5th Sunday of Lent

03-21-2021Letter from the PastorFr. Don Kline, V.F.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

On June 16, 2019, I was installed by Bishop Olmsted as the pastor of St. Bernadette parish. I am grateful to be part of the St. Bernadette family united in our Catholic faith, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and committed to one another and Our Lord in love and humble service.

For about three years now, I have witnessed firsthand the great works of the good people of our parish. Through the sacrificial love of so many people, our approximately 100 ministries serve the needs of our parishioners and people throughout northeast Scottsdale and beyond. We are truly blessed! The willingness to serve Our Lord has brought other people to be attracted to the faith and as a result our parish has grown to more than1,800 families and our school has continued to attract students from all over the valley.

Back in 2015, St. Bernadette’s financial picture included $8.5 million of debt. Through the extraordinary generosity of our parishioners and sound financial management, we were able to pay off that debt in December of 2020! Your sacrificial offerings, big or small, have enabled us to eliminate the parish debt in just six years! This is an amazing accomplishment and one certainly worth celebrating.

I am humbled by your willingness to be a part of the important work of building the Kingdom of God for generations to come. Your involvement has been crucial to our mission given to us by Christ Himself: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” Living the mission when it is convenient or inconvenient requires all of us to pray and to work together.

The next part of the journey includes the completion of the interior of the church. This includes stained glass windows, magnificent murals, a pipe organ, and an outdoor grotto to Our Lady of Lourdes reminiscent of the beautiful grotto in Lourdes where Our Lady told a young girl named Bernadette that Our Lady was the Immaculate Conception. These efforts are already underway with the hope of completion sometime in the Fall of 2021.

We are truly blessed at St. Bernadette and I am asking all of us as a family united in our Catholic faith, inspired by the Holy Spirit, and committed to one another and Our Lord in love and humble service to take part in these upcoming projects through prayer, sacrificial offering, and joyful participation. I give thanks to God for all you do to make St. Bernadette the amazing parish God is creating it to be through your prayerful and supportive efforts.