Dear Good People of Saint Bernadette,
We are in a very good time in the life of our parish.
I want to first express my thanks to all of you who worked so hard once again to bring our parish picnic to life, with such organization and kindness. Thanks to Rick, certainly, and all those who led teams of volunteers for an event perfectly fit for the beautiful day it suddenly became about the time the picnic began. We wondered about the weather, for sure, it was cold and windy, some rain, and suddenly the sun came out and the sky was, once again, what I like to call “picnic blue.”
It gave me a deep joy and sense of satisfaction, not because I did anything to make it happen, but because I witnessed what real community can be. It is rare in this world – maybe it always has been, but there are these moments when suddenly the sun comes out and the world seems new, and fresh, filled with all these good people who are enjoying the food they brought to share and each others’ company. Thank you for my sense of gratitude.
I hope you never think your presence in the parish isn’t significant or deeply appreciated, especially at Mass. We mean it when we read “we aren’t complete without each and every one of you.” Often our Protestant brothers and sisters might be surprised by that statement because they might have been led to believe that we are exclusive of them. Of course, we aren’t, but there are some things that we can only share when our unity is complete and honest. But being incomplete without them isn’t something many Catholics consider, either. It matters that you are here.
That is what makes last Saturday so remarkable. The communion that we discover on Sundays (even if only out of obligation) becomes more beautiful when you see so many people choose to come together to enjoy our community on a Saturday afternoon. It (as always) was a perfect day. We have photos of the picnic in this bulletin on pages 12-15._______________ This is a busy time for everyone here at the parish office. If you are contacting us and don’t get an immediate response, please be patient. Having finished the picnic, we now turn to the visit of the relics of Saint Bernadette and Rise Against Hunger.
We need your help! With regard to the relics, if you can volunteer, go to the ministry section in our recently-published Parish Renewal Handbook, Ministry Catalogue and Annual Report and find the contacts for each of the five ministry group leaders, who are also members of our Parish Advisory Board. They are helping to organize the many aspects of this relic visit. We have heard from people as far away as South Carolina and really have no idea whether we will welcome 2,000 or 10,000 pilgrims. There will be a lot of crowd control, parking lot direction, and greeters who can help people to know the campus.
The schedule is full. The relics arrive at 3pm on Thursday November 5, and veneration of the relics will follow. People will not be allowed to touch the reliquary, but will pass by in front in silent veneration. You might bow, or make the sign of the cross with the water from Lourdes which will be on a table within reach along with some stones from the grotto that you may touch. We are printing commemorative holy cards for the occasion.
Mass will take place at 6:30pm in the church. We will be prepared to livestream the Mass on the two new screens for an overflow crowd in the gym. Eucharistic ministers — we may need to call on all of you!
At the close of Mass we will announce that anyone who does not intend to stay for the procession or later should leave, as the lane in front of the church past the grotto and up to the gym will be closed. Our candlelight rosary procession will follow that path then from the gym back to the church. Veneration will follow (as before) until 10pm Thursday.
The relics will NOT be present at the 7am Mass, and the 9am Mass on that Friday is canceled. The church reopens again at 1pm for a public Mass, and veneration of the relics will continue until the farewell at 3pm.
As you can see, there are many moving parts and we will need a lot of help with setting up, overseeing the events, and helping clean up after. As I said, we can’t predict what this looks like, but I’m sure it will be a beautiful time for our parish family to celebrate the visit of our patron saint. Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for us! Saint Bernadette, pray for us!
The Lord be with you,
