PARISH EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mark your calendars NOW - our Parish Advent Penance Service is December 16 at 6:30pm, your best bet for Reconciliation before Christmas.
Everyone is encouraged to participate in our Parish Bake Sale December 13-14 by contributing baked goods, helping with setup and cleanup, or shopping during the sale. Baked goods should be dropped off in the church vestibule starting Saturday December 13 after 9am. All proceeds support our Capital Campaign.
Saturday, December 6, from 8 to 11 AM we will have our traditional Breakfast with Santa in the school cafeteria. Join us for a tasty breakfast and take a picture with Santa, bid on classroom trees, and visit our Christmas shop for kids.
All women are invited to an Advent Evening of Reflection on December 6, from 7-9 pm in the school Gym. This event is free, and registrations are not required, but greatly appreciated. Watch the bulletin for more information.
The Springfield Council of the Knights of Columbus will be selling Christmas trees in the lower parking lot from November 29 through December 20. Please support the charitable work of the Council by purchasing your tree from the Knights. The lot is open from 5pm to 9pm on weekdays and 9am to 9pm on weekends. The Knights of Columbus are also selling Christmas cards after each Mass the weekends of November 22-23 and 29-30. Proceeds will support WorkCamp and the Saint Bernadette School. You may contact Mike Candalor at mcandalor@cox.net to get information or arrange another opportunity to view/purchase cards.
Please keep in your giving plans for the holidays the annual Catholic Charities’ Christmas Collection December 13/14 which provides a large portion of the annual budget for diocesan charitable works.
Friday December 12th we will celebrate Our Virgin of Guadalupe Mass starting with a procession from the Grotto at 6:30pm, followed by bilingual Mass and reception in the Bradican Rm.
No Taizé this Month. We will resume next month, Monday, January 19th at 8pm in the Church. Please plan to join us!
FAITH FORMATION
Living the Liturgical Year:
Happy 2nd week of Advent! This week we celebrate several Marian feasts. On December 8, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is Mary’s conception in the womb of St. Anne without her soul free from original sin. It is a Holy Day of Obligation. On December 10, we celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Loreto. The title is linked to a small house in Loreto, Italy which some believe was Mary’s birthplace and was moved from Nazareth. The Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe, patroness of the Americas, is celebrated on December 12. This is when the Virgin Mary appeared to St. Juan Diego. You can find suggestions here https://catholicprintableclub.com/how-to-celebrate-the-feast-of-the-immaculate-conception-with-kids/ to celebrate the Marian feasts.
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:
No classes : Dec. 23-24, 30-31
Family Faith Formation : Dec. 7 (2:30-4:45pm)
Sunday Donut Social : Dec. 15 after 9am Mass
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, December 16 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, December 9 at 7pm in the Bradican Room. We have two activities this month. First is the white elephant gift exchange. Bring something inexpensive and fun. We will also have a cookie exchange. Bring a dozen cookies to share and go home with a different assortment of a dozen cookies. Come join our fun and fellowship.
YOUTH MINISTRY
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.
Our first of two Work Camp interest meetings will be on December 7 from 6:15 to 7:30 PM in the Bradican Room. All adults and teens are welcome to come to learn more about Work Camp and the many ways you can volunteer. Contact Matthew Frey matthew_c_frey@yahoo.com or JP McLaughlin at jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org for any inquiries.
Christmas Saturday Dinner - December 13th - All High schoolers are invited for dinner, gingerbread house making, Christmas Caroling, and fellowship. Meet in the Bradican Room from 6-8:30pm!
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.
All highschoolers are welcome to an overnight retreat at Summit Lake in Emmitsburg, MD, January 30 - February 1. We are in collaboration with the youth ministries of St. Leo’s and Our Lady of Good Counsel. Registration has opened. Please visit our website to register for the retreat. For any inquiries, contact JP McLaughlin at jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org
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.
YOUNG ADULTS! Group
Looking to join the Saint Bernadette’s Young Adults? Scan the QR code at the left to request to join the Saint Bernadette Young Adults Group Chat.
To learn more about our middle and high school ministries,
please contact JP McLaughlin jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org, or Grace Mee, gmee@stbernpar.org