulletin or contact the parish office. Based on guidance released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), we recommend that everyone, including individuals fully vaccinated, wear a mask in public indoor settings.
Fr. Don's Weekly Letter ~ 16 January 2022
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
This Wednesday evening we will gather at Saint Bernadette with Bishop Burbidge for the annual observance of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. I hope you have taken the time to invite all your Christian friends to gather with us as we pray for unity and the healing of divisions.
Fr. Paul Wattson, a former Anglican and co-founder of the Graymoor Franciscan Friars (Society of the Atonement), established the "Octave of Christian Unity" in 1908 beginning with January 18, the Feast of the Confession of Saint Peter, and ending with the Conversion of Saint Paul on January 25. Pope Saint Pius X blessed the observance and Pope Benedict XV encouraged its observance throughout the entire Church. Now it is annually coordinated by the World Council of Churches and the Vatican, and participants include the Assyrian Church in the East, the Oriental and Eastern Orthodox Churches, the Old Catholic Church, and the Moravian, Lutheran, Anglican, Mennonite, Methodist, Reformed, Baptist and Pentecostal Churches. These other churches were invited to join the prayer in 1935 at the proposal of Abbe Paul Couturier of Lyons, France, and his proposal was accepted by the Catholic Church in 1966.
This year the theme is "We saw the star in the East and have come to worship him." The prayers were composed in collaboration with the Middle Eastern Council of Churches.
On the night before Jesus was crucified, after the Last Supper when praying his final prayer (what is often called his "high priestly prayer"), Jesus prayed fervently to the Father that we would be one (John 17:21), not for the sake of unity itself, but so that the world might believe that the Father sent him to us. Our divisions -- certainly, divisions which have splintered Christianity into more than 45,000 denominations, but also the sad divisions which divide all churches internally today -- are sinful, and clearly not the will of Jesus. For this reason, then, we must turn to God together and ask the Holy Spirit to accomplish among us what we are obviously not capable of achieving ourselves. And the only way we keep the door open for the Holy Spirit to enter and transform us is through the relationships of fraternity and love we nurture among all our baptized Christian brothers and sisters.
This year we will include this intention to end all division in our Week of Prayer service. Join with us in praying for healing for the divisions in our families and relationships, the divisions in our society and world brought on by the pandemic, by hatred, racism and economic inequity, the divisions within our churches and between our churches, and the healing needed for humanity and all of God's creation.
We live in a time when prayer and our actions which prayer inspires are our only path forward. But the first step is we must pray, and pray together. Please, join us, and invite everyone you know.
The Lord be with you,
