bulletinAug22
TODAY – OUR ST. BERNADETTE PARISH MISSIONARY CO-OP WEEKEND
Usually this involves a missionary coming to visit us and preaching about the needs of their particular missionary efforts. But this year, our assigned missionary, a bishop from Bangladesh (a neighboring country to India) was not able because of coronavirus protocols to leave his own country, much less be allowed to enter and travel in the United States.
Therefore, our substitute priest for the weekend, Father Steve Bauer, one of our own St. Louis priests and a friend of mine, will just read the missionary appeal from the Bishop so that you can then be informed about the Catholic Church’s missionary efforts in a primarily Muslim country. Please be generous to this missionary work in Bangladesh by using the envelope in the bulletin this week.
IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR – SIGN UP FOR THE R.C.I.A
Our annual Rite of Christian Initiation for Adults sessions should begin in the middle of September for those who are interested in studying more about the Catholic Faith. Our faith is in Jesus our Lord and redeemer; our membership is in the Catholic Church started by Jesus through the Apostles nearly 2,000 years ago. As Catholics we are convinced that we share in the greatest gift we can have in this life and the greatest gift we can share with others we care about. Each Catholic member of the St. Bernadette Parish Family can share that extraordinary gift of the Catholic Faith by inviting someone you know and care about to participate in our RCIA this fall.
The RCIA or catechumenate is especially designed for those who want to look into or inquire about the Catholic Church with absolutely no commitment necessary for the first three months. Then if you are ready to move ahead, you can make the choice to do so and look forward to becoming Catholic at Easter. The RCIA is for anyone not baptized in any church, and for those who have been baptized in another Christian, or Protestant, denomination.
The RCIA is also for some Catholics who have not been fully catechized in the Catholic Faith or have not received the Sacrament of Confirmation for some reason or another. We can help you get up to speed in your religious life.
A potential candidate for RCIA will meet with me and/or Sister Kathy for an initial interview, and then you can plan on coming one evening a week till Easter. So call the Parish Office if you are interested or have any questions. Also parish members can give us the name of someone you would like us to invite.
KNEE REPORT #15
As I write this, it is the day before my knee surgery on Tuesday, Aug. 17th. So by the time you read this, I should be back to my rooms in the rectory recuperating and ready to rehab. I am counting on this third attempt at a left knee replacement to be the charm – meaning that this one would not get infected some months after the surgery like the previous two did.
Again I want to express my gratitude for all of your prayers and your concern for me. It has been a long summer to be away from you and the parish Eucharist, but I am looking forward to being back with you for Mass in a few weeks. God’s blessings on all of us at St. Bernadette Parish. St. Bernadette Soubirous, pray for us!