PARISH EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
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
40 Hours and Parish Lenten Mission
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, Sunday–Tuesday, March 1-3. Begins with 5pm Mass Sunday followed by adoration and mission talks by Christopher White, American journalist and analyst, known for his extensive coverage of the Vatican and Catholic Church Life at 6:15pm. Additional Masses on Monday and Tuesday evening at 6:30pm followed by Lenten Mission talks at 7:30pm. Close of 40 Hours with Benediction, Tuesday night after the talk.
2025 year-end Contribution Statements will be mailed this week and next. Due to the inclement weather, delivery to your mailbox may be delayed. Please contact the parish office if you have any questions.
The 2026 Bishop’s Lenten Appeal mailing was recently sent to parishioners. The 2026 theme is ““In Christ We Are One”, which reminds us of this great theological virtue that is rooted in Jesus Christ and the victory he won for us. The in-pew pledge weekend is next weekend, February 7/8, or you can make a gift at: www.arlingtondiocese.org/BLA. Please indicate you are a parishioner here and it will count toward our parish goal of $582,000.
Discover the Beauty and Riches of the Mass Saint Bernadette Lenten Study 2026. Join us for a 5-week study this Lent, as we learn to better understand the celebration of the Mass. See the bulletin for more information.
Inclement Weather Delays and Closures : Saint Bernadette Parish and School follows the Fairfax County School System regarding closings for snow and other inclement weather. If public schools are closed, our school is closed and all activities on the campus for that day and evening are canceled. Please take this policy into account when scheduling use of Parish facilities during winter months.
FAITH FORMATION
Living the Liturgical Year:
On February 11, we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. She appeared 18 times to St. Bernadette Soubirous (our patron saint) in Lourdes, France. The message of Our Lady emphasized the importance of prayer, penance and the presence of God in our everyday life. You can teach your children about Our Lady of Lourdes and St. Bernadette on this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-QbwjpgsiEU
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/.
As we approach Ash Wednesday and Lent next week, one sacrament that we can focus on is Reconciliation. With Spring Confessions approaching this week, you can go over the steps to make a good confession with your children at this site: https://bustedhalo.com/ministry-resources/busted-halos-guide-confession or https://thelittleshepherds.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/Free-Childrens-Confession-Guide.
Upcoming Religious Education Activities
Family Mass Learning: Feb 7-8 after Masses
Regular classes: Feb. 10-11, 24-25
Spring Confessions for students: Feb. 10-11
SPRED Class: Feb. 21
Sunday Doughnut Social: Feb. 22
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, February 17 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, February 10. This month’s meeting will be a virtual meeting on Zoom with a professional grief counselor. He has decades of experience helping family members faced with the challenges of health situations and life-style adjustment issues. If you do not normally receive Barbara’s emails, you can request the link at bdalmut@gmail.com.
YOUTH MINISTRY
High School 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.
We are starting High School Small Groups. All high schoolers are welcome to attend. 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 High schoolers are invited for dinner, games, fellowship, and adoration with praise and worship on Saturday, February 21. 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.
Work Camp 2026 registration is open: Please visit our website to register for Work Camp. Contact Matthew Frey matthew_c_frey@yahoo.com or JP McLaughlin at jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org for any inquiries.
NEW DATE / Registration has re-opened: All highschoolers are welcome to an overnight retreat at Summit Lake in Emmitsburg, MD, March 13-Sunday, March 15. 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 - next gathering February 18
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, February 15, 6-8pm in the Bradican Room. For any inquiries, contact JP McLaughlin, jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org.
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 JP McLaughlin jpmclaughlin@stbernpar.org, or Grace Mee, gmee@stbernpar.org