Dear Family,

Peace and Joy in Our Lord Jesus!

Jesus once commented that those who believe in Him without seeing would be blessed (Jn 20:29). Yet in His mercy, He still provides a way for us to gaze upon Him two thousand years after He walked the earth (2 Cor 3:18). Therefore, "fix your eyes on" the eucharistic Jesus (Heb 3:1). Consider visiting Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. In this place of believing, let Him fill you with "eucharistic amazement" (Ecclesia de Eucharistia, Pope John Paul II, 6).

Dear Family,

Peace and Joy in Our Lord Jesus!

On the television show Jeopardy, the final question was “How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb of the Unknowns”. All three contestants missed it! So if you are ever a contestant on Jeopardy… here are some facts about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

How many steps does the guard take during his walk across the tomb of the Unknowns and why? 21 steps: It alludes to the twenty-one-gun salute which is the highest honor given any military or foreign dignitary.

Dear Family,

Peace and Joy in Our Lord Jesus!

What is Parish Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration?
Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration is a Eucharistic devotion whereby members of a Parish (or some other community) unite in making continuous adoration before the Most Blessed Sacrament (in most cases, exposed) throughout the twenty-four hours of the day, seven days a week.

Dear Family,

Peace and Joy in Our Lord Jesus!

Our St. Bernadette family has been blessed to have adoration of Our Lord offered for many years. We have several committed parishioners who adore Our Eucharistic King regularly. This is such a wonderful blessing for them and for our parish.

Dear Family,

Peace and Joy in Our Lord Jesus! The Solemnity of All Saints can inspire us to become who God has created us to be, namely, saints. As I get to know the holy men and women who are now Saints in heaven, I am inspired by their heroic lives. How did these ordinary people end up living such extraordinary lives? One thing we can point to is their love for Our Lord… a love often fostered by spending time in His Real Presence in Eucharist Adoration.

Don’t take my word for it. Here is what some of the Saints have said about Eucharistic Adoration.

Dear Family,

Peace and Joy in Our Lord Jesus!

I’m sure you have seen the rather macabre Halloween scenes in front yards around your neighborhood. The fascination with evil is troubling. The way our culture currently recognizes Halloween is more than scary… it is wrong. Let me attempt to clarify a few things. Next week we will celebrate the Feast of All Saints, which is celebrated every November 1st. This celebration dates back to the fourth century. It was originally called the Feast of All Martyrs. The words “martyr” and “saint” originally meant basically the same thing — someone who is a witness to Christ even unto death.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Peace and Joy in Our Lord Jesus!

It is no secret that many Catholics live a sort of “buffet line” Catholicism. They pick and choose what pleases their moral palates. For “Cafeteria Catholics” the deposit of faith we have received in the Church is seemingly nonessential depending on a person’s mood and/or circumstance.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Peace and Joy in Our Lord Jesus!

We are inspired when we read about the lives of the Saints who have made real sacrifices and have expressed true love. Their witness reminds us that life is sacred and their way of living and loving has impacted our world in many positive ways. Saints inspire holy marriages, build and support strong families, and bring many lost souls to the Catholic Church. During this Respect Life month, we can look to the Saints to help us to see every person as God sees him or her. Saints inspire us to never shy away from a human being who is sick, or dirty, or ignorant, or mentally ill.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Peace and Joy in Our Lord Jesus!

As we celebrate Respect Life throughout the month of October, Our Lord reminds us of the sacredness of every life. Catholics have always held and will always preach the value of human life. The Catechism of the Catholic Church states that:

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Peace and Joy in Our Lord Jesus!

We live in troubling times. Many communities are being destroyed by violence. Our faith is being tested. I’ve had many conversations with parishioners about riots, thuggery and civil unrest. It is frustrating to see people get hurt. It is difficult to see people in service professions get disrespected and even killed and businesses and livelihoods being destroyed.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Fr. Zachary of the Mother of God, SOLT offers a beautiful reflection on the five important “rules” that can be a part of our lives every day of our life. I think they are solid rules that can help us all to become better disciples of Our Lord Jesus.

#1 The first rule begins when we rise from bed. First thing in the morning say: "This is the first and greatest of all the commandments, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and all your soul, and with your whole mind, and with all your strength’ and the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Dear Family of God,

Peace and Joy in Our Lord Jesus Christ!

Do you find yourself often frustrated, tired, and lacking patience? You may want to look at how you deal with your hatred and anger. The very first line we heard from Sacred Scripture applies to so many people in our culture. The Book of Sirach “Wrath and anger are hateful things, yet the sinner hugs them tight. The vengeful will experience the Lord’s vengeance... So forgive your neighbor’s injustice.”

Dear Family of God,

Peace and Joy in Our Lord Jesus Christ!

You may have noticed these signs around town. They are simple signs that offer some hopeful messages. They are encouraging roadside signs that have been popping up in neighborhoods all around the world – and it’s all thanks to one woman who felt helpless in the face of mental illness.