ST. BERNADETTE NEWS...
ASH WEDNESDAY IS TODAY.
Mass at 6pm with Ashes Distribution
The first day of Lent. Lent is a 40 day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that begins on Ash Wednesday and ends at sundown on Holy Thursday. It's a period of preparation to celebrate the Lord's Resurrection at Easter. During Lent, we seek the Lord in prayer by reading Sacred Scripture; we serve by giving alms; and we practice self-control through fasting.
We are called not only to abstain from luxuries during Lent, but to a true inner conversion of heart as we seek to follow Christ's will more faithfully. We recall the waters of baptism in which we were also baptized into Christ's death, died to sin and evil, and began new life in Christ.
Many know of the tradition of abstaining from meat on Fridays during Lent, but we are also called to practice self-discipline and fast in other ways throughout the season. Contemplate the meaning and origins of the Lenten fasting tradition in this reflection. In addition, the giving of alms is one way to share God's gifts—not only through the distribution of money, but through the sharing of our time and talents. As St. John Chrysostom reminds us: "Not to enable the poor to share in our goods is to steal from them and deprive them of life. The goods we possess are not ours, but theirs." (Catechism of the Catholic Church, no. 2446).
LEARNING FROM THE SAINTS
"Do you wish your prayer to fly toward God? Make for it two wings: fasting and almsgiving." (St. Augustine)
Will your sacrifices for Lent change something for you or for others?
OPTIONS FOR LENTEN JOURNEY BELOW:
At home or with Friends
HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY
Eucharistic Adoration
Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
St. Augustine - the Eucharist binds us together.
"The Eucharist makes the Church".
"Become what we receive".
"Body of Communion, Sacrifice-Love one another as I have loved you."
Watching the news and reading the headlines, we may feel helpless seeing the heartbreaking lack of respect for human life. How do we respond when our efforts seem small in the face of the culture of death?
Identity Crisis
As a society and as individuals, we often measure ourselves by false standards: by what and how much we do, our successes or failures, how others treat us, the degree of our pleasure or independence, etc. And when these changeable substitutes prove to be insufficient, or when we are faced with challenges and suffering, we may feel helpless, alone, or abandoned; we may be tempted to feel as though our lives have decreased value or worth.
But God's love—individual, real, unchanging—is the true source of our worth, identity, and dignity. It really is not a question of who we are, but rather whose we are. Because his love will never change, nothing can reduce our God-given dignity, and nothing can diminish the immeasurable worth of our lives.
REVIVAL CORNER
Explore Your Eucharistic Faith
Jesus and the Eucharist is a dynamic, FREE 7-session study designed to help you connect with your fellow parishioners as you fall deeper in love with our Eucharistic Lord. Immerse yourself in the beauty of our faith in an intimate small group setting, hear from some of the most brilliant voices in Catholicism, and explore the mystery of the Eucharist anew as a part of the National Eucharistic Revival.
You can watch the entire series now with a free account on our Learn platform, but we recommend making this journey with a small group. Create an account now so you can come back and explore the full series. Then, visit the collection below to find all of the Jesus and the Eucharist videos available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese!
You can watch the entire series now with a free account on our Learn platform, but we recommend making this journey with a small group. Create an account now so you can come back and explore the full series. Then, visit the collection below to find all of the Jesus and the Eucharist videos available in English, Spanish, and Vietnamese!
THIS Weekend at St. Bernadette
FRIDAY - February 16, 2024
6:00 p.m. - Stations of the Cross and Soup Supper
SATURDAY - February 17, 2024
9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. Faith Formation Retreat, Doherty Hall
2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Confessions
4:00 p.m. Mass
SUNDAY - February 18, 2024
8:15 a.m. Confession
9:00 a.m. Mass
11:30 a.m. Confessions
12:00 p.m. Mass
12:00 p.m. Mass
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
We have an opportunity to walk hand in hand with Jesus for the next forty days in the desert. How will we let Him guide us, help us, and free us from our doubts and discouragements?
Today February 18th is the day celebrated by the French as the feast day of St. Bernadette. It is fitting that we allow her to be our companion on this journey as we walk in the desert and pray. Perhaps we can simply reflect on the eighteen visions St. Bernadette had of our Blessed Mother Mary. What can we learn from those reflections? Or perhaps we can examine our own conscience in confession and embrace the suffering and challenges we have in our lives and learn from Mary and St. Bernadette how to live our lives fully in openness to Jesus.
My brothers and sisters now is the time to embrace the love Jesus has for all of us. It is a time to repent and believe in the Gospel. Maybe in our prayer time we can focus on the Holy Face of Jesus as St. Therese of Lisieux did that helped her through her darkness and suffering. Or allow Jesus to heal you in confession or to embrace His love for you in the Eucharist. Maybe we simply ask God for His forgiveness and mercy and to be taught how we can each move closer to Him and away from the worries of this world. Will we allow ourselves to be completely open to his love, and to allow Him to break the chains and shackles of our sin? Are we simply going to stay on our same path or are we willing to live a life of happiness in Christ fully receiving all the gifts Jesus desires to give us.
In prayer we can ask what Jesus wants us to do with our lives. Are we willing to be open to His words and receive His love and direction? Remember Peter and the disciples were broken men not knowing exactly how to pray with Jesus in the garden. They embraced their own temptations and worries and concerns for this world. But Jesus taught them true love and mercy. Once the disciples were open to receiving His complete love and follow Jesus completely, they were happy. They knew eternal salvation was open to them from the love of Jesus.
My dear brothers and sisters in Christ, He is there for you too!! I pray for each of us to be open to receive Jesus completely in our Lent this year and to be open to His love, mercy, guidance, and forgiveness. “Your ways O Lord are love and truth to those who keep your covenant” (Psalm 25).
In Christ,
Deacon Patrick
February 18 | The First Sunday of Lent
Join our parish families in preparing for this Sunday's Mass!
Watch this video as a family:
-More about Eucharistic Adoration and Exposition
-Lent Stations of the Cross and Soup Suppers
-Place your Lenten intention in the basket below the Divine Mercy image.
-Gospel Coloring Page
-Pilgrimage Series Talk, Dr. Ben Akers
-Young Adult Brunch, Sunday Feb. 25th
-President's Day Prayer
-CCCD meeting date changed to Feb 25th
movie A Place at the Table: African Americans on the Path to Sainthood, directed by David Michael Warren and Stella Maris Films, on Saturday, February 17th... 1pm, Brady Hall at St. Ignatius Parish..these are the stories of the six incredible men and women who are on the path to canonization: Pierre Toussaint, Mother Henriette Delille, Father Augustus Tolton, Mother Mary Lange, Sister Thea Bowman, and Denver’s own Angel of Charity, Julia Greeley.
Hosted by the Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary, all are invited to view this film and partake in fellowship. Admission is free of charge.
Pope from May 28, 640 - August 2, 640 A.D.
Died: August 2, 640 A.D.
Pronounced: sev-uhr-EYE-nuss
Give me the scoop on Severinus.
Severinus, a Roman, was likely an old man by the time he reached the papacy. He took the Chair of Peter on May 28, 640, but reigned a mere 66 days, dying in office on August 2. One of his sole acts as pope was building the apse in the old St. Peter’s Basilica, where he was eventually buried.
What was he known for?
Just about the only thing Severinus is known for is thumbing his nose at the wishes of Emperor Heraclius. One of the conditions of his confirmation – or so the emperor wished – was that the new pope must pledge allegiance to the Monothelitist heresy taught by Sergius, the patriarch of Constantinople (the very same one that got Honorius I in hot water, for those keeping score at home). Severinus' consecration, as a result, was delayed for well over a year after Honorius’ death. But our good pontiff held the line, refusing to subject the Church to a dubious belief and telling the emperor, “You’re not the boss of me.” Win: Pope.
Fun Fact...
The name “Severinus” is derived from the name “Severus” meaning “stern”.
What else was going on in the world at the time?
The great St. Arnold, patron saint of brewers and archbishop of Metz (northeast France), died at the age of 58. Click here to read more about three legends surrounding this iconic saint.
Next....John IV