Latest Announcements
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Watch this short video to learn more about our Work of Mercy Meal Packing Event November 13-15th. You are invited to support the event with your prayers, your financial support or your gift of time.
All Saints Day: Saturday November 1st is not a Holy Day of obligation this year. Because it is still an important feast, we will add a 10 AM Mass on Saturday morning.
The All-Souls Day Masses on Sunday, November 2 follow our regular Sunday Mass schedule. Our All Souls Novena of Masses envelopes are in the vestibule of the church and the parish office. Please return them by October 31st.
The Knights of Columbus are asking for your support in filling a Box of Joy with presents like small toys, toiletries, and more perfect for children in need. You are also encouraged to mail a $9 check separately for each box to cover international shipping costs. Boxes will be distributed after Mass next weekend and collected for delivery in November 8/9.
Please plan to join us for the next three Mondays (10/20, 10/28, and 11/03) for Saint Bernadette Dining Nights out at local Springfield restaurants. These dining nights out support our Parish Work of Mercy, Rise Against Hunger. Silver Diner (10/20), Malek’s Pizza Palace (10/28), and McAllister’s (11/3) will donate a portion of their proceeds for meals purchased. Remember to mention Saint Bernadette when dining in, ordering delivery or take-out.
For the next two weekends we are excited to be raffling a chance to win Fr. Don’s beautiful, framed prints; Both prints are of Piazza San Marco, #18 and #20 of editions of 50 both from 2002 Watercolors. Raffle tickets are $ 10 each or 6 for $ 50 and are available after all Masses. Tickets are sold separately for each print. All proceeds will support Rise Against Hunger.
Our Rise Against Hunger Meal packing event opens this weekend. This meal packing event is free and will require a large contingent of volunteers, please select a shift and job that is right for you. Please visit the Rise Against Hunger link on parish website for job descriptions. Please join us!
You are invited to join Bishop Burbidge in praying and fasting every Friday in October before the Nov. 4 elections that will decide the next governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general, along with all 100 seats in the House of Delegates. For more information regarding election resources please visit the Virginia Catholic Conference 2025 Resource hub at vacatholic.org.
+ Mark your calendars for these upcoming dates!
Taizé Ecumenical Prayer, October 20
Silver Diner Dining Night Out to benefit our RAH Meal Packing Event, Monday, October 20, 5-8pm, mention Saint Bernadette when ordering!
Malek's Dining Night Out to benefit our RAH Meal Packing Event, Monday, October 27, 4-9pm, mention Saint Bernadette when ordering!
ECHO Yard Sale, Saturday, November 1
McAllister's Deli Dining Night Out to benefit our RAH Meal Packing Event, Monday, October 20, 5-8pm, mention Saint Bernadette when ordering!
FAITH FORMATION
Living the Liturgical Year:
On October 22, we celebrate the Feast Day of Pope St. John Paul II. He was known for his warmth, wisdom, and deep love for humanity. He encouraged the laity to “Be Saints in the World,” to “Open Wide the Doors to Christ,” and to become agents of Christian Unity and interreligious dialogue. He was an inspirational Pope who sought to bring his papacy to the laity, especially the young people. Help your children get to know St. Pope John Paul II by watching this link: https://youtu.be/y9lYvkmY874. Celebrate his feast day with a Polish feast with pierogis and polish sausages.
Volunteers for 2025-2026 ~ We are still in need for volunteers (assistant catechists, teen catechists, and hall monitors). If interested, please contact the Religious Education Office or fill out the Volunteer Form on the website https://stbernpar.org/religious-education-volunteers/.
Upcoming Religious Education Activities:
Regular Classes: October 21-22, 28-29
Confirmation Mass: October 25,10am
Sunday Donut Social: October 26 after 9am Mass
WOMEN'S MINISTRY
Come and enjoy warm fellowship and great food. No need to RSVP. For more information, please email us at women@stbernpar.org. Monday, October 20 is our next Dinner with Friends at 5pm, at Saratoga Pizzeria, 8050 Rolling Road. This casual meal is one of our normal dinners on the 1st the 3rd Monday of every
month.
YOUTH MINISTRY
All High Schoolers are invited to join us for Tuesday Socials every Tuesday from 7-8:30pm! Meet in the youth room (in the parish office) for games, ice cream, and a discussion on the faith.
High School Youth Diocesan Rally - Sunday, October 26, This annual event is an opportunity for the young Church in the Diocese of Arlington to gather each year to for fun, entertainment, prayer, and to celebrate the Catholic faith. RALLY includes Mass with Bishop Burbidge, Eucharistic Adoration, inspirational speakers and entertainers, breakout sessions, inflatable games, music, and more! The cost is $25, and adult volunteers are needed. Contact Grace Mee at gmee@stbernpar.org for information on how to register.
Middle School Youth Ministry - our next gathering is November 5th
All 6th-8th graders are invited for games, snacks, and fun every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month! Meet in the school gym from 6:45-8pm.
To learn more about our middle and high school ministries,
please contact Grace Mee, gmee@stbernpar.org
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
If you didn’t have a chance to join with our Spanish-speaking brothers and sisters in last week’s celebration, I thought I would print a shortened text of my homily:
Today, we gather to celebrate one of the most profound and moving devotions in the Catholic world — El Señor de los Milagros, the Lord of the Miracles. This feast, born in the heart of Lima, Peru, centuries ago, has become a symbol of unity, hope, and faith that transcends national borders. It is a devotion that speaks powerfully not only to the Peruvian people but also to all who know what it means to endure suffering, to search for belonging, and to trust in God amid uncertainty — especially our brothers and sisters who have journeyed far from their homeland to seek a better life.
The story of the Lord of the Miracles begins in the mid-17th century in the humble neighborhood of Pachacamilla, on the outskirts of Lima. This was a community of Afro-Peruvian slaves — people without power or wealth, but rich in faith. One of them, whose name history has not preserved, painted an image of the Crucified Christ on a mud wall — not as a famous artist, but as a servant of God. He depicted Jesus nailed to the cross, with the Holy Spirit above and the Father’s presence radiating from heaven. Beneath the cross stood the Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene, mourning yet believing.
In 1655, a massive earthquake struck Lima, destroying much of the city. Buildings crumbled, walls fell — but that painted wall with the image of Christ remained standing, untouched by the devastation. People saw in this a sign — a miracle — and began to gather there to pray. Later, when attempts were made to remove or repaint the image, it could not be erased. The devotion grew, especially after more earthquakes confirmed what the faithful already knew: God was present in this image, offering comfort and hope to the afflicted.
Over time, a chapel was built, and each October, processions began through the streets of Lima. The faithful carried a large copy of the image on their shoulders, dressed in purple habits of penance and devotion. Even today, October in Peru is known as the “Purple Month,” a time when millions walk through the streets in prayer, incense, and song — honoring Christ crucified as the Lord of the Miracles, the God who does not abandon His people.
Christ is not distant or detached, but suffering with his people. He is the Christ who stands firm even when the world shakes. His wall did not crumble, because his love does not crumble.
That is the message our world desperately needs today. We live in times of upheaval — not only from natural disasters, but from spiritual, emotional, and social ones. Families are separated, economies are unstable, and faith can feel fragile. Yet in the midst of this uncertainty, Christ remains. His cross still stands. His mercy still flows.
God is not absent from the lives of the poor, the migrant, the laborer, the mother struggling to raise her children in a new country. No — he is there, in the middle of it all, enduring with us, blessing our tears, and transforming them into hope. For so many immigrants, especially those from Latin America, the Lord of the Miracles has become a companion on the journey — a reminder of home, but also a reminder of God’s nearness. When one leaves one’s homeland, crosses deserts or oceans, learns a new language, and works tirelessly to provide for loved ones, it can feel as though everything familiar has been shaken — just like Lima in that earthquake. Yet, as in that story, the Lord’s image remains standing.
He is the Christ who walks with the migrant, the one who knows what it means to have no place to lay his head. He understands the pain of being misunderstood, the anxiety of providing for family, the longing for dignity and justice. But he also offers strength, hope, and solidarity.
The Lord of the Miracles invites us to solidarity. He calls the whole Church — not only Peruvians or Latinos — to recognize the face of Christ in every person who suffers, especially the immigrant and the poor. The miracle is not only that a wall did not fall — it is that a community was born around that image, a community that cared for one another and became a living sign of God’s mercy.
The Lord be with you,
Please plan to join us for our El Señor de los Milagros/ Lord of the Miracles celebration Saturday, October 11 beginning with Mass at 10am,
followed by the procession of the icon and a festive dinner celebration.
Don’t forget, if you haven’t, to return your commitment card for parish ministry – Pray, serve and give, for the coming year. Please drop it in the mail or bring it by the office.
Saint Bernadette Church is partnering with Rise Against Hunger in response to Bishop Burbidge’s invitation for all parishes to perform a corporal Work of Mercy. With your support, we will host a meal packing event at Saint Bernadette November 13-15, 2025. Our parish goal is to raise $75,000 to purchase the raw ingredients to pack 150,000 life-changing meals. Please support our parish’s effort to fight global hunger, with prayer, financial support or volunteer service. It starts with a meal. In collaboration with Saint Bernadette School, this act of solidarity reflects the Gospel’s call to “feed the hungry” and serves as a visible witness of the Church’s mission in action.
Next weekends' second collection will be for our corporal Work of Mercy ~ Rise Against Hunger. Please be generous.
Parish Offices will be Closed on Monday October 14 in observance of the Federal Holiday
Please join us for our Anniversary Mass for the Dedication of our Church on Tuesday, October 14 at 7:30pm in the Church.
All are invited to our Saint Bernadette Parish Picnic on Saturday, October 18th, from 1-5 p.m. There will be great music, food, and games for the whole family. Please check the bulletin to see what food you should bring. Volunteers are also needed!
All Saints Day (not a Holyday of obligation): No Vigil Mass October 31. On Saturday, November 1, an additional Mass will be celebrated at 10am.
The All Souls’ Day Mass schedule follows our regular Sunday Mass schedule for all our deceased. Remembrance envelopes, in which you may include the names of your deceased family or friends, are in the vestibule of the church and parish office. Please return them by October 31.
Thank you to all who have responded to our request to reduce our parish envelope costs. If you are receiving offertory envelopes but don’t use them or no longer wish to receive them, please contact our parish office so that we can remove that service from your registration file. Remember Second and Special Collections can be done electronically through Faith Direct.
You are invited to join Bishop Burbidge in praying and fasting every Friday in October before the Nov. 4 elections that will decide the next governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general, along with all 100 seats in the House of Delegates. For more information regarding election resources please visit the Virginia Catholic Conference 2025 Resource hub at vacatholic.org.
+ Mark your calendars for these upcoming dates!
Parish Family Picnic, Saturday, October 18
Silver Diner Dining Night Out to benefit our RAH Meal Packing Event, Monday, October 20, 5-8pm, mention Saint Bernadette when ordering!
Malek's Dining Night Out to benefit our RAH Meal Packing Event, Monday, October 27, 4-9pm, mention Saint Bernadette when ordering!
ECHO Yard Sale, Saturday, November 1
FAITH FORMATION
Living the Liturgical Year:
On October 13, we celebrate the anniversary of The Miracle of the Spinning Sun. In 1917, thousands of people witnessed the miracle of the dancing sun. This was the sign that Our Lady of Fatima had promised the shepherd children (Saints Lucia, Francisco, and Jacinta) to confirm the authenticity of her apparitions. Witnesses had seen the sun spinning in the sky, changing its size and color, and evoking feelings of warmth and joy. One fun activity you can do with your kids is making a Miracle of the Sun Spinner. You can find instructions here: https://www.catholicicing.com/fatima-craft-miracle-of-sun-spinner/
Volunteers for 2025-2026 ~ As we prepare to plan for the upcoming Religious Education school year, please discern if you would like to help. We are in need of Lead Catechists and aides. If interested, please contact the Religious Education Office or fill out the Volunteer Form on the website. You will also find the QR Code at the bulletin board.
Upcoming Religious Education Activities:
Regular Classes: October 7-8,14-15,21-22,28-29
Saturday SPRED Class: October 18
Confirmation 2025 Confessions: October 16 6:30pm
WOMEN'S MINISTRY
Come and enjoy warm fellowship and great food. No need to RSVP. For more information, please email us at women@stbernpar.org. Our next monthly meeting will be Tuesday, October 14 at 7pm in the Bradican Room. Our theme is month is “Making a Difference.” We will hear from Deb Beard of Catholic Charities Diocese of Arlington and a member of Saint Bernadette parish. She will provide information about how we can each help make a difference in the many good works of Catholic Charities.
Monday, October 20 is our next Dinner with Friends at 5pm, at Saratoga Pizzeria, 8050 Rolling Road. This casual meal is one of our normal dinners on the 1st the 3rd Monday of every
month.
YOUTH MINISTRY
High School Socials
All high schoolers are invited to join us for Tuesday Socials every Tuesday from 7-8:30pm! Meet in the youth room (in the parish office) for games, ice cream, and a discussion on the faith.
High School Youth Diocesan Rally - Sunday October 26, this annual event is an opportunity for the young Church in the Diocese of Arlington to gather each year to for fun, entertainment, prayer, and to celebrate the Catholic faith. RALLY includes Mass with Bishop Burbidge, Eucharistic Adoration, inspirational speakers and entertainers, breakout sessions, inflatable games, music, and more! The cost is $25, and adult volunteers are needed. Contact Grace Mee at gmee@stbernpar.org for information on how to register.
Middle School Youth Ministry - our next gathering is 15 October
All 6th-8th graders are invited for games, snacks, and fun every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month! Meet in the school gym from 6:45-8pm.
To learn more about our middle and high school ministries,
please contact Grace Mee, gmee@stbernpar.org
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
As I write this letter it is again Monday late and we are in our last city, Istanbul. Travel was challenging today, disembarking the boat before 7am, driving 1.5 hours to the airport in Athens, barely making our flight, then a one-hour delay taking off. We got out of passport control and baggage claim/customs finally by 2:30pm, then meeting the tour guide and starting a late driving tour of the city. It is a remarkable place.
We stopped at the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit. Someone in the group remarked how interesting it is that the most beautiful Catholic Church we have seen so far is in Turkey. It was at this church where Cardinal Roncalli (St. Pope John XXIII) served as Papal Nuncio during World War II and saved tens of thousands of Jewish people from being taken north into eastern Europe during the holocaust. He spoke later to the newly formed Secretariat for Interreligious Affairs at the beginning of Vatican II about how his relationships with Jews and Muslims during these formative years in Istanbul compelled him to lead the commission to write Nostra aetate, the Church’s Constitution on relations with people of other faiths.
It was at this cathedral where St. Pope Paul VI met with Patriarch Athenagoras in 1965 and rescinded the mutual excommunications of 1056 “to oblivion.” It was at this cathedral where St. John Paul II, Pope Benedict XVI, and Pope Francis met with Bartholomew, the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople (the original name of Istanbul), founded by the Roman Emperor Constantine when he wanted to move the center of the Church further east to rule both Europe and Asia. A visit of Pope Leo to this very place may be planned for this November.
We talked about the central role of this one place in the context of 1,700 years after the Council of Nicaea, the last time that all Christians were united in one creed, the Nicene Creed we say at Mass, as well as the 60th Anniversary of Nostra aetate.
Of course, the context of Muslim Turkey is a difficult one for the Greek Orthodox Church. In an increasingly hostile environment, the Orthodox Church is struggling with few faithful, as in so many places in the world. Churches are shuttered and seminaries are closed. I had always thought this so harsh, how Patriarch Bartholomew must maintain a skeleton staff to remain in the ancient see of his ancestors. It is a vestige of a time when intolerance and cruelty were characteristics of life.
I also never knew that ever since the 1830 revolution of the Greeks from the Ottomans no Islamic mosque has been allowed to be open. Muslims, if they practice faith, must do so at home without gatherings. The mosques are in decay.
Looking back on our time on pilgrimage, we have had the time to reflect on many of the virtues and attitudes that are necessary for the journey of life. We saw and celebrated them in Saint Paul and his companions and followers, in the saints we celebrated according to the liturgical calendar of the Orthodox and Eastern Rite Catholic Churches. Those early followers and martyrs of Saint Paul who built the first foundations of the Church in this part of the world despite the great personal cost of suffering, danger and death.
We asked God to fill us with the same resolve, fortitude, fire, and trust that seemed to lead Saint Paul throughout his years of preaching and mentoring the next generation of servant leaders who carried the Cross forward to new disciples and places. We considered the humility and blamelessness necessary to make Jesus known and not ourselves. We prayed for you all along the way in the most beautiful and significant places we found.
Of course, you don’t have to travel abroad to find these things, they are just more obvious when we allow ourselves to be vulnerable to circumstances and submit to the will of God, however that is made known to us.
You will find several pages of photos in this bulletin which give you an idea of the stunning beauty of these places, which must also have been a source of inspiration and hope in Paul’s faith in God.
The Lord be with you,
a message from Bishop Michael Burbidge
Bishop Burbidge has invited all parishes in our Diocese to participate in a special Week of Service this November. Saint Bernadette Church and School will partner with Rise Against Hunger to raise $ 75,000 to purchase the raw ingredients and pack 150,000 meals, here at Saint Bernadette that will support educational programs around the world—a true Corporal Work of Mercy in action. To make this life-changing event possible, prayers, financial gifts and volunteers are needed. Just the cost of one venti cup of coffee can provide six nutritious meals for a hungry child! Please see this week's bulletin or visit our parish website for more details. Sign-up opportunities will be shared in the coming weeks. It starts with a meal—together, we can make a world of difference.
Fr. Iacona will be visiting our parish this weekend to speak at all the Masses on behalf of Cross Catholic Outreach, which was founded to forge a stronger and more supportive link between parishes in America and the priests and nuns serving the poor in the Caribbean, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Central and South America.
On Saturday, October 4, bring your beloved pets for a special Blessing of the Animals in honor of Saint Francis’ feast day. We will meet at 10am in the front parking lot in front of the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Sunday, October 5 is Respect Life Sunday. Join us as we participate in the 38th annual Life Chain, praying and quietly standing in public witness to the sanctity of human life! Our parish meets at Key Middle School on Franconia Rd., 2pm.
Come as you are - you are welcome here! Walking with Purpose Women’s Bible Study ministry returns October 14 and 16 for a 22 week study. Please see today's bulletin page 7 for more information about the program and this years' theme "Touching the Divine"
Thank you to all who have responded to our request to reduce our parish envelope costs. If you are receiving offertory envelopes but don’t use them or no longer wish to receive them, please contact our parish office so that we can remove that service from your registration file. Remember Second and Special Collections can be done electronically through Faith Direct.
You are invited to join Bishop Burbidge in praying and fasting every Friday in October before the Nov. 4 elections that will decide the next governor, lieutenant governor, and attorney general, along with all 100 seats in the House of Delegates. For more information regarding election resources please visit the Virginia Catholic Conference 2025 Resource hub at vacatholic.org.
Don’t forget, if you haven’t, to return your commitment card for parish ministry – Pray, serve and give, for the coming year. Please drop it in the mail or bring it by the office.
+ Mark your calendars for these upcoming dates!
El Señor de los Milagros/Lord of the Miracles Mass, procession and dinner: Saturday, October 11
Parish Family Picnic, Saturday, October 18
Silver Diner Dining Night Out to benefit our RAH Meal Packing Event, Monday, October 20, 5-8pm
Malek's Dining Night Out to benefit our RAH Meal Packing Event, Monday, October 27, 4-9pm
ECHO Yard Sale, Saturday, November 1
FAITH FORMATION
Living the Liturgical Year:
Happy October! October is the month dedicated to the Rosary. The Rosary is a powerful prayer given by the Virgin Mary to St. Dominic. It draws people closer to God and strengthens their spiritual lives. We celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary on October 7. It commemorates the naval victory of the Christian fleet over the Muslim Turks at the Battle of Lepanto with the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. An activity you can do with your children is by making rosaries and saying the rosary as a family. You can find instructions to different rosary crafts at this link: https://www.catholicicing.com/celebrating-month-of-rosary-html/.
Volunteers for 2025-2026 ~ As we prepare to plan for the upcoming Religious Education school year, please discern if you would like to help. We are in need of Lead Catechists and aides. If interested, please contact the Religious Education Office or fill out the Volunteer Form on the website. You will also find the QR Code at the bulletin board.
Upcoming Religious Education Activities:
Regular Classes: October 7-8,14-15,21-22,28-29
Saturday SPRED Class: Oct. 18
Family Mass Learning: Oct. 4-5 at all Masses except the 7am Mass
Sunday Family Faith Formation Class: Oct. 5
Confirmation 2025 Session 2: Oct. 5, 6-15-7:30pm at the school
WOMEN'S MINISTRY
Come and enjoy warm fellowship and great food. No need to RSVP. For more information, please email us at women@stbernpar.org. Monday, October 6 is our next Dinner with Friends at 5pm, at Saratoga Pizzeria, 8050 Rolling Road. This casual meal is one of our normal dinners on the 1st the 3rd Monday of every
month.
Our next monthly meeting will be Tuesday, October 14 at 7pm in the Bradican Room. Our theme is month is “Making a Difference.” We will hear from Deb Beard of Catholic Charities Diocese of Arlington and a member of St Bernadette parish. She will provide information about how we can each help make a difference in the many good works of Catholic Charities.YOUTH MINISTRY
High School Socials
All high schoolers are invited to join us for Tuesday Socials every Tuesday from 7-8:30pm! Meet in the youth room (in the parish office) for games, ice cream, and a discussion on the faith.
High School Youth Diocesan Rally - Sunday October 26, this annual event is an opportunity for the young Church in the Diocese of Arlington to gather each year to for fun, entertainment, prayer, and to celebrate the Catholic faith. RALLY includes Mass with Bishop Burbidge, Eucharistic Adoration, inspirational speakers and entertainers, breakout sessions, inflatable games, music, and more! The cost is $25, and adult volunteers are needed. Contact Grace Mee at gmee@stbernpar.org for information on how to register.
Middle School Youth Ministry - our next gathering is 15 October
All 6th-8th graders are invited for games, snacks, and fun every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month! Meet in the school gym from 6:45-8pm.
To learn more about our middle and high school ministries,
please contact Grace Mee, gmee@stbernpar.org
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
Greetings from Ephesus this evening as I write this letter. Today we visited the house of the Blessed Virgin Mary where she lived with Saint John on a high mountain ridge overlooking the ancient city until her Assumption into heaven. We then walked throught he ancient city with its temples, residences, library, and the theater where Saint Paul preached to 25,000 people. You can find photos of Corinth, Athens, and Crete from our first week sprinkled throughout this bulletin.
One of the things we talk about as we travel is the whole broader concept of pilgrimage. Is not every person in our parish -- in our world -- in the process of journeying to God, even if they don’t realize it? Life is the ultimate pilgrimage as we continue to collect messages and tools to make our way from here to there. There, of course, is not here, and so we must focus on what is there which makes it more desirable than here. The destination needs to be defined, and our resolve in reaching it necessarily requires prior planning, with real anticipation and holy hope.
But the process of getting there is the primary captivating experience we encounter in new places with new people. What we experience along the way is what shapes us into the people we are to become. The saints and holy people and contexts we find along the way can form us in ways we could never determine for ourselves. The sometimes uneasy or awesome things we discover shock us out of our complacency of everyday routines. We are inspired. We are humbled. We can still be surprised. God isn’t necessarily surprising, but we discover things about him that we would not otherwise have known or even imagined.
Those who travel and put themselves into this requirement for change are pilgrims who acknowledge that something has to change. Our now is not enough. But you don’t have to cross oceans to do this. You have the power of imagination and prayer to create this context wherever you are.
Celebrate the people you encounter, whether they be in a foreign land or your next door neighbor. God will use whatever context you have in order to accomplish in you what he has planned for you.
We met one such person today. His name is Ashley, and he got his degree in textile design 31 years ago in university and then went to work in Turkiye. Originally from Australia, and a Christian, he settled with his family near the ancient city of Ephesus and took over management of a failing carpet weaving factory. His goal was to save a centuries-old tradition of Turkish carpet weaving that was in decline, welcoming women in desperate situations to learn the art and craft of carpet weaving, giving them a new chance for education and employment.
His carpet designs, often based on centuries-old traditions of various cultural traditions, have won international design awards around the world.
We watched several women working at the loom making beautitul designs. We were given a presentation of the many carpets that have been produced. Carpets can take one person several months to complete up to two women 5 years.
I was so moved by this guy, a Christian in an overwhelmingly Muslim culture, who has taken his gifts and applied them so totally to the resurgence of culture and renaissance of an ancient art for the benefit of people in need, that I had to buy a carpet. They aren’t cheap -- but I promised him that I would tell you about him in case you might like to purchase a beautiful investment carpet and help advance a great art culture. I can’t think of a more beautiful application of God’s plan in the live of a lay person. He gave our parish a carpet which I will hang in one of our public spaces.
At any rate, we are having a beautiful pilgrimage. Early on I had encouraged our pilgrims to consider it as a “chill”grimage. Spiritual awareness shouldn’t be stressful! We have celebrated Mass in the archeological site of Corinth, at a Catholic church in Athens, at Saint John the Baptist church in Santorini. We have some interesting places for Mass coming throughout, and I want you to know you remain in our prayers everywhere.
The Lord be with you,
a message from Bishop Michael Burbidge
Bishop Burbidge has invited all parishes in our Diocese to participate in a special Week of Service this November. Saint Bernadette Church and School will join this effort by partnering with Rise Against Hunger to pack 150,000 meals that will support educational programs around the world—a true Corporal Work of Mercy in action. To make this life-changing event possible, both financial gifts and volunteers are needed. Just the cost of one venti cup of coffee can provide six nutritious meals for a hungry child! Please see this week's bulletin or visit our parish website for more details. Sign-up opportunities will be shared in the coming weeks. It starts with a meal—together, we can make a world of difference.
Fr. Iacona will be visiting our parish next weekend to speak at all the Masses on behalf of Cross Catholic Outreach, which was founded to forge a stronger and more supportive link between parishes in America and the priests and nuns serving the poor in the Caribbean, Africa, Southeast Asia, and Central and South America.
Sunday, October 5 is Respect Life Sunday. Join us as we participate in the 38th annual Life Chain, praying and quietly standing in public witness to the sanctity of human life! Our parish meets at Key Middle School on Franconia Rd., 2pm.
On Saturday, October 4, bring your beloved pets for a special Blessing of the Animals in honor of Saint Francis’ feast day. We will meet at 10am in the front parking lot in front of the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes.
Come as you are - you are welcome here! Walking with Purpose Women’s Bible Study ministry returns October 14 and 16 for a 22 week study. Please see today's bulletin page 7 for more information about the program and this years' theme "Touching the Divine"
Thank you to all who have responded to our request to reduce our parish envelope costs. If you are receiving offertory envelopes but don’t use them or no longer wish to receive them, please contact our parish office so that we can remove that service from your registration file. Remember Second and Special Collections can be done electronically through Faith Direct.
FAITH FORMATION
Living the Liturgical Year:
Please remember that the Confirmation kick-off meetings are this month! It is a mandatory meeting for both parents and children held at the church from 6:15-7:15pm. Confirmation 2027 kick-off will be on September 14 and Confirmation 2026 kick-off will be on September 28.
On September 29, we celebrate the feast day of Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael. St. Michael is known for fighting Satan and casting him to hell. St. Gabriel for appearing to Mary at the annunciation to tell her that she was going to have baby Jesus. St. Raphael is a known for being a healer. These three archangels have been mentioned in the Bible by name. One fun way to celebrate is to have a feast day feast with Devil’s Food cake, deviled eggs or blackberry pie. You can also pray the St. Michael’s Prayer with your children:
St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.
Family Donut Social ~ Mark your calendars! Plan to join us Sunday, September 28, in the school cafeteria for fellowship, hospitality, and kids’ activities after the 9am Mass! Come visit with other parish families while you enjoy coffee, juice, and donuts while your children do some fun activities with volunteers!
Volunteers for 2025-2026 ~ As we prepare to plan for the upcoming Religious Education school year, please discern if you would like to help. We are in need of Lead Catechists and aides. If interested, please contact the Religious Education Office or fill out the Volunteer Form on the website. You will also find the QR Code at the bulletin board.
WOMEN'S MINISTRY
Come and enjoy warm fellowship and great food. No need to RSVP. For more information, please email us at women@stbernpar.org. Monday, October 6 is our next Dinner with Friends at 5pm, at Saratoga Pizzeria, 8050 Rolling Road. This casual meal is one of our normal dinners on the 1st the 3rd Monday of every
month.
Our next monthly meeting will be Tuesday, October 14 at 7pm in the Bradican Room. Our theme is month is “Making a Difference.” We will hear from Deb Beard of Catholic Charities Diocese of Arlington and a member of St Bernadette parish. She will provide information about how we can each help make a difference in the many good works of Catholic Charities.YOUTH MINISTRY
High School Socials
All high schoolers are invited to join us for Tuesday Socials every Tuesday from 7-8:30pm! Meet in the youth room (in the parish office) for games, ice cream, and a discussion on the faith.
High School Youth Diocesan Rally - this annual event is an opportunity for the young Church in the Diocese of Arlington to gather each year to for fun, entertainment, prayer, and to celebrate the Catholic faith. RALLY includes Mass with Bishop Burbidge, Eucharistic Adoration, inspirational speakers and entertainers, breakout sessions, inflatable games, music, and more! The cost is $25, and adult volunteers are needed. Contact Grace Mee at gmee@stbernpar.org for information on how to register.
Middle School Youth Ministry - our next gathering is 1 October
All 6th-8th graders are invited for games, snacks, and fun every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month! Meet in the school gym from 6:45-8pm.
To learn more about our middle and high school ministries,
please contact Grace Mee, gmee@stbernpar.org
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
As I write this letter it is Monday afternoon and we don’t leave for pilgrimage until Wednesday evening! Please know we will pray for you everywhere we go, and ask that you remember us, too. In case you’re curious about our journey, here is a short itinerary:
Thursday, Sept 25 - arrive Athens (evening)
Friday - Corinth
Saturday - Athens
Sunday - Crete
Monday - Santorini
Tuesday - Ephesus
October 1, Wednesday - Mykonos
Thursday - cruising day
Friday - Philippi
Saturday - Thessaloniki
Sunday - cruising day
Monday - Piraeus to Istanbul
Tuesday - Istanbul
Wednesday - Return to US
Maybe you’d like to do a little research about these fascinating places, many of the stops along the journeys of Saint Paul, and the people to whom he wrote letters.
My brothers and sisters we are living in very strange times. I came across this quote to the left and suggest everybody clip it and put it on your refrigerators.
It has been my experience that people can become hostile at what you say and what you didn’t say. Most days it is better to keep silent. But sometimes you have to say something and must pick your words very carefully.
People in today’s world are just angry. Some people use words to provoke anger in others. So much is said today that is not true, nor kind, nor necessary. But that does not mean humanity turns to killing, even though the words themselves may be flawed.
See how hate can spiral, like a tornado that rolls in and sweeps everyone and everything that isn’t grounded off to places where they never would have gone.
It is time for us to measure our words, to regulate our emotions and just pray. I was speaking with a person this week, so full of anger and threats, even expressing desire to do harm to others. I was at a loss to know what to say. To prepare for this kind of encounter we need to think up some simple, nonthreatening strategies.
When I run across another’s blatant hostility against immigrants, I usually lead with the idea that we are all immigrants. One time this didn’t work, the cancer was deeper than what was immediately visible. The conversation eventually can come around to the reality that we are a nation of immigrants, and immigrants have always been treated like unwanted trash. One group after another. Wouldn’t it be wonderful (and holy) if we did not assign a degree to the extent by which a person is made in the image of God? That every human is equally deserving of those basic human rights which are spoken of in our own Declaration of Independence? All humans...and yet even the signers of the Declaration looked the other way about the enslaved persons they owned.
Before October 7, 2023, I was working with an interfaith group hoping to address what polls showed to be an alarming rise of Islamophobia among members of the Catholic Church. After the attack, any such dialogue was put on hold. But the problem remains. We should do our best to put the mirror up to ourselves when we find (sometimes unexpectedly) cultural vestiges such as Islamophobia and antisemitism in ourselves. Hopefully the example will cause others to stop before they speak words without thinking. Once words have flown, you can’t get them back.
A Jewish theologian from Haifa spoke recently at our Nostra aetate at 60 Conference at Georgetown. She had an interesting perspective. She said that Jews, Muslims and Christians have lived together in the Holy Land for centuries, in peace. (There are neighborhoods around Jerusalem where this has been the case for centuries, such as the neighborhood where John the Baptist was born.) The conflict didn’t start in the Holy Land, she said, until all of the persecution, injustice and inhumanity in the West came home. The Holocaust, she said, was a western reality which shaped the current situation. It takes a long time for that kind of hatred to find peace. And yet we must try to bring peace to all these broken places, trusting that God’s will will result.
The Lord be with you,
Watch your mailbox! All registered parishioners will be receiving our Parish Renewal Handbook, Ministry Catalog and Annual Report. Please read it! We are celebrating Commitment Sunday this weekend. Please review the book and discover how you might get involved in parish life!
Bishop Burbidge has invited all parishes in the Diocese to participate in a Week of Service this coming November 9-15, Saint Bernadette Church will be partnering with Rise Against Hunger to purchase and pack 150k meals to support educational programs throughout the world. The cost of just one venti cup of coffee can provide 6 life-changing meals for a child! Please see page 12 of today’s bulletin and watch for more details and signup opportunities in the coming weeks. It Starts with a Meal.
The Knights of Columbus will be collecting donations for the Coats for Kids program this weekend and next weekend. Their goal is for no child to go without a coat during this winter season.
On November 4, Virginians will be selecting candidates for all 100 seats in the House of Delegates as well as for Governor, Lt. Governor and Attorney General. We will host a nonpartisan voter registration event after the 9am, 11am and before the 1pm Mass in Spanish next Sunday 21 September. The registration deadline for the general election is Friday, October 24. All materials will be bilingual.
Sunday, October 4 is Respect Life Sunday. Join us as we participate in the 38th annual Life Chain, praying and quietly standing in public witness to the sanctity of human life! Our parish meets at Key Middle School on Franconia Rd., 2pm.
On Saturday, October 4, bring your beloved pets for a special Blessing of the Animals in honor of Saint Francis’ feast day. We will meet at 10am in the front parking lot in front of the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes.
All couples celebrating a Golden or Silver Anniversary are invited to a Wedding Anniversaries Mass on Sunday, October 19, 2:30pm at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More. Please call the parish office to register no later than Monday, October 3.
Come as you are - you are welcome here! Walking with Purpose Women’s Bible Study ministry returns October 14 and 16 for a 22 week study. Please see today's bulletin page 7 for more information about the program and this years' theme "Touching the Divine"
Thank you to all who have responded to our request to reduce our parish envelope costs. If you are receiving offertory envelopes but don’t use them or no longer wish to receive them, please contact our parish office so that we can remove that service from your registration file. Remember Second and Special Collections can be done electronically through Faith Direct.
FAITH FORMATION
Living the Liturgical Year:
Please remember that the Confirmation kick-off meetings are this month! It is a mandatory meeting for both parents and children held at the church from 6:15-7:15pm. Confirmation 2027 kick-off will be on September 14 and Confirmation 2026 kick-off will be on September 28.
On September 23, we celebrate the feast day of St. Padre Pio of Pietrelcina. He started his service to the church as a 5 year-old altar server, eventually devoting his life to God at the age of 15 as a Capuchin Friar. He had a special relationship with his Guardian Angel, showing us that our Guardian Angels protect us and nudge us to do what is right. You can watch this video about St. Padre Pio with your children to help them learn about the saint: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLOIx_ux400. To honor St. Padre Pio, you can teach your children the Guardian Angel prayer:
Angel of God, my Guardian dear
To whom God’s love, commits me here.
Ever this day (night) be at my side,
To light and guard, to rule and guide.
Family Donut Social ~ Mark your calendars! Plan to join us Sunday, September 28, in the school cafeteria for fellowship, hospitality, and kids’ activities after the 9am Mass! Come visit with other parish families while you enjoy coffee, juice, and donuts while your children do some fun activities with volunteers!
Volunteers for 2025-2026 ~ As we prepare to plan for the upcoming Religious Education school year, please discern if you would like to help. We are in need of Lead Catechists and aides. If interested, please contact the Religious Education Office or fill out the Volunteer Form on the website. You will also find the QR Code at the bulletin board.
WOMEN'S MINISTRY
Come and enjoy warm fellowship and great food. No need to RSVP. For more information, please email us at women@stbernpar.org. Monday, October 13 is our next Dinner with Friends at 5pm, at Saratoga Pizzeria, 8050 Rolling Road. This casual meal is one of our normal dinners on the 1st the 3rd Monday of every
month.
Our next monthly meeting will be Tuesday, September 14 at 7pm in the Bradican Room. YOUTH MINISTRY
High School Socials
All high schoolers are invited to join us for Tuesday Socials every Tuesday from 7-8:30pm! Meet in the youth room (in the parish office) for games, ice cream, and a discussion on the faith.
All High schoolers are invited for dinner, games, a fellowship on Saturday, September 13. Meet in the Bradican room from 6-8:30pm!
All 9-12th grade boys are invited to join us for a bonfire, s’mores, and games on Thursday, September 25th from 7-8:30pm. Meet on the rectory patio. Contact JP McLaughlin for more information (JPMcLaughlin@stbernpar.org)
Daily Mass and Donuts - September 23 - All high schoolers are invited to take advantage of the FCPS student holiday and join us for 9am daily Mass, followed by donuts and fellowship in the youth room until 10:30.
Middle School Youth Ministry - our next gathering is 1 October
All 6th-8th graders are invited for games, snacks, and fun every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month! Meet in the school gym from 6:45-8pm.
To learn more about our middle and high school ministries,
please contact Grace Mee, gmee@stbernpar.org
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
Well, everybody, it is Commitment Sunday when we make a commitment to do something extra for parish life, and maybe give a little more to the offertory to help the parish keep up with the cost of living.
By the time I’m preparing this letter, I haven’t heard from anyone who has received their Parish Renewal Handbook, Ministry Catalog and Annual Report. Bulk mailing is frustrating. I can only ask that you read it when it comes (or look for the copy on the parish website with a link on the front page) and really think about what you might do in the coming year. Remember, the time for dating God and keeping our options open is over.
If your catalog and commitment card come, please fill out your card and drop it in the second collection. It also comes with a return envelope which is also very handy. If your packet doesn’t arrive until next week, please consider returning your offertory of prayer, time and treasure the following weekend.
Monday and Tuesday of this week I’m attending a national conference at Georgetown University about Nostra aetate. This 1965 (60th anniversary) constitution from Vatican II, the shortest of all, redefined our relationship with people of other religions, particularly Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Hindu people. It literally changed the way the Church is to look at people who are not baptized. All are made in the image of God, it says, and all persons require our respect, acceptance, and kindness. All persecution and hatred is not the Christian way.
Nostra aetate began as a document to redefine ourselves with the Jewish people. It condemned 2,000 years of persecution and derision that the Jewish people suffered from the Christian churches, mostly the Catholic Church. The Jewish people are not to be blamed for the death of Jesus, and are to be considered the older brothers and sisters they truly are. It says, basically, that God does not make mistakes and therefore has not withdrawn his covenant with them. It leaves still a lot of questions which need to be worked out by sincere dialogue, but it was a start for healing.
The way dialogue begins is when we connect as human beings. The relationship has to be the beginning, because dialogue has to arise out of authentic concern for another. Getting to know each other, differences are not impediments to friendship, and frank, honest conversations can happen. Too often we enter into dialogue with others because we want to say something about ourselves: you must do so to hear something about them.
The keynote speakers and panels were very interesting. One priest who has been working with Jewish Catholic dialogue for three decades said the light finally went on for him when he was told by a rabbi that their dialogue didn’t work because of his arrogance. “You looked down on us for 2,000 years... and now you have decided to recognize me as an equal... and determine the terms by which we do this? What arrogance!” He continued about how it might be better to start with a conversation about what both people in the dialogue might expect or hope to accomplish, to attain an outcome that would be meaningful for all.
Today (Monday) was all about the Jewish-Catholic relationship. Tomorrow will be Islam and the Dharmic Traditions (Hindu and Buddhist).
Did I tell you? We will host our Burke-Springfield Interfaith Thanksgiving Prayer Service on Tuesday, November 25. Please, mark your calendars!
This Wednesday 41 pilgrims and I will start our pilgrimage in the steps of Saint Paul. We won’t be making the trip in the exact sequence as Saint Paul, and I’m pretty sure he didn’t travel on Celebrity Infinity. But we will be visiting the places he visited: Corinth, Athens, Crete, Ephesus, Thessaloniki, and Philippi. And, since we have gone all that way, we are going to add Mykonos, Santorini, and of course Istanbul.
It’s a pilgrimage and when we go we take all your intentions with us at Mass in all these remarkable holy places. If you would like me to celebrate a Mass for your intention, please contact Janet in the office. Τα λέμε σύντομα (See you soon!)
The Lord be with you,