PARISH EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS – 18 OCTOBER 2026
2:
Rise Against Hunger / Saint Bernadette Dining Nights Out
Tuesday, 20 October 2026, Milano's Family Restaurant, Commerce Street
present our flyer or mention Saint Bernadette when ordering!
ANNOUNCEMENTS for the 28th Week in Ordinary Time
Don’t forget, if you haven’t, to return your commitment card for parish ministry – Pray, serve and give, for the coming year. Please drop it in the mail or bring it by the office
Join us for our monthly (third Monday) Taizé Prayer Service on Monday night, October 19, 8 - 8:45pm. Come for a peaceful moment of simple song and silence and pray for Christian Unity.
The annual ECHO yard sale is next Saturday, October 31st, from 8 am to noon in the school gym. Proceeds will help local residents experiencing an emergency and those with long-term low-income needs.
The Knights of Columbus are asking for your support in filling a Box of Joy with presents like small toys, toiletries, and more for children in need. Boxes will be distributed after Mass next weekend and collected for delivery on the weekend of November 7 and 8.
All Saints Day falls on Sunday, November 1st this year, therefore we will follow the regular Saturday and Sunday Mass schedule. The All Souls’ Day Mass schedule for Monday, November 2nd will be 7am, 9am, Noon and 7:30pm (bilingual) for all our deceased. Remembrance envelopes, in which you may include the names of your deceased family or friends, are in the vestibule of the church and parish office. Please return them by October 30.
Next weekend, we will continue our Work of Mercy Fundraising efforts by raffling a chance to win Fr. Don’s beautiful, framed prints; This years’ prints are of Mdina, Malta and Orvieto, Italy. Raffle tickets begin at $ 10 each and are available after all Masses. Tickets are sold separately for each print. All proceeds will support Rise Against Hunger.
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
Volunteers for 2026-2027 ~ If you feel called to help with the Religious Education program, we are in need of volunteers on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6–7:15pm (arrive by 5:45pm). For Tuesday: hallway helpers, sixth grade (first year Confirmation) lead, and four aides for various classrooms. For Wednesdays, Fourth Grade Lead, sixth grade (first year Confirmation) lead, 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.
On October 22, we celebrate the Feast Day of Pope St. John Paul II. He had a global legacy that revitalized the papacy, influence in world politics, and renewed the emphasis on human dignity. He loved youth ministry and founded World Youth Day. Learn more about him from this video released before his canonization: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9lYvkmY874. Did you know that we have a 2nd class relic used by Pope St. John Paull II? Our church altar was used by him when he celebrated the Mass on the National Mall in October 1979.
Children’s Liturgy of the Word - Children’s Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) is a program for 3-6 year olds. The children leave the 9am Mass with their catechists during the Liturgy of the Word so they can hear the Word of God at their level. Child-ren return to Mass during the offertory and worship with their families for the remainder of the Mass. The program is held most Sundays from September through July except holiday weekends.
Please remember there are no cellphones and electronic devices allowed in the classroom. Children should bring their book(s) in their clear plastic folder each week to class, and parents should check the folder weekly for assignments and information from the catechist. Class times on Tuesday and Wednesday are 6-7:15pm – please arrive and pick-up on time! Students arriving more than 15 minutes late will have to be signed in by a parent at door 1
Upcoming schedule
Regular classes: Oct. 20/21, 27/28
Sunday Doughnut Social: Oct. 25
WOMEN'S MINISTRY
Come and enjoy warm fellowship and great food. For more information, please email us at women@stbernpar.org
Tuesday, October 20 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.
Our next monthly meeting will be at a NEW TIME on Sunday, October 25, 2:30pm in the Bradican Room. Noted local author Melanie Rigney will be our guest speaker. Melanie has published several books about lives of the saints. Her topic will be ‘Your Life With the Saints…and How to be One.” Free autographed book for first 30 attendees! ALL WOMEN OF THE PARISH ARE WELCOME
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!
Join high schoolers all throughout the diocese of Arlington at RALLY on October 25 from 11am-9pm. RALLY is an all-day event that includes Mass with Bishop Burbidge, speakers, music, games, and more! Check out the Youth Ministry page on the parish website for more information and permission slips.
Middle School
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.
CYO Sports - Winter Sports Registration is now OPEN
Joining sports teams can be a rewarding experience for young athletes. Saint Bernadette's CYO sports offers a variety of options, including cross country, tennis, track & field, basketball, cheer, and volleyball, fostering both physical fitness and teamwork. Participating helps in developing athletic skills but also emphasizes the importance of faith, sportsmanship, discipline, and community involvement. These programs often create a supportive environment where players can build lasting friendships and learn valuable life lessons. CYO sports are open to children who attend Saint Bernadette’s school or are enrolled in the parish’s religious education program this school year.
Registration for basketball and cheer is now open. Register for basketball by 10/19 and cheer by 11/1.
Please register at - https://reg.sportspilot.com/106541/leagues
If you have any questions, please reach out to your parish CYO Reps - Gina Soriano (gvsoriano@gmail.com) or Catherine Luby (catherineeluby@gmail.com).
To learn more about our middle and high school ministries,
please contact Grace Mee, gmee@stbernpar.org