Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Lazarus, the one who Jesus loved, has died. Perhaps, you can feel the impact of that death on his sister Martha and those who come to grieve with her. Martha certainly believes in Jesus’ power, but she also believes that the time for that power to help has passed. She says, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” Maybe at one time, Jesus could have helped. But now He can no longer do so according to Martha’s understanding of the current situation. But there is so much more to come. You may remember the late Paul Harvey and his unique way of delivering the news. Each broadcast opened the same way; “You know what the news is. In a minute, you're going to hear the REST of the story.”

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

This is the 28th Year that the United States has recognized and celebrated March as National Disability Awareness Month!

On February 26, 1987, President Ronald Reagan officially declared Proclamation 5613, making March National Disabilities Awareness Month. The proclamation called for people to provide understanding, encouragement, and opportunities to help persons with disabilities to lead productive and fulfilling lives. Everyone wants, and deserves, to enjoy life, feel productive and secure. But in March, we take extra steps to raise awareness about the supports and rights of the people with disabilities and to celebrate their contributions to our communities and society as a whole!

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The woman in today’s Gospel needs Our Lord but she is completely unaware of the healing mercy and love of God. Her life, like her water jug, is empty. Even though we don’t know everything about her, we do know she had a difficult life.

First of all, she is a woman in a culture that was not easy for women. We also know that she has been married five times, and now she has another man in her life who is not her husband. How did this happen? Did some of them die? Were they abusive? Did they divorce her? Did she leave them? We don’t know. But any woman in that circumstance would not have been treated well and she was definitely not seen as a victim by others. She is alone.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Earlier this week, I walked into our church around 7:45am to hear confessions and I noticed several people quietly making their way around the church while silently praying the Stations of the Cross. It is very moving to see the faith, love, and devotion that is so present in the many people at our parish. It is a beautiful witness and truly a gift for this pastor to see this love for Our Lord day after day and year after year. That “walk” of course, recounts Our Lord’s journey to the cross to satisfy the debt of our sinfulness.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

“Lent is a privileged time of interior pilgrimage towards Him Who is the font of mercy. It is a pilgrimage in which He Himself accompanies us through the desert of our poverty, sustaining us on our way towards the intense joy of Easter.” (Pope Benedict, XVI, Lenten Message, 2006) We all need a “spiritual tune up” from time to time. Lent provides God’s faithful a time for conversion and an opportunity to grow in one’s faith.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

The Lenten Season begins on Ash Wednesday, Feb 22. On Ash Wednesday, St. Bernadette parish will offer a 6:30am Mass, 8:30am Mass, a 12:00pm Liturgy of the Word and 5:00pm Mass. Everyone who comes to Mass or the noonday Liturgy of the Word will receive ashes on their foreheads. The symbolism is powerful. The ashes are reminders that each one of us came from dust and will return to dust one day. The ashes on our foreheads are in the shape of a cross. Wearing this sign on our foreheads proclaims to others "I live for Christ".

For non-Christians, the Lenten season means nothing. But for those who would like to grow in their relationship with Our Lord, Lent is a time to offer personal sacrifices by giving something up like a favorite food, doing greater works of charity, and praying more intently. The Apostle Paul gives us words of encouragement: "We entreat you not to accept the grace of God in vain.... Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation" (2 Cor 6:1-2).

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Like the early disciples, we too, are a faithful community that seeks to love the Lord with our whole hearts. We too are invited to be in close relationship with Jesus. We too have been called to a unique mission of bringing hope to the hopeless, comfort to the sorrowful, and love to the lost. Sharing your blessings, your gifts and talents, brings the light of Christ to those who have known much darkness.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Our Lady’s statue arrived at the parish over 8 years ago. This statue of Our Lady of Lourdes once adorned our church space high above the altar on top of the baldacchino. Our Blessed Mother has been reverenced by thousands of parishioners for several years here at St. Bernadette. Since the parish beautification project included an image of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception on the apse in the sanctuary, it was decided that the statue would be better seen and venerated in the grotto along with a statue of St. Bernadette to represent the apparitions in Lourdes.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I like a good movie. I had a chance during my Christmas break to see a movie in the theater. It had been a while. I usually like getting popcorn, maybe some candy, a beverage and just enjoy relaxing. But I found myself saddened by what is produced in Hollywood these days. The previews for upcoming movies repulsed me and the movie itself was a disappointment.

I must admit, my movie tastes aren’t for everyone. I go to movies to feel inspired by humanity or at least see someone who is trying to be better themselves. I like a movie to offer some sort of redemption or at least some redeeming values. I like the good to win and the bad to lose.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As we come closer and closer to the dedication of Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto, I am excited to update you on the latest way for you to be a major part of the Grotto for many years to come. I want to invite you to be a part of a lasting legacy at St. Bernadette Catholic Church and St. John XXIII Catholic School while supporting our parish family and our students by participating in the Commemorative Brick Paver Program. The campaign was launched in January of 2023 and the pavers to be installed will help create a beautiful, commemorative walkway in front of Our Lady of Lourdes Grotto.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

As children of God, we celebrate the Right to Life. We are all called to be Pro Life. All life has an inherent dignity because we were created by God with a unique and eternal soul. Our Lord reminds us of the sacredness of every human life. Faithful Catholics have always held and will always preach the value of human life. The Church has taught for thousands of years that life begins in the womb and that all God’s children, born and unborn, are a reflection of the face of God. Each and every person, bear the image of God, our bodies belong to God, and it is the task of the Church to cherish and value every human life, especially the most vulnerable.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Epiphany. On Christmas, we focused on Jesus’ humanity. On Epiphany, we turn our attention to Christ’s divinity. The magi help us to understand what His divinity means through their presence and their gifts. The gift of gold honored Jesus as king. The gift of incense honored Jesus as God. And, the gift of myrrh point to Christ’s death. Our Lord was born to sacrifice His life for us. Upon the Cross, Our Lord gave His life for the forgiveness of our sins. Our Lord’s resurrection destroyed the power of sin and extended the offer of eternal life to those who love Him. Throughout our lives, we offer our gifts, just like the wise men who offered this Divine Child homage and adoration as only a true King deserves.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God. As we begin this new calendar year, we are reminded of God’s amazing love for us today. God calls us His adopted sons and daughters and Mary is our true mother. What does is mean to be called God’s adopted children? Why is Mary our true mother?

With the celebration of Mary, Mother of God, and our Blessed Mother, St. Paul reminds us of how we are invited into a relationship of adoption. Our adoption as God’s beloved children happens at our baptism and in that moment our relationship with God changes forever! Through the Sacrament of Baptism, you are fully welcomed as a child of God. That is why we can use words like, “Abba, Father” when speaking to God. This is an endearing word that a child would use to call his or her own biological father. Jesus taught us to call upon God as “Abba, Father” when He taught us how to pray the Our Father.