Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Occasionally, I receive a call from a former parishioner or a non-parishioner who was asked to be a godparent for someone to receive the Sacraments of Baptism or Confirmation in the Catholic Church. Very often the person is requesting a letter from our parish stating that he or she is a Catholic in good standing. This status of a Catholic in good standing is part of what is required to be a godparent. This measure helps to ensure the person receiving the Sacraments will be supported in the Catholic faith.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In today’s Gospel from St. Luke, Our Lord offers us the parable of the fig tree. This is a challenging but straightforward parable from Our Lord. If a tree produces fruit, it lives! If it doesn’t produce fruit, it dies! When the gardener was told to cut down the fig tree that was not producing fruit, the man replies: “Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down” (Luke 13:9).

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Jesus Christ entered the world through the human family. He came as an infant born into the marriage and home of the two holiest human beings who ever lived — Joseph and Mary. In a time when our world and our Church needs examples of holy men, of holy families and faithful disciples, could there be a more fitting time to venerate the man who gave his life and his love to the Blessed Mother and the Son of God?

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

In today’s Gospel, we hear that Jesus is led by the Spirit out into the desert where He is tempted by Satan. Jesus will not be distracted by the devil’s efforts to thwart His mission. Jesus came to proclaim the Good News: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” As disciples of Our Lord, we know that God, through Christ, has defeated Satan. Even though the devil remains active in our world today, we know a day will come when all evil will be destroyed forever, and the rule of Satan will be replaced by the Kingdom of God.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Lenten Season begins on Ash Wednesday, March 5, 2025. 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 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".