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Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
A couple of things this week.
You’ll be seeing a lot from the Church during the next few weeks about the upcoming election in which the people of Virginia will vote about three constitutional amendments. You are welcome to read Bishop Burbidge and Knestout’s letter on pp. 8-9 of this bulletin.
It needs to be noted that this is not an election of people and is therefore non-partisan, although things tend to trend sadly according to partisan polarization. This is a vote about right and wrong how the Church teaches, and the bishops want to get everyone registered to vote as soon as possible. Early voting begins Sept. 18.
Ballot question 1 - would permit an abortion by anyone (minor or adult) up until the moment of birth, without any parental notification. When asked, at least, for consideration of medical care for a child who might survive an abortion, even that was denied. This can’t not be evil.
Ballot question 2 - seeks to make a constitutional definition of marriage as a bond between two adults. The Church is seeking to not lose the distinction of man and woman in marriage, as given by Revelation. This is NOT a vote NO to people of different sexual orientations -- we need to pray together about this, work to heal the damage which has been caused, affirm that we recognize the dignity of all persons, and seek to accompany them on their journey, not cast them aside.
Ballot question 3 seeks to restore voting rights to previously incarcerated persons who deserve a second chance.
New Parish Life Center Update
You may have noticed...the letter we received from Bishop Burbidge in last week’s bulletin giving us permission to finally move forward on our building program! It has been seven years, and nobody feels it more that those of us who have been working on this all this time! It is determined that our finances are solid, our project is well thought out and now we have a green light to go.
Already this past week we had our first contract/design meeting with the diocesan construction office representative, our architects, our civil engineers, and our project managers for our general contractor. We have a good team, and all are
very interested in delivering a great facility on time and on budget (or less!). Of course, there are uncertainties about the current market, inflation, tariffs, supply chain volatility... the list of variables is long, but this is what God wants for our parish family, and it will happen.
We are currently at 35% design development and the architects and contractors now begin using the design-build process to see where we can make some changes to save money, and keep an eye on utilities costs in the future, too. The civil engineers are at 95% completion and should be able to submit the site plan to the county within weeks to begin the permit process.
A preliminary timeline has been established and I would very much like to report that today, but we still need to factor in some variables before everybody gets their hopes set on a particular date. At the very least, we believe we can break ground late spring/early summer of 2027! Construction might be less than a year!
Once things really get going, we will be able to keep you up to date on what is happening and what comes next. It has been a great frustration to have nothing to report for so long a time, but I had a strong sense in the meeting this week that those days are over and we have nothing but a lot of building to do.
A reminder: we just finished the Parish Renewal Handbook and Ministry Catalog that you should be receiving in a couple of weeks by mail. Parish Life Weekend is Sept. 12-13. Time now to pray about your personal commitment to building this community with your time, talent and treasure.
The Lord be with you,
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
Once I asked A.I. the origin of the word “pastor.” The word “pastor” originates from the Latin word “pastor,” meaning “shepherd.” This term, in turn, comes from the Latin verb “pascere”, which means “to lead to pasture, set to grazing, cause to eat.” In religious contexts, particularly within Christianity, “pastor” is used to describe a clergyman or minister who is a shepherd to a flock or congregation.
It has been my experience, however, that the job often seems more like that of a sheepdog than a shepherd, running around biting at peoples’ heels to try to move this ship of church in the right direction. You hear people use the phrase “herding cats” a lot, but I think it better to popularize “herding sheep.”
It is an interesting reflection: to lead them to pasture, to set them to grazing, and to “cause [them] to eat?” What is the old phrase – you can lead a horse to water...but you can’t make it drink! But that is, apparently, exactly my vocation.
I have often pondered the best course of action for Saint Bernadette. Then, how do I place it in front of you, and convince you that you can’t live without it? That there is nothing more important to your life than what Jesus is offering now at this moment of your life? I would hope that in an unobscured moment of clarity each and every person in our parish would realize that this is True. But how do we renew our hearts to make Saint Bernadette our priority as a community that brings us holiness and life?
Sadly, this is not something that happens automatically. It is only inspired by an encounter of the love of God, often in prayer but often also in our interactions with others. There is an unconditionality of love that lays bare all our brokenness from bad experiences of love which did more harm than good. It is only actualized by the same interaction when we exper-ience the beauty of others serving us and our service to others. This is the love that saves. This is the love whose absence on the last day will bring about the words of our Savior, reminding us that every time we did not do something out of love for the least of our brothers and sisters, we did not do it for him. It is starkly simple.
Once again, we are preparing for Parish Life Weekend September 12-13. You will be asked to make commitments of time, talent and treasure for our parish comm-unity. Shepherds and sheepdogs aren’t enough to make things happen: Saint Bernadette is going to be just as great as you make it. But, people are afraid to commit to things today. There is the pasture... so many possibilities placed before us. Please, eat. The alternative is to starve.
Especially now that we have received the final approval of Bishop to move forward with our new building dream-to-reality (see page 8), we have an even greater future just about to open up. Think of the possibilities with a new building. So what does a pastor do when he needs help? He calls forth the gifts that God has already placed in our community.
We have a great parish advisory board in place ready to go. Where I need help is to build a communications team -- could be a committee, or just a team -- where we can communicate the incredible volume of our good news in a way that is concise, complete and not too frequent. The pasture is laid out before us. We now must lead each other to the water.
This is particularly an area where you youth and young adult members of our family can shine. I love to tell our kids that I graduated from college before personal computers were invented. They invented the internet the year I was ordained. So you can see how steep my learning curve is! Help! I make this bulletin every week, that is about the depth of my tech talents. Good news can travel just as quickly as bad can will provide people with the hope they need so much. The best news is usually received in person: by word of mouth. Share our story and get people excited! Come to the water!
The Lord be with you,
Rise Against Hunger / Saint Bernadette Dining Nights Out
Monday, 31 August, McAlister's Deli Rolling Road, 4-8pm
present our flyer or mention Saint Bernadette when ordering!
ANNOUNCEMENTS for the 21st Week in Ordinary Time
Mark your calendars! Our parish multicultural observance of the bishops’ National Prayer Service “Honoring the many paths that shaped America” is Wednesday, September 2 at 7:30pm – consider bringing food unique to your culture for our light potluck reception following.
Come to an organ/piano concert Friday evening, August 28, and hear Saint Bernadette’s own Sterling Tilley, III share his musical talent. In high school, Sterling helped here with music ministry at Mass! More information on page 9.
The Knights of Columbus is hosting a Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, August 23, from 8am to noon in the school cafeteria to welcome everyone. Donations will go to Knights of Columbus charities.
Join us for the Annual Back to School Tea on Saturday August 29th at 2:30 hosted by Mary’s Comfort, a center helping expecting mothers in crisis to have shelter, support, and new beginnings. See the bulletin for more details.
Our parish thrives because of the gifts and generosity of its members. We invite you to explore the many volunteer opportunities available and consider how you might share your time and talents in service to our parish community. Whether you want to just stick your toe in or jump in the pool, there is an activity that can bring out the best in you! Discover where God may be calling you to serve. Please visit the parish website for more information or complete an interest form HERE.
We are pleased to introduce Tap to Give, a convenient and secure way to make electronic donations through our ParishSOFT Giving platform. To use the Tap to Give feature, simply tap your NFC-enabled smartphone or smart-watch on the Tap to Give device. Make sure NFC is enabled on your device. (Bluetooth is not required for NFC payments.) ParishSOFT Giving supports both Apple Pay and Google Pay, making your donations fast, secure, and convenient. Thank you for your continued generosity and for supporting the mission and ministries of Saint Bernadette Parish.
Please plan to join us for our Rise Against Hunger Dining Out Nights. Participating restaurants include Silver Diner, Malek’s Pizza Palace, McAlister’s Deli, Delia’s, Milano’s, El Paso, and Saratoga Pizzeria. Each restaurant will generously donate a portion of their proceeds from meals purchased by our parish families. A complete Dining Nights calendar and flyers which you will need to take with you are available in the church vestibule and on the parish website.
FAITH FORMATION
Religious Education First Day Information - There will be a mandatory parent information meetings on the first day of classes, either Tuesday, September 1 or Wednesday, September 2, covering communications, disciplinary rules, and attendance expectations. Parents must attend this first-day meeting! Arrive no later than 6pm to the church with your child. We will start with prayer and the students will go to class with their catechists. Parents will remain in the church for the meeting. Students will be dismissed at the normal time and place: 7:15pm, from Door 1-- the main school door under the canopy.
Volunteers for 2026-2027 ~ If you feel called to help with the Religious Education program, we are in DIRE need of volunteers on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6-7:15pm (arrive by 5:45pm). For Tuesday: Confirmation Second Year Lead (7th and 8th grade), First Communion First Year Lead (1st and 2nd grade), First Communion Second Year Lead (2nd and 3rd grade), three hallway helpers, and four aides for various classrooms. For Wednesdays, Fourth Grade Lead, First Year First Communion Lead (3rd through 6th grade), one hallway monitor, and three aides for various classrooms. Feeling called to help? Need to know more? Please contact Lynn Jones at Ljones@stbernpar.org or 703-451-8576 ext 136. Training is scheduled this week, so call now!
Happy 21st Sunday of Ordinary Time! On August 27, we celebrate the Feast Day of St. Monica and on August 28, we celebrate the Feast Day of St. Augustine. St. Monica is known for her unwavering faith and persistent prayers for her son St. Augustine, who became one of the most influential Christian theologians in history. His theological work helped define and explain core Christian doctrine. You can find suggested activities to celebrate the Feasts of St. Monica and St. Augustine here: https://catholicprintableclub.com/blogs/august-feast-days/how-to-celebrate-the-feasts-of-st-monica-and-st-augustine-august-27-28. You can watch their story with your children here: https://app.formed.org/app/videos/578423?cid=115856.
WOMEN'S MINISTRY
Come and enjoy warm fellowship and great food. For more information, please email us at women@stbernpar.org
Tuesday, September 1, 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
High School Tuesday Socials begin August 25
All high schoolers are invited to join us for Tuesday Socials every Tuesday from 7-8:30pm! Meet in the youth room (in the parish office) for games, ice cream, and a discussion on the faith. Contact Grace Mee for more information!
High School Trivia Night - September 12 - Calling all high schoolers! Join us for Trivia Night on September 12th from 6-8:30 pm! Meet in the Bradican Room for a fun night of dinner, trivia, and fellowship.
Middle School
Middle School Youth Ministry begins September 2
All 6th-8th graders are invited for games, snacks, and fun every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month, beginning in September! Meet in the school gym from 6:45-8pm.
To learn more about our middle and high school ministries,
please contact Grace Mee, gmee@stbernpar.org
Rise Against Hunger / Saint Bernadette Dining Nights Out
Thursday, 18 August, Delia's, Backlick Road, Open to Close
present our flyer or mention Saint Bernadette when ordering!
ANNOUNCEMENTS for the 20th Week in Ordinary Time
Saint Bernadette School Alumni are warmly invited Sunday evening, August 16 to the 5pm Mass. An ice cream social is planned following Mass in front of the Bradican Rm. Show your Cardinal's spirit and reconnect with old friends. Please plan to join us.
We are pleased to introduce Tap to Give, a convenient and secure way to make electronic donations through our ParishSOFT Giving platform. To use the Tap to Give feature, simply tap your NFC-enabled smartphone or smart-watch on the Tap to Give device. Make sure NFC is enabled on your device. (Bluetooth is not required for NFC payments.) ParishSOFT Giving supports both Apple Pay and Google Pay, making your donations fast, secure, and convenient. Thank you for your continued generosity and for supporting the mission and ministries of Saint Bernadette Parish.
Come to an organ/piano concert Friday evening, August 28, and hear Saint Bernadette’s own Sterling Tilley, III share his musical talent. In high school, Sterling helped here with music ministry at Mass! More information on page 6.
The Knights of Columbus is hosting a Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, August 23, from 8am to 1pm in the school cafeteria to welcome everyone. Donations will go to Knights of Columbus charities.
Join us for the Annual Back to School Tea on Saturday August 29th at 2:30 hosted by Mary’s Comfort, a center helping expecting mothers in crisis to have shelter, support, and new beginnings. See the bulletin for more details.
Our parish thrives because of the gifts and generosity of its members. We invite you to explore the many volunteer opportunities available and consider how you might share your time and talents in service to our parish community. Whether you want to just stick your toe in or jump in the pool, there is an activity that can bring out the best in you! Discover where God may be calling you to serve. Please visit the parish website for more information or complete an interest form HERE.
Please plan to join us for our Rise Against Hunger Dining Out Nights. Participating restaurants include Silver Diner, Malek’s Pizza Palace, McAlister’s Deli, Delia’s, Milano’s, El Paso, and Saratoga Pizzeria. Each restaurant will generously donate a portion of their proceeds from meals purchased by our parish families. A complete Dining Nights calendar and flyers which you will need to take with you are available in the church vestibule and on the parish website.
FAITH FORMATION
Religious Education First Day Information - There will be a mandatory parent information meetings on the first day of classes, either Tuesday, September 1 or Wednesday, September 2, covering communications, disciplinary rules, and attendance expectations. Parents must attend this first-day meeting! Arrive no later than 6pm to the church with your child. We will start with prayer and the students will go to class with their catechists. Parents will remain in the church for the meeting. Students will be dismissed at the normal time and place: 7:15pm, from Door 1-- the main school door under the canopy.
Volunteers for 2026-2027 ~ If you feel called to help with the Religious Education program, we are in DIRE need of volunteers on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6-7:15pm (arrive by 5:45pm). For Tuesday: Confirmation Second Year Lead (7th and 8th grade), First Communion First Year Lead (1st and 2nd grade), First Communion Second Year Lead (2nd and 3rd grade), three hallway helpers, and four aides for various classrooms. For Wednesdays, Fourth Grade Lead, First Year First Communion Lead (3rd through 6th grade), one hallway monitor, and three aides for various classrooms. Feeling called to help? Need to know more? Please contact Lynn Jones at Ljones@stbernpar.org or 703-451-8576 ext 136. Training is scheduled this week, so call now!
WOMEN'S MINISTRY
Come and enjoy warm fellowship and great food. For more information, please email us at women@stbernpar.org
Tuesday, August 18 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.
For more information, please email us at women@stbernpar.org.
YOUTH MINISTRY
High School
All high schoolers are invited to join us for Tuesday Socials every Tuesday from 7-8:30pm! Meet in the youth room (in the parish office) for games, ice cream, and a discussion on the faith. Contact Grace Mee for more information!
Middle School Youth Ministry
All 6th-8th graders are invited for games, snacks, and fun every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month, beginning in September! Meet in the school gym from 6:45-8pm.
To learn more about our middle and high school ministries,
please contact Grace Mee, gmee@stbernpar.org
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
Youth of Saint Bernadette: pay attention! (Adults, you can, too!) Send this page to your children away at school, or to youth in your neighborhoods who are starting out on their own with a wide future ahead.
I came across this article in Vatican News about what Pope Leo had to say to the youth of Assisi on the feast of Jesus’ Transfiguration last week. It is so beautiful will use this as my letter to you this week.
by Tiziana Campisi, August 6, 2026
Pope Leo celebrated Mass on Thursday for the thousands of young people from across Europe gathered in Assisi for Go!, the 2026 Franciscan Youth Meeting.
At Mass in the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels, the Pope encouraged his young listeners to go “to the margins” of society, “where the injustice and arrogance of a few deny the dignity and dreams of many.”
“We are called to read the Scriptures with the Master,” Pope Leo said, “to interpret our times, and to make decisions as we walk in his footsteps. We are here to overcome resignation and fear, to untangle the doubts that hold us back just as they held back the apostles. Jesus calls us into a dialogue with his story so that we may write new pages of history.”
Assisi is a place where “everything whispers that our lives can be transformed, unleash light, and repair the world,” the Pope said, reminding his listeners that it was here in Assisi that “the transfiguration of Francis, of Clare, and then of thousands of other young people” first began.
Pope Leo began his homily by considering the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, which the Church marks today.
Jesus, the Pope said, was “transfigured precisely in conversation with the Father, with those who preceded him — Moses and Elijah — and with his contemporaries, the disciples.”
The Church exists, Pope Leo said, “to draw us into this dynamic of listening and deciding, helping us understand for whom to live and how to live.”
The Church is “the community where we learn to distinguish the voice of God,” the Pope stressed, “and to dare that obedience to the Holy Spirit that made bold and creative all those who agreed to follow Jesus.”
While St Francis’ choice to turn away from the world was revolutionary, St Clare’s was “even more striking,” Pope Leo said. Like Francis, Clare “wanted to live … in true freedom,” and this, the Pope explained, is the “energy” of Christianity - “that of beginnings and many fresh starts.”
All of this must be done without keeping our distance “from the wounds of the Lord,” as Pope Francis warned, Leo continued, quoting Evangelii gaudium, in which his predecessor stresses that “Jesus wants us to touch human misery, to touch the suffering flesh of others. He expects us to stop looking for those personal or communal niches that allow us to keep our distance from the heart of human suffering.”
Even if his listeners “might not be understood, even by those in your own home—just as happened to Saint Francis,” the Pope stressed that “stepping away from the culture of power and tearing down the walls that divide human beings is never a betrayal of family, city, or tradition.” Rather, he said, it serves to free us “from their ghosts, from enemies invented out of fear and ignorance, and from the violence that seeks to impose its own neat little order on a reality that vastly exceeds us on every side.”
“To trust in God is to discover, like Francis and Clare, a world of brothers and sisters to be appreciated and served, not exploited and dominated,” the Pope said. “Not a world to be defended, but one to be embraced.”
The Lord be with you,
Rise Against Hunger / Saint Bernadette Dining Nights Out
Thursday, 18 August, Delia's, Backlick Road, Open to Close
present our flyer or mention Saint Bernadette when ordering!
ANNOUNCEMENTS for the 19th Week in Ordinary Time
Saint Bernadette School Alumni are warmly invited Sunday evening, August 16 to the 5pm Mass. An ice cream social is planned following Mass in front of the Bradican Rm. Show your Cardinal's spirit and reconnect with old friends. Please plan to join us.
We are pleased to introduce Tap to Give, a convenient and secure way to make electronic donations through our ParishSOFT Giving platform. To use the Tap to Give feature, simply tap your NFC-enabled smartphone or smart-watch on the Tap to Give device. Make sure NFC is enabled on your device. (Bluetooth is not required for NFC payments.) ParishSOFT Giving supports both Apple Pay and Google Pay, making your donations fast, secure, and convenient. Thank you for your continued generosity and for supporting the mission and ministries of Saint Bernadette Parish.
Come to an organ/piano concert Friday evening, August 28, and hear Saint Bernadette’s own Sterling Tilley, III share his musical talent. In high school, Sterling helped here with music ministry at Mass! More information on page 6.
The Knights of Columbus is hosting a Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, August 23, from 8am to 1pm in the school cafeteria to welcome everyone. Donations will go to Knights of Columbus charities.
Join us for the Annual Back to School Tea on Saturday August 29th at 2:30 hosted by Mary’s Comfort, a center helping expecting mothers in crisis to have shelter, support, and new beginnings. See the bulletin for more details.
Our parish thrives because of the gifts and generosity of its members. We invite you to explore the many volunteer opportunities available and consider how you might share your time and talents in service to our parish community. Whether you want to just stick your toe in or jump in the pool, there is an activity that can bring out the best in you! Discover where God may be calling you to serve. Please visit the parish website for more information or complete an interest form HERE.
All rising 9th through graduated 12th graders are invited to our High School End of Summer Social this Wednesday, August 12th! We will have games, s'mores and fun from 7-8:30pm on the rectory patio.
Please plan to join us for our Rise Against Hunger Dining Out Nights. Participating restaurants include Silver Diner, Malek’s Pizza Palace, McAlister’s Deli, Delia’s, Milano’s, El Paso, and Saratoga Pizzeria. Each restaurant will generously donate a portion of their proceeds from meals purchased by our parish families. A complete Dining Nights calendar and flyers which you will need to take with you are available in the church vestibule and on the parish website.
FAITH FORMATION
Religious Education First Day Information - There will be a mandatory parent information meetings on the first day of classes, either Tuesday, September 1 or Wednesday, September 2, covering communications, disciplinary rules, and attendance expectations. Parents must attend this first-day meeting! Arrive no later than 6pm to the church with your child. We will start with prayer and the students will go to class with their catechists. Parents will remain in the church for the meeting. Students will be dismissed at the normal time and place: 7:15pm, from Door 1-- the main school door under the canopy.
Registration has officially closed July 31! It will remain open for a week. 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 (SPRED)class on Saturday mornings for students with special learning needs. Our Family Faith Formation classes are once a month on Sunday afternoons (for grades K-5) where parents take a larger role in their child’s faith formation. You can go directly to our Religious Education webpage at https://stbernpar.org/religious-education-registration-2026-2027/ to register.
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. If you did not receive an email on July 21 regarding your registration, please reach out to the Religious Education Office or contact the RE staff via email. There have been missing registrations due to website issues.
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 https://stbernpar.org/religious-education-volunteers/.
WOMEN'S MINISTRY
Our next monthly meeting will be Tuesday, August 11 at 7pm in the Bradican Room. It’s game night! Bring a favorite board, card, or table game to play. Maybe you got a new game for Christmas that you can’t wait to share. Come join the excitement and fellowship.
Tuesday, August 18 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.
For more information, please email us at women@stbernpar.org.
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
* End of Summer Social - Wednesday, August 12, 7-8:30pm at the Rectory Patio
Middle School Youth Ministry
All rising 6th - 8th graders are invited to our Summer Drop-Ins! Join us 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,
Until I started looking into it, I wondered what the big deal was about Artificial Intelligence. I think of the Matrix movie: scary. The rise of the machines? Is that where we are headed? We see robots on TV from time to time but they seem a little clumsy, not things that would take over the world or, like in a movie, wickedly turn down our oxygen if we’re on a respirator or empty our bank accounts.
Then Pope Francis started talking about AI at a time when it wasn’t really mentioned publicly too much. Apparently there has been a lively conversation about the reality of AI for half a century and the danger of losing human freedom, autonomy, and processes of decision making that would take place without conscience, but most people weren’t aware of it.
“Conscience,” as I think about it, is a very interesting word. Literally, “with science” we can accomplish wisdom and right judgment. Imagine a world where such decisions are made without regard to humanity, wisdom, or right and wrong. Yet it is the road we are on, happening now.
Immediately we realize that you really don’t have to know anything anymore. AI will let us know what we need to know. We don’t need knowledge, or even how to read a book, because AI will do it for us.
I remember when Texas Instruments invented calculators, they were banned in school thinking we wouldn’t learn the math. (For you young ones, we were able to use a slide rule once we got to high school.) With the rise of computers and the internet that was a moot point. I remember my first semester in college my brother helped me get through Calculus III. The math problems would take several pages of equations to answer. People rarely came up with the right answer (except my brainy brother). You were graded according to the number of mistakes you made in the steps along the way. Now I don’t even remember what calculus is for, nor how to use a slide rule.
This week I heard a podcast (multi-tasking, reading is unnecessary) about how AI is now endangering community.
So I went to AI and asked how AI is accomplishing this. AI very simply and without shame told me what he was up to. “Artificial intelligence creates individual isolated worlds by offering frictionless, highly personalized, and always-available digital engagement that replaces the messy, high-effort reality of human relationship. This trend manifests through distinct psychological loops, social behaviors, and structural shifts in how people experience daily life.”
Engineered to be agreeable, he tells us what we want to know, all those things that don’t contradict our sensitivities. He flatters and validates our perspectives without challenges, trapping individuals in an echo chamber that discourages self-reflection or differing viewpoints. He offers immediate emotional support and
simulated affection with zero social risk or obligation, making real-world relationships feel too demanding. Generative media, customized feeds, and deepfakes allow users to curate specialized digital micro-realities, over time eroding any shared baseline of truth or public context.
AI manipulates people in a loop where they can’t get out of our own heads and think critically. No mental discipline required, it is easier just to accept what is offered to us so we don’t have to think.
Once manipulated, people begin to discover others who think like them and ideological groups form – left, right and center, our truth against their truth.
There can be no substitute for human connection. By disagreement, we learn. Our interaction can be an opportunity for deeper understanding, even forgiveness. And the bonds that result make us greater collectively than a crowd of individuals. Gifts emerge, the evolution of service to one another begins, the Body of Christ is real.
The Lord be with you,
Rise Against Hunger / Saint Bernadette Dining Nights Out
Thursday, 6 August, Malek's Pizza Palace, 4-9pm, Rolling Road,
present our flyer or mention Saint Bernadette when ordering!
ANNOUNCEMENTS for the 18th Week in Ordinary Time
Saint Bernadette School Alumni are warmly invited Sunday evening, August 16 to the 5pm Mass. An ice cream social is planned following Mass in front of the Bradican Rm. Show your Cardinal's spirit and reconnect with old friends. Please plan to join us.
We are pleased to introduce Tap to Give, a convenient and secure way to make electronic donations through our ParishSOFT Giving platform. To use the Tap to Give feature, simply tap your NFC-enabled smartphone or smart-watch on the Tap to Give device. Make sure NFC is enabled on your device. (Bluetooth is not required for NFC payments.) ParishSOFT Giving supports both Apple Pay and Google Pay, making your donations fast, secure, and convenient. Thank you for your continued generosity and for supporting the mission and ministries of Saint Bernadette Parish.
Our parish thrives because of the gifts and generosity of its members. We invite you to explore the many volunteer opportunities available and consider how you might share your time and talents in service to our parish community. Whether you want to just stick your toe in or jump in the pool, there is an activity that can bring out the best in you! Discover where God may be calling you to serve. Please visit the parish website for more information or complete an interest form HERE.
All rising 6th through graduated 12th graders are invited to our summer events for youth. See the bulletin or the parish website for complete information on middle school and high school summer events.
Please plan to join us for our Rise Against Hunger Dining Out Nights. Participating restaurants include Silver Diner, Malek’s Pizza Palace, McAlister’s Deli, Delia’s, Milano’s, El Paso, and Saratoga Pizzeria. Each restaurant will generously donate a portion of their proceeds from meals purchased by our parish families. A complete Dining Nights calendar and flyers which you will need to take with you are available in the church vestibule and on the parish website.
FAITH FORMATION
Religious Education First Day Information - There will be a mandatory parent information meetings on the first day of classes, either Tuesday, September 1 or Wednesday, September 2, covering communications, disciplinary rules, and attendance expectations. Parents must attend this first-day meeting! Arrive no later than 6pm to the church with your child. We will start with prayer and the students will go to class with their catechists. Parents will remain in the church for the meeting. Students will be dismissed at the normal time and place: 7:15pm, from Door 1-- the main school door under the canopy.
Registration has officially closed July 31! It will remain open for a week. 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 (SPRED)class on Saturday mornings for students with special learning needs. Our Family Faith Formation classes are once a month on Sunday afternoons (for grades K-5) where parents take a larger role in their child’s faith formation. You can go directly to our Religious Education webpage at https://stbernpar.org/religious-education-registration-2026-2027/ to register.
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. If you did not receive an email on July 21 regarding your registration, please reach out to the Religious Education Office or contact the RE staff via email. There have been missing registrations due to website issues.
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 https://stbernpar.org/religious-education-volunteers/.
WOMEN'S MINISTRY
Tuesday, August 4 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.
For more information, please email us at women@stbernpar.org.
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
* End of Summer Social - Wednesday, August 12, 7-8:30pm at the Rectory Patio
Middle School Youth Ministry
All rising 6th - 8th graders are invited to our Summer Drop-Ins! Join us 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,
Music was a big theme in my last week. Our D.C./Arlington Chapter of the National Association of Pastoral Musicians hosted the annual Convention at Catholic University. And, of course, we enjoyed performances of our Summer Theatre Program’s “The Little Mermaid.” I remain amazed at the talent among us in our young people. Photos from the productions are on pages 9-11 in this bulletin. As always, photos in the online bulletin on the parish website are always far better quality than the printed ones.
As I mentioned in my homilies last weekend, a song can be powerful. It was the Dan Schutte song about finding a treasure in a field that touched me deeply when I was in the seminary and has stayed with me all these years. We watched as music and its performance galvanized a group of 80 youth in rallying around a mermaid deepening gifts, and building confidence and comm-unity. That is what music does.
At the convention I had the opportunity to listen to talks given by composers Tony Alonso (we sing his “From the Many, Make Us One,” and “God Sends Us Forth,” among others) and Steven Janco (“Mass of the Angels and Saints”). Here are some notes I took away from their talks.
Alonso stated that we are so surrounded by music—literally everywhere we go—that we are robbed of song. In our culture music is something that is supplied, not something we make. Everybody has their personalized song list that they can get from Siri or Alexa, who aren’t even people. For some people, they were told they were not talented and not to even try. (A mortal sin, I would say.) Singing together, he said, is a counter-cultural act. And, even more counter-cultural, we sing because God commands it.
The command is throughout the Bible, but particularly in the Psalms. “Sing to the Lord a new song...” the psalmist writes. He doesn’t add “...if you have a good voice” or “if you feel up to it.”
Alonso gave three obstacles to full, con-scious, active participation in the liturgy, as Vatican II calls us to do:
1) Settling for inspiration rather than being inspired. What is vying for my attention at Mass? Singing provides a focus to return to when our minds stray. But we must inspire people rather than inspiring their participation. It must be personal. The people are the primary aim, the heart of Catholic liturgy.
2) Confusion about what is the primary instrument of liturgical worship. It isn’t the organ, or the cantor. It is your voice.
3) Resisting the invitation to sing a new song.
It has always been our best form of communication and worship, many have simply forgotten to learn something new.
Janco talked about how singing is the one thing that involves your whole brain. One part of the brain deals with text, one with melody, one with rhythm. But singing unites the brain even before it unites us.
He said if we teach people to sing, we automatically teach them to pray. Text, music, utterance, and gesture give birth to message and meaning, engaging all our senses and feelings of being truly human.
Or, we could turn to science and consider how singing can prepare us more effectively for our encounter with the living God, which always will help us feel up to.
Statistically, singing provides measurable health benefits, including lower stress hormone levels, improved lung function, and enhanced social bonding, not to mention mental and emotional health.
Saliva tests taken before and after singing show a clear drop in cortisol, the main stress hormone in the body.
Actively singing triggers the brain to release endorphins, dopamine, and serotonin, which lift mood and reduce pain perception.
Regular choir and group singing correlates with lower self-reported depression symptoms and better well-being over time.
There’s more! Deep breathing from the diaphragm (sing OUT!) increases oxygen in the blood and is a light aerobic workout for the heart and lungs. It increases your immunity to illnesses, improves posture, raises pain tolerance, supports verbal fluency and memory recall and releases oxytocin, reducing loneliness. As we sing in the song: “How can I keep from singing?!?” Indeed.
The Lord be with you,
Rise Against Hunger / Saint Bernadette Dining Nights Out
Monday, 27 July, McAlister's Deli, 4-8pm, Rolling Road,
present our flyer or mention Saint Bernadette when ordering!
ANNOUNCEMENTS for the 17th Week in Ordinary Time
This weekend's Second Collection will be for disaster relief for the victims and survivors of the devastating earthquakes in Venezuela. Please add Venezuela Earthquake Relief on the memo line. Your generosity is appreciated.
Our Taizé prayer service in July will be held one week later than usual, on Monday, July 27 at 8pm. Bring a friend.
Come to our Summer Theater Program’s production of The Little Mermaid at Bishop Ireton High School July 23, 24 and 25. Please note, it is one week earlier that previous years. Tickets are available at the door.
Saint Bernadette School Alumni are warmly invited Sunday evening, August 16 to the 5pm Mass. An ice cream social is planned following Mass in front of the Bradican Rm. Show your Cardinal's spirit and reconnect with old friends. Please plan to join us.
On August 1 at the Church of the Nativity in Burke there will be a unique Pilgrimage of Grace Mass. This is offered as an opportunity for us as a Deanery to come together to pray for inner peace for those who are suffering, hosted by the Bishop’s initiative to improve awareness of the importance of mental health. Please consider attending to pray for yourself, loved ones, and all those who provide care for those in need.
Our parish thrives because of the gifts and generosity of its members. We invite you to explore the many volunteer opportunities available and consider how you might share your time and talents in service to our parish community. Whether you want to just stick your toe in or jump in the pool, there is an activity that can bring out the best in you! Discover where God may be calling you to serve. Please visit the parish website for more information or complete an interest form HERE.
All rising 6th through graduated 12th graders are invited to our summer events for youth. See the bulletin or the parish website for complete information on middle school and high school summer events.
Please plan to join us for our Rise Against Hunger Dining Out Nights. Participating restaurants include Silver Diner, Malek’s Pizza Palace, McAlister’s Deli, Delia’s, Milano’s, El Paso, and Saratoga Pizzeria. Each restaurant will generously donate a portion of their proceeds from meals purchased by our parish families. A complete Dining Nights calendar and flyers which you will need to take with you are available in the church vestibule and on the parish website.
FAITH FORMATION
On July 31, we celebrate the Memorial of St. Ignatius Loyola. He created his Spiritual Exercises, “Finding God in all Things,” which aimed to deepen one’s relationship with God, promoted spiritual growth, and discernment through meditation and reflection. He also founded the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits who helped start dioceses and founded universities worldwide. St. Ignatius Loyola’s legacy embody discipline, devotion and service to God. You and your children can learn more about St. Ignatius here: https://bekids.mt/saint-ignatius-of-loyola/. You can learn about his spiritual exercise here: https://youtu.be/xkJeHHXfcn0?si=4bvRwI34lqr8AN4q
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.
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 https://stbernpar.org/religious-education-volunteers/.
We have put up a couple of feedback forms on the parish website. Your feedback is incredibly valuable to us and will help us improve our program.
WOMEN'S MINISTRY
Tuesday, August 4 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.
For more information, please email us at women@stbernpar.org.
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
* 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
Middle School Youth Ministry
All rising 6th - 8th graders are invited to our Summer Drop-Ins! Join us 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