Latest Announcements
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For the next four weeks, join Fr. Don at noon on Sundays in the Bradican Room for faith250 in preparation for our nation’s 250th anniversary. See the bulletin for details.
Join us for our monthly (third Monday) Taizé Prayer Service on Monday night, January 19, 8 - 8:45pm. Come for a peaceful moment of simple song and silence and pray for Christian Unity.
Saint Bernadette School will celebrate the start of Catholic Schools Week with an Open House being held on Sunday January 25, Noon until 1pm. See what Saint Bernadette School has to offer
your family.
All adult parishioners who have volunteered in the past several years are invited to come to our Night of Stars - Saturday, 31 January, 6:30-11pm. Join us for an evening dinner, drinks and
dancing to the music of the Andrew Thielen Big Band of North Myrtle Beach. This is an opportunity to recognize and appreciate the work of parish volunteers. Please note this event is a
seated dinner event, doors open at 6:30pm with pre-event hospitality followed by dinner at 7pm. RSVP required to Evelyn.
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.
The 2026 Bishop’s Lenten Appeal mailing was recently sent to parishioners. The 2026 them is “In Christ We Are One”, which reminds us of this great theological virtue that is rooted in Jesus Christ and the victory he won for us. You can make a gift at www.arlingtondiocese.org/bla. Please indicate you are a parishioner here and it will count toward our parish goal of $ 582,000.
FAITH FORMATION
Living the Liturgical Year:
We celebrate the feast day of St. Agnes on January 21. Her name means “Lamb of
God.” You can find suggestions for activities you can do with your children here: https://catholicprintableclub.com/how-to-celebrate-the-feast-of-st-agnes-january-21/
We will hold a First Holy Communion parent information meeting on Jan. 20-21 from 6:15-7pm in the Bradican Room, for the 2nd year FHC, SPOC2 and MS/HS students receiving the
sacrament in the Spring of 2026. School parents are invited to attend.
During January, the parish will have a donation drive for baby supplies for Catholic Charities Migrant and Refugee Services. Items will be collected in the church vestibule. We will publish a list
of items requested by MRS in a few weeks. All parishioners are encouraged to donate. See today's bulletin for details.
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 http://stbernpar.org/religious-education-volunteers/.
Upcoming Religious Education Activities
Regular Classes: Jan. 20-21, 27 (no class Jan. 28)
SPRED Class: Jan. 24
Sunday Doughnut Social: Jan.25 after 9am Mass at the School Cafeteria
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, January 20 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.
In 2026, we are starting High School Small Groups. All high schoolers are welcome to attend. Guys’ Small Groups will be on 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 7pm in the Youth Room, with the kickoff
date on February 5. Girls’ Small Groups will be on 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 7pm in the Youth Room, with the kickoff date on January 8. For any questions, contact JP McLaughlin at
jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org.
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 - next gathering 21 January
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, January 25th. After 9am Mass, we will meet at Tous les Jours coffee shop. For any inquiries, contact JP McLaughlin, jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org.
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,
Every once in a while I am approached by a family who are new to the parish and am so happy they take the time to introduce themselves! To be honest, it is difficult to keep track of names, but if you keep telling me - (like my dad used to say), if you keep throwing mud at the barn, eventually it will stick.
In nearly every instance the new family says that the reason they decided to join our parish community is because we are so warm and welcoming. It makes me happy when people say that they came, and they just felt like they belonged. You, apparently, are very friendly. Thank you.
Last weekend we hosted a Mass and breakfast of ministry leaders and members of the new Parish Advisory Board so they would get to know each other better and talk about how we can go about doing the work of stewardship (using the gifts God gave you) together in a more efficient and effective way. We chose to focus on one of the four pillars of stewardship in particular: Hospitality.
Hospitality, prayer, formation, and service represent a holistic way of life by which we respond to God’s gifts through welcoming, connecting with God, continuous learning, and acting with love. We recognize all blessings as gifts and share them responsibly, encompassing our time, talent, and treasure.
We can deepen our commitment to welcoming everyone, recognizing Christ in them, and creating an inclusive community in which there is no such thing as a minority or an outsider.
It is so simple, really. A greeting with a smile.
When I first came here and we wrote the introduction for Mass, we invited everyone to turn to one another and “greet each other warmly with a smile.” A smile is a powerful thing. Then, COVID. Masks went on and we couldn’t see smiles anymore. I think this was one of the most damaging things that happened to us. We literally turned inward. It was hard to reverse.
So we changed the script to say “offer each other a gesture of welcome.” Mostly, I guess, people just waved. Kind of like the awkward post-COVID sign of peace.
But what if we made the moment last a little longer? Offer that person that always sits in front of you or always behind you for the last ten years a greeting and give them your name? I’m Fr. Don; what’s your name? Good to see you again. The person you have been coming to Mass with - is that your mom? I haven’t seen her lately. Is everything okay?
A moment of caring.
I am not particularly comfortable with ice breakers because I’m an introvert, so we aren’t going to have the cantor say, “Now turn to one another and tell the person on each side of you your favorite flavor of ice cream.” But how great (almost disarming) would it be if someone were to say “I’m Fr. Don and I think chocolate is amazing.” That would bring a smile, I should think, because it would be something you share. I like chocolate, too. You’re welcome!
Hospitality is not a grand gesture, it is just a moment or a glimpse that defenses are down and you can genuinely like to know someone new. (And, it can happen in church.)
Think for a moment who that person might be who is sitting in your pew. Maybe going through a really tough time right now (maybe something you are experiencing, too) or maybe they are disoriented by current events (as we all are). They might be nervous as cats because they just got up the courage to come back to church after ten years and aren’t really sure they remember when to sit, stand, and kneel. Maybe they think you are seething because their kids aren’t exhibiting perfect behavior. Are they sure they even want to be here? A connection with you will change that experience. A smile, a reassuring nod. Maybe a new friend, definitely growth in community.
So simple, and so often not mentioned. We are here for each other, as well as for God.
The Lord be with you,
Celebrating the Christmas Season
Jan 11 - The BAPTISM of the LORD
The Christmas season ends today with our regular Saturday Vigil / Sunday schedule
For the next four weeks, join Fr. Don at noon on Sundays in the Bradican Room for faith250 in preparation for our nation’s 250th anniversary. See the bulletin for details.
Join us for our monthly (third Monday) Taizé Prayer Service on Monday night, January 19, 8 - 8:45pm. Come for a peaceful moment of simple song and silence and pray for Christian Unity.
Saint Bernadette School will celebrate the start of Catholic Schools Week with an Open House being held on Sunday January 25, Noon until 1pm. See what Saint Bernadette School has to offer
your family.
All adult parishioners who have volunteered in the past several years are invited to come to our Night of Stars - Saturday, 31 January, 6:30-11pm. Join us for an evening dinner, drinks and
dancing to the music of the Andrew Thielen Big Band of North Myrtle Beach. This is an opportunity to recognize and appreciate the work of parish volunteers. Please note this event is a
seated dinner event, doors open at 6:30pm with pre-event hospitality followed by dinner at 7pm. RSVP required to Evelyn.
Bishop Burbidge has released a video invitation to participate in Virginia Pro-Life Day on Thursday, January 15, in Richmond. The complete schedule of events can be found on the
Diocesan website Arlingtondiocese.org/communications/.
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.
FAITH FORMATION
Living the Liturgical Year:
Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. We always think of baptism as being baptized as babies. Did you know that Jesus was baptized as an adult? He was baptized at 30
years old by St. John the Baptist in the Jordan River. You can show your children this video about Jesus’ baptism: https://youtu.be/MYSHdpJ7loU. Find activities at
https://catholicprintableclub.com/how-to-celebrate-the-baptism-of-the-lord-sunday-after-epiphany/.
We will hold a First Holy Communion parent information meeting on Jan. 20-21 from 6:15-7pm in the Bradican Room, for the 2nd year FHC, SPOC2 and MS/HS students receiving the
sacrament in the Spring of 2026. School parents are invited to attend.
During January, the parish will have a donation drive for baby supplies for Catholic Charities Migrant and Refugee Services. Items will be collected in the church vestibule. We will publish a list
of items requested by MRS in a few weeks. All parishioners are encouraged to donate.
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 http://stbernpar.org/religious-education-volunteers/.
Upcoming Religious Education Activities:
Family Mass Learning: Jan. 10-11 after every Mass
Family Faith Formation: resumes Jan. 11
Regular classes resume: Jan. 13-14, 20-21, 27
SPRED Class: Jan. 24
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, January 13 at 7pm in the Bradican Rm. It’s game night! Bring a favorite board, card, or table game to play. Maybe you got a new game for
Christmas that you can’t wait to share. Come join the excitement and fellowship.
Tuesday, January 20 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.
In 2026, we are starting High School Small Groups. All high schoolers are welcome to attend. Guys’ Small Groups will be on 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 7pm in the Youth Room, with the kickoff
date on February 5. Girls’ Small Groups will be on 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 7pm in the Youth Room, with the kickoff date on January 8. For any questions, contact JP McLaughlin at
jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org.
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 - next gathering 7 January
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
Young Adults Faith Discussions All Young Adults are invited to once-a-month Sunday night discussions and debates on key topics and mysteries about the Faith. Our first Faith Discussion will be on Sunday, January 11, 6-8pm in the Bradican Room. For any inquiries, contact JP McLaughlin, jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org.
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,
One of the drawbacks of holidays is that bulletins must be prepared so far in advance to meet the printer’s deadlines. Two documents have come from Pope Leo for Christmas and the new year, his Urbi et Orbi message (“to the city and to the world”) and his message for the 59th World Day of Peace, “Peace be with you all: Towards an ‘unarmed and disarming’ peace.”
I have reprinted the first on pages 8-9 of this bulletin, but the World Day of Peace message is too long to publish. So I thought I might mention a few parts of it. You can find the entire text on the Vatican website where all documents are found: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/messages/peace/documents/20251208-messaggio-pace.html.
Peace is what we need so much of right now, and Pope Leo speaks a lot about this authentic, abiding peace that can live alongside life’s ambiguities, uncertainties, even the tragedy of war.
“The contrast between darkness and light is not only a biblical image describing the labor pains of a new world being born; it is also an experience that unsettles us and affects us amid the trials we face in our historical circumstances. In order to overcome the darkness, it is necessary to see the light and believe in it. This is a call that Jesus’ disciples are invited to live in a unique and privileged way; yet it also finds its way into every human heart. “Peace exists; it wants to dwell within us. It has the gentle power to enlighten and expand our understanding; it resists and overcomes violence. Peace is a breath of the eternal: while to evil we cry out ‘Enough,’ to peace we whisper ‘Forever.’ Into this horizon the Risen One has led us. Sustained by this conviction, even amid what Pope Francis called ‘a third world war fought piecemeal,’ peacemakers continue to resist the spread of darkness, standing as sentinels in the night.
Sadly, it is also possible to forget the light. When this happens, we lose our sense of realism and surrender to a partial and distorted view of the world, disfigured by darkness and fear. Many today call ‘realistic’ those narratives devoid of hope, blind to the beauty of others and forgetful of God’s grace, which is always at work in human hearts, even though wounded by sin. Saint Augustine urged Christians to forge an unbreakable bond with peace, so that by cherishing it deeply in their hearts, they would be able to radiate its luminous warmth around them. Addressing his community, he wrote: ‘If you wish to draw others to peace, first have it yourselves; be steadfast in peace yourselves. To inflame others, you must have the flame burning within.’
'Dear brothers and sisters, whether we have the gift of faith or feel we lack it, let us open ourselves to peace! Let us welcome it and recognize it, rather than believing it to be impossible and beyond our reach. Peace is more than just a goal; it is a presence and a journey. Even when it is endangered within us and around us, like a small flame threatened by a storm, we must protect it, never forgetting the names and stories of those who have borne witness to it. Peace is a principle that guides and defines our choices. Even in places where only rubble remains, and despair seems inevitable, we still find people who have not forgotten peace. Just as on the evening of Easter Jesus entered the place where his disciples were gathered in fear and discouragement, so too the peace of the risen Christ continues to pass through doors and barriers in the voices and faces of his witnesses. This gift enables us to remember goodness, to recognize it as victorious, to choose it again, and to do so together.”
The Lord be with you,
Celebrating the Christmas Season
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
Join us for our monthly (third Monday) Taizé Prayer Service on Monday night, January 19, 8 - 8:45pm. Come for a peaceful moment of simple song and silence and pray for Christian Unity.
Saint Bernadette School will celebrate the start of Catholic Schools Week with an Open House being held on Sunday January 25, Noon until 1pm. See what Saint Bernadette School has to offer your family.
All adult parishioners who have volunteered in the past several years are invited to come to our Night of Stars - Saturday, 31 January, 6:30-11pm. Join us for an evening dinner, drinks and dancing to the music of the Andrew Thielen Big Band of North Myrtle Beach. This is an opportunity to recognize and appreciate the work of parish volunteers. Please note this event is a seated dinner event, doors open at 6:30pm with pre-event hospitality followed by dinner at 7pm.
March for Life Transportation - Join fellow parishioners on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Friday, January 23. We will provide a bus if there are enough reservations. Please sign up at https://signup.com/go/jaFSeJy by January 9. There won’t be any cost, but we ask that you bring a package of diapers, wipes or formula to support our Baby Supply Drive for Catholic Charities Migration Resettlement Program. Questions? Call the office.
FAITH FORMATION
Living the Liturgical Year:
Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany of the Lord. A special thing you can do with your family is the Epiphany Home Blessing. You can find out more about it here: https://www.looktohimandberadiant.com/2020/12/epiphany-home-blessing-kits-update-for.html
We will hold a First Holy Communion parent information meeting on Jan. 20-21 from 6:15-7pm in the Bradican Room, for the 2nd year FHC, SPOC2 and MS/HS students receiving the sacrament in the Spring of 2026. School parents are invited to attend.
During January, the parish will have a donation drive for baby supplies for Catholic Charities Migrant and Refugee Services. Items will be collected in the church vestibule. We will publish a list of items requested by MRS in a few weeks.
All parishioners are encouraged to donate.
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 http://stbernpar.org/religious-education-volunteers/.
Upcoming Religious Education Activities:
Regular classes: Jan. 6/7, 13/14, 20/21, 27
SPRED Classes: Jan. 10 and 24
Family Mass Learning: Jan. 10-11 after every Mass
Family Faith Formation: resumes Jan. 11
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, January 6 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, January 13 at 7pm in the Bradican Rm. It’s game night! Bring a favorite board, card, or table game to play. Maybe you got a new game for Christmas that you can’t wait to share. Come join the excitement and fellowship.
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.
In 2026, we are starting High School Small Groups. All high schoolers are welcome to attend. Guys’ Small Groups will be on 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 7pm in the Youth Room, with the kickoff date on February 5. Girls’ Small Groups will be on 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 7pm in the Youth Room, with the kickoff date on January 8. For any questions, contact JP McLaughlin at jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org.
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 - next gathering 7 January
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
Young Adults Faith Discussions All Young Adults are invited to once-a-month Sunday night discussions and debates on key topics and mysteries about the Faith. Our first Faith Discussion will be on Sunday, January 11, 6-8pm in the Bradican Room. For any inquiries, contact JP McLaughlin, jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org.
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,
The story of the three wise men, or Magi, from the East stands as a profound icon in the mystery of the Incarnation. These Gentile seekers, guided by a star, represent humanity’s innate longing for God, drawn irresistibly to the newborn Christ. God weaves them into salvation history not as afterthoughts, but as deliberate witnesses to the universality of Christ’s light, illuminating paths for interreligious friendship today.
The Gospel of Matthew introduces the Magi simply as “wise men from the East” who arrive in Jerusalem seeking “the child who has been born king of the Jews,” having observed “his star at its rising.” Tradition later styled them as kings—three in number, inferred from their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh—but Scripture portrays them as magi, a term denoting Persian or Babylonian astrologers, philosophers, and scholars versed in the stars and ancient wisdom traditions.St. Thomas Aquinas notes they were “philosophers and wise men” in the Persian sense, not mere sorcerers, whose knowledge of celestial signs led them to recognize Christ’s glory as the source of all true wisdom. The were definitely “believers,” but rather than in the conventional way of Judaism, the older monotheistic religion of Zoroastrianism.
These men embodied the intellectual and spiritual elite of pagan cultures, poring over “the great book of the heavens” for cosmic truths. As representatives of neighboring pagan religions, they symbolize the Gentiles’ “dim expectation” of the Messiah, prepared by God across centuries through prophets and even in pagan hearts. Pope Francis describes them as having “restless hearts” stirred by the Holy Spirit, seekers of a star amid countless others, compelled to journey toward an unknown King. Their arrival in Bethlehem, warned in a dream to bypass Herod, underscores divine providence overriding human schemes.
The Epiphany is Christ’s manifestation not only to Israel but to all nations, with the Magi as “the first-fruits of the nations” who welcome salvation through the Incarnation.
In the Magi’s adoration and gifts, God fulfills prophecies like Isaiah 60:3: “nations shall walk by your light, kings by the brightness of your rising.” They represent the Gentiles joining Israel’s heritage; their wisdom discerned cosmic significance, yet required the Jewish prophets for the final step, culminating in finding the child Jesus with Mary his mother. Ignatius of Loyola contemplates them adoring and offering gifts, then departing transformed by another road—symbolizing conversion.
This episode expands the Incarnation’s scope: Christ’s birth shatters ethnic barriers, drawing all peoples into the marvellous exchange where God becomes a child so we might become children of God. As Pope John Paul II affirmed, their story echoes Nostra aetate, acknowledging rays of truth in other traditions while proclaiming Christ as the fullness.
The Magi’s journey prefigures the Church’s dialogue with all religions, integral to her mission to the peoples. Dialogue, like the Magi’s star-guided search, fosters mutual knowledge and enrichment without supplanting proclamation: salvation comes from Christ, and the Church is the ordinary means.
Today, like the Magi, people of other faiths harbor “restless hearts” seeking God; the Church draws out this desire, reflecting Christ’s light. Their story counters relativism: religions hold “true and holy” elements reflecting divine truth, yet Christ is “the way, the truth, and the life” seeking peace, justice, and common good.
The Magi challenge us: heed the star of conscience, consult Scripture, adore Christ, and return transformed. In our encounters with others, too often we have failed to acknowledge one other as persons with the same human hearts first, and recognize that all God’s people are made in his image and likeness. Recognizing this opens us to others’ wisdom, firmly rooted in Christ’s uniqueness. As the Church’s “sacrament of unity,” foster authentic dialogue that purifies and unites toward the Kingdom.
In this season of Epiphany, may we, like the Magi, journey from partial truths to the full Light, bridging faiths in charity and truth.
The Lord be with you,
Celebrating the Christmas Season
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, 7pm (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
All adult parishioners who have volunteered in the past several years are invited to come to our Night of Stars - Saturday, 31 January, 6:30-11pm. Join us for an evening dinner, drinks and dancing to the music of the Andrew Thielen Big Band of North Myrtle Beach. This is an opportunity to recognize and appreciate the work of parish volunteers. RSVP to Evelyn in the parish office by January 23.
March for Life Transportation - Join fellow parishioners on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Friday, January 23. We will provide a bus if there are enough reservations. Please sign up at https://signup.com/go/jaFSeJy by January 9. There won’t be any cost, but we ask that you bring a package of diapers, wipes or formula to support our Baby Supply Drive for Catholic Charities Migration Resettlement Program. Questions? Call the office.
FAITH FORMATION
Living the Liturgical Year:
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 http://stbernpar.org/religious-education-volunteers/.
Upcoming Religious Education Activities:
Regular classes: Jan. 6/7, 13/14, 20/21, 27
No Classes: 30/31 (Christmas Break)
SPRED Classes: Jan. 10 and 24
Family Mass Learning: Jan. 10-11 after every Mass
Family Faith Formation: resumes Jan. 11
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, January 6 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.
In 2026, we are starting High School Small Groups. All high schoolers are welcome to attend. Guys’ Small Groups will be on 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 7pm in the Youth Room, with the kickoff date on February 5. Girls’ Small Groups will be on 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 7pm in the Youth Room, with the kickoff date on January 8. For any questions, contact JP McLaughlin at jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org.
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 - next gathering 7 January
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
Young Adults Faith Discussions All Young Adults are invited to once-a-month Sunday night discussions and debates on key topics and mysteries about the Faith. Our first Faith Discussion will be on Sunday, January 11, 6-8pm in the Bradican Room. For any inquiries, contact JP McLaughlin, jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org.
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,
But you, Bethlehem-Ephrathaha
least among the clans of Judah,
From you shall come forth for me
one who is to be ruler in Israel;
Whose origin is from of old,
from ancient times.
Therefore the Lord will give them up, until the time when she who is to give birth has borne,
Then the rest of his kindred shall return
to the children of Israel.
He shall take his place as shepherd
by the strength of the LORD,
by the majestic name of the LORD, his God;
And they shall dwell securely, for now his greatness shall reach to the ends of the earth:
He shall be peace. Micah 5:1-4
Merry Christmas, again, to you all!
I was reflecting on my trip to Taiwan last summer to speak at a Pure-land Buddhist Convention about the spirituality of interreligious dialogue. I think I printed nearly my entire talk in a bulletin in late July or early August (you can look it up on our website if you are interested). I had never spent a period of days before this completely alone as a Catholic. You don’t know what being a minority religiously feels like until it actually happens. It is an experience that I remember considering humbling, even disarming, although I don’t generally consider faith to be something of an armament. I guess a better word would be exposed. Exposed to so much unexpected kindness and acceptance, more even than I usually feel in my regular life.
My reflection for that time and since has been really very simple: God is love; Buddhists know love, therefore Buddhists know God. Jesus is peace, Buddhists know peace and seek it completely everyday, Buddhists seek Jesus, even if unaware by another name or belief.
We look out into the world with so much not-peace: conflict, hate, genocide, human-caused starvation and famine. It is too easy to fall into the old categories that the peace we seek is any different from the peace the world seeks. The only ones who are not seeking peace and not working for it, simply, are not seeking Jesus, even if they claim to know him and live otherwise.
He shall be peace.
Pope Leo had a lot to say about peace in his first annual peace message last month in December. He presents a comprehensive vision of peace that challenges contem-porary attitudes toward conflict and security.
He insisted that peace is not an unattainable goal but a real possibility for which human-ity must not surrender hope. He warned that treating peace as a “distant ideal” prevents people from being “scandalized when it is denied” or when war is waged in its name. Peace is possible, and necessary.
Drawing from the greeting of the Risen Christ, “Peace be with you,” Pope Leo describes true peace as “unarmed and disarming,” a peace born of evangelical humility and an openness to dialogue. He links this to Jesus’ nonviolent response, even when threatened with force.
The Pope blasted the “irrationality” of military deterrence, especially nuclear weapons, and rising global military expenditures (which increased by 9.4% in 2024). He also decried the “destructive betrayal” of human principles involved in delegating life-and-death decisions to artificial intelligence and automated weapons systems.
He called on all religious leaders and believers to guard against the “growing temptation to weaponize even thoughts and words” and to condemn the use of religion to justify violence, nationalism, or armed struggle.
The Pope stressed the importance of diplomacy, mutual trust, and interreligious dialogue as essential paths to peace. He emphasized personal responsibility in cultivating peace in hearts, relationships, and prayers.
Micah foretells the coming of Jesus Christ as the ultimate source and embodiment of peace. Pope Leo’s comments align with this biblical understanding, presenting Christ’s peace as a model for all humanity.
To paraphrase Saint John of the Cross’ teaching about love, consider: “Where there is no peace, let me make peace, and I will find peace. Blessings this Christmas season.
The Lord be with you,
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, 7pm (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
Please join us for our annual Filipino celebration of Simbang Gabi, Saturday, December 20 at 7pm - a reception will follow in the school gym.
All adult parishioners who have volunteered in the past several years are invited to come to our Night of Stars - Saturday, 31 January, 6:30-11pm. Join us for an evening dinner, drinks and dancing to the music of the Andrew Thielen Big Band of North Myrtle Beach. This is an opportunity to recognize and appreciate the work of parish volunteers. RSVP to Evelyn in the parish office by January 23. Please note this event is a seated dinner event, doors open at 6:30pm with pre-event hospitality followed by dinner at 7pm.
March for Life Transportation - Join fellow parishioners on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on Friday, January 23. We will provide a bus if there are enough reservations. Please sign up at https://signup.com/go/jaFSeJy by January 9. There won’t be any cost, but we ask that you bring a package of diapers, wipes or formula to support our Baby Supply Drive for Catholic Charities Migration Resettlement Program. Questions? Call the office.
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 4th week of Advent! This Sunday brings the Advent season to a close. We light the Angel's Candle, which represents love, and reflect on God's love for us with the upcoming birth of his Son. We reflect on this Sunday's readings which has a theme of the fulfillment of prophecy, Jesus' lineage, and Joseph's response and trust in God. As we prepare for Christmas in a few days, let us open our hearts as Joseph and Mary had with the arrival of Jesus.
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 http://stbernpar.org/religious-education-volunteers/.
Upcoming Religious Education Activities:
Regular classes: Jan. 6/7, 13/14, 20/21, 27
No Classes: Dec. 23/24 (Christmas Break), 30/31 (Christmas Break)
SPRED Classes: Jan. 10 and 24
Family Mass Learning: Jan. 10-11 after every Mass
Family Faith Formation: resumes Jan. 11
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, January 6 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.
In 2026, we are starting High School Small Groups. All high schoolers are welcome to attend. Guys’ Small Groups will be on 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 7pm in the Youth Room, with the kickoff date on February 5. Girls’ Small Groups will be on 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 7pm in the Youth Room, with the kickoff date on January 8. For any questions, contact JP McLaughlin at jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org.
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 - next gathering 7 January
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
Young Adults Faith Discussions All Young Adults are invited to once-a-month Sunday night discussions and debates on key topics and mysteries about the Faith. Our first Faith Discussion will be on Sunday, January 11, 6-8pm in the Bradican Room. For any inquiries, contact JP McLaughlin, jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org.
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,
Patience, people.
The message of the second reading from the letter of St. James last weekend:
Be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and late rains. You must be patient. Make your hearts firm; because the coming of the Lord is at hand.
I remember growing up on our family farm. We would plant winter wheat in the fall – it was hard work, and expensive. Would there be enough rain? Too much? Will there be a harvest? Have we spent our savings for?… Our kitchen windows looked out over the fields. Every breakfast you would look to see if something had sprouted. Finally, finally, you would see a faint green start to cover the soil.
Winter is a difficult time for many. It has been for me. Days get darker and darker – it is dark now already in the afternoon! Consider how times in our lives can feel like winter – like right now. There is so much darkness in our world, in our country.
Henry Nouwen, a Catholic writer, says that Advent is a time of waiting, but not like waiting for a bus. It is a time in which we sharpen our senses, not dull them, we sharpen our senses to recognize the presence of the One for whom we wait in every moment, every situation. We find him more and more throughout the short season, so that our experience of him when he comes is our fulfillment.
Often when taking a parish pilgrimage to Ireland, we visit a place called Knowth, north of Dublin. There are Neolithic tombs there on the bank of the Boyne River, (Bru na Boinne) from the year 3,200 BC – 1,200 years before the story of Abraham in the Old Testament. There is one large passage tomb there and 17 smaller ones, the large one about the square footage of a football field, a mound 40 feet high.
We don’t give it much thought any longer, but primitive people were truly worried that the days would just continue to get shorter and shorter, darker and darker, ultimately leaving the world in darkness. They would gratefully look for the light in every moment. This is the reason why the Winter Solstice was such a huge celebration in the pagan world – it celebrates the return of daylight, of light, as the days slowly start to get longer again.
The cool thing about this large passage tomb in Bruna Boinne is that on the east side, perfectly aligned with the sunrise at the winter solstice, there is an entrance to a hallway that goes deep into the mound. At the very center is a large stone bowl, where the stone age farmers would place the ashes of their dead. They believed that at that moment of sunrise on the solstice, the only day that the beam of light touched the stone bowl, the spirits of their ancestors would travel on that shaft of light to the afterlife.
What an amazing, beautiful witness of a pre-Christian understanding of the power of the light that comes into the world. We know the light as Christ. It is with that nervous anticipation mixed with joy that we celebrate Advent. In the midst of the waiting, even as the darkness seems to grow and grow…
The worship of the sun was indigenous to Romans and there were many temples to the sun in Rome at the time of Jesus. In the Julian calendar, December 25 marked the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year. In 312, Constantine decreed that the pagan feast of the unconquerable sun, sol Invictus, would be the date to celebrate the birth of the Son of God. In that year he also proclaimed (with an exception for farmers) Sunday was to be a day of rest. “On the venerable Day of the Sun let the magistrates and people residing in cities rest, and let all workshops be closed” (Codex Justinianus, III.12.2). The resurrection of Christ also occurred on a Sunday, the day after the Jewish Sabbath. In AD 386, Theodosius, Patriarch of Constantinople, decreed Sunday to be holy, a day of obligation (Codex Theodosianus, II.8.18). It was a natural association, therefore, to identify the birth of Jesus, the “Sun of righteousness.” Saint Cyprian identifies Jesus as with the Sun itself, “the true sun,” in his work on the Lord’s Prayer.
He is the beam of light through whom we pass to the Father, he is the source of our joyand the fulfillment of time. Christ, be our Light, shine on your Church, gathered today.
The Lord be with you,