ST. BERNADETTE NEWS...
February has offered us wonderful moisture, every weekend and for that we are thankful. We are also thankful for those who have come to shovel the walks. Many of you have not been caught on camera but please know we are so thankful for your service to the parish. Without your generosity, much would have been postponed this month.
More for your Lent...
OPTIONS FOR LENTEN JOURNEY BELOW:
At home or with Friends
BIBLE BASICS BEGINS TONIGHT, 6PM DOHERTY HALL
Eucharistic Adoration
Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
STATIONS OF THE CROSS
at
1p.m. and
6p.m., ASL interpreted with Soup Supper following.
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?
Our Response
When someone is facing great trials, we need to meet them where they are, walk with them on their journey, intercede for them, and be open to sharing Christ's love however he directs.
When a woman becomes pregnant, and her boyfriend threatens to leave if she continues the pregnancy, we need to lovingly walk with her. When family members or friends become seriously ill, we need to assure them that God still offers them something in this life, and they still have purpose. We need to consistently be with them every step of the way.
Sometimes our actions speak for themselves; other times, words are needed. Whatever the situation, Jesus knows how to speak to each person's heart; we simply need to follow where he leads.
REVIVAL CORNER
THIS Weekend at St. Bernadette
FRIDAY - February 23, 2024
8:30 a.m. - Adoration
1:00 p.m. - Stations of the Cross
6:00 p.m. - Stations of the Cross, ASL interpreted and Soup Supper to follow
SATURDAY - February 24, 2024
2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. Confessions
4:00 p.m. Mass
SUNDAY - February 25, 2024
8:15 a.m. Confession
9:00 a.m. Mass
Young adult breakfast - see insert
10:00 a.m. CCCD Meeting, Doherty Hall
10:00 a.m. Knights of Columbus Breakfast, Doherty Hall
11:30 a.m. Confessions
12:00 p.m. Mass
12:00 p.m. Mass
My Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
How strong is our faith in Jesus? Abraham is put to the test as we witness in Genesis 22 with the story of his son Isaac. The lesson we learn is the importance of loving and cherishing what is most important: our love and trust in the Lord. How many cars, or homes, or books or clothes do we need to be happy? Shouldn’t we focus our attention on the virtues instead of the vices, the happiness instead of the sorrow, and Jesus’ love for us rather than the darkness brought on by sin?
We face a variety of secular challenges today that try and sway us away from Jesus. Do we listen to God’s beloved son or follow what our friends say what we should do? As we travel in this second week in the desert with Jesus, we should remain steadfast on walking before the Lord in the land of the living (Psalm 116). Our lives give us an opportunity to practice being better and move closer to Jesus. Certainly, we will fail occasionally and that is ok as long as we get back up and keep moving closer to Jesus’ love for us.
Marks gospel 9:2-10, describes the story of Peter, James, and John going up a high mountain and Jesus was transfigured before them. This is a dramatic dichotomy from Abraham’s test and the brilliance of the glory brought to the disciples by Jesus. They too received a sign that God was real and wanted the best for them.
I encourage each of us to go to the Holy land if we can one day and experience the mountain that does exist, that does have the chapel with images of Elijah, and Moses, and the historical sleeping quarters where the disciples may have rested. Perhaps we may witness the brightness of the sun in its glory as a symbol of the transfiguration as we gaze across the landscape, open on all sides, open to heaven and glory of God. If we are not able to be there physically, we can be there spiritually by reflecting this Lent on the fourth Luminous mystery, the Transfiguration. Let God transfigure our lives so that we one day see his glorious majesty face to face. But for now, when the days of our lives are in darkness, focus our attention on moving closer to Him one day at a time. Our suffering and sorrow are for His glory. He won’t leave his disciples and children alone in the desert forever. We simply must genuinely love Jesus with all our hearts and minds like Abraham did.
Persevere, be patient, and be willing to transfigure our hearts to the heart of Jesus this Lent.
In Christ,
Deacon Patrick
Watch formed.org, Over Holy Ground: Exploring Sacred Sites - FORMED
February 25 | The 2nd 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
-Stations of the Cross 1pm & 6pm with Soup Supper
-Place your Lenten intention in the basket below the Divine Mercy image.
-Gospel Coloring Page
-Pilgrimage Series Talk, Dr. Ben Akers
-CCCD meeting Feb 25th
-Lent Mission with Dcn Harold Burke Sivers
- An evening with the Lord: Penance Service, Stations, Soup Supper & Adoration
Catholic Youth Are Mobilizing for Climate Action
Thursday, February 29th at 6:30 p.m. (ET)
Thursday, February 29th at 6:30 p.m. (ET)
Young people are very aware of the challenges and risks that climate change will bear on their lives, and they are mobilizing to find solutions and accelerate climate action. During the one-hour online conversation, you will hear high school students from Catholic Climate Covenant’s Boston Youth Mobilization team speak about their recent Catholic Youth Climate Summit and Lobby Day and what it means to be an adult ally.
The webinar will be recorded, and the recording will be sent to all who register. If you have questions, please email Paz Artaza-Regan (paz@catholicclimatecovenant.org)
Sincerely,
Sincerely,
Catholic Climate Covenant
Pope from December 24, 640 - October 12, 642 A.D.
Died: October 12, 642 A.D.
Give me the scoop on John IV.
John was a Dalmatian by birth, born in the region bordering the Mediterranean Sea in modern-day Croatia. No word on whether he had a spotted pet as a child.
John was serving as an archdeacon in Rome at the time of his election. After a four-month vacancy following Severinus’ death, John IV gave the Church an early Christmas present, taking office on December 24, 640. His early days as pope focused on his native land, which had been under siege by the Slavs of late. True to his call to care for the flock, John sent Martin, an abbot, to the region with ransom money to free captives, and also to collect relics of Dalmatian saints there. He had an oratory built in their honor next to the Lateran Basilica, which still stands today. John IV died October 12, 642 and was buried in St. Peter’s Basilica.
John was serving as an archdeacon in Rome at the time of his election. After a four-month vacancy following Severinus’ death, John IV gave the Church an early Christmas present, taking office on December 24, 640. His early days as pope focused on his native land, which had been under siege by the Slavs of late. True to his call to care for the flock, John sent Martin, an abbot, to the region with ransom money to free captives, and also to collect relics of Dalmatian saints there. He had an oratory built in their honor next to the Lateran Basilica, which still stands today. John IV died October 12, 642 and was buried in St. Peter’s Basilica.
What was he known for?
The best-known act of John IV’s short pontificate was his unequivocal denouncement of the heresy of Monothelitism. You’ll remember, this was the heresy that got Pope Honorius I in deep doo-doo, not by an endorsement but instead by negligence and his muddling of key distinctions regarding Christ’s divine and human wills. The heresy itself claimed that Christ had but one will, and was endorsed at the time by the emperor, Heraclius.
At a council convened by John IV, he minced precisely zero words in condemning the heresy and wagged a papal finger at Heraclius for promoting it. Surprisingly, the emperor recanted his belief in the faulty teaching with no resistance. To boot, John IV did Honorius a posthumous solid by apologizing on his behalf, and clarifying that Honorius merely meant to condemn the belief that Christ had two contrary wills.
At a council convened by John IV, he minced precisely zero words in condemning the heresy and wagged a papal finger at Heraclius for promoting it. Surprisingly, the emperor recanted his belief in the faulty teaching with no resistance. To boot, John IV did Honorius a posthumous solid by apologizing on his behalf, and clarifying that Honorius merely meant to condemn the belief that Christ had two contrary wills.
Fun Fact...
The date of John IV’s death, October 12, happened to be the same one on which Pope Honorius I died, just four years prior.
What else was going on in the world at the time?
In 641, the only full year of John IV’s papacy, the Byzantine Empire went through four emperors. Heraclius died of dropsy in February after reigning for three decades. His son, Constantine III died four months later – probably a victim of poison – and was succeeded by Heraclius’ other son, Heraklonas. Finally, after the Byzantine Senate turned against him, Heraklonas was mutilated and exiled, vacating the throne to be filled by his nephew, Constans II, who was then just 10 years old.
Next....Pope Theodore I