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New to the parish or interested in learning more about our ministries, parish school, and ways to get involved? Join us on Sunday, May 3, following the 9:00am Mass for a special gathering hosted by members of our Parish Advisory Board and ministry leaders. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect, ask questions, and discover all that Saint Bernadette has to offer. We look forward to welcoming you into our vibrant community!
The St. Lucy Spring Food Drive is coming up! The St. Lucy Food Project collect and distribute food where it is most needed in the Diocese. Our St. Lucy Food Drive will be held on May 16 & 17 at all Masses. Please drop bags BEFORE Mass. The blue bags and lists of needed items will be handed out the weekend of May 9 & 10.
The Knights of Columbus will be collecting donations on the 9th and 10th of May in support of Project Manger. The program provides new cribs to women who have made a choice to give birth to their child rather than the alternative.
Join thousands of organizations and millions of Good Neighbors as we serve together this May 16 for a historic day of love and service. Kindness is contagious! Small acts of kindness reduce depression, anxiety, loneliness, social isolation, cortisol levels, chronic inflammation, and mortality risk. While increasing happiness, health, resilience, optimism, longevity, human connection and a sense of significance.
Please join us in supporting the St. Lucy Food Drive beyond our parish boundaries! Invite friends, family and neighbors to donate non-perishable food to the drive on Saturday May 16 from 9am-1pm (in addition to our collection at Masses). SMALL ACTS. BIG IMPACT. FULL STOP. Good Neighbor Day America learn more here.
Join the Filipino Catholic Community, with the diocesan Multi-cultural Ministries Office, invites you to join in celebrating the Flores de Mayo here, on May 16. The evening begins with a rosary procession at 6pm and Mass at 7pm, followed by a reception in the gym. For more information please email amaremusicministry.flores@gmail.com.
Join us on Pentecost Sunday, May 24 for Solemn Vespers, following the 5pm Mass at 6:15pm. A most beautiful way to close the Easter Season celebrating the birthday of the Church.
FAITH FORMATION
Living the Liturgical Year:
Happy 5th week of Easter! Happy May! The month of May is dedicated to Mary. As we celebrate our mothers on Mother’s Day, we honor our heavenly Mother during the month of May. Activities you can do during the month of May is teaching and saying the rosary with your children or visiting the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. You can find other suggestions here: https://www.looktohimandberadiant.com/2018/04/honoring-our-mother-mary-ideas-for-may.html to celebrate the Marian month.
Mark your calendars! The First Communion Mass will be held on Saturday, May 15 at 5pm or Sunday, May 16 at 9 am or 11 am. If you would like a particular Mass, please contact the Religious Education team by April 30.
Registration will open in June for next year. Continue your child's growth in the faith by signing them up for classes in 2026-27! Our class sessions will be on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, and we will again offer our Special Religious Development class on Saturday mornings for students with special learning needs and our Family Faith Formation classes once a month on Sunday afternoons (for grades K-5) where parents take a larger role in their child's faith formation. Registration information will be in the parish bulletin, on the website, and will be sent via Flocknote to all currently registered children in the first week of June. Who should register? All currently registered students, including all Confirmation 2026, Confirmation 2027, and students preparing to receive First Eucharist next school year. Classes will begin on September 1 & 2. Questions about your child's registration? Call the Religious Education Office or contact the staff via email.
Volunteers for 2026-2027 ~ 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: May 5-6, 12-13
SPRED Classes: May 9, 30
First Holy Communion: May 2 at 5pm (school), May 16 at 5pm (RE), May 17 at 9am & 11am (RE)
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, May 5 is our next Dinner with Friends at 5pm, at Saratoga Pizzeria, 8050 Rolling Road. We meet for this casual meal on the 1st and the 3rd Tuesday of every month. No need to RSVP.
YOUTH MINISTRY
High School
All high schoolers are invited to attend our Thursday night small group sessions. Guys’ Small Groups will be on 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 7pm in the Youth Room. Girls’ Small Groups will be on 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 7pm in the Youth Room.
All adults of the parish are invited to consider volunteering for Workcamp. We can find a role for anyone willing to help. We are especially in need of contractors with skills in home repairs (no license necessary) and female crew leaders to serve alongside our teens during the week of Workcamp. Please contact our parish Stakeholder, Matthew Frey, for more information - matthew_c_frey@yahoo.com.
HS Girl’s Small Group
All high school girls are invited every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month from 7–8:30pm in the Youth Room for a night of fun games, fellowship, and small group discussions about the Faith. Our last two meetings of the school year are May 14 and May 28.
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- next gathering May 6
To learn more about our middle and high school ministries,
please contact Grace Mee, gmee@stbernpar.org
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
This time of year we come to the celebration of many sacraments – a season of sacraments – first holy Communion, spring marriages, ordinations of deacons and priests, as well as perennial anniversaries of many sacraments rich with memories. If you are preparing for one such sacrament, help each other to make it a sacred memory that will stay with you the rest of your lives.
I was at a Hindu temple a couple of weeks ago and there was a ceremony being celebrated for dozens of girls nearing their teen years. The traditional Tibetan garments, beautiful fabrics, families all dressed up for a special day. There was a group of drummers as they processed into the temple, a rite of passage, perhaps. My friend Anuttama explained how, in the Hindu cultures, there are moments of samsara, events or rituals that imprint the soul and shape it to become fully the person one is intended to be. These are memories you go back to, time and again, and recall who you really are, especially when you might be losing your way.
It is not unlike our sacraments. They aren’t mile markers in the sense of stuff
you just have to do, but they are profound opportunities to shape us, conform us to the person of Jesus. We should plan and celebrate these moments very intentionally so that their effects, the grace given, is something that is always in the perspective with which we view other parts of our lives.
I remember being told on the day of my ordination: remember this day, because many will come when you need to draw back on these memories to get you through days which may not be so happy. I often say this to couples in marriage preparation. St. Teresa of Avila wrote a treatise on the spiritual life comparing it to a lush garden, filled with beauty and blooms. The day will come, she said, when there will be drought and aridity. You must remember that there is so much more, and you have known it.
I know I reprint a lot of Pope Leo’s messages in the bulletin. I think of it as an opportunity for much needed adult formation which is relevant and easily available for you. If you have a moment read his homily last weekend at St. Peter as he ordained ten priests for the diocese of Rome. Don’t limit the message to priests only: with your baptism you yourselves participate in the three-fold ministry of Jesus priest, prophet and king. Consider this for your priesthood.
He speaks of priesthood as a ministry of communion, opening our eyes to our brothers and sisters who are already experiencing, or still seeking, the power to become the children of God. “...the deeper your bond with Christ,” Pope Leo said, “the more radical your belonging to all of humanity.” There is no opposition, competition between heaven and earth.
“Today the need for security makes people aggressive, causes communities to close in on themselves and leads people to seek out enemies and scapegoats. Fear is often present around us and perhaps within us. May your security not lie in the role you hold, but in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus as well as in your participation, along with your people, in the story of salvation. This salvation is already at work in the many good deeds that are quietly carried out by people of goodwill in the parishes and settings where you will join them as fellow travelers. What you proclaim and celebrate will protect you, even in difficult times.
Today more than ever, especially when statistics seem to indicate a divide between people and the Church, keep the door open! Let people in, and be prepared to go out. This is another secret for your life: you are a channel, not a filter. Many believe they already know what lies beyond the threshold. They carry memories with them, perhaps from a distant past. Often, there is something within them that is alive and has not died out; this draws them in. Other times, however, there is something else within them that still bleeds and repels them. The Lord knows, and he waits. Be a reflection of his patience and tenderness. ...Keep the threshold open and direct others to it, without using too many words.
Let all of this be our shared mission!
The Lord be with you,
Mothers’ Day Novena Mass cards are available for remembering moms, grandmothers, and anyone who has been a mother to you – living or deceased. All intentions will be included at all Masses for nine days beginning on Mothers’ Day. Envelopes are available in the vestibule and the office, and are also included in the offertory envelopes.
New to the parish or interested in learning more about our ministries, parish school, and ways to get involved? Join us on Sunday, May 3, following the 9:00am Mass for a special gathering hosted by members of our Parish Advisory Board and ministry leaders. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect, ask questions, and discover all that Saint Bernadette has to offer. We look forward to welcoming you into our vibrant community!
The St. Lucy Spring Food Drive is coming up! The St. Lucy Food Project collect and distribute food where it is most needed in the Diocese. Our St. Lucy Food Drive will be held on May 16 & 17 at all Masses. The blue bags and lists of needed items will be handed out the weekend of May 9 & 10
The Knights of Columbus will be collecting donations on the 9th and 10th of May in support of Project Manger. The program provides new cribs to women who have made a choice to give birth to their child rather than the alternative.
Join the Filipino Catholic Community, with the diocesan Multi-cultural Ministries Office, invites you to join in celebrating the Flores de Mayo here, on May 16. The evening begins with a rosary procession at 6pm and Mass at 7pm, followed by a reception in the gym. For more information please email amaremusicministry.flores@gmail.com.
Join us on Pentecost Sunday, May 24 for Solemn Vespers, following the 5pm Mass at 6:15pm. A most beautiful way to close the Easter Season celebrating the birthday of the Church.
FAITH FORMATION
Living the Liturgical Year:
Happy 4th week of Easter! Today, April 26, we celebrate another feast of the Blessed Virgin, the Feast Day of Our Lady of Good Counsel. According to tradition, the painting of Our Lady known holding the child Jesus as "Madonna del Buon Consiglio" appeared at the church of Santa Maria in Genazzano, Italy. Pilgrims who had gathered at the church for the feast of St. Mark, had heard music and saw a cloud descending from the sky and coming to rest on an unfinished wall of the church suspended in air. There are miracles associated with the icon. The title reflects Mary's role as a wise mother who offers guidance and counsel to humanity. Celebrate the feast day with a Marian feast, you can find recipe suggestions here: https://www.catholicicing.com/food-for-blessed-virgin-mary/
Plan to join us on Sunday, April 26 following the 9am Mass for our last Sunday Donut Social until fall. Parents, enjoy coffee and fellowship while your children make liturgical themed crafts with our volunteers!
Mark your calendars! The First Communion Mass will be held on Saturday, May 15 at 5pm or Sunday, May 16 at 9 am or 11 am. If you would like a particular Mass, please contact the Religious Education team by April 30.
Registration will open in June for next year. Continue your child's growth in the faith by signing them up for classes in 2026-27! Our class sessions will be on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings, and we will again offer our Special Religious Development class on Saturday mornings for students with special learning needs and our Family Faith Formation classes once a month on Sunday afternoons (for grades K-5) where parents take a larger role in their child's faith formation. Registration information will be in the parish bulletin, on the website, and will be sent via Flocknote to all currently registered children in the first week of June. Who should register? All currently registered students, including all Confirmation 2026, Confirmation 2027, and students preparing to receive First Eucharist next school year. Classes will begin on September 1 & 2. Questions about your child's registration? Call the Religious Education Office or contact the staff via email.
Volunteers for 2026-2027 ~ 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
Sunday Doughnut Social: Apr. 26
Family Faith Formation: Apr. 26
Regular classes: Apr. 28/29, May 5/6, 12/13
SPRED Classes: May 9, 30
First Holy Communion: May 2 at 5pm (school), May 16 at 5pm (RE), May 17 9am & 11am (RE)
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, May 5 is our next Dinner with Friends at 5pm, at Saratoga Pizzeria, 8050 Rolling Road. We meet for this casual meal on the 1st and the 3rd Tuesday of every month. No need to RSVP.
YOUTH MINISTRY
High School
All high schoolers are invited to attend our Thursday night small group sessions. Guys’ Small Groups will be on 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 7pm in the Youth Room. Girls’ Small Groups will be on 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 7pm in the Youth Room.
All adults of the parish are invited to consider volunteering for Workcamp. We can find a role for anyone willing to help. We are especially in need of contractors with skills in home repairs (no license necessary) and female crew leaders to serve alongside our teens during the week of Workcamp. Please contact our parish Stakeholder, Matthew Frey, for more information - matthew_c_frey@yahoo.com.
HS Girl’s Small Group
All high school girls are invited every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month from 7–8:30pm in the Youth Room for a night of fun games, fellowship, and small group discussions about the Faith. Our last two meetings of the school year are May 14 and May 28.
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- next gathering May 6
To learn more about our middle and high school ministries,
please contact Grace Mee, gmee@stbernpar.org
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
Sometimes when you are googling something, the query you begin to type autofills and you can see the most popular questions people are asking. For example, if you type, “Does Iran...” you immediately get “Does Iran have nuclear weapons?” Or if you type, “Is Pope Leo...” you find the number one question, “Is Pope Leo Black?” People are interested in his geneology which includes African American/Creole roots.
When I typed “Could the earth...” immediately I got the question I was seeking from artificialis intelligentia. “Could the earth exist without the moon?”
I remember when I was a boy we had this huge map of the moon (the visible side) and we would lay it out on the living room floor while watching space missions on our little black and white TV (really, if honest, green and white), searching for where the lunar landing was taking place. We came to know exactly where the Sea of Tranquility was and other “landmarks.” It felt like we were exploring the moon right alongside the astronauts. Those were difficult days and, like today, the moon landings were a moment of relief from all the social upheaval, assasinations, and war of the late 60s. Even as a boy I remember the relief of focusing on something that we could all share, as a country seeking to do great things despite the news cycle.
So I followed the Artemis II NASA website, especially their photo gallery. As soon as I found the shot of the moon with the earth rising behind it, it became my computer screens’ background!
On Earth Day this year (April 22) I find myself thinking of the moon. I’m hoping that if we plan to establish a presence on the moon we do a better job than we have done here. I’m hoping it doesn’t become some extra-global military target.
Could the earth exist without the moon? Yes, but it would not be habitable by humans. The delicate balance of such a massive enterprise of creation can only be the work of a Creator, not to mention galaxies beyond. The coincidences can’t be this razor thin.
The moon stabilizes the tilt of the earth at exactly 23.5 degrees. Without it, Earth’s tilt could wobble between 0 and 90 degrees leading to extreme seasons where poles might face the sun directly for years, while the equator would freeze. The moon’s gravity acts as a brake on Earth’s rotation. Without it, Earth would spin much faster, leading to much shorter days, potentially 4-12 hours long, resulting in violent, sustained winds up to 300 mph. Tides would be weakened, half as strong as they are now, ruining wetlands and causing a collapse in marine life. The planet would be unfit for human survival.
What a delicate balance we see, not only in the moon and the earth, but in all of God’s creation. How delicate the equilibrium even of our own Earth, and how dangerous and permanent are the effects of our lack of care for it.
Taking the thought one step farther, how delicate the balance of hearts and minds in families, in communities, and among nations. How great must our care for each other be, to ensure the justice and peace that allows all people to survive, even thrive. We must learn a greater attentiveness to our own words and actions which can build up and preserve certainly as effectively as they can do damage, especially today when it is a noble act of activism to be kind.
The Lord be with you,
Mary’s Comfort will be hosting a Gratitude Reception on April 19 from 2:30–4:00 PM in the Bradican Room. This is an opportunity to celebrate the generosity of our donors, connect as a parish community, and learn more about the mission of Mary’s Comfort. Please contact the parish office for additional information.
Our monthly Ecumenical Prayer Service is this Monday, 20 April at 8pm in the Church. Please plan to join us, bring friend and experience and evening of prayer and song in the Taizé tradition.
The Virginia MARCH FOR LIFE is Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at the Virginia State Capitol Grounds, 1000 Bank Street, Richmond. The day begins with a rally at 10am followed by the march starting at 11am. New this year is the opportunity to register for training sessions after the march at 12:30 to help prepare advocates to stop the extreme proposed constitutional amendment that would allow virtually unlimited abortion at any stage of pregnancy. Register here: https://marchforlife.org/virginia/.
All Saints Church Multi-Car Raffle is still in full swing. Four vehicles will be raffled along with a $20,000 cash drawing, plus other cash drawings. The final deadline for ticket returns is April 21th. The drawings begin at 1:00pm Saturday, April 25th at All Saints Parish in Manassas. Please return all tickets by mail directly to All Saints in the envelope provided.
FAITH FORMATION
Living the Liturgical Year:
Happy 3rd week of Easter! On April 25, we celebrate the feast of St. Mark the Evangelist. He is one of the Gospel writers and the first bishop of Alexandria, Egypt. He is associated with the symbol of a winged lion. Did you know that St. Mark’s mother, also named Mary, owned the house where the Last Supper had taken place? It was also at the Upper Room of the house where the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles. Celebrate St. Mark’s feast day by baking lion cupcakes with your children. Instructions and his story can also be found here: https://catholiccuisine.blogspot.com/2008/04/cupcakes-for-st-marks-feast-day.html
Plan to join us on Sunday, April 26 following the 9am Mass for our last Sunday Donut Social until fall. Parents, enjoy coffee and fellowship while your children make liturgical themed crafts with our volunteers!
Volunteers for 2026-2027 ~ 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 (Special Session for First Communicants): April 19 after 9am and 11am Mass
Regular classes: Apr. 21-22, 28-29
Note we WILL hold classes on April 21
SPRED Classes: Apr. 25
Sunday Donut Social: Apr. 26
Family Faith Formation: Apr. 26
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, April 21 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
All high schoolers are invited to take advantage of the FCPS student holiday and join us for 9am daily Mass, followed by donuts and fun in the youth room until 10:30am.
All high schoolers are invited to attend our Thursday night small group sessions. Guys’ Small Groups will be on 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 7pm in the Youth Room. Girls’ Small Groups will be on 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 7pm in the Youth Room.
All adults of the parish are invited to consider volunteering for Workcamp. We can find a role for anyone willing to help. We are especially in need of contractors with skills in home repairs (no license necessary) and female crew leaders to serve alongside our teens during the week of Workcamp. Please contact our parish Stakeholder, Matthew Frey, for more information - matthew_c_frey@yahoo.com.
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- next gathering May 6
To learn more about our middle and high school ministries,
please contact Grace Mee, gmee@stbernpar.org
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
Having the bulletin to the printer nearly a week before the scheduled weekend has a tendency to warp your my of time. I sometimes wonder in what week I actually am.
About so many things today I wonder if I can speak. As a nation we are so divided, it is difficult to say anything that remains neutral and doesn’t divide people further.
So we don’t say anything. Those divisions, whether philosophical, political, or social have crept into the fabric of the Church, as well, primarily I believe because people can say whatever they want on social media. I try to stay away from social media, but it seeps in in unexpected ways. I am deeply troubled by the venom which has resulted in the recent exchange between a president and a pope. A president who disrespects a pope and treats him like a politician, seeking to divide our house against itself and choose one or the other. Our work as a Church is to resist and conquer the author of division over whom, by the way, Jesus is already victorious.
I believe that if the person is right there in front of you, you think twice before saying some things. The inherent dignity of a real person overrides things that do not dignify. Trapped in your own mind you won’t hear how it sounds as your words echo across the room and into outer space. Online, you only hear the click of the button as you hit send.
Thank God we have a pope who is speaking. Notice, he doesn’t undignify even the undignified, he just speaks the Gospel and reminds us of the truth.
We must remind each other that what is happening in our world is not okay. Our children must be clear in this so as not to become like this. That the inhumanity served up with indifference is not okay. This kind of unacceptable behavior in the way people are treating each other is not okay. Blasphemy is not okay, nor is indiscriminate killing or threats to eliminate peoples, bringing devastation, destruction.
We have long condemned such behavior in others. We need to search our own tent to root out anything that is not of the Gospel of Jesus.
This week has been a busy one with several dialogues: the local interfaith clergy gathering, a regional interfaith (Metro DC) gathering, a formal dialogue with the Vaishnava Hindu community. Everywhere I go, I am reminded of the hope that our leader the Pope is bringing to darkness that would like us to stop hoping. They love him. I have shared so many texts in the spirit of Pope Leo. In speaking about the situation we find ourselves in globally, I found myself reading the Beatitudes to Won (Korean) Buddhists at a dialogue last weekend. It doesn’t say “blessed are Catholics who are poor in spirit;” “blessed are Catholics who mourn;” “blessed are Catholics who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” And everyone in the room immediately knew that Jesus was talking directly to them. There was a silence. And then there was peacefulness. Jesus would have been very pleased with this interfaith gathering.
Since then, I have had this image in my mind. Every time the Gospel is heard, or seen in your actions and words, wouldn’t it be great if the response was this kind of acceptance, even applause, for the Word of God who came to change our world and turn us toward each other, not apart.
The Lord be with you,
Join us this Sunday afternoon, April 12 at 3pm for the Divine Mercy Chaplet and devotions for Divine Mercy Sunday.
Mary’s Comfort will be hosting a Gratitude Reception on April 19 from 2:30–4:00 PM in the Bradican Room. This is an opportunity to celebrate the generosity of our donors, connect as a parish community, and learn more about the mission of Mary’s Comfort. Please contact the parish office for additional information.
The Virginia MARCH FOR LIFE is Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at the Virginia State Capitol Grounds, 1000 Bank Street, Richmond. The day begins with a rally at 10am followed by the march starting at 11am. New this year is the opportunity to register for training sessions after the march at 12:30 to help prepare advocates to stop the extreme proposed constitutional amendment that would allow virtually unlimited abortion at any stage of pregnancy. Register here: https://marchforlife.org/virginia/.
We will celebrate our parish, Saint Bernadette, Feast Day on Thursday, April 16, with a bilingual Mass at 7pm.
The annual Spring ECHO Yard Sale returns to the school gym on Saturday, April 11, 8am until noon.
Adults who, for whatever reason, are catechized but have never received the sacrament of Confirmation are invited to contact the office. Fr. Don will be planning a series of classes during the Easter Season in preparation for Confirmation with Bishop Burbidge on Pentecost Sunday.
All Saints Church Multi-Car Raffle is still in full swing. Four vehicles will be raffled along with a $20,000 cash drawing, plus other cash drawings. The final deadline for ticket returns is April 21th. The drawings begin at 1:00pm Saturday, April 25th at All Saints Parish in Manassas. Please return all tickets by mail directly to All Saints in the envelope provided.
FAITH FORMATION
Living the Liturgical Year:
Happy Divine Mercy Sunday! This feast is usually held on the 2nd Sunday following Easter. In a series of revelations to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, our Lord called for a special feast day . It focuses on the gift of mercy and love given through Christ's death, burial and resurrection. Did you know that you can receive a Special Plenary Indulgence and the Extraordinary Grace? To receive Extraordinary Grace, the condition is to receive Holy Communion worthily on Divine Mercy Sunday by making a good Confession beforehand and being in a state of grace and trusting the Lord in His Divine Mercy. A way to celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday is to make Divine Mercy Sundaes and explain the meaning as you create it! https://www.catholicicing.com/celebrate-divine-mercy-sunday/. You can also find other Divine Mercy Sunday Activities here: https://youtu.be/B4fa0tsozL4
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: Apr. 14/15, 21/22, 28/29
Note: we will hold classes on April 21 although FCPS has a day off
No classes: Mar. 31, Apr. 1, 7/8
SPRED Classes: Apr. 11, 25
Sunday Doughnut Social: Apr. 26
Family Faith Formation: Apr. 26
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, April 14 at 7pm in the Bradican Room. Back by popular demand is an evening of chair yoga followed by healthy snacks. Wear comfortable clothes that allow you to move freely. Come enjoy gentle stretching and mindful movement to calm your mind and lift your spirit.
YOUTH MINISTRY
High School Live CLUE Night - Saturday, April 11
All 9th-12th graders re invited to join us for a live CLUE night on Saturday, April 11 from 6-8:30pm in the Bradican Room! Just like the board game, visit different rooms, talk to other players, and collect clues. Bring your magnifying glass and notepads! Dinner will be included.
All high schoolers are invited to attend our Thursday night small group sessions. Guys’ Small Groups will be on 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 7pm in the Youth Room. Girls’ Small Groups will be on 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 7pm in the Youth Room.
Middle School BASH - Saturday, April 25th
All middle schoolers are invited to join us for the Diocese of Arlington BASH at Bishop O’Connell High School! This is an exciting day for more than a thousand middle school students to gather with Bishop Burbidge to celebrate our Catholic Faith! To register, pay the $15 fee online, and turn in a permission form either to the parish office or email to Grace Mee (gmee@stbernpar.org). The Deadline to register is Friday, April 17, but spots fill up early, so register now! Adult chaperones and drivers are needed.
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- next gathering April 1
To learn more about our middle and high school ministries,
please contact Grace Mee, gmee@stbernpar.org
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
Last Monday (yes, the day after Easter!) we gathered with all the new members of the Church who received the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil. After accompanying a wonderful group of people who are seeking more of God and faith is a sacred work, and humbling. We really form a family out of a cohort of unacquainted people. It is a favorite ministry for me.
On Monday night we got back together after a truly powerful experience of the Easter Vigil Mass. (See photos starting on page 10, and the list of people - some were baptized, some already baptized joined the Catholic Church, all were confirmed.) We gather again right away after Easter in order to share while the experience is fresh. What were the most interesting aspects? What surprised you? Did anything create questions in your mind? Other thoughts after reflection?
What I love so much about OCIA is that people are willing to be vulnerable after we get to know each other and really just open their hearts wide and share their journey. Our new Catholics had such beautiful things to say about their experience of the Vigil, how things felt to them, how they felt really welcome and special and holy (in a healthy way).
Receiving sacraments for most of us, unfortunately, was done at early ages before we developed the ability to recognize the profound reality of what we celebrate. Being ordained a priest was so unlike my memories of other sacraments because I knew who I was and what was happening. Receiving Eucharist can become so routine that we don’t even think about the miracle that God literally places his Son in our hands.
So if I were to ask you these four questions with Easter Sunday in such recent memory, how would you respond? Did you find anything interesting? Surprising? Questionable? Having asked these questions, I imagine there might be some people who would look at me as if I were a little crazy.
But, these are real questions we should be asking. We should be reflecting on these Mysteries we encounter and see how we are somehow different, or changed, or our knowledge and faith is deepened. Without any kind of religious reflection leading to appreciation and gratitude, memories fade quickly and we can become indifferent.
He is risen... what is different about us now? We know this is something new: what? A new not-previously-known life has come to us. A new unknown love. Why? Isn’t that the purpose of God’s action? We must respond to grace and not just collect it, engaging our human senses and intuitions to grow. If not, then why bother?
There is a vital link that seems to be broken with many people and their common perception of religion. “Why does it matter? I can be spiritual but not religious...” except you really can’t. Religion is when spirituality becomes a commitment. Most people think religion is only rules demanding compliance. On the contrary, it is not servitude, but freely chosen service.
I know I’ve written about this before, but it bears repeating. A new category of people in all religions is replacing the “nones” (What is your religious affiliation? - their answer is “none.”) This new category is the “dones.” After the dryness of going through the motions for so long, these people (largely in their 50s and 60s) are simply “done.” Often highly engaged former church members—often former lay leaders—they have left traditional church attendance, not out of a loss of faith, but due to dissatisfaction with organized religion’s bureaucracy, judgmental culture, and rigid structure. As unfortunate as these realities are (I didn’t become a priest because I love the Church...), the engagement is still too important to let go of.
If you feel your fire diminishing, get involved in the life of someone who is seeking God. Ask each other the four questions and the sharing will mutually inspire. Seeing the beauty of faith in the other person can only renew you, and renew the Church. He is risen, alleluia!
The Lord be with you,
Sacred Triduum
HOLY THURSDAY (Worship Aid Here)
• No morning Masses, Morning prayer at 8am
• MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER, 7:30pm, and Adoration until 12am in gym
GOOD FRIDAY (Worship Aid Here)
• No morning Masses, Morning prayer at 8am
• Tre Ore, 12 - 3pm (limited confessions), followed by Stations of the Cross
• Via Crucis, (Spanish) 4pm
• PASION Y VENERACION de la SANTA CRUZ, 5pm
• PASSION and VENERATION of the HOLY CROSS, 7:30pm
HOLY SATURDAY
• No morning Masses, Morning prayer at 8am
• Easter Foods Blessing, 10am, church
EASTER VIGIL OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD, 8pm (Worship Aid Here)
EASTER SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD (Worship Aid Here)
• Masses 7am, 9am, 11am, 1pm (Spanish). NO 5pm Mass
Pope Leo has asked the global Church to support the Pontifical Good Friday Collection, which helps Christians in the Holy Land and maintains the holy sites. Stand in solidarity with the Church in the Holy Land as a witness of peace supporting parishes and schools, maintaining Christian shrines and caring for refugees there. It will be the only collection on Good Friday.
The Virginia MARCH FOR LIFE is Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at the Virginia State Capitol Grounds, 1000 Bank Street, Richmond. The day begins with a rally at 10am followed by the march starting at 11am. New this year is the opportunity to register for training sessions after the march at 12:30 to help prepare advocates to stop the extreme proposed constitutional amendment that would allow virtually unlimited abortion at any stage of pregnancy. Register here: https://marchforlife.org/virginia/. Contact the parish office no later than April 8 if you would like to take a bus.
We will celebrate our parish, Saint Bernadette, Feast Day on Thursday, April 16, with a bilingual Mass at 7pm.
The annual Spring ECHO Yard Sale returns to the school gym on Saturday, April 11, 8am until noon.
Adults who, for whatever reason, are catechized but have never received the sacrament of Confirmation are invited to contact the office. Fr. Don will be planning a series of classes during the Easter Season in preparation for Confirmation with Bishop Burbidge on Pentecost Sunday.
All Saints Church Multi-Car Raffle is still in full swing. Four vehicles will be raffled along with a $20,000 cash drawing, plus other cash drawings. The final deadline for ticket returns is April 21th. The drawings begin at 1:00pm Saturday, April 25th at All Saints Parish in Manassas. Please return all tickets by mail directly to All Saints in the envelope provided.
FAITH FORMATION
Living the Liturgical Year:
Happy Easter! Christ is risen! With the sign of Spring and new life, one way to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection is to make a Resurrection Garden with your children. Did you know that Easter season lasts for 7 weeks until Pentecost? That is 50 days, not including Sundays. The Resurrection Garden can mark these days and also continue to grow during the year. The Sunday Eucharist is the memorial of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus -- every Sunday of the year is a mini-Easter! Directions to create a Resurrection Garden can be found here: https://www.catholicicing.com/resurrection-garden/.
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: Apr. 14-15, 21-22, 28-29
Note we WILL hold classes on April 21
No classes: Mar. 31-Apr. 1, Apr. 7-8
SPRED Classes: Apr. 11, 25
Sunday Donut Social: Apr. 26
Family Faith Formation: Apr. 26
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, April 7 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, April 14 at 7pm in the Bradican Room. Back by popular demand is an evening of chair yoga followed by healthy snacks. Wear comfortable clothes that allow you to move freely. Come enjoy gentle stretching and mindful movement to calm your mind and lift your spirit.
YOUTH MINISTRY
High School Live CLUE Night - Saturday, April 11
All 9th-12th graders re invited to join us for a live CLUE night on Saturday, April 11 from 6-8:30pm in the Bradican Room! Just like the board game, visit different rooms, talk to other players, and collect clues. Bring your magnifying glass and notepads! Dinner will be included.
All high schoolers are invited to attend our Thursday night small group sessions. Guys’ Small Groups will be on 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 7pm in the Youth Room. Girls’ Small Groups will be on 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 7pm in the Youth Room.
Middle School BASH - Saturday, April 25th
All middle schoolers are invited to join us for the Diocese of Arlington BASH at Bishop O’Connell High School! This is an exciting day for more than a thousand middle school students to gather with Bishop Burbidge to celebrate our Catholic Faith! To register, pay the $15 fee online, and turn in a permission form either to the parish office or email to Grace Mee (gmee@stbernpar.org). The Deadline to register is Friday, April 17, but spots fill up early, so register now! Adult chaperones and drivers are needed.
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- next gathering April 1
To learn more about our middle and high school ministries,
please contact Grace Mee, gmee@stbernpar.org
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
What was that moment of resurrection like? Nobody saw it. Was it silent? or bright? Was there anything to see at all with our human eyes? It probably seemed like there was nothing happening. Up until the moment of Jesus’ death, if you think about it, nobody was in heaven. Only beyond the Cross could Christ go to work calling forth all the just people who had died in the milennia before and were waiting the moment of redemption. At the moment of resurrection, imagine the overwhelming joy in all creation—the promise of perfect community with God that we are still waiting for but has been underway already now for a long time.
God often does things in secret. His secret Mysteries are then revealed later when we are ready, when the world is ready to understand. The Epiphany of our Lord was the moment that God revealed the Mystery of the Incarnation of his Son in human flesh, Jesus’ conception in his mother, Mary, the secret event that happened months before. People were still looking for the Messiah not knowing he was already among them. The Last Supper was the moment that Jesus revealed, in his own sacrifice, the fulfillment of the Mystery of God’s covenant with his people many centuries before. He revealed himself as the lamb of sacrifice whose blood would be the sign for death to pass over us.
The resurrection of Jesus, another secret event, was not revealed until the next day when he appeared to his Apostles and faithful in different ways. They had been locked in their houses fearful of what would come next. A couple of his disciples decided to leave Jerusalem that morning. After all, they witnessed the cruelty of the mob and what they had done in killing Jesus. Who would die next?
The resulting confusion and fear are quite justified. We find ourselves in difficult unpredictable times. We can’t control this any more than fly. But we remember: we are not in control. God doesn’t do these things according to our plans, but according to his own. Sometimes we might wish he would follow our plan more, but I ultimately know he is God, not me. And it’s a good thing, because he knows how to overcome evil, how to rise from the dead, and calls us into his new life for ever. I have no idea how to do that.
Embrace the secret work of God’s love in your life, even in moments of suffering, insecurity, anxiety, even loss. We know he is working in all places and situations. We must trust this even if we can’t see it right now. This is how God has always worked, without a fanfare or show. Easter joy always comes out of our joining Jesus in his sacrifice of love. It involves a Cross freely accepted. And it is on that Cross with Jesus when he hands on to us his saving mission, to be his body on the Cross only in order to be his glorified body for ever, because of his gift of baptism.
People in the early Church called themselves people of the eighth day, because of this secret and unexpected development in God’s creation: God created for six days and rested on the Sabbath, Shabbat, Saturday. But Christ, God the Son rose from the dead on the eighth, the Lord’s Day, or Sunday. The work of creation is recreated on Sunday, every Sunday we celebrate resurrection. He is the alpha and the omega, the first day and the last day, the origin and destination for all believers.
Let us learn humility, then, and selflessness because these are the things that allow us to lay down our own entitlements and discover the overwhelming reality of God’s love and how we fit in his plan, not how he fits in ours. And let us commit to praying for one another every day, to help those most in need of God’s help.
We will hold each other close in prayer and all peoples will get through this time of difficulty together, faithfully in God and to what they know of him. It will be a new day like that day when, between the Cross and the empty tomb, Jesus will call us forth from all our locked places of waiting and suffering into the light and freedom of his love.
The Lord be with you,