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Mary’s Comfort will be hosting a Gratitude Reception on April 19 from 2:30–4:00 PM in the Bradican Room. This is an opportunity to celebrate the generosity of our donors, connect as a parish community, and learn more about the mission of Mary’s Comfort. Please contact the parish office for additional information.
Our monthly Ecumenical Prayer Service is this Monday, 20 April at 8pm in the Church. Please plan to join us, bring friend and experience and evening of prayer and song in the Taizé tradition.
The Virginia MARCH FOR LIFE is Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at the Virginia State Capitol Grounds, 1000 Bank Street, Richmond. The day begins with a rally at 10am followed by the march starting at 11am. New this year is the opportunity to register for training sessions after the march at 12:30 to help prepare advocates to stop the extreme proposed constitutional amendment that would allow virtually unlimited abortion at any stage of pregnancy. Register here: https://marchforlife.org/virginia/.
All Saints Church Multi-Car Raffle is still in full swing. Four vehicles will be raffled along with a $20,000 cash drawing, plus other cash drawings. The final deadline for ticket returns is April 21th. The drawings begin at 1:00pm Saturday, April 25th at All Saints Parish in Manassas. Please return all tickets by mail directly to All Saints in the envelope provided.
FAITH FORMATION
Living the Liturgical Year:
Happy 3rd week of Easter! On April 25, we celebrate the feast of St. Mark the Evangelist. He is one of the Gospel writers and the first bishop of Alexandria, Egypt. He is associated with the symbol of a winged lion. Did you know that St. Mark’s mother, also named Mary, owned the house where the Last Supper had taken place? It was also at the Upper Room of the house where the Holy Spirit descended on the Apostles. Celebrate St. Mark’s feast day by baking lion cupcakes with your children. Instructions and his story can also be found here: https://catholiccuisine.blogspot.com/2008/04/cupcakes-for-st-marks-feast-day.html
Plan to join us on Sunday, April 26 following the 9am Mass for our last Sunday Donut Social until fall. Parents, enjoy coffee and fellowship while your children make liturgical themed crafts with our volunteers!
Volunteers for 2026-2027 ~ We are still in need for volunteers (assistant catechists, teen catechists, and hall monitors). If interested, please contact the Religious Education Office or fill out the Volunteer Form on the website http://stbernpar.org/religious-education-volunteers/.
Upcoming Religious Education Activities
Family Mass Learning (Special Session for First Communicants): April 19 after 9am and 11am Mass
Regular classes: Apr. 21-22, 28-29
Note we WILL hold classes on April 21
SPRED Classes: Apr. 25
Sunday Donut Social: Apr. 26
Family Faith Formation: Apr. 26
WOMEN'S MINISTRY
Come and enjoy warm fellowship and great food. No need to RSVP. For more information, please email us at women@stbernpar.org.
Tuesday, April 21 is our next Dinner with Friends at 5pm, at Saratoga Pizzeria, 8050 Rolling Road. We meet for this casual meal on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays.
YOUTH MINISTRY
High School
All high schoolers are invited to take advantage of the FCPS student holiday and join us for 9am daily Mass, followed by donuts and fun in the youth room until 10:30am.
All high schoolers are invited to attend our Thursday night small group sessions. Guys’ Small Groups will be on 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 7pm in the Youth Room. Girls’ Small Groups will be on 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 7pm in the Youth Room.
All adults of the parish are invited to consider volunteering for Workcamp. We can find a role for anyone willing to help. We are especially in need of contractors with skills in home repairs (no license necessary) and female crew leaders to serve alongside our teens during the week of Workcamp. Please contact our parish Stakeholder, Matthew Frey, for more information - matthew_c_frey@yahoo.com.
Middle School Youth Ministry
All 6th-8th graders are invited for games, snacks, and fun every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month! Meet in the school gym from 6:45-8pm- next gathering May 6
To learn more about our middle and high school ministries,
please contact Grace Mee, gmee@stbernpar.org
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
Having the bulletin to the printer nearly a week before the scheduled weekend has a tendency to warp your my of time. I sometimes wonder in what week I actually am.
About so many things today I wonder if I can speak. As a nation we are so divided, it is difficult to say anything that remains neutral and doesn’t divide people further.
So we don’t say anything. Those divisions, whether philosophical, political, or social have crept into the fabric of the Church, as well, primarily I believe because people can say whatever they want on social media. I try to stay away from social media, but it seeps in in unexpected ways. I am deeply troubled by the venom which has resulted in the recent exchange between a president and a pope. A president who disrespects a pope and treats him like a politician, seeking to divide our house against itself and choose one or the other. Our work as a Church is to resist and conquer the author of division over whom, by the way, Jesus is already victorious.
I believe that if the person is right there in front of you, you think twice before saying some things. The inherent dignity of a real person overrides things that do not dignify. Trapped in your own mind you won’t hear how it sounds as your words echo across the room and into outer space. Online, you only hear the click of the button as you hit send.
Thank God we have a pope who is speaking. Notice, he doesn’t undignify even the undignified, he just speaks the Gospel and reminds us of the truth.
We must remind each other that what is happening in our world is not okay. Our children must be clear in this so as not to become like this. That the inhumanity served up with indifference is not okay. This kind of unacceptable behavior in the way people are treating each other is not okay. Blasphemy is not okay, nor is indiscriminate killing or threats to eliminate peoples, bringing devastation, destruction.
We have long condemned such behavior in others. We need to search our own tent to root out anything that is not of the Gospel of Jesus.
This week has been a busy one with several dialogues: the local interfaith clergy gathering, a regional interfaith (Metro DC) gathering, a formal dialogue with the Vaishnava Hindu community. Everywhere I go, I am reminded of the hope that our leader the Pope is bringing to darkness that would like us to stop hoping. They love him. I have shared so many texts in the spirit of Pope Leo. In speaking about the situation we find ourselves in globally, I found myself reading the Beatitudes to Won (Korean) Buddhists at a dialogue last weekend. It doesn’t say “blessed are Catholics who are poor in spirit;” “blessed are Catholics who mourn;” “blessed are Catholics who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” And everyone in the room immediately knew that Jesus was talking directly to them. There was a silence. And then there was peacefulness. Jesus would have been very pleased with this interfaith gathering.
Since then, I have had this image in my mind. Every time the Gospel is heard, or seen in your actions and words, wouldn’t it be great if the response was this kind of acceptance, even applause, for the Word of God who came to change our world and turn us toward each other, not apart.
The Lord be with you,
Join us this Sunday afternoon, April 12 at 3pm for the Divine Mercy Chaplet and devotions for Divine Mercy Sunday.
Mary’s Comfort will be hosting a Gratitude Reception on April 19 from 2:30–4:00 PM in the Bradican Room. This is an opportunity to celebrate the generosity of our donors, connect as a parish community, and learn more about the mission of Mary’s Comfort. Please contact the parish office for additional information.
The Virginia MARCH FOR LIFE is Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at the Virginia State Capitol Grounds, 1000 Bank Street, Richmond. The day begins with a rally at 10am followed by the march starting at 11am. New this year is the opportunity to register for training sessions after the march at 12:30 to help prepare advocates to stop the extreme proposed constitutional amendment that would allow virtually unlimited abortion at any stage of pregnancy. Register here: https://marchforlife.org/virginia/.
We will celebrate our parish, Saint Bernadette, Feast Day on Thursday, April 16, with a bilingual Mass at 7pm.
The annual Spring ECHO Yard Sale returns to the school gym on Saturday, April 11, 8am until noon.
Adults who, for whatever reason, are catechized but have never received the sacrament of Confirmation are invited to contact the office. Fr. Don will be planning a series of classes during the Easter Season in preparation for Confirmation with Bishop Burbidge on Pentecost Sunday.
All Saints Church Multi-Car Raffle is still in full swing. Four vehicles will be raffled along with a $20,000 cash drawing, plus other cash drawings. The final deadline for ticket returns is April 21th. The drawings begin at 1:00pm Saturday, April 25th at All Saints Parish in Manassas. Please return all tickets by mail directly to All Saints in the envelope provided.
FAITH FORMATION
Living the Liturgical Year:
Happy Divine Mercy Sunday! This feast is usually held on the 2nd Sunday following Easter. In a series of revelations to St. Maria Faustina Kowalska, our Lord called for a special feast day . It focuses on the gift of mercy and love given through Christ's death, burial and resurrection. Did you know that you can receive a Special Plenary Indulgence and the Extraordinary Grace? To receive Extraordinary Grace, the condition is to receive Holy Communion worthily on Divine Mercy Sunday by making a good Confession beforehand and being in a state of grace and trusting the Lord in His Divine Mercy. A way to celebrate Divine Mercy Sunday is to make Divine Mercy Sundaes and explain the meaning as you create it! https://www.catholicicing.com/celebrate-divine-mercy-sunday/. You can also find other Divine Mercy Sunday Activities here: https://youtu.be/B4fa0tsozL4
Volunteers for 2025-2026 ~ We are still in need for volunteers (assistant catechists, teen catechists, and hall monitors). If interested, please contact the Religious Education Office or fill out the Volunteer Form on the website http://stbernpar.org/religious-education-volunteers/.
Upcoming Religious Education Activities
Regular classes: Apr. 14/15, 21/22, 28/29
Note: we will hold classes on April 21 although FCPS has a day off
No classes: Mar. 31, Apr. 1, 7/8
SPRED Classes: Apr. 11, 25
Sunday Doughnut Social: Apr. 26
Family Faith Formation: Apr. 26
WOMEN'S MINISTRY
Come and enjoy warm fellowship and great food. No need to RSVP. For more information, please email us at women@stbernpar.org.
Our next monthly meeting will be Tuesday, April 14 at 7pm in the Bradican Room. Back by popular demand is an evening of chair yoga followed by healthy snacks. Wear comfortable clothes that allow you to move freely. Come enjoy gentle stretching and mindful movement to calm your mind and lift your spirit.
YOUTH MINISTRY
High School Live CLUE Night - Saturday, April 11
All 9th-12th graders re invited to join us for a live CLUE night on Saturday, April 11 from 6-8:30pm in the Bradican Room! Just like the board game, visit different rooms, talk to other players, and collect clues. Bring your magnifying glass and notepads! Dinner will be included.
All high schoolers are invited to attend our Thursday night small group sessions. Guys’ Small Groups will be on 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 7pm in the Youth Room. Girls’ Small Groups will be on 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 7pm in the Youth Room.
Middle School BASH - Saturday, April 25th
All middle schoolers are invited to join us for the Diocese of Arlington BASH at Bishop O’Connell High School! This is an exciting day for more than a thousand middle school students to gather with Bishop Burbidge to celebrate our Catholic Faith! To register, pay the $15 fee online, and turn in a permission form either to the parish office or email to Grace Mee (gmee@stbernpar.org). The Deadline to register is Friday, April 17, but spots fill up early, so register now! Adult chaperones and drivers are needed.
Middle School Youth Ministry
All 6th-8th graders are invited for games, snacks, and fun every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month! Meet in the school gym from 6:45-8pm- next gathering April 1
To learn more about our middle and high school ministries,
please contact Grace Mee, gmee@stbernpar.org
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
Last Monday (yes, the day after Easter!) we gathered with all the new members of the Church who received the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil. After accompanying a wonderful group of people who are seeking more of God and faith is a sacred work, and humbling. We really form a family out of a cohort of unacquainted people. It is a favorite ministry for me.
On Monday night we got back together after a truly powerful experience of the Easter Vigil Mass. (See photos starting on page 10, and the list of people - some were baptized, some already baptized joined the Catholic Church, all were confirmed.) We gather again right away after Easter in order to share while the experience is fresh. What were the most interesting aspects? What surprised you? Did anything create questions in your mind? Other thoughts after reflection?
What I love so much about OCIA is that people are willing to be vulnerable after we get to know each other and really just open their hearts wide and share their journey. Our new Catholics had such beautiful things to say about their experience of the Vigil, how things felt to them, how they felt really welcome and special and holy (in a healthy way).
Receiving sacraments for most of us, unfortunately, was done at early ages before we developed the ability to recognize the profound reality of what we celebrate. Being ordained a priest was so unlike my memories of other sacraments because I knew who I was and what was happening. Receiving Eucharist can become so routine that we don’t even think about the miracle that God literally places his Son in our hands.
So if I were to ask you these four questions with Easter Sunday in such recent memory, how would you respond? Did you find anything interesting? Surprising? Questionable? Having asked these questions, I imagine there might be some people who would look at me as if I were a little crazy.
But, these are real questions we should be asking. We should be reflecting on these Mysteries we encounter and see how we are somehow different, or changed, or our knowledge and faith is deepened. Without any kind of religious reflection leading to appreciation and gratitude, memories fade quickly and we can become indifferent.
He is risen... what is different about us now? We know this is something new: what? A new not-previously-known life has come to us. A new unknown love. Why? Isn’t that the purpose of God’s action? We must respond to grace and not just collect it, engaging our human senses and intuitions to grow. If not, then why bother?
There is a vital link that seems to be broken with many people and their common perception of religion. “Why does it matter? I can be spiritual but not religious...” except you really can’t. Religion is when spirituality becomes a commitment. Most people think religion is only rules demanding compliance. On the contrary, it is not servitude, but freely chosen service.
I know I’ve written about this before, but it bears repeating. A new category of people in all religions is replacing the “nones” (What is your religious affiliation? - their answer is “none.”) This new category is the “dones.” After the dryness of going through the motions for so long, these people (largely in their 50s and 60s) are simply “done.” Often highly engaged former church members—often former lay leaders—they have left traditional church attendance, not out of a loss of faith, but due to dissatisfaction with organized religion’s bureaucracy, judgmental culture, and rigid structure. As unfortunate as these realities are (I didn’t become a priest because I love the Church...), the engagement is still too important to let go of.
If you feel your fire diminishing, get involved in the life of someone who is seeking God. Ask each other the four questions and the sharing will mutually inspire. Seeing the beauty of faith in the other person can only renew you, and renew the Church. He is risen, alleluia!
The Lord be with you,
Sacred Triduum
HOLY THURSDAY (Worship Aid Here)
• No morning Masses, Morning prayer at 8am
• MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER, 7:30pm, and Adoration until 12am in gym
GOOD FRIDAY (Worship Aid Here)
• No morning Masses, Morning prayer at 8am
• Tre Ore, 12 - 3pm (limited confessions), followed by Stations of the Cross
• Via Crucis, (Spanish) 4pm
• PASION Y VENERACION de la SANTA CRUZ, 5pm
• PASSION and VENERATION of the HOLY CROSS, 7:30pm
HOLY SATURDAY
• No morning Masses, Morning prayer at 8am
• Easter Foods Blessing, 10am, church
EASTER VIGIL OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD, 8pm (Worship Aid Here)
EASTER SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD (Worship Aid Here)
• Masses 7am, 9am, 11am, 1pm (Spanish). NO 5pm Mass
Pope Leo has asked the global Church to support the Pontifical Good Friday Collection, which helps Christians in the Holy Land and maintains the holy sites. Stand in solidarity with the Church in the Holy Land as a witness of peace supporting parishes and schools, maintaining Christian shrines and caring for refugees there. It will be the only collection on Good Friday.
The Virginia MARCH FOR LIFE is Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at the Virginia State Capitol Grounds, 1000 Bank Street, Richmond. The day begins with a rally at 10am followed by the march starting at 11am. New this year is the opportunity to register for training sessions after the march at 12:30 to help prepare advocates to stop the extreme proposed constitutional amendment that would allow virtually unlimited abortion at any stage of pregnancy. Register here: https://marchforlife.org/virginia/. Contact the parish office no later than April 8 if you would like to take a bus.
We will celebrate our parish, Saint Bernadette, Feast Day on Thursday, April 16, with a bilingual Mass at 7pm.
The annual Spring ECHO Yard Sale returns to the school gym on Saturday, April 11, 8am until noon.
Adults who, for whatever reason, are catechized but have never received the sacrament of Confirmation are invited to contact the office. Fr. Don will be planning a series of classes during the Easter Season in preparation for Confirmation with Bishop Burbidge on Pentecost Sunday.
All Saints Church Multi-Car Raffle is still in full swing. Four vehicles will be raffled along with a $20,000 cash drawing, plus other cash drawings. The final deadline for ticket returns is April 21th. The drawings begin at 1:00pm Saturday, April 25th at All Saints Parish in Manassas. Please return all tickets by mail directly to All Saints in the envelope provided.
FAITH FORMATION
Living the Liturgical Year:
Happy Easter! Christ is risen! With the sign of Spring and new life, one way to celebrate Jesus’ resurrection is to make a Resurrection Garden with your children. Did you know that Easter season lasts for 7 weeks until Pentecost? That is 50 days, not including Sundays. The Resurrection Garden can mark these days and also continue to grow during the year. The Sunday Eucharist is the memorial of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus -- every Sunday of the year is a mini-Easter! Directions to create a Resurrection Garden can be found here: https://www.catholicicing.com/resurrection-garden/.
Volunteers for 2025-2026 ~ We are still in need for volunteers (assistant catechists, teen catechists, and hall monitors). If interested, please contact the Religious Education Office or fill out the Volunteer Form on the website http://stbernpar.org/religious-education-volunteers/.
Upcoming Religious Education Activities
Regular classes: Apr. 14-15, 21-22, 28-29
Note we WILL hold classes on April 21
No classes: Mar. 31-Apr. 1, Apr. 7-8
SPRED Classes: Apr. 11, 25
Sunday Donut Social: Apr. 26
Family Faith Formation: Apr. 26
WOMEN'S MINISTRY
Come and enjoy warm fellowship and great food. No need to RSVP. For more information, please email us at women@stbernpar.org.
Tuesday, April 7 is our next Dinner with Friends at 5pm, at Saratoga Pizzeria, 8050 Rolling Road. We meet for this casual meal on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays.
Our next monthly meeting will be Tuesday, April 14 at 7pm in the Bradican Room. Back by popular demand is an evening of chair yoga followed by healthy snacks. Wear comfortable clothes that allow you to move freely. Come enjoy gentle stretching and mindful movement to calm your mind and lift your spirit.
YOUTH MINISTRY
High School Live CLUE Night - Saturday, April 11
All 9th-12th graders re invited to join us for a live CLUE night on Saturday, April 11 from 6-8:30pm in the Bradican Room! Just like the board game, visit different rooms, talk to other players, and collect clues. Bring your magnifying glass and notepads! Dinner will be included.
All high schoolers are invited to attend our Thursday night small group sessions. Guys’ Small Groups will be on 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 7pm in the Youth Room. Girls’ Small Groups will be on 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 7pm in the Youth Room.
Middle School BASH - Saturday, April 25th
All middle schoolers are invited to join us for the Diocese of Arlington BASH at Bishop O’Connell High School! This is an exciting day for more than a thousand middle school students to gather with Bishop Burbidge to celebrate our Catholic Faith! To register, pay the $15 fee online, and turn in a permission form either to the parish office or email to Grace Mee (gmee@stbernpar.org). The Deadline to register is Friday, April 17, but spots fill up early, so register now! Adult chaperones and drivers are needed.
Middle School Youth Ministry
All 6th-8th graders are invited for games, snacks, and fun every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month! Meet in the school gym from 6:45-8pm- next gathering April 1
To learn more about our middle and high school ministries,
please contact Grace Mee, gmee@stbernpar.org
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
What was that moment of resurrection like? Nobody saw it. Was it silent? or bright? Was there anything to see at all with our human eyes? It probably seemed like there was nothing happening. Up until the moment of Jesus’ death, if you think about it, nobody was in heaven. Only beyond the Cross could Christ go to work calling forth all the just people who had died in the milennia before and were waiting the moment of redemption. At the moment of resurrection, imagine the overwhelming joy in all creation—the promise of perfect community with God that we are still waiting for but has been underway already now for a long time.
God often does things in secret. His secret Mysteries are then revealed later when we are ready, when the world is ready to understand. The Epiphany of our Lord was the moment that God revealed the Mystery of the Incarnation of his Son in human flesh, Jesus’ conception in his mother, Mary, the secret event that happened months before. People were still looking for the Messiah not knowing he was already among them. The Last Supper was the moment that Jesus revealed, in his own sacrifice, the fulfillment of the Mystery of God’s covenant with his people many centuries before. He revealed himself as the lamb of sacrifice whose blood would be the sign for death to pass over us.
The resurrection of Jesus, another secret event, was not revealed until the next day when he appeared to his Apostles and faithful in different ways. They had been locked in their houses fearful of what would come next. A couple of his disciples decided to leave Jerusalem that morning. After all, they witnessed the cruelty of the mob and what they had done in killing Jesus. Who would die next?
The resulting confusion and fear are quite justified. We find ourselves in difficult unpredictable times. We can’t control this any more than fly. But we remember: we are not in control. God doesn’t do these things according to our plans, but according to his own. Sometimes we might wish he would follow our plan more, but I ultimately know he is God, not me. And it’s a good thing, because he knows how to overcome evil, how to rise from the dead, and calls us into his new life for ever. I have no idea how to do that.
Embrace the secret work of God’s love in your life, even in moments of suffering, insecurity, anxiety, even loss. We know he is working in all places and situations. We must trust this even if we can’t see it right now. This is how God has always worked, without a fanfare or show. Easter joy always comes out of our joining Jesus in his sacrifice of love. It involves a Cross freely accepted. And it is on that Cross with Jesus when he hands on to us his saving mission, to be his body on the Cross only in order to be his glorified body for ever, because of his gift of baptism.
People in the early Church called themselves people of the eighth day, because of this secret and unexpected development in God’s creation: God created for six days and rested on the Sabbath, Shabbat, Saturday. But Christ, God the Son rose from the dead on the eighth, the Lord’s Day, or Sunday. The work of creation is recreated on Sunday, every Sunday we celebrate resurrection. He is the alpha and the omega, the first day and the last day, the origin and destination for all believers.
Let us learn humility, then, and selflessness because these are the things that allow us to lay down our own entitlements and discover the overwhelming reality of God’s love and how we fit in his plan, not how he fits in ours. And let us commit to praying for one another every day, to help those most in need of God’s help.
We will hold each other close in prayer and all peoples will get through this time of difficulty together, faithfully in God and to what they know of him. It will be a new day like that day when, between the Cross and the empty tomb, Jesus will call us forth from all our locked places of waiting and suffering into the light and freedom of his love.
The Lord be with you,
Sacred Triduum
HOLY THURSDAY
• No morning Masses, Morning prayer at 8am
• MASS OF THE LORD’S SUPPER, 7:30pm, and Adoration until 12am in gym
GOOD FRIDAY
• No morning Masses, Morning prayer at 8am
• Tre Ore, 12 - 3pm (limited confessions), followed by Stations of the Cross
• Via Crucis, (Spanish) 4pm
• PASION Y VENERACION de la SANTA CRUZ, 5pm
• PASSION and VENERATION of the HOLY CROSS, 7:30pm
HOLY SATURDAY
• No morning Masses, Morning prayer at 8am
• Easter Foods Blessing, 10am, church
• EASTER VIGIL OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD, 8pm
EASTER SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD
• Masses 7am, 9am, 11am, 1pm (Spanish). NO 5pm Mass
Pope Leo has asked the global Church to support the Pontifical Good Friday Collection, which helps Christians in the Holy Land and maintains the holy sites. Stand in solidarity with the Church in the Holy Land as a witness of peace supporting parishes and schools, maintaining Christian shrines and caring for refugees there. It will be the only collection on Good Friday. If you will be out of town for the holiday, please give to this worthy cause this weekend, Palm Sunday.
The Virginia MARCH FOR LIFE is Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at the Virginia State Capitol Grounds, 1000 Bank Street, Richmond. The day begins with a rally at 10am followed by the march starting at 11am. New this year is the opportunity to register for training sessions after the march at 12:30 to help prepare advocates to stop the extreme proposed constitutional amendment that would allow virtually unlimited abortion at any stage of pregnancy. Register here: https://marchforlife.org/virginia/. Contact the parish office no later than April 8 if you would like to take a bus.
Easter Flower Memorials are still available through March 31. Envelopes can be found at the hospitality desk in the vestibule of the church.
The annual Spring ECHO Yard Sale returns to the school gym on Saturday, April 11, 8am until noon.
Adults who, for whatever reason, are catechized but have never received the sacrament of Confirmation are invited to contact the office. Fr. Don will be planning a series of classes during the Easter Season in preparation for Confirmation with Bishop Burbidge on Pentecost Sunday.
All Saints Church Multi-Car Raffle is still in full swing. Four vehicles will be raffled along with a $20,000 cash drawing, plus other cash drawings. The final deadline for ticket returns is April 21th. The drawings begin at 1:00pm Saturday, April 25th at All Saints Parish in Manassas. Please return all tickets by mail directly to All Saints in the envelope provided.
FAITH FORMATION
Living the Liturgical Year:
This Sunday is Palm Sunday. Did you know that it is called Palm Sunday because the crowds greeted and honored Jesus by waving palms when he entered Jerusalem. Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week. You will notice that the liturgical color for today is red. The color red on Palm Sunday symbolizes Jesus’ passion and sacrifice. You can find Palm Sunday activities and instructions how to fold a palm cross here: https://www.catholicicing.com/palm-sunday-crafts-and-ideas-for-kids/
Volunteers for 2025-2026 ~ We are still in need for volunteers (assistant catechists, teen catechists, and hall monitors). If interested, please contact the Religious Education Office or fill out the Volunteer Form on the website http://stbernpar.org/religious-education-volunteers/.
Upcoming Religious Education Activities
Regular classes: Apr. 14-15, 21-22, 28-29
Note we WILL hold classes on April 21
No classes: Mar. 31-Apr. 1, Apr. 7-8
SPRED Classes: Apr. 11, 25
Sunday Donut Social: Apr. 26
Family Faith Formation: Apr. 26
WOMEN'S MINISTRY
Come and enjoy warm fellowship and great food. No need to RSVP. For more information, please email us at women@stbernpar.org.
Tuesday, April 7 is our next Dinner with Friends at 5pm, at Saratoga Pizzeria, 8050 Rolling Road. We meet for this casual meal on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays.
Our next monthly meeting will be Tuesday, April 14 at 7pm in the Bradican Room. Back by popular demand is an evening of chair yoga followed by healthy snacks. Wear comfortable clothes that allow you to move freely. Come enjoy gentle stretching and mindful movement to calm your mind and lift your spirit.
YOUTH MINISTRY
High School Live CLUE Night - Saturday, April 11
All 9th-12th graders re invited to join us for a live CLUE night on Saturday, April 11 from 6-8:30pm in the Bradican Room! Just like the board game, visit different rooms, talk to other players, and collect clues. Bring your magnifying glass and notepads! Dinner will be included.
All high schoolers are invited to attend our Thursday night small group sessions. Guys’ Small Groups will be on 1st and 3rd Thursdays at 7pm in the Youth Room. Girls’ Small Groups will be on 2nd and 4th Thursdays at 7pm in the Youth Room.
Middle School BASH - Saturday, April 25th
All middle schoolers are invited to join us for the Diocese of Arlington BASH at Bishop O’Connell High School! This is an exciting day for more than a thousand middle school students to gather with Bishop Burbidge to celebrate our Catholic Faith! To register, pay the $15 fee online, and turn in a permission form either to the parish office or email to Grace Mee (gmee@stbernpar.org). The Deadline to register is Friday, April 17, but spots fill up early, so register now! Adult chaperones and drivers are needed.
Middle School Youth Ministry
All 6th-8th graders are invited for games, snacks, and fun every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month! Meet in the school gym from 6:45-8pm- next gathering April 1
YOUNG ADULTS Group
All Young Adults are invited to once-a-month Sunday night discussions and debates on key topics and mysteries about the Faith. Our next Faith Discussion will be on Sunday, April 19, 6-8pm in the Bradican Rm. For any inquiries, contact JP McLaughlin (jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org) for any inquiries.
Looking to join the Saint Bernadette’s Young Adults? Scan the QR code to join the Saint Bernadette Young Adults Group Chat.
To learn more about our middle and high school ministries,
please contact Grace Mee, gmee@stbernpar.org
or JP McLaughlin jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org,
Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
Can’t believe it is already Palm Sunday. Life comes so quickly that you need a kind of extra vision that helps you see what’s coming at the same time being 100% in the present. My intention was to do a fifth column on the Biblical Walk through the Mass, but I realize that I need to write about Palm Sunday and Easter in these two bulletins... We will come back to the Mass when we can.
To all of you who are traveling this week for the holiday, we will miss you. One of the best things we do at Saint Bernadette is celebrate the Sacred Triduum. It is a profoundly moving liturgy that begins with Holy Thursday night and travels with Jesus in his passion, death and resurrection, ending with the Vigil Mass. We hope your holidays are safe, holy, and full of joy and celebration wherever the road takes you.
As a preparation for inserting ourselves into the story of Jesus later in Holy Week, this weekend we listen to the Passion of Jesus according to Saint Matthew. It can become so familiar that we can be tempted to get lost in the haze of a very long Gospel reading.
Have you ever asked yourself how this could have happened? We witness endless inhuman-ity in our world today every time we watch or read the news. It is the way of the world, and it is no wonder that Jesus speaks often of the world as even an adversary. The prince of this world, in the Gospel of John, is none other than Satan. “I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me...” but Jesus allows himself to become subject even to the sin of this world so that he might be victorious over it. It is the plot of so many movies and books, the need of an unlikely savior to make the ultimate sacrifice in order to save humanity, then to find rebirth, resurrection.
But how could this have happened to Jesus, with many turning on him - and so quickly after Palm Sunday? In many instances in the Gospels people are just confused: the man they see before him doesn’t fit the mold they have come to expect. Whether his origin, or his teaching with authority, or his miracles. “Where did he get all this? We know who he is...” - a nobody. Even King Herod was troubled with killing John the Baptist, but he had a reputation to uphold. His words, like Jesus’, rang true to those who were listening.
We see the same things happening today, even with those who hold positions of leadership. There clearly isn’t a reverence for the rule of law, there is an angry mob joining others in shouting “crucify him” without really even knowing him. If they had bothered to get to know him, If they had, I believe circumstances would have been different.
I attended a talk at Georgetown University week before last about the teachings of Fr. John Courtney Murray, S.J. He was a great light in the 20th century and had a lot to say about Catholic social teaching and democracy. The first speaker was Cardinal McElroy of D.C., who turns out has written a book on Fr. Murray.
The purpose of democracy, he said, is not to serve ideology. The purpose of democracy is to serve people. If you stop seeing the person, it is no longer democracy. Even in our Church, he indicated, we have stopped seeing the person and define them by what they think or believe. Even in faith and morals, no one should be shut out from the possibility of conversion and the ability of God’s grace to change hearts. We are the ones who close the door and lock it, not God.
Ideology develops camps, and tribes, and parties. It becomes the tool to divide rather than enrich. It is no longer an opportunity for deeper understanding. There can be no dialogue if you first don’t acknowledge the fact that you might have something to learn from your dialogue partner.
Pontius Pilate was free of ideology and did see the man Jesus, and tried to convince the mob to let him go. The man who was not even a believer found no fault with Jesus. There was a frenzy happening that blinded everyone from seeing the goodness of the Son of God, despite their inability, ultimately, even to accuse him of anything.
This blindness cripples all levels of society. Is it any wonder children bully each other when they witness this behavior by adults, even parents and leaders? We need to stop, take a breath, and look intently at the human person in front of us and truly see them. This is a son or daughter of God, a beautiful creation we can’t begin to explain. Then we might work together as adults to make things right even if our ideologies don’t necessarily match.
The Lord be with you,
Lenten Observances
Fasting: Food equivalent to one regular meal, one small meal – Ash Wed/ Good Friday
Abstinence: No meat – ALL Fridays
Parish Soup Suppers: Fridays in Lent, 6pm
Stations of the Cross: Fridays, 7pm in English, 7:45pm in Spanish, in the church
Lent Confessions: Wednesdays, 6:30-8pm, Saturdays, 3:30-4:30pm (as usual). Please plan confessions early in the season to avoid running out of time.
Parish Penance Service: Tuesday, Mar. 24, 6:30pm
Pope Leo has asked the global Church to support the Pontifical Good Friday Collection, which helps Christians in the Holy Land and maintains the holy sites. Stand in solidarity with the Church in the Holy Land as a witness of peace supporting parishes and schools, maintaining Christian shrines and caring for refugees there. It will be the only collection on Good Friday. If you will be out of town for the holiday, please give to this worthy cause next weekend, Palm Sunday.
Volunteers are needed to help serve meals and visit with those in our community that are homeless, March 22 through 26 at Saint Mark’s Lutheran Church in Springfield. Food and monetary donations will be accepted. A signup has been created listing specific requests in today’s bulletin.
Easter Flower Memorials are still available through March 31. Envelopes can be found at the hospitality desk in the vestibule of the church.
Please join us for our Parish Penance Service, Tuesday March 24th beginning at 6:30 PM. We will have 15 visiting priests. There will be limited opportunities leading up to Easter.
The last opportunity for Wednesday evening confession is March 25 at 6:30-8PM. Lenten Soup Suppers are Fridays at 6:00 PM followed by the Stations of the Cross at 7:00 PM in English and 7:45 PM in Spanish.
Adults who, for whatever reason, are catechized but have never received the sacrament of Confirmation are invited to contact the office. Fr. Don will be planning a series of classes during the Easter Season in preparation for Confirmation with Bishop Burbidge on Pentecost Sunday.
All Saints Church Multi-Car Raffle is still in full swing. Four vehicles will be raffled along with a $20,000 cash drawing, plus other cash drawings. The final deadline for ticket returns is April 21th. The drawings begin at 1:00pm Saturday, April 25th at All Saints Parish in Manassas. Please return all tickets by mail directly to All Saints in the envelope provided.
FAITH FORMATION
Living the Liturgical Year:
This Sunday marks the 5th Sunday of Lent, it is the final week of Lent. As we prepare for Holy Week next week and reflect on Jesus' life, death, and resurrection. We see this in this week's Gospel reading of raising Lazarus from the dead, demonstrating His power over life and death and revealing God's promise of eternal life.
This week we also celebrate the Solemnity of the Annunciation of the Lord. It is always celebrated on March 25, nine months before the birth of Jesus. It is when the Archangel Gabriel announced to the Virgin Mary that she will be the mother of Jesus Christ. You can teach your children about the Annunciation by watching the video at this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0W5Fm0J1UI and teaching your children how to say the Angelus. Creating a Annunciation Prayer Craft is another activity you can do with your kids. https://www.catholicinspired.com/post/annunciation-prayer-craft-easy-color-create
Join us this Sunday, March 22, following the 9am Mass for our Sunday Donut Social! Parents, come enjoy coffee and fellowship while your children make liturgical themed crafts with our volunteers!
Volunteers for 2025-2026 ~ We are still in need for volunteers (assistant catechists, teen catechists, and hall monitors). If interested, please contact the Religious Education Office or fill out the Volunteer Form on the website http://stbernpar.org/religious-education-volunteers/.
Upcoming Religious Education Activities
Sunday Doughnut Social: Mar. 22, Apr. 26
Regular classes: Mar. 24/25, Apr. 14/15, 21/22, 28/29
No classes: Mar. 31, Apr. 1, 7/8
SPRED Classes: Apr. 11, 25
Family Faith Formation: Apr. 26
WOMEN'S MINISTRY
Come and enjoy warm fellowship and great food. No need to RSVP. For more information, please email us at women@stbernpar.org.
Tuesday, April 7 is our next Dinner with Friends at 5pm, at Saratoga Pizzeria, 8050 Rolling Road. We meet for this casual meal on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays.
YOUTH MINISTRY
High School Youth Ministry
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. For any questions, contact JP McLaughlin at jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org.
All 9th-12th graders are invited to join us for a live CLUE night on Saturday, April 11 from 6-8:30pm in the Bradican Room! Just like the board game, visit different rooms, talk to other players, and collect clues. Bring your magnifying glass and notepads! Dinner will be included.
Volunteers for High School Program - We are looking for adults who share a deep passion for their Faith and want to help disciple high school teens. All adult volunteers must be VIRTUS
certified and undergo a background check. If you are interested, contact JP McLaughlin at jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org.
Workcamp - Adult Volunteers Needed! 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 female crew leaders to serve alongside our teens during the week of Workcamp. No construction skills needed; must be 25 or older. Please contact our parish Stakeholder, Matthew Frey, for more information. matthew_c_frey@yahoo.com.
Middle School Youth Ministry - next gathering April 1
All 6th-8th graders are invited for games, snacks, and fun every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month! Meet in the school gym from 6:45-8pm.
YOUNG ADULTS Group
All Young Adults are invited to once-a-month Sunday night discussions and debates on key topics and mysteries about the Faith. Our next Faith Discussion will be on Sunday, April 19, 6-8pm in the Bradican Rm. For any inquiries, contact JP McLaughlin jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org for any inquiries.
Looking to join the Saint Bernadette’s Young Adults? Scan the QR code to join the Saint Bernadette Young Adults Group Chat.
To learn more about our middle and high school ministries,
please contact Grace Mee, gmee@stbernpar.org
or JP McLaughlin jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org,
aDear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
Last week I spent my entire article on what I think is the most important aspect of your participation at Mass, and perhaps the most overlooked. It is the offering of the gifts to be consecrated. It is bread and wine, and it is also you, your hearts, your joys and sorrows, your successes and failures, your hopes and dreams. All of it is offered: “Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.”
All that follows is built on the integrity of this offering of self, and it needs to be a firm foundation.
The gifts of bread and wine are blessed, based on the barakoth blessing prayers of the Passover meal. We join the heavenly chorus found in scripture of the seraphim angels singing “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts.” Then we join the voices of the people as Jesus enters Jerusalem on Palm Sunday: “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest.” The Eucharistic Prayer begins.
Two important elements need to be highlight-ed to understand the Eucharistic Prayer. The first is epiclesis (Greek for “calling upon”); the second is anamnesis (Greek for “memorial,” as in the sense of active remembering, bringing a past reality to the present moment).
If you don’t know about these, you may miss the point of the Eucharistic Prayer.
The priest calls the power of the Holy Spirit upon the gifts of bread and wine, they they may become the Body and Blood of our Savior. It is signified by a “laying on of hands,” or the priest holding his hands over the gifts. This gesture is found in most sacraments as signs of blessing for marriage, receiving the Holy Spirit at Confirmation, even the gesture of the priest during the words of absolution during Reconciliation. This epiclesis is the beginning of the consecration of the gifts.
Most people consider the “consecration” to be the words of institution (“this is my Body; this is my Blood to be poured out for the forgiveness of sins”) and the elevation of the host and cup. I had a liturgy teacher in the seminary who had a lot to say about this. He would ask, “When does the consecration end?” “With one of the three memorial acclamations,” someone would say who wasn’t paying attention the last time he asked the question. “No!” he would say. “Jesus became bread and wine for a reason, not a shiny object we would just treasure and admire. He must be consumed! He is food! Consecration doesn’t end until the last person in the church has received the Eucharist.” It is for you all of this happens, not just so that it happens.
As we lift up hearts to actively be present in the moment of this Eucharistic miracle, anamnesis is necessary. This is when your power of the soul, your memory (the other powers are intellect and free will) acts. Through the words of institution, the instrumentality of the priest to provide the Mystery of faith, and your ability to actively recall the saving power of this sacrifice, together we make present again the once-and-for-all sacrifice of Jesus on Calvary. He is not re-crucified as many people have mistakenly accused the Church of doing. This moment is when we are brought into this eternal moment of the Son of God (not limited to time as if only a man) and are present to him, and he to us. Sacraments are like portals which open the veil between time and eternity and we are suddenly, intimately joined.
The priest announces this moment: “The Mystery of faith.” In our active recalling, we respond with one of three options: “When we eat this bread and drink this cup, we proclaim your death, O Lord, until you come again.”
There is a second epiclesis that is not obvious-ly gestured as in the past, but is still present in all Eucharistic Prayers (except #1, which doesn’t mention the Holy Spirit at all). The priest prays that the reception of this one Body and one cup will gather us all as one in Christ. (I extend my hands in my imagination when I pray these words.)
Once this is done and we proclaim our “Great Amen” at the end of the Eucharistic Prayer (a nice symmetry with the Creed in the Liturgy of the Word), the Lord’s Prayer follows (Jesus’ own words), peace is made (If you are offering your gift at the altar and remember that your brother has something against you, first go and be reconciled with him, then come and offer your gift...”), the bread is broken and distributed. You have become what you receive, and now are sent to share what you have found with the world.
The Lord be with you,