The Roman Catholic Community of St. Bernard of Clairvaux 500 Route 22 East, Bridgewater, NJ 08807 “We are the Living Stones”, a family of Faith which strives to love God and our neighbors through the church. December 1, 2013 - First Sunday of Advent Served by: Rev. Msgr. Joseph G. Celano, V.E., Pastor Rev. Jason Pavich, Parochial Vicar Rev. Andrew Smith, O.S.B., Weekend Assistant Mr. Patrick Cline, Deacon Mr. Gerard Sims, Deacon Mr. Paul Anderson, Deacon Mr. Michael Wojcik, Deacon Mrs. Barbara Sanderman, Director of Sacred Music Sister Lorraine Doiron, S.J.H., Director, Office of Catechetical Formation Sister Gloria Pighini, S.J.H. Mr. Dan Konkel, Director of Youth Ministry Mrs. Barbara Turse, Director of St. Bernard Pre-School and Kindergarten Mr. Mark LaFleur, Director, St. Bernard Cemetery
Transcript
The Roman Catholic Community of St. Bernard of Clairvaux
500 Route 22 East, Bridgewater, NJ 08807
“We are the Living Stones”, a family of Faith which strives to love God and our neighbors through the church.
December 1, 2013 - First Sunday of Advent
Served by:
Rev. Msgr. Joseph G. Celano, V.E., Pastor Rev. Jason Pavich, Parochial Vicar
Rev. Andrew Smith, O.S.B., Weekend Assistant Mr. Patrick Cline, Deacon Mr. Gerard Sims, Deacon
Mr. Paul Anderson, Deacon Mr. Michael Wojcik, Deacon
Mrs. Barbara Sanderman, Director of Sacred Music Sister Lorraine Doiron, S.J.H., Director, Office of Catechetical Formation
Sister Gloria Pighini, S.J.H. Mr. Dan Konkel, Director of Youth Ministry
Mrs. Barbara Turse, Director of St. Bernard Pre-School and Kindergarten Mr. Mark LaFleur, Director, St. Bernard Cemetery
Page 2
The Liturgical Week Today’s Readings
Readings For The Week
Getting Ready
First Reading — All the peoples shall stream toward the LORD’s house (Isaiah 2:1-5).
Psalm — Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord (Psalm 122).
Second Reading — It is the hour to cast off the dark and clothe ourselves in the light (Romans 13:11–14).
Gospel — Stay awake! Be prepared! The Son of Man will come when you least expect (Matthew 24:37-44).
Monday: Is 4:2-6; Ps 122:1-9; Mt 8:5-11 Tuesday: Is 11:1-10; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17; Lk 10:21-24 Wednesday: Is 25:6-10a; Ps 23:1-6; Mt 15:29-37 Thursday: Is 26:1-6; Ps 118:1, 8-9, 19-21, 25-27a; Mt 7:21, 24-27 Friday: Is 29:17-24; Ps 27:1, 4, 13-14; Mt 9:27-31 Saturday: Is 30:19-21, 23-26; Ps 147:1-6; Mt 9:35 — 10:1 Sunday: Is 11:1-10; Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17; Rom 15:4-9; Mt 3:1-12
Today marks the beginning of another liturgical year. The tone of today’s readings casts us in the role of stu-dents learning solemn lessons. The reading from Isaiah sets the stage, calling us up a mountain to receive the Lord’s instruction. In this passage we study peace.
Then Paul steps forth with sober admonitions. We have to wake up; the day is almost here. Live honorably in the light. Paul reminds us that we really do know the time in which we are living.
Finally, Matthew presents Jesus the storyteller. Just imagine, Jesus tells us, what it was like in Noah’s time. He paints a vivid picture of ordinary people living ordi-nary lives and ignoring the warnings that Noah heeded. Totally unconcerned, they were destroyed. How will it be any different for us? No one knows when the Lord will come. But we have been warned.
Perhaps we find such sobering scriptures unappealing and threatening. But within them there is promise. We are to live in the light with nothing to hide. We are to be ready.
In your kindness we ask you to remember all the sick members of our parish, as well as those who reside in nursing homes and senior facilities. We ask you also to pray for our beloved dead.
Advent
Let’s approach Christmas with an expectant hush, rather than a last-minute rush.
—Anonymous
Monday, December 2
8:00 AM Dottie DeVita, req. by Bernie & Jane McElroy 12:10 PM Maria DeLosRios, req. by the Natale family
Tuesday, December 3 St. Frances Xavier
8:00 AM Barbara Cuzzocrea, req. by the Cuzzocrea family 12:10 PM Helen Elise Savage, req. by the Natale family
Wednesday, December 4 St. John Damascene
8:00 AM Chris Cusatis, req. by the Dornbach family 12:10 PM Hugh Boyle, req. by his wife
Thursday, December 5
8:00 AM Caroline Ahnell, req. by her family 12:10 PM Patricia Saller, req. by Michael & Thomas Tansey
Friday, December 6 St. Nicholas; First Friday
8:00 AM Jack McCarthy, req. by Barbara Landmann 12:10 PM Renata Caven, req. by the Gonzales family
Saturday, December 7 St. Ambrose; First Saturday
9:00 AM Leo Calcagno, req. by his family 5:15 PM Vigil People of the Parish
Sunday, December 8 Second Sunday of Advent
7:30 AM Lurdina Morin, req. by Mom & Kevin Pidany 9:00 AM Thomas J. Cooper, Sr., req. by the Ahnell family 10:30 AM Jean Sableski, req. by M/M Robert Reid 12 Noon Catherine Werner, req. by the Kolodney family
Page 3
This Week at St. Bernard
A Stewardship Thought
“For everything is from you, and we only give you what we have received from you.”
- 1 Chronicles 29:14-16
First Sunday of Advent December 1, 2013
“You . . . must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect,
the Son of Man will come.”
— Matthew 24:44
December 1 - First Sunday of Advent
Second Collection - Retirement Fund for Religious, Advent Tree and Stewardship Tree in Narthex,
No CF Classes, No Children’s Liturgy, Parish Library Closed
9:00 am - RCIA Rite of Acceptance and Welcoming at Mass 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm - Youth Choir Rehearsal, Church
from the 33rd Sunday in Ordinary Time “Lo, the day is coming…” I suspect many of us find these apocalyptic images – earthquakes, wars, signs in the heavens - fascinating, but more the stuff of science fiction than reality. After all, people have been predicting the end of the world since the beginning of the world and, well, we’re still here. But before we dismiss this message of sudden,
catastrophic endings as pure religious fantasy, let’s consider something for a moment: haven’t we all learned that life sometimes turns on a dime and everything we know can change, or end, in a single instant? Yes, we have learned that lesson, and sometimes painfully so. As we quickly approach the end of a liturgical year, we are reminded to keep the end in mind; the world as we know it is passing away. God will bring creation and human history to completion. The prophets called this day the “Day of the Lord”. Jesus referred to it as “the day of the Son of Man”. This “day” will indeed be terrifying precisely because it is God’s “day”, His definitive act of judgment upon the world. It will be a day of upheaval on a cosmic scale, but it does not remain in some undetermined future. If the truth were known, the day has already begun. The coming of Christ into the world is the dawn of this “day”. Christ is both the fire that clears the field for the new planting and the “sun of justice” who rises with healing in his rays (Malachi). Here we need to listen to the words of Benedict XVI, “…the fire that both burns and saves is Christ Himself, because He is both Judge and Savior. The encounter with Him is the decisive act of judgment…it burns us, transforms us, allowing us to become truly ourselves…when the impurity and sickness of our lives becomes evident to us, therein lies salvation. His gaze, the touch of His heart heals us…the holy power of his love sears through us like a flame, enabling us to become totally ourselves and thus totally for God.” (Spe Salvi, 47). The Christ who judges me and the Christ who saves me are one and the same. Judgment and Salvation are not just future realities; they begin today so that I may be "totally myself, totally for God". So what are we supposed to do with this? Very simply, stay the course. It is a gift to live with a clear purpose and strong direction. It is a gift to live a life of faith in the Son of God, who is both Savior and Judge. This is the grace offered to us when we set our lives against the backdrop of eternity, but not an eternity that remains in some undetermined future; the eternity that is among us now, here, today. Yes, life turns on a dime and nothing on this side of the tombstone lasts forever. But, today, Christ is here. He comes in Word and Sacrament as the fire that clears the field for the new planting and the sun of justice that rises upon us with healing in his rays. So, stay the course of faith in the Son of God!
Page 5
Commission for Liturgy and Worship
Ministers of the Liturgy
We acknowledge with appreciation the following Liturgical Ministers who will serve at next weekend’s Masses:
December 7th and 8th
The Parish Prayer Chain is a group of Parishioners that regularly pray for your needs. It consists of two groups, those who pray during the daytime and those who pray in the evening.
Should a need for prayer arise, please call Joan Dobrosky at 231-9545 to initiate your request. Your intention will be prayed for by both Chains and kept strictly confidential.
If you have an interest in becoming a member of the Prayer Chain, please call Joan.
5:15 Mass Cantor: Amy Cosman
Eucharistic Ministers: Dottie Tietjen, Marilynn Fabiano, JoAnn Fabiano, Mary Ann
Stevens, Lucille Gerlock, Fred Winters 7:30 Mass Eucharistic Ministers: Sr. Margaret, Elbaliz
Mendez, Felice O’Hara 9:00 Mass Cantor: Deirdre McCarthy
Eucharistic Ministers: Vince Riello, Betty Warakomski, Donna Villanova, Amy
Bocchino, Margaret Blood
10:30 Mass Cantor: Parish Choir & Deirdre McCarthy
Eucharistic Ministers: Margaret Batkowski, Laura Felegi, John Casey, Jim
Alaimo, John Shanagher, Dana Lauducci 12:00 Mass Cantor: TBD
Eucharistic Ministers: Chris & Greg Madlinger, Kerry McCarthy, Ann Mulroy, May Ann Bryant, Susie Grasso
Please Take Note
When utilizing Sunday collection envelopes, please be sure to mark your envelope with the dollar amount included in the space provided on the envelope front. This is our only way of recording your giving for year-end tax purposes.
Also, please note, when giving by check, if you want this recorded for tax purposes at the end of the year, it is important to put the check in the provided Church offering envelopes. If you do not have Sunday envelopes, you may use any envelope, but be sure to include your name and dollar amount on the envelope front. This is important as giving information is recorded from the envelope not from the check. If you would like to receive offering envelopes, please contact the Parish Office.
Reconciliation During Advent
In addition to normally scheduled confessions on Saturdays evenings at 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm, confession will be available on Monday evenings during Advent from 7:00 pm - 8:00 pm on December 2nd, 9th and 16th.
Also, confessions will be heard on Sunday, December 22nd at 7:00 pm. At this time, extra priests will be available to hear confessions.
We hope these extra confession times give you the opportunity to avail yourselves to the grace and peace of the Sacrament of Reconciliation in preparation for the joyous celebration of the Nativity of the Lord!
Page 6
From The Office of Catechetical Formation
IMPORTANT DATES FOR NOVEMBER/DECEMBERIMPORTANT DATES FOR NOVEMBER/DECEMBERIMPORTANT DATES FOR NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
Tuesday, November 26 – Sunday, December 1:
No CF classes - THANKSGIVING BREAK Tuesday, December 10:
Whole Family Catechesis Meeting, 7:00 pm – 8:15 pm in the Chapel Tuesday, December 17:
4th Grade Christmas Pageant Practice, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm in Gym/Cafeteria (No other 4th Grade classes this week.) Wednesday, December 18:
4th Grade Christmas Pageant Practice, 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm in Gym/Cafeteria (No other 4th Grade classes this week.) Thursday, December 19:
4th Grade CHRISTMAS PAGEANT, 7:00 pm in GYM (No other 4th Grade classes this week) Sunday, December 22 – Wednesday, January 1:
No CF classes – Christmas Break
**********************************
ADVENT GIVING TREE
Our Advent Giving Tree will be in the Narthex this weekend. All are invited to select an ornament from the tree and
purchase the gift indicated.
This year, our gifts will benefit three charities:
Samaritan Homeless Interim Group (SHIP) Life Choice, a support group for young mothers
Guatemala – St. Bernard Partnership
Please place your UNWRAPPED gift with the ornament gift tag attached under the tree by:
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 8th
Commission for Catechetical Formation Activities
Page 7
St. Bernard Young Builder’s Club (YBC)
Saturday, December 7th
from 1:45 pm to 4:00 pm
YBC provides a faith-based learning environment for our parish children, where they practice creative thinking, problem solving and life-long social skills. Sessions are held one Saturday per month and all children must be accompanied by an adult, who stays and works with their young builder(s) on the K’nex project of their choice.
New This Year:
Our December YBC meeting will be a regular Saturday building session. We will not be caroling this year…BUT we have a small Christmas service project built in to our planned December session….and we’re continuing our pizza tradition and door prizes!
All children, ages 3-10+, along with their parents and/or grandparents, are invited to work together to build (and keep) a special K'nex item, display their creation in our Project Parade, and share a meal with us. Pizza and drinks will be provided by YBC. So that we might order enough pizza, we are asking families who plan to
attend on December 7th to please e-mail Debra at [email protected]. Please consider bringing nut-free (and nut-product-free) cookies or brownies to share. Come join the fun!
Adult volunteers are always appreciated, especially for setup at 1:00 pm, registration at 1:45 pm, and cleanup from 3:30 to 4:00 pm. Confirmation candidates are eligible to earn service hours at YBC, but they must register in advance with Debra Kurtz or Martha Eckert (maximum two per session, on a first-come, first- served basis).
Please email [email protected] to be added to our mailing list, or call Martha Eckert at (908) 704-6749, for more information.
Commission for Christian Community Activities
Adult Faith Formation At St. Bernard:
Knowing God
Facilitated by Msgr. Joseph Celano and Fr. Jason Pavich
Have you ever had trouble trying to explain the Catholic faith to someone or answer their objections to our beliefs or moral principles? “Knowing God" is a six-week course on the philosophical and theological foundations of Catholic faith with an emphasis on helping Catholics better know and speak about the reasons for faith. Please note that there is no fee for this class but we do request that you register.
Monday Evenings (6 sessions) in the Church ~ 7:00 pm –8:30 pm
October 28, November 4, 11, 18, 25 and December 2
Commission for Catechetical Formation Activities (Continued)
You may remember the “Stewardship Tree.” Our parish ministries often have a need for some short-term assistance on specific projects, but find it difficult to find people to help. The Stewardship Tree gives people an opportunity to assist one or more of our parish ministries with a single activity. It is a way to take a “test drive” with a ministry. If you wondered what a particular ministry is like, but did not feel you could commit for a significant length of time, the Stewardship Tree lets you dip your toe into the water.
The Stewardship Council is pleased to announce the return of the Stewardship Tree in the Narthex during Advent. Its leaves will contain a variety of brief, specific service opportunities. Please take this opportunity to reach out and grow in your faith, meet new people and have new experiences. Come and take a look at our Stewardship Tree after mass. Members of the Stewardship Council will be there to answer any questions.
Commission for Christian Community Activities (Continued)
If you enjoy knitting or crocheting, you are cordially invited to join the Prayer Shawl Ministry
We have a morning meeting the first Wednesday of the month. We bring whatever shawl we are working on, share patterns, learn new tips and stitches. If you want to learn how to knit or crochet, we have wonderful, patient teachers. There are no quotas - no special patterns.
The ladies of the Ministry have been busy making Prayer Shawls to be given to a person needing comfort as they go through a difficult time in their lives. We have many shawls of different colors and designs ready and waiting for your request. If you would like to give a shawl to a teen, adult or senior who is in need of prayer, please call Helen Boyle at 908-725-6926 or Vivian Cline at 908-526-5019.
Please join us for our next meeting on Wednesday, December 4th at 8:30 am to 9:30 am in Room C.
Singles Alive in Christ ~ The First Noel
Singles Alive in Christ invites all unmarried adults to join us on Saturday, December 14th, for our annual celebration of Christ’s birth. We’ll meet outside the main entrance to St. Bernard Church at 6:15 PM, then carpool to Middlebush Reformed Church in Somerset. There we’ll stroll along a candlelit path through the story of Christ’s birth, including live animals and Christmas carolers! The celebration will continue with dinner at the Stage House Tavern, also in Somerset. Free-will donations will be accepted for the living Nativity; and everyone is asked to pay his or her own way for dinner. To RSVP or for more information about this get-together or the group in general, please email us at [email protected] or call Lynn at 908-251-4054. Born is the King of Israel!
Golden Stewards Meeting Notice
Members will be attending “The Fathers” series facilitated by Fr. Jason Pavich on Monday, December 2nd. Therefore, there will be no meeting of Golden Stewards on that day.
Give to those who have given a lifetime. Senior Catholic sisters, brothers and religious order priests worked for many years for little, if any, pay. Their sacrifices now leave their religious communities without adequate savings for retirement. Your gift to today’s collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious helps to provide prescription medications, nursing care and more for thousands of elderly religious. Thank you for your generosity.
Diocesan News
Building a culture of life in our community
through education, pastoral care, advocacy and prayer
We Give Thanks
Our Father in Heaven, we give thanks for the pleasure
of gathering together for this occasion. We give thanks for this food prepared by loving hands.
We give thanks for life, the freedom to enjoy it all and all other blessings.
As we partake of this food, we pray for health and strength
to carry on and try to live as You would have us.
This we ask in the name of Christ, our Heavenly Father.
--Harry Jewell
Keep filling our crib!
Please know that the mothers in need are truly grateful for the support they receive from the St. Bernard Community. So please keep the donations coming. The crib will be kept in the usher’s closet (next to the pamphlet rack in the Narthex), Currently, there is a need for formula, baby cereal, diapers and wipes, baby lotion, baby shampoo, and layette items are always appreciated. Gently used clothing, toys and children’s books are welcome.
Respect for Life
Parish Info
New Email Addresses
Please take note that our parish staff is switching email platforms and all parish staff members have new email addresses. Note that all addresses will be formatted as first initial/[email protected]. See the Parish Directory on page 13 for a complete listing.
Enter the Scrip Holiday Sweepstakes and Win a Gift Card Enter the Scrip Holiday Sweepstakes! For every Scrip Order you place between November 1st and December 31st, you will receive an entry into the Sweepstakes. This includes purchases of ShopRite and Stop & Shop cards at the Scrip Table and submission of normal paper or online orders.
A drawing will take place during the first week of January and three winners will be drawn. The First Place winner will receive a $100 Scrip Card of their choice; Second Place a $50 card and Third Place a $25 card.
Remember every order you place gives you an additional chance to win.
Further SCRIP program details can be found on the parish website and at the SCRIP table in the Church narthex.
2013 Bishop’s Annual Appeal
“Faith, Family, Community”
Did you know that there are several ways to give to the Bishop’s Annual Appeal? You can:
Make a pledge and spread out your payments. Make a one-time gift. Give by credit card by going online to our secure website http://diometuchen.org, or complete the
information on your pledge card. Have your donation matched by your company with a Corporate Matching Gift. Give a gift of appreciated stocks or securities.
No matter which way you choose, we thank you. Every gift is important and appreciated.
Get an Early Start on the Holiday Season Thank Yous!
It’s still not too early to be thinking about how you plan to say thank you to the various people who serve and help you out throughout the year. Scrip cards are a great way to express your thanks! Get ahead of the curve for once and order your thank you cards early.
Don’t forget that the Scrip Cards we provide are the same gift cards you would get if you purchased them in the store. Scrip cards are available for all of the major stores that you would use to purchase thank you and regular gifts to give during the holidays. Every card you purchase returns a contribution to the Parish and does not reduce the face value of the card itself.
Don’t Forget to Get In on the Scrip Christmas Raffle!
The Scrip Christmas Raffle period has begun. For every order you place between November 1st and December 31st, you will receive an entry into the raffle. Winners for three Scrip cards of choice will be drawn during the first week of the New Year. Please note that grocery cards purchased at the Scrip Table after mass are counted like regular paper and online orders for the raffle.
Scrip Parish Vendors: Numerous local compa-nies owned / operated by our parishioners have elected to become Parish Scrip Vendors. While providing our families high quality services, they return a portion of their profits back to the Parish as a part of the Scrip Program. This has resulted in a win-win-win proposition for our Parish Families, the Vendors and the Parish. Please consider these vendors should you have need for the types of services they provide. Many Parish Families have already used their services and have been very pleased with the services provided.
If you are interested in joining the growing number of Parish Scrip Vendors, please contact Bernie McElroy at 908-526-8949 or via email at [email protected]. By joining the Scrip Program, your company can increase its exposure for business within the St. Bernard community of over 2,400 families.
C&R Construction: Contact C&R for all your construction and home repair needs. From the simplest repair to the most complicated job, C&R can do the job. Numerous Parishioners have used their services and have been very satisfied with the work performed. To get a quick quote on your job contact C&R at 908-927-0744 or via email at [email protected]. Pick up their flier at the Scrip table.
Better Life Wealth Management Group, LLC: Has there been or will there be a major change in your life? Retirement? New Job? New child or grandchild? Do you need to review your life and disability insurance needs? How about your retirement and estate plans? Are there retire-ment plans that you haven’t looked at in months / years? Would you like to help your children / grandchildren with escalating costs of higher education? For a Free Consult to help take action and gain peace-of-mind on these questions, contact Greg Elia, CPA, CFP® at 908-642-4197or via email at [email protected]. For more information please take the booklet “Navigating a Course” from the Scrip table in the Narthex.
Distinctive Landscaping: Contact Distinctive Landscaping for all your landscaping needs. From routine lawn and shrub maintenance to the design and installation of new landscaping effects, Distinctive Land-scaping does it all. Their knowledge of local shrubbery, deer resistant plants, and special lighting effects are a plus. Call Gary Puzio to discuss your needs on 908-672-3204.
Accounting Alternatives: Need accounting or tax assistance or services? Accounting Alternatives provides comprehen-sive and solution oriented accounting and tax services to small businesses and individuals. We’re an ally to our clients. We’re located in downtown Raritan. Contact Michael Di Bianco, CPA at 908-707-8733 or via email at [email protected].
Mangia Buono Caterers: Contact Mangia Buono for all your family or business catering needs. They specialize in birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, award celebrations, meetings, business outings, family get-togethers, repast services, and just about any other event. Their fresh ingredients and flexibility will guarantee a successful event.
Call Nick Avicolli to discuss your needs on 347-865-2237.
Report of Sunday Offerings in Support of our Parish
July, 2013 to June, 2014 Financial Year
Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, this bulletin was printed early and financial information for the week of November 24th was not yet available.
Next week’s bulletin will be updated accordingly.
Remember that money is a resource for ministry.
Thank you for making ministry possible at St. Bernard
When writing or changing your will, please consider remembering your parish of St. Bernard. For more information, please contact Margaret Guellich at 732-562-2436 or [email protected].
Finance Council Update (Continued)
SCRIP Information Continued -
General Scrip Information:
Don’t forget that cards ordered by noon on Sunday are generally available for pick-up starting the following Thursday. Order forms are available in the Parish Office, at the Scrip Table in the Narthex after masses, and on the Parish website. Orders are accepted in the Parish Office during normal working hours or they can be placed in the Scrip Order Box after Weekend Masses.
Please consider joining the growing number of Parish households supporting the Scrip Program. There is no easier way to make a contribution to your Parish than by using Scrip for your routine purchases of groceries, gasoline, clothing, etc. On-Line Ordering and Direct Pay Capabilities Available:
The capabilities to order your Scrip cards on-line as well as pay for your order via a withdrawal from your checking account are available to all Scrip Program participants. Feedback from current on-line users continues to be extremely positive, in particular regarding the ease of setting up their on-line capability.
To take advantage of this capability simply send an email to Bernie McElroy ([email protected]) and you will receive a response containing the complete set of instructions you will need to begin ordering on-line. Support will also be provided via email to assist you in getting up and running, if required. Naturally, our current process of taking paper orders will still be available for use.
Give a...Give a...Give a Paver!
Maybe not as catchy as making an ad for a popular navigator, but have you considered gifting a paver to commemorate or memorialize loved ones? Christmas is a perfect time and placing a paver in our beautiful “Alpha Omega Garden” is an excellent way of doing so.
Why not place your order today! You can find order forms in the Narthex at the Scrip table, on our website, or in the parish office. 100% of the net proceeds go to the general support of our parish community.
Please note that dedication of benches are still available!
The Finance Council – an advisory or consultative body to the Pastor in matters pertaining to the ordinary and extraordinary matters of financial administration. The Council shares, with the Pastor, the responsibility for prudent administration of financial affairs and the formation of its policies and procedures in service to effective management of parish assets.
The Stewardship Council – provides a systematic way of infusing the theology and practice of Stewardship into the life of the parish, identifying opportunities for members to exercise their gifts for the betterment of the parish and community.
The Pastoral Council – devoted to prayer and the study of church documents and other sound resources, as well as parish centered reflection on that study; collaborates with the pastors, clergy and staff in the work of ministry. From the Pastoral Council evolved five commissions and their ministries:
Commission for Christian Service Appalachian Mission Pro-Life Awareness
Bereavement Ministry SHIP Mobile Soup Kitchen Blood Drive Social Concerns Collections Crop Walk Peace, Education and Action Guatemala Partnership Interfaith Hospitality Network
Commission for Christian Community Christian Word Ministry Doughnut Sunday Divorced/Separated Support Group Golden Stewards Hospitality Committee Prayer Shawl Ministry Men’s Breakfast Club Singles Alive in Christ Mom’s Group Small Faith Community Parish Dinner Dance Young Builder’s Club Parish Events Committee Youth Basketball
Commission for Evangelization Cursillo Retreat Public Relations Committee Ecumenical Board Women’s Cornerstone Parish Retreat (Beloved) Women’s Prayer Group
Commission for Liturgy and Worship Altar Servers Adult Altar Servers Care Facility Visitation Ministry Children’s Liturgy of the Word Choir & Instrumental Readers Eucharistic Ministers Right of Christian Initiation Liturgical Environment Sacristan Ministers of Hospitality Visitors to the Homebound
Commission for Catechetical Formation Adult Spirituality/Scripture Study Baptism Preparation
Catechetical Formation Fr. Barton Parish Library Senior High Youth Group
If you are interested in finding out more about a particular council, commission or ministry, please call the Parish Office.
The Councils and Ministries of St. Bernard Parish Directory St. Bernard of Clairvaux Church
500 Route 22 East, Bridgewater, NJ 08807
Telephone: (908)725-0552 Fax: (908)725-4524
Website: http://stbernardbridgewater.org / Also on Facebook All emails are @stbernardbridgewater.org
Bulletin articles are due no later than Noon Sunday for publication in the upcoming Sunday’s bulletin. Please submit articles to Christine Yarwood at [email protected] or drop off in the Parish Office.
The Parish Clergy
Rev. Msgr. Joseph G. Celano, V.E., Pastor - ext. 803, E-mail: [email protected] Rev. Jason Pavich, Parochial Vicar - ext. 806, E-mail: jpavich@ ... Rev. Andrew Smith, O.S.B. Weekend Assistant Mr. Patrick Cline, Deacon, Email: pcline@... Mr. Gerard Sims, Deacon - ext. 805, Email: gsims@... Mr. Paul Anderson, Deacon Mr. Michael Wojcik, Deacon, Email: mwojcik@...
The Parish Office
E-mail: [email protected] Ms. Virginia (Ginny) Hayden, Office Mgr. & Adm. Asst. to the Pastor - ext. 802, E-mail: ghayden@... Mr. Brian Curtis, Finance & Business Mgr. – ext. 821, E-mail: bcurtis@... Mrs. Donna Blanton, Receptionist, Parish Registrar and Wedding Prep.– ext. 800, Email: dblanton@... Mrs. Christine Yarwood, Bulletin Editor, Parish Calendar and Website Management - ext. 818, Email: cyarwood@... Mrs. Evelyn Mutek, Sacristan Mr. Bill Chmielewski, Maintenance Supervisor – ext. 819
Welcome to the Parish Community of St. Bernard of Clairvaux
Parish Life at St. Bernard
Sacramental Life at St. Bernard
Parish Membership
Welcome Newcomers! So that we might provide for all of your sacramental and pastoral needs, we would like to officially welcome and register you in the parish. If you haven’t already done so, please call the Parish Office to begin your registration process.
Parishioners are reminded that we can best serve you if we have accurate information in our Parish Census program. Please call the Parish Office with any changes in your ad-dress, phone number, family status, etc. or if you notice any misinformation in any correspondence you might receive from us.
Catechetical Formation
Students in grades Pre-K through 8 are provided Catholic instruction and sacramental preparation by our Catechetical Formation staff and parent volunteers. Parish membership is required for enrollment in our program. Please call our Office of Catechetical Formation to register your child for classes.
Youth Ministry
Our youth are an active part of our ministry here at St. Bernard. Our parish Senior High Youth Group welcomes all high school youth to our Sunday events and youth friendly Mass. Those who are looking to go deeper can join our Service and Leadership Team (SALT) which meets weekly for Bible study and planning. Meetings are held in The Lighthouse, our very own room on the third floor of the Parish Center. Please call the Youth Ministry Office for details. Join Us!
Young Builder’s Club at St. Bernard
As part of our Youth Ministry program, we offer our Young Builder’s Club one Saturday each month for children aged 3 to 10, with a parent. Using the K’nex build-ing toys, the group encourages teamwork and social interaction. Each meeting opens with prayer and song. Watch the bulletin for upcoming events.
Pre-School and Kindergarten at St. Bernard
Welcome to St. Bernard Pre-School and Kindergarten! Our programs are available to all! We are licensed by the state of NJ and offer a 3 half-day, a 5 half-day, or a 5 full-day program, which includes extended care. Our hours of oper-ation are 7:30 am – 5:30 pm for Extended Care and 9:00 am – 11:30 am for our half-day programs. Children must be 3 years old by December 31st of the school year in which they are enrolled to be eligible for our pre-school program.
We offer a challenging and exciting full-day Kindergarten Program. Our school is open from September through June.
Baptism
Expectant and adoptive parents are required to attend our Baptism preparation class. It is best to call the Parish Office at least four months before your child’s birth or in the case of adoption, upon completion of the adoption process. The Order of Christian Initiation of Adults
Individuals who have never been baptized, baptized Christians from other denominations, and baptized Catholics who have never received the Sacraments of first Eucharist and Confirmation, and who are interested in becoming full participants in the Catholic faith are invited to call the Parish Office to begin the Inquiry process. The Sacrament of Reconciliation
Saturday: 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM, or by appointment The Celebration of the Eucharist
Monday: Friday (Chapel): 8:00 AM & 12:10 PM (12:10 PM suspended in July and August)
Holy Days of Obligation: 8:00 AM, 12:10 PM and 7:30 PM The Celebration of Christian Marriage
Arrangements with the Church for a wedding should be made approximately one year prior to the desired date. Participation in a Diocesan Pre-Cana program will assist couples in their preparation for the sacrament of Matrimony. Catholics who have been away from the Church and the Sacraments need to re-establish their Church and Sacramental life as a pre-requisite for marriage. Sacrament of the Sick - Homebound
We encourage you to call the Parish Office to make arrangements for either the Celebration of the Anointing of the Sick or for the Eucharist to be brought to the sick, the elderly, and the homebound.
Please call the Pre-School / Kindergarten Office for further information and watch the bulletin for open-house, registration and enrollment information!
