Latest Announcements
Please subscribe to receive email notifications of announcements and other parish events.
Celebrating the Christmas Season
Dec 24 - CHRISTMAS EVE VIGIL MASSES
4:30pm, 8:30pm (preceded by Choir Prelude at 4 and 8pm)
Midnight Mass • 12am (preceded by Choir Prelude of Carols at 11:15pm)
Dec 25 - CHRISTMAS DAY MASSES
Midnight Mass
7, 9, 11am & 1pm (en español)
Note: There is NO 5pm Mass
Dec 28 - FEAST of the HOLY FAMILY
Regular Saturday Vigil / Sunday schedule
Jan 1 - MARY, MOTHER of GOD
(IS a Holy Day of Obligation this year)
Regular Holy Day schedule: Wednesday, Vigil 7:30pm
Thursday, 7 & 9am, Noon, 7:30pm (bilingual)
Jan 4 - EPIPHANY of the LORD
Regular Saturday Vigil / Sunday schedule
Jan 11 - The BAPTISM of the LORD
The Christmas season ends today with our regular Saturday Vigil / Sunday schedule
Mark your calendars NOW - our Parish Advent Penance Service is December 16 at 6:30pm, your best bet for Reconciliation before Christmas.
Everyone is encouraged to participate in our Parish Bake Sale this weekend, December 13-14 by contributing baked goods, helping with setup and cleanup, or shopping during the sale. Baked goods should be dropped off in the church vestibule starting Saturday December 13 after 9am. All proceeds support our Capital Campaign.
The Springfield Council of the Knights of Columbus will be selling Christmas trees in the lower parking lot from November 29 through December 20. Please support the charitable work of the Council by purchasing your tree from the Knights. The lot is open from 5pm to 9pm on weekdays and 9am to 9pm on weekends. The Knights of Columbus are also selling Christmas cards after each Mass the weekends of November 22-23 and 29-30. Proceeds will support WorkCamp and the Saint Bernadette School. You may contact Mike Candalor at mcandalor@cox.net to get information or arrange another opportunity to view/purchase cards.
Please keep in your giving plans for the holidays the annual Catholic Charities’ Christmas Collection this weekend, December 13/14 which provides a large portion of the annual budget for diocesan charitable works.
No Taizé this Month. We will resume next month, Monday, January 19th at 8pm in the Church. Please plan to join us!
Please join us for our annual Filipino celebration of Simbang Gabi, Saturday, December 20 at 7pm - a reception will follow in the school gym.
FAITH FORMATION
Living the Liturgical Year:
Happy 3rd week of Advent! This Sunday we celebrate Gaudete Sunday. It is the only Sunday we light the rose or pink candle. “Gaudete” means “rejoice!” The pink candle on the Advent Wreath is known as the shepherd’s candle. It represents the “joy” that the shepherds experienced when they received the news about Christ’s birth.
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:
Sunday Donut Social: Dec. 14 after 9am Mass
Regular classes: Dec. 16-17, resuming Jan. 6-7
Family Faith Formation: Jan. 11
SPRED Classes: Jan. 10 and 24
Family Mass Learning: Jan. 10-11 after every 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.
Tuesday, December 16 is our next Dinner with Friends at 5pm, at Saratoga Pizzeria, 8050 Rolling Road. We meet for this casual meal on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays.
YOUTH MINISTRY
High School 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.
Christmas Saturday Dinner - December 13th - All High schoolers are invited for dinner, gingerbread house making, Christmas Caroling, and fellowship. Meet in the Bradican Room from 6-8:30pm!
Volunteers for High School Program - We are looking for adults who share a deep passion for their Faith and want to help disciple high school teens. All adult volunteers must be VIRTUS certified and undergo a background check. If you are interested, contact JP McLaughlin at jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org.
All highschoolers are welcome to an overnight retreat at Summit Lake in Emmitsburg, MD, January 30 - February 1. We are in collaboration with the youth ministries of St. Leo’s and Our Lady of Good Counsel. Registration has opened. Please visit our website to register for the retreat. For any inquiries, contact JP McLaughlin at jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org
Work Camp 2026 registration is open - Please visit our website to register for Work Camp. Our second interest meeting for teens and adults who might want to attend Work Camp is on January 15, 7-8:15 pm in the Cafeteria. For inquiries, contact Matthew Frey matthew_c_frey@yahoo.com or JP McLaughlin at jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org for any inquiries.
Middle School Youth Ministry
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.
YOUNG ADULTS Group
All young adults ages 18-35 are invited to a Christmas Caroling night on Saturday, December 20 at 6pm. After the 5pm vigil Mass, we will meet in the vestibule, and then go to Carrleigh Pkwy. For any questions, contact JP McLaughlin at jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org Looking to join the Saint Bernadette’s Young Adults? Scan the QR code at the left to request to join the Saint Bernadette Young Adults Group Chat.
Looking to join the Saint Bernadette’s Young Adults? Scan the QR code to join the Saint Bernadette Young Adults Group Chat.
To learn more about our middle and high school ministries,
please contact JP McLaughlin jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org, or Grace Mee, gmee@stbernpar.org
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
Advent waiting and reflection is a Christian practice of preparing for Christ’s coming by actively waiting with hope, peace, joy, and love, focusing on both the historical birth of Jesus (Christmas) and his future return. It is a movement from “something to something more” by finding God’s presence in the “not yet” through prayer, stillness, and awareness of his signs in our lives, even amid personal longing and uncertainty. It’s a disciplined, active anticipation, not passive waiting, that slows life down to notice the miraculous in the ordinary and embrace the “already and not yet” of God’s kingdom.
Henri Nouwen says Advent is not like waiting for a bus to arrive. Rather, “it is an active waiting in which we live the present moment to the full, in order to find there the signs of the One we are waiting for.”
It was not always so. The history of the season is a wonderful study in the evolution of liturgy in service to the life of the Church.
When I teach classes on the liturgical year, my first question usually is, “What was the first and most important liturgical celebration of the Church?” Usually people get this one. Easter. Without the resurrection of Jesus, there would be no point to anything else.
“What is the second most important?” This is a trick question of sorts because people always say Christmas. Actually the second most important feast in the Church is called “Sunday.” What Easter is to the year, Sunday is to the week.
Christmas was first formally recorded as December 25, 336AD in the Roman Empire, although local observances might have begun as early as the second century, with traditions evolving from pagan winter festivals, a gradual development until formally proclaimed in the fourth century. The celebration of Christ’s birth formerly was observed at Epiphany, not his birth itself, but his being made known to the Gentiles, us.
In the beginning, everything was about Jesus’ resurrection! And truly, that is all we need. But we love to contextualize all the things we know about Jesus’ life and work throughout the year.
What is today celebrated as the Sacred Triduum (Holy Thursday, Good Friday and Holy Saturday/Easter Vigil) has always been a linear observance of the passion, death and resurrection of Jesus. It was also the time of the catechumenate, the time when people prayed and discerned the desire to be baptized. Imagine - only three days. Adults became convinced of this desire, and after baptism learned all they needed to know to be Christian.
With Easter on the calendar, the Church then observed Pentecost, 50 days after the resurrection, when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and the Church was born. It coincided with the Jewish grain harvest festival Shavuot, or Feast of Weeks, 50 days after Passover. It was nine days before Pentecost that Jesus ascended into heaven, and the original novena of Pentecost was observed as the Apostles, at Jesus’ instruction prayed to learn what to do after Jesus ascended.
The 40 days resulting resonated with the Tradition: Israel’s wandering for 40 years in the desert, Jesus’ 40 days in the desert after his baptism preparing for public life, 40 days of Noah’s flood, Nineveh’s 40 days of repentance. Lent’s 40 days represent a significant period of preparation and transformation.
When Christianity became legal by the emperor Constantine in 313AD, so many more people sought baptism that a second baptism celebration came to be practiced at Epiphany, the other major feast at the time, requiring a second period for the catechumenate. At first, it was another 40 days of fasting and prayer called “St. Martin’s Lent” beginning on the feast of St. Martin, Nov. 11. By the 6th century, it became linked to the coming of Christ, initially focusing on his second coming (remember, the Feast of Christ the King wasn’t established until the 20th century by Pope Pius XI). Over time, the focus shifted to encompass the anticipation of both Christ’s first coming (birth) and his final return, becoming the four-week season of preparation we know today. The word “Advent” itself means the arrival of a notable person, thing, or event. It was formalized to four Sundays in Rome in the ninth century.
The Lord be with you,
Mark your calendars NOW - our Parish Advent Penance Service is December 16 at 6:30pm, your best bet for Reconciliation before Christmas.
Everyone is encouraged to participate in our Parish Bake Sale December 13-14 by contributing baked goods, helping with setup and cleanup, or shopping during the sale. Baked goods should be dropped off in the church vestibule starting Saturday December 13 after 9am. All proceeds support our Capital Campaign.
Saturday, December 6, from 8 to 11 AM we will have our traditional Breakfast with Santa in the school cafeteria. Join us for a tasty breakfast and take a picture with Santa, bid on classroom trees, and visit our Christmas shop for kids.
All women are invited to an Advent Evening of Reflection on December 6, from 7-9 pm in the school Gym. This event is free, and registrations are not required, but greatly appreciated. Watch the bulletin for more information.
The Springfield Council of the Knights of Columbus will be selling Christmas trees in the lower parking lot from November 29 through December 20. Please support the charitable work of the Council by purchasing your tree from the Knights. The lot is open from 5pm to 9pm on weekdays and 9am to 9pm on weekends. The Knights of Columbus are also selling Christmas cards after each Mass the weekends of November 22-23 and 29-30. Proceeds will support WorkCamp and the Saint Bernadette School. You may contact Mike Candalor at mcandalor@cox.net to get information or arrange another opportunity to view/purchase cards.
Please keep in your giving plans for the holidays the annual Catholic Charities’ Christmas Collection December 13/14 which provides a large portion of the annual budget for diocesan charitable works.
Friday December 12th we will celebrate Our Virgin of Guadalupe Mass starting with a procession from the Grotto at 6:30pm, followed by bilingual Mass and reception in the Bradican Rm.
No Taizé this Month. We will resume next month, Monday, January 19th at 8pm in the Church. Please plan to join us!
FAITH FORMATION
Living the Liturgical Year:
Happy 2nd week of Advent! This week we celebrate several Marian feasts. On December 8, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is Mary’s conception in the womb of St. Anne without her soul free from original sin. It is a Holy Day of Obligation. On December 10, we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Loreto. The title is linked to a small house in Loreto, Italy which some believe was Mary’s birthplace and was moved from Nazareth. The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, is celebrated on December 12. This is when the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Juan Diego. You can find suggestions here https://catholicprintableclub.com/how-to-celebrate-the-feast-of-the-immaculate-conception-with-kids/ to celebrate the Marian feasts.
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:
No classes : Dec. 23-24, 30-31
Family Faith Formation : Dec. 7 (2:30-4:45pm)
Sunday Donut Social : Dec. 15 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.
Tuesday, December 16 is our next Dinner with Friends at 5pm, at Saratoga Pizzeria, 8050 Rolling Road. We meet for this casual meal on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays.
Our next monthly meeting will be Tuesday, December 9 at 7pm in the Bradican Room. We have two activities this month. First is the white elephant gift exchange. Bring something inexpensive and fun. We will also have a cookie exchange. Bring a dozen cookies to share and go home with a different assortment of a dozen cookies. Come join our fun and fellowship.
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.
Our first of two Work Camp interest meetings will be on December 7 from 6:15 to 7:30 PM in the Bradican Room. All adults and teens are welcome to come to learn more about Work Camp and the many ways you can volunteer. Contact Matthew Frey matthew_c_frey@yahoo.com or JP McLaughlin at jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org for any inquiries.
Christmas Saturday Dinner - December 13th - All High schoolers are invited for dinner, gingerbread house making, Christmas Caroling, and fellowship. Meet in the Bradican Room from 6-8:30pm!
Volunteers for High School Program - We are looking for adults who share a deep passion for their Faith and want to help disciple high school teens. All adult volunteers must be VIRTUS certified and undergo a background check. If you are interested, contact JP McLaughlin at jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org.
All highschoolers are welcome to an overnight retreat at Summit Lake in Emmitsburg, MD, January 30 - February 1. We are in collaboration with the youth ministries of St. Leo’s and Our Lady of Good Counsel. Registration has opened. Please visit our website to register for the retreat. For any inquiries, contact JP McLaughlin at jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org
Middle School Youth Ministry
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.
YOUNG ADULTS! Group
Looking to join the Saint Bernadette’s Young Adults? Scan the QR code at the left to request to join the Saint Bernadette Young Adults Group Chat.
To learn more about our middle and high school ministries,
please contact JP McLaughlin jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org, or Grace Mee, gmee@stbernpar.org
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
In his homily last weekend (First Sunday of Advent) in Istanbul, Pope Leo used the metaphor of the three bridges that span the Bosporus Strait and unite two continents: Asia and Europe. He explains, “Their triple span across the Strait reminds us of the importance of our common efforts to build bridges of unity on three levels: within the community, in ecumenical relations with members of other Christian denominations, and in our encounters with brothers and sisters belonging to other religions. Taking care of these three bonds, strengthening and expanding them in every way possible, is part of our vocation to be a city set on a hill (cf. Mt 5:14-16).
“The first bond of unity that I just mentioned is the one within this Church, which in this country consists of four different liturgical traditions — Latin, Armenian, Chaldean and Syriac. Each one contributes its own spiritual, historical and ecclesial richness. The sharing of these differences clearly demonstrate one of the most beautiful features of the face of the Bride of Christ: a catholicity that unites. The unity that binds us together around the altar is a gift from God. As such, it is strong and invincible, because it is the work of his grace. At the same time, however, realization of this unity in time is entrusted to us, to our efforts. For this reason, like the bridges over the Bosporus, unity needs care, attention and “maintenance,” so that its foundations remain solid and are not weakened by time and vicissitudes. With our eyes turned to the promised mountain, an image of the Heavenly Jerusalem, which is our destination and mother (cf. Gal 4:26), let us make every effort, then, to foster and strengthen the bonds that unite us, so that we may enrich one another and be a credible sign before the world of the Lord’s universal and infinite love.
“The second bond of unity that this liturgy suggests is ecumenism. This is also attested to by the presence of Representatives of other Christian Confessions, whom I warmly greet. Indeed, the same faith in Jesus our Savior unites not only those of us within the Catholic Church, but all our brothers and sisters belonging to other Christian Churches. We experienced this yesterday in our prayer at İznik. This too is a path along which we have been walking together for some time. Saint John XXIII, who was connected to this land by profound ties of mutual affection, was a great promoter of, and witness to, ecumenical communion. Therefore, while we ask in the words of Pope John that “the great mystery of that unity which Christ Jesus asked of the Heavenly Father with ardent prayers on the eve of his sacrifice may be accomplished” (Opening Address of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council, October 11, 1962, 8.2), we renew today our “yes” to unity, “that they may all be one” (Jn 17:21), ut unum sint.
“The third bond of unity, to which the word of God calls us, is that with members of non-Christian communities. We live in a world where religion is too often used to justify wars and atrocities. As the Second Vatican Council declared, however, “the attitude of human beings towards God the Father and that of a human being towards his fellow men and women are so closely connected that Scripture says: ‘Whoever does not love does not know God’ (1 Jn 4:8)” (Declaration Nostra aetate, 5). Therefore, we want to walk together by appreciating what unites us, breaking down the walls of prejudice and mistrust, promoting mutual knowledge and esteem in order to give to all a strong message of hope and an invitation to become “peacemakers” (Mt 5:9).
“Dear friends, let us make these values our resolutions for the season of Advent and even more so for our personal and communal life. We journey as if on a bridge that connects earth to Heaven, a bridge that the Lord has built for us. Let us always keep our eyes fixed on both shores, so that we may love God and our brothers and sisters with all our hearts in order to journey together and find ourselves one day united in the house of the Father.”
I am reminded of Jesus’ words in today’s Gospel (Monday, Dec. 1): “I say to you, many will come from the east and the west, and will recline with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the Kingdom of heaven.”
The Lord be with you,
Mark your calendars NOW - our Parish Advent Penance Service is December 16 at 6:30pm, your best bet for Reconciliation before Christmas.
Please join us at our Senior Luncheon on Friday, December 5th, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM for some Christmas hospitality! This year’s theme celebrates Family Christmas Traditions. Bring along an ornament to hang on our community tree and a
few of your favorite cookies to share in our cookie exchange. Seating in the Bradican Room is limited — we can accommodate the first 50 responses, so be sure to reserve your spot early. Mark your calendars — we look forward to celebrating the
season together!
Saturday, December 6, from 8 to 11 AM we will have our traditional Breakfast with Santa in the school cafeteria. Join us for a tasty breakfast and take a picture with Santa, bid on classroom trees, and visit our Christmas shop for kids.
All women are invited to an Advent Evening of Reflection on December 6, from 7-9 pm in the school Gym. This event is free, and registrations are not required, but greatly appreciated. Watch the bulletin for more information.
The Springfield Council of the Knights of Columbus will be selling Christmas trees in the lower parking lot from November 29 through December 20. Please support the charitable work of the Council by purchasing your tree from the Knights.
The lot is open from 5pm to 9pm on weekdays and 9am to 9pm on weekends. The Knights of Columbus are also selling Christmas cards after each Mass the weekends of November 22-23 and 29-30. Proceeds will support WorkCamp and the Saint
Bernadette School. You may contact Mike Candalor at mcandalor@cox.net to get information or arrange another opportunity to view/purchase cards.
Please keep in your giving plans for the holidays the annual Catholic Charities’ Christmas Collection December 13/14 which provides a large portion of the annual budget for diocesan charitable works.
Friday December 12th we will celebrate Our Virgin of Guadalupe Mass starting with a procession from the Grotto at 6:30pm, followed by bilingual Mass and reception in the Bradican Rm.
All young adults ages 18-35 are invited to coffee and conversation on Sunday, November 30th, after the 9am Mass. We will meet at Tous les Jours right after Mass.
FAITH FORMATION
Living the Liturgical Year:
Happy Advent! November 30 starts the season of Advent, which marks the beginning of a new Liturgical Year. There are three lectionary cycles; A, B, or C and are based around readings from the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke. This year, we return back to Cycle A. There are many things that we can do to help prepare ourselves for the coming of Jesus during Advent. Create a Jesse Tree with your children and teach them about salvation history from Creation to the Birth of Jesus. https://www.catholicinspired.com/post/printable-jesse-tree-ornaments-free-and-easy Or an Advent Wreath that you can light weekly, reflect on the candle with scripture and a weekly prayer. https://www.dynamiccatholic.com/advent/advent-wreath-prayers.html
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: Dec. 2-3, 9-10, 16-17.
No classes: Nov. 25-26, Dec. 23-24
SPRED class: Dec. 6
Family Faith Formation: Dec. 7
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.
NOTE CHANGE IN DAY: Tuesday, December 2 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 Tuesday of every month.
Our next monthly meeting will be Tuesday, December 9 at 7pm in the Bradican Room. We have two activities this month. First is the white elephant gift exchange. Bring something inexpensive and fun. We will also have a cookie exchange. Bring a dozen cookies to share and go home with a different assortment of a dozen cookies. Come join our fun and fellowship.
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.
Our first of two Work Camp interest meetings will be on December 7 from 6:15 to 7:30 PM in the Bradican Room. All adults and teens are welcome to come to learn more about Work Camp and the many ways you can volunteer. Contact Matthew Frey matthew_c_frey@yahoo.com or JP McLaughlin at jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org for any inquiries.
Middle School Youth Ministry
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.
YOUNG ADULTS! Group
All young adults ages 18-35 are invited to coffee and conversation on Sunday, November 30th, after the 9am Mass. We will meet at Tous les Jours - 9278A Old Keene Mill Rd, Burke, VA. Contact JP McLaughlin at jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org for any questions.
To learn more about our middle and high school ministries,
please contact JP McLaughlin jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org, or Grace Mee, gmee@stbernpar.org
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
The Lord be with you,
Mark your calendars NOW - our Parish Advent Penance Service is December 16 at 6:30pm, your best bet for Reconciliation before Christmas.
Please plan to join us for the 42nd Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Prayer Service on Tuesday, November 25 at 7pm. Saint Bernadette will host the event. Interested volunteers are invited to contact the parish office. Details are on page 9 of today’s bulletin.
There will be only one Mass at 10 am on Thanksgiving Day. To thank God for the many blessings in our lives, please help those experiencing food insecurity by bringing non-perishable food items to Mass, to be brought up to the altar at the offertory procession. All donations will benefit the Catholic Charities St. Lucy Food Project.
Please join us at our Senior Luncheon on Friday, December 5th, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM for some Christmas hospitality! This year’s theme celebrates Family Christmas Traditions. Bring along an ornament to hang on our community tree and a few of your favorite cookies to share in our cookie exchange. Seating in the Bradican Room is limited — we can accommodate the first 50 responses, so be sure to reserve your spot early. Mark your calendars — we look forward to celebrating the season together!
All women are invited to an Advent Evening of Reflection on December 6, from 7-9 pm in the school Gym. This event is free, and registrations are not required, but greatly appreciated. Watch the bulletin for more information.
The Springfield Council of the Knights of Columbus will be selling Christmas trees in the lower parking lot from November 29 through December 20. Please support the charitable work of the Council by purchasing your tree from the Knights. The lot is open from 5pm to 9pm on weekdays and 9am to 9pm on weekends. The Knights of Columbus are also selling Christmas cards after each Mass the weekends of November 22-23 and 29-30. Proceeds will support WorkCamp and the Saint Bernadette School. You may contact Mike Candalor at mcandalor@cox.net to get information or arrange another opportunity to view/purchase cards.
All young adults ages 18-35 are invited to coffee and conversation on Sunday, November 30th, after the 9am Mass. We will meet at Tous les Jours right after Mass.
+ Mark your calendars for these upcoming dates!
Advent Lessons and Carols, Friday, December 5, 7:30pm in the church
Breakfast with Santa, Saturday, December 6 at 8am
Parish Bake Sale, December 13 – 14. Contribute baked goods, help with setup and cleanup, or shop!
FAITH FORMATION
Living the Liturgical Year:
On November 23, we celebrate the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe (also known as Christ the King Sunday). We celebrate this feast because we recognize Jesus Christ as king in all aspects of our lives. It occurs on the last Sunday of the Liturgical Year. The feast was established by Pope Pius XI in 1925 to counter the rising tide of secularism, atheism, and political totalitarianism. You can celebrate by having a “royal feast” for your Sunday supper.
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: Dec. 2-3, 9-10, 16-17.
No classes: Nov. 25-26, Dec. 23-24
SPRED class: Dec. 6
Family Faith Formation: Dec. 7
Sunday Donut Social: Nov. 23 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.
NOTE CHANGE IN DAY: Tuesday, December 2 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 Tuesday of every month.
Our next monthly meeting will be Tuesday, December 9 at 7pm in the Bradican Room. We have two activities this month. First is the white elephant gift exchange. Bring something inexpensive and fun. We will also have a cookie exchange. Bring a dozen cookies to share and go home with a different assortment of a dozen cookies. Come join our fun and fellowship.
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.
Our first of two Work Camp interest meetings will be on December 7 from 6:15 to 7:30 PM in the Bradican Room. All adults and teens are welcome to come to learn more about Work Camp and the many ways you can volunteer. Contact Matthew Frey matthew_c_frey@yahoo.com or JP McLaughlin at jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org for any inquiries.
Middle School Youth Ministry
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.
YOUNG ADULTS! Group
All young adults ages 18-35 are invited to coffee and conversation on Sunday, November 30th, after the 9am Mass. We will meet at Tous les Jours - 9278A Old Keene Mill Rd, Burke, VA. Contact JP McLaughlin at jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org for any questions.
To learn more about our middle and high school ministries,
please contact JP McLaughlin jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org, or Grace Mee, gmee@stbernpar.org
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
“The Lord comes to rule the earth with justice.”
The liturgical year ends this week and the new year of grace 2026 begins next weekend with the First Sunday of Advent. It is a time for all of us to take an inventory of the past year and consider how we will stand before the Lord, Christ the King, on the last day, the time of judgement when the Lord will come to rule the earth with justice. I thought I might explore further this theme from my homily last week.
Justice is the physical manifestation of truth. It is the right thing to do, not because of opinion or poll, but because it conforms with what is objectively true. It is the basis of judgement. Justice is the thing twisted by the proud and evildoers of this world to confuse, to deny universality of truth: How can “my truth” and “your truth” be contradictory? “My justice” must be the same as “your justice” because they are determined by a transcending reality of what is true, and good, and beautiful.
Saint Thomas Aquinas says that religion is a practical part of the virtue of justice: it is only right to praise, to give thanks to God. It is the right thing to do. It opened my heart to think of justice as a real thing, not just a feeling of fairness or unfairness.
As I said in my homily last weekend, we grapple with so many predictions and examples given in Sacred Scripture about the end times, and we can obsess about it, losing our peace. As a child, my family was not healthy, anxious about the last days. You can forget who is in charge (God) and whose beloved creation we are (God is love). Jesus says all of this is give us the opportunity to give our testimony. He quickly says that we are not to worry about what we are going to say, he has it covered. He will give us the words and the right time to say them. Do not worry; not a hair of your head will be destroyed.
I saw this new vision with all of your generosity for our Rise Against Hunger parish work of mercy. I witnessed your testimony. So much goodness, so much family.
I saw the opposite, perhaps the solution for this preoccupation with the end of the world. I looked out at all of you in the gym for meal packing seven shifts and I saw you, the heavenly Jerusalem. “One Body, one Spirit in Christ.” Remember, the Kingdom of God is both already and not yet. We are already able to live the life beyond the tribulations. 34 event staff volunteers, 789 parishioner volunteers, many working more than one shift, living the Kingdom.
Two shifts of students in the school, 472 in all, including PreK and kindergartners who labeled several thousand bags to receive the food. Our SPRED, or special religious education kids – staff in school and in the parish, our friends at Greenspring who labeled nearly 10,000 bags. already living the Kingdom.
We purchased and produced 175,000 meals which will run a school lunch program in Timor Leste for kids who actually will get an education because they come to school knowing there will be food. They can discover a hunger for learning because their hunger for food is satisfied.
So we can focus on the mess – and our world is certainly a real mess – but you filled my heart with hope and a vision that we have found a way not to be indifferent to those in need, and at the same time be able to see beyond the limits of this troubled world. Living in the moment, caring, but also living beyond it.
At that moment of judgement and justice, Jesus said whatever you do for the least of these, my brothers and sisters, you have done for me.
I want to give special thanks to all of you who made heaven present for a couple of rare days as we united over a common goal of feeding the hungry. We are especially grateful to our parish and volunteer event staff whose dedication and hard work organizing and executing Rise Against Hunger. We give particular thanks to Rick Caporali, Melba Padilla, Jean Corday, Sharon Hanson, Terri Moran, Karen Meyer, Amy Wade, and all those who played key roles in fundraising, logistics and feeding the team! It is great to work with you!
The Lord be with you,
Join us for Taizé Prayer Service on Monday, November 17, at 8 pm. Come pray for unity in our community and the world. All are invited.
Please plan to join us for the 42nd Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Prayer Service on Tuesday, November 25 at 7pm. Saint Bernadette will host the event. Interested volunteers are invited to contact the parish office. Details are on page 9 of today’s bulletin.
Keep Christ in Christmas! The Knights of Columbus will be selling Christmas cards in the vestibule after all Masses the weekends of November 22-23 and November 29-30. You may inquire at the office to get more information or arrange another opportunity to view/purchase cards.
There will be only one Mass at 10 am on Thanksgiving Day. To thank God for the many blessings in our lives, please help those experiencing food insecurity by bringing non-perishable food items to Mass, to be brought up to the altar at the offertory procession. All donations will benefit the Catholic Charities St. Lucy Food Project.
All new families who have registered in the parish since September are invited to our first Discover Saint Bernadette Information session on Sunday, November 16 following the 9am Mass. Learn from our Ministry Leaders what makes Saint Bernadette special. A Q and A will follow the brief presentation. Please plan to join us.
All women are invited to an Advent Evening of Reflection on December 7, from 7-9 pm in the school Gym. This event is free, and registrations are not required, but greatly appreciated. Watch the bulletin for more information.
All high school boys are invited to a fun night of trivia this Thursday, November 20th at 7pm in the Youth Room. Please see the bulletin for details.
All young adults ages 18-35 are invited to coffee and conversation on Sunday, November 30th, after the 9am Mass. We will meet at Tous les Jours right after Mass.
+ Mark your calendars for these upcoming dates!
42nd Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Prayer Service, Tuesday, November 25 at 7pm
Thanksgiving Day Mass, Thursday, November 27, please bring non-perishable food items to Mass, 10am"
Advent Day of Reflection, SAVE THE DATE, Saturday, December 6, 2025, 7- 9pm
Breakfast with Santa, Saturday, December 6 at 8am
Parish Bake Sale, December 13 – 14. Contribute baked goods, help with setup and cleanup, or shop!
FAITH FORMATION
Living the Liturgical Year:
On November 21, we celebrate the Feast of the Presentation of Mary. St. Joachim and St. Anne had taken her to the temple to consecrate her to God when she was 3 years old. This is in part of thanksgiving to God. Before Mary’s birth, her parents received a message from God that they would bear a child in their old age. We celebrate this feast because it is one of the key events of the life of Mary. It emphasizes the holiness that was given to Mary from the beginning of her life on earth to her childhood and into adulthood when said “yes” to God. You can learn more about the feast at this link: https://fiercelycatholic.com/virgin-mary/presentation-of-mary/
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:
No classes: Nov. 25-26, Dec. 23-24
Regular classes: Nov. 18-19, Dec. 2-3, 9-10, 16-17
SPRED classes: Nov. 22, Dec. 6
Family Faith Formation: Dec. 7
Sunday Donut Social: Dec. 14 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.
NOTE CHANGE IN DAY: Tuesday, November 18 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 Tuesday 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.
All high school boys are welcome to attend a fun trivia night on Thursday, November 20th, 7-8:30 pm in the youth room. Please contact JP McLaughlin jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org if you have questions.
Middle School Youth Ministry
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 JP McLaughlin jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org, or Grace Mee, gmee@stbernpar.org
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
As you know, I often muse about what sticks in my head from week to week. This week I continue to reflect on a conference I attended this past week at Georgetown University, entitled “Nostra aetate and Muslim-Catholic Relations.” This is what is in my mind.
I’ve written about Nostra aetate before. This was the apostolic constitution that was prepared for the second Vatican Council in the 1960s about the relationship between the Church and people who are unbaptized. It clearly proclaims that we do not reject anything that is consistent with the teachings of Jesus when they are found in other religions, even if they are unaware that this connection exists. All people are made in God’s own image and likeness - not just Catholics - and it is our job to find Jesus in them whether they know him or not, and honor them with reverence. The respect we hold for them as sisters and brothers will bring the healing so badly needed in our world today.
Well, this conference was, for me, a revelation. A professor at Notre Dame, Ebrahim Moosa, gave a talk that might have been the most moving talk I have ever heard. Some of it was hard for my western ears to hear.
He began with the concepts of dignity, justice and peace. He quoted the Qu’ran, surah 2.62: “And the Christians and the Sabians, any who believe in Allah and the Last Day, and work righteousness, shall have their reward, with the Lord: on them shall be no fear, for shall they grieve.”
Allah, by the way, is the all merciful God who, same as the God of Israel, was the author of life and truth.
This is what Dr. Moosa spoke: The Catholic document Nostra aetate was the Catholic Church’s badly-needed response to the Shoah, the great holocaust of the Jewish people in World War II which was the result of centuries of antisemitism. The Catholic Church had an obligation not to remain silent in the face of such hatred.
Both Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV have described the current global situation as a series of interconnected, localized conflicts that constitute a single, all-out war.They call it “the third world war fought piecemeal.”
Regional rivalries yield global indifference, he says, even assistance. Think about Ukraine, Gaza, Sudan. Life is lost regardless of nation or creed.
Dr. Moosa continues. This “post-war humanitarianism” allows the rest of the world to change moral obligation into sentimentality. Suffering, into moral spectacle. Prophetic justice into redemptive pity, declaring evil to being limited to the past, not today. “How terrible,” we say, but nothing is done.
Post-war humanitarianism de-politicizes outrage. Justice is reduced to empathy; history, to therapy. Do we consider what structures of power still allow this injustice?
True dialogue, he says, cannot be impersonal politeness. We cannot simply co-exist without compromise.
Dr. Moosa continued with an explanation of the Muslim understanding of God which is different. He said for Christians, God is love. For Muslims, God is mercy. Love follows obedience: love is the fruit of discipline, not the starting point.
When confronted with global migration, economic instability, planetary fragility — the moral force must speak justice, which has inevitable impact on reality.
He ended with a quote of Pope Francis in Fratelli tutti with regard of the state of the world today. Don’t miss the remarkable witness he gives, Muslims in a precarious relationship Jews and antisemitism. Pope Francis says, “Pray for the grace to be ashamed of what we have done.” Do not underestimate the abyss of evil at the heart of war.
This was the seminal message of Vatican II, the role of the Church in the world. People of faith must live the faith. This was the lens of social justice teaching with Pope Leo XIII, probably the reason that our beloved pope took the same name as Leo XIV. Dialogue cannot be marginal nicety. Faith and love are performative. It must be a dialogue of ACTION. In the end, belief and worship are good, but not enough. Our internal conversion must become the light of the world.
The Lord be with you,