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Rise Against Hunger / Saint Bernadette Dining Nights Out Kickoff
Monday, May 25, McAlister’s Deli, 4-8pm, Mention Saint Bernadette when ordering!
Our second collection this weekend supports the annual Mission Cooperative Plan Appeal for our diocese. Our parish mission organization is Order of St. Augustine Vicariate of Tanzania, to help those who do not have access to basic pastoral and sacramental services as well as basic needs – like food, shelter, and healthcare. If donating by check, please make your check payable to our parish and put “MCP” in the memo line. You can strengthen the global Church! Please be generous.
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.
Parish Offices will be closed Monday, May 25 in observance of Memorial Day. NO 7am Mass today!
Save the date: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity with Bishop Burbidge. Please plan to join church leaders and members from all over the MetroDC area as we come together to show unity in divided times! HERE at Saint Bernadette, Tuesday, May 26, 7pm followed by a reception. Invite your friends!
Please plan to join us as Concerts at Saint Bernadette presents a free event: Brazilian Music Immersion: “From the origins of Samba to Bossa Nova” with Dr. Luiz “Pepe” Barcellos, Friday, May 29 at 7:30pm. a light light reception follows.
FAITH FORMATION
Living the Liturgical Year:
Living the liturgical year Happy Pentecost Sunday! Did you know that Pentecost is called the birthday of the Church? It is the day the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles, empowering them to begin the mission of spreading Jesus’ message to all nations. The Apostles preached the Gospel, and some 3,000 people were baptized on that day. One fun way to teach your children about Pentecost is to make straw and paper fire launchers. You can find instructions here: https://outuponthewaters.com/straw-and-paper-fire-launcher-pentecost-craft-for-kids/. And watch a video about Pentecost here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mBLGM3K9yMw
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
SPRED Classes: May 30
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, June 2 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 Rising 9th - graduated 12th graders are invited!
* Daily Mass and Donuts - Every Tuesday from June 30 – August 11. 9-10:30am
* Escape Room: Saint Bernadette Edition - Thursday, July 16, 7-8:30pm, Youth Room
* King’s Dominion Day - Wednesday, July 29. $40. Beginning with the 9am daily Mass
* End of Summer Social - Wednesday, August 12, 7-8:30pm at the Rectory Patio
Rock climbing at Sport Rock - All 9-12th graders are invited to join us at Sport Rock for rock climbing on Sunday, June 14. The cost is $15. Contact Grace to register!
Associates of St. John Bosco College Night ~Tuesday, June 30 - 7pm at Holy Spirit
Calling all rising college freshmen! Join us for a College Night with the Associates of St. John Bosco. Meet other rising freshmen and upperclassmen who will be attending your school and learn how to strengthen your faith while in college! All St. B’s students will go get ice cream after the event is over! Registration is required. Contact Grace for more information!
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 meeting of the school year is May 28.
Middle School Youth Ministry
All rising 6th - 8th graders are invited to our Summer Drop-Ins! Join us June 24, July 8, July 22, and August 5 for fun, games, friends, and of course, ice cream! We will meet from 6:45-8pm in the gym.
To learn more about our middle and high school ministries,
please contact Grace Mee, gmee@stbernpar.org
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
Be sure to carve out a little time from your schedule today to consider the significance of what we celebrate this Pentecost Sunday.
On our parish website, at the bottom of the front page, is a line I wrote when I first came to Saint Bernadette. It was something that came to me while I was praying in the church one day of Lent, I think. I wrote, “The Liturgy is the moment of the Cross and the empty tomb, when the public life of Jesus paused, and the public life of his believers began. In Liturgy our life becomes Christ, and we are sent from the altar to fulfill his works, a mission that he received from his Father and that we have inherited by his mercy.”
Today I add to it that the Holy Spirit is our connectedness to our inheritance, the bond of love that is the dynamic relationship of begetting and being begotten of the Father and Son, co-equal and consubstantial, which is poured into our hearts. The Son is “begotten, not made,” and we who were made, are begotten by the Spirit of God, our inheritance. As heirs, we are also responsible for mission, and that mission is not an individual calling. It is for a community.
The Apostles and disciples are together when this decisive change comes suddenly from heaven. The Promise is realized as human gathering anticipates and divine gift fulfills. John Paul II said that Pentecost is a communication of the very vitality of God who gives himself to men for continual sanctification.
In this way, the Spirit does something essential for the Church’s infancy: the witness of the Spirit of truth becomes “one with that of the Apostles,” fusing divine and human testimony into “one saving reality,” and from that one fusion flows the evangelization entrusted to the Church as her mission.
They left that upper room after locking themselves inside for nine days, not knowing what to do next, and went outside. They boldly told their story, and the story of Jesus and what happened to him, and who was responsible for doing it. What happens at Pentecost is not the practiced words of humans, nor is it a kind of prophecy that flows through them like an oracle. It is the marriage of the two, a synergy, a Word that reaches the heart of seekers and touches them in a way greater than knowledge or emotion. 3,000 were baptized that day.
The Holy Spirit is also the principle of unity and order in the Church. The Spirit “dwells in the Church and in the hearts of the faithful as in a temple,” prays and bears witness within them, guides the Church “into all the truth, unifies her in communion and ministry,” and provides “varied hierarchical and charismatic gifts” (John Paul II).
In our study of Divine Revelation, there are three sources, or “fonts,” of how God reveals himself to the world. Sacred Scripture takes first place. It is the Word of God, not in the sense of spiritual dictation, but how God moves the hearts of people to carry forward oral traditions, and later the inspiration and encounters God has with prophets and evangelists.
The Gospels are the most important scriptures, because they are the real-time accounts of God’s Word-made-flesh, Jesus Christ. As a complex human person, however he taught not only by words but also by actions and example. These constitute the second font of revelation called Tradition. Tradition includes communal life, worship, veneration of the Mother of God, and other aspects which happened but were not necessarily recorded in Scripture.
As the Church continues to be guided by the living Holy Spirit for continual sanctification, we value the teaching Magisterium of the Church to carry forward into different cultures and circumstances the perennial faith of the Church in a way that is faithful and true. We do not rely on our own opinions or judgments to guide the Church, because as we have seen in so many instances, often all we find is ever greater division.
For this unity we must pray—for a new Pentecost! Join the Church as we pray for Christian unity this Tuesday night with bishops and leaders, here at 7pm.
The Lord be with you,
PARISH EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS – 17 May 2026, The Ascension of the Lord, The Seventh Sunday of Easter
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 Knights of Columbus will be collecting donations on the 16th and 17th of May in support of KOVAR - Virginians with Intellectual Disabilities, is a nonprofit organization founded by the Knights of Columbus with a mission to improve access to affordable housing, job training, sports participation, and personal care for Virginians with Intellectual Disabilities. More information can be found on https://www.kovarva.org/
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.
Our monthly Ecumenical Prayer Service is this Monday, 18 May at 8pm in the Church. Please plan to join us, bring friend and experience and evening of prayer and song in the Taizé tradition.
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.
Save the date: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity with Bishop Burbidge. Please plan to join church leaders and members from all over the MetroDC area as we come together to show unity in divided times! HERE at Saint Bernadette, Tuesday, May 26, 7pm followed by a reception. Invite your friends!
Please plan to join us as Concerts at Saint Bernadette presents a free event: Brazilian Music Immersion: “From the origins of Samba to Bossa Nova” with Dr. Luiz “Pepe” Barcellos, Friday, May 29 at 7:30pm. a light light reception follows.
FAITH FORMATION
Living the Liturgical Year:
Happy Feast of the Ascension of our Lord! Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord, forty days after Easter. It traditionally fell on Thursday, but the majority of U.S. dioceses have moved it to the 7th Sunday of Easter. Watch a video about the Ascension here: https://youtu.be/UcFw8pLBSIo?si=VklSCzaUNz6Nycm0. Suggestions for other activities are here: https://www.asceticlifeofmotherhood.com/blog/celebrateascension
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.
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
SPRED Classes: May 30
First Holy Communion: 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 19 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 meeting of the school year is 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. Wednesday, May 20 will be our last gathering for this school year.
To learn more about our middle and high school ministries,
please contact Grace Mee, gmee@stbernpar.org
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
The Lord be with you,
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 this weekend of May 9 & 10.
The Knights of Columbus will be collecting donations on the 16th and 17th of May in support of KOVAR - Virginians with Intellectual Disabilities, is a nonprofit organization founded by the Knights of Columbus with a mission to improve access to affordable housing, job training, sports participation, and personal care for Virginians with Intellectual Disabilities. More information can be found on https://www.kovarva.org/
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.
Save the date: Week of Prayer for Christian Unity with Bishop Burbidge. Please plan to join church leaders and members from all over the MetroDC area as we come together to show unity in divided times! HERE at Saint Bernadette, Tuesday, May 26, 7pm followed by a reception. Invite your friends!
Please plan to join us as Concerts at Saint Bernadette presents a free event: Brazilian Music Immersion: “From the origins of Samba to Bossa Nova” with Dr. Luiz “Pepe” Barcellos, Friday, May 29 at 7:30pm. a light light reception follows.
FAITH FORMATION
Living the Liturgical Year:
Happy 6th week of Easter! On May 14, we celebrate the Feast Day of St. Matthias the Apostle. He was a disciple who replaced Judas. He was with Jesus from the very beginning of his ministry when he was baptized by John until Jesus’ ascension. He preached the Gospel and helped build the early Church. He is honored for his faithfulness and mission. You and your children can learn more about St. Mattias here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7l67iWOaiM
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.
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 12-13
SPRED Classes: May 30
First Holy Communion: 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.
Our next monthly meeting will be Tuesday, May 12 at 7pm in the Bradican Room. Bring a picture of yourself as a young child. We will enjoy walking down memory lane sharing our special childhood memories.
Tuesday, May 19 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. Wednesday, May 20 will be our last gathering for this school year.
To learn more about our middle and high school ministries,
please contact Grace Mee, gmee@stbernpar.org
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
The apostles laid hands on believers while in Samaria to receive the Holy Spirit, on individuals to appoint or consecrate them for specific ministry roles, such as the setting apart of the seven deacons for service to the community and the commissioning of missionaries.
In Greek, this laying on of hands is called epiclesis, or the invocation of the Holy Spirit to sanctify, or consecrate. This laying on of hands is used in the:
• prayer over the waters used for ritual Baptism;
• prayer over the holy oil, chrism, which carries the Holy Spirit – as well as hands laid on each, or over all, for Confirmation and Holy Orders;
• prayer over the gifts in eucharistic prayers, - “make holy, therefore, these gifts, by sending down your Spirit upon them like the dewfall, so that they may become the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ;”
• prayer of absolution in Reconciliation: “He has poured out his Holy Spirit among us for the forgiveness of sins: through the ministry of the Church may God grant you pardon and peace…;”
• Marriage nuptial blessing – the miracle of two becoming one;
• prayer at the ordination, laying on of hands and oil for priests and deacons.
Jesus instructed believers to lay hands on the sick to initiate recovery, and a command followed by Paul and others (Acts 28:8, Mark 16:18) who used this act to set people apart for missionary work.
Consecration means to set aside someone or something for a sacred duty. It is more than just a blessing like we might bless rosaries, but similar – you bless a rosary and it is set aside for prayer, not to be worn as jewelry. Or the altar. Once consecrated, it is to be used only for the holy work of sanctifying.
Objects, places, or people are made holy, sanctified, or set apart for a sacred purpose through a solemn religious rite. It implies dedication to God or a divine purpose, can involve vows or blessing. It means being separated from common, secular use to a dedicated, sacred function.
You are already consecrated by baptism.
Last week we heard in Peter’s first letter: “Beloved: Come to him, [you,] a living stone, rejected by human beings but chosen and precious in the sight of God, and, like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
To be set aside for priesthood. The priesthood of the faithful. Through Baptism, YOU share Christ’s priesthood and become a “holy priesthood.” YOU offer spiritual sacrifices by living faith, hope, and charity, participating actively in the Church’s liturgy, and serving according to YOUR vocation in Christ’s mission as priest, prophet, and king in witness of holy lives and practical charity.
It is a poverty of understanding that would delegate the priesthood only to priests and deacons. You live out the baptismal priesthood you received—not by replacing ordained ministry, but by participating in Christ’s mission in your own vocation and place in the world.
• PRIEST: by fully participating in the Mass, offering yourself with the gifts of bread and wine, by making of your whole life an offering of thanks to God;
• PROPHET: confessing, adhering to faith, deepening it, bearing witness to the world. Preaching the Gospel in your actions, even without words;
• KING: the greatest among you must become the servant of all, building the kingdom of truth and life, holiness and grace, justice, love and peace.
St. Peter continues: For it says in Scripture: Behold, I am laying a stone in Zion, a cornerstone, chosen and precious, and whoever believes in it shall not be put to shame. Therefore, its value is clear for you who have faith, but for those without faith: The stone that the builders rejected, Jesus, has become the cornerstone, a stone that will make some people stumble... by disobeying the word, or by their indifference.
NO. WE are a chosen race, a royal priest-hood, a holy nation, a people of his own, so that we may announce the praises of him who called us out of darkness into his wonderful light.
The Lord be with you,
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,