• Liturgical Changes during the upcoming Season of Lent 2008
  Since the dates March 17th (St. Patrick) and March 19th (St. Joseph) fall within Holy Week during this coming Lent, please note the following changes which have been made:
  
  • Solemnity of Saint Joseph - Pope Benedict XVI has determined for the Universal Church that this year the Solemnity of Saint Joseph is to be celebrated on Saturday, March 15, 2008.
    
    
  • Memorial of Saint Patrick - Bishop DiMarzio has determined that in the Diocese of Brooklyn this year, the Memorial of Saint Patrick is to be celebrated on Friday, March 14, 2008. As this is a Friday during Lent, Bishop DiMarzio has also granted a dispensation from abstinence from meat to all those members of the faithful who celebrate this day. It is suggested that those who make use of this disposition substitute another day on which to abstain from meat.
    
    
• 2008 Annual Catholic Appeal
  On the weekend of March 1st, 2008, we will have the in-pew solicitation for the 2008 Annual Catholic Appeal.
  
  
• First Friday
  March 7th is the First Friday of the Month. Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament will take place after the 9:00 AM Mass until 2:30pm. Immaculate Heart of Mary Cenacle of the Marian Movement of Priests - there will be a one hour of prayer, a rosary, songs, readings and quiet time from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Chaplet of Mercy to follow.
  
  
• Good Friday
  The Holy Name Society of St. Bernadette invites all parishioners to join His Excellency, Most Rev. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio, and many thousands of other faithful, from our neighboring parishes, in The Solemn Candlelight Good Friday Procession. Our Bishop will lead us in prayer, while the statues of “The Dead Christ” and “Our Most Sorrowful Mother” are carried from Shallow Jr. H.S. to St. Finbar’s Church, where a closing ceremony will be held in Italian. Candles and bus service to Shallow Jr. H.S., and from St. Finbar’s, will be provided free by the Holy Name Society. Meet in front of St. Bernadette Rectory on March 21, 2008, at 7:00 PM. Bring your family and friends, young and old, for a traditional and prayerful walk on this most solemn night. If interested, please write your name on the sign-up sheet in the back of the Church.
  
  
• Youth Family Mass
  On Saturday, March 8th, at 5:30 PM the Worship Committee of our Pastoral Council would like to invite all families to attend our Second Youth/Family Mass. The liturgy, homily and songs will be specially prepared for our children. Please join us! All are welcome!
  
  
• Easter Flower Club 2008
  The donation for the Easter Flower Club is $15.00 per plant or a portion of a bouquet. You may purchase either one or several plants and have them donated in memory of, or for the intentions of someone. At the end of the celebration, we will publish a list of all the intentions into the bulletin. You will also receive a thank-you letter with a small gift, and as a special benefit, you and your intentions will be remembered at a special mass at Easter. You may reserve a plant or bouquet at the Rectory Office at any time.
  
  
• Senior Citizen Homeowners’ Exemption (SCHE)
  Brooklyn-State Senator Martin Golden is encouraging senior homeowners to apply for the Senior Citizen Homeowners’ Exemption (SCHE). Applications are available until March 15, 2008 for the tax year beginning on July 1, 2008. People interested in applying for SCHE can visit the New York City Department of Finance website at www.nyc.gov/finance or call Senator Golden’s office at 718-238-6044 or 718-627-3659, and request a copy of the application be mailed to them.
  
• Diocesan Wedding Anniversary:
  Saturday, April 5, 2008, at Our Lady of Angels Church, located at 7320 Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11209. Bishop DiMarzio will celebrate the Anniversary Mass at 11:00AM. All couples celebrating their 25th, 30th, 40th, and 50th (and above) wedding anniversaries are invited to attend with their families. The fee remains at $30 per couple. All registered couples will receive a personalized certificate and will be greeted by the Bishop. Please be aware that we will have only one combined celebration for both the Silver and Golden Anniversaries. If you would like to attend, please register at the Rectory Office no later than March 11, 2008.
  
  
• Pilgrimage to Lourdes & Paris
  Celebrate with the Diocese of Brooklyn as we make a Pilgrimage to Lourdes & Paris to remember the 150th Anniversary of Our Blessed Mother's Apparitions to St. Bernadette in Lourdes: April 21-28, 2008: $2,192 per person. Please pick up an Itinerary in the back of the Church for complete information.
  
  
• Special Novenas:
  We will be reciting the Novena Prayers to our Lady of Lourdes and to St. Bernadette after every Sunday and weekday mass, until the end of the Anniversary of Our Lady’s Apparitions to St. Bernadette at Lourdes, which is December 8th, The Feast of the Immaculate Conception. You will find the prayers in the pew holders in front of you. Please return them to the proper place for all to use.
  
  
• Reminder
  The 2007 Annual Catholic Appeal is drawing to a close. Many thanks to all who have contributed. However, in order to ensure that our parish receives full credit, we would appreciate it if all pledges are paid up by January 1st. Thank you again for your generosity.
  
  
• Make your Voices Heard
  The New York State Catholic Bishops have formed a statewide atholic Advocacy Network of concerned Catholics who want to put their faith into action. Together, we can speak out in support of the poor and vulnerable, the sick and elderly, the unborn, children and families. Our parish encourages you to join this network. There is no cost. The easiest way to join is to go to www.nyscatholic.org to sign up. Or you can send your name, address, phone number and e-mail address to Catholic Advocacy Network, New York State Catholic Conference, 465 State Street, Albany, NY 12203-1004. Be sure to mention you are a member of St. Bernadette parish in the Diocese of Brooklyn. For more information, see the flyers in the back of the church.
  

Lenten Regulations

• Abstinence: The Church requires all the faithful who have reached their 14th year of age to abstain totally from meat on Ash Wednesday, February 6, 2008 and all Fridays of Lent.
  
  
• Fasting: All the faithful between the ages of 18 and 59 inclusive are also bound to observe the fasting regulation on Ash Wednesday (February 6, 2008) and Good Friday (March 21, 2008). This practice involves limiting oneself to a single full meal and avoiding food between meals. Light sustenance may also be taken on two other occasions in the course of the day.
  
  
• Easter Duty: After they have been initiated into the Most Holy Eucharist, all the faithful are bound by the obligation of receiving Holy Communion at least once a year. This precept must be fulfilled during the Easter season, unless for a good reason it is fulfilled at another time during the year. By special indult, in the United States, the time period for fulfilling this precept has been extended to include the period between the First Sunday of Lent (February 10, 2008) to Trinity Sunday (May 18, 2008).
  
  
• Stations of the Cross: On Fridays during the Lenten season at 7:30PM.
  March 7th, 2008, Guest Speaker: Reverend Kieran Harrington
  

• Altar Rosary Society
  Announcements are coming soon.
  
  
• Holy Name Society
  The meetings are set on the Monday after the second Sunday of the month.
  
  
• Evangelization Committee
  The St. Bernadette Evangelization Committee invites you to join them for their weekly prayer group on every Monday night at 7:00 PM in the Rectory. The lectionary readings will be studied and reflected upon. Everyone is welcome!
  
  
• Outreach Committee
  Meeting will be held on Thursday, March 6th, at 7PM in the Rectory. If you would like to get into the action of helping others, this is the parish committee that’s waiting for you! From high school to senior citizens....Don’t miss the opportunity to make a difference.
  
  
• Worship Committee
  Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 4th, at 7PM in the Rectory. We would like to thank all those who attended the Youth/Family Mass on Saturday, February 9th at 5:30PM. We look forward to seeing you again in March as we plan our next Youth/Family Mass, date to be determined.
  

• Diocesan Alcohol and Substance Abuse Assistance Program
  The Diocese of Brooklyn has created a program to provide confidential ongoing assistance to parish and community families who suffer from the effects of alcohol and substance abuse. The program provides counseling, support, treatment and care to those seeking assistance. To connect to a network of services that will help you and your family in addressing this concern, please make a confidential call to the Diocesan Alcohol and Substance Abuse Assistance Program Hotline: 1-800-659-1603. Any one with depression can also call the hotline. For general information, please visit Catholic Charities’ website: www.ccbq.org.
  
  
• Help the Needy Program
  Knights of Columbus John Hughes Council has created the Help the Needy Program in order to collect food clothing and toys to help the less fortunate. Items must be in good condition. Items can be brought to the the council between the hours of 10am to 4:30pm and 7:30pm to 10pm, seven days a week. For more information, call John Adesso at (718) 614-2689 or Frank Marzigilano at (718) 533-0491
  
  
• Italian Board of Guardians
  7808 18 Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11214 offers Home Companion Services, Counseling Services, Psychological Evaluations and Tutoring Services. Please call 718.232.4242 for more information.
  
  
• Information for Divorced and Separated Catholics
  St. Anslem R.C. Church, 356-82nd Street (Fourth Avenue), Brooklyn, NY 11209, on April 7th, at 7:30pm. Speaker: Father Joseph Grimaldi, Pastor, St. Mark’s Church, Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn, NY/Associate Judge of the Diocesan Tribunal.
  
  
• Lenten Soup Supper
  The Bay Ridge & Dyker Heights Cluster Parishes invite you to a Lenten Soup Supper at St. Anselm’s Meletia Hall (365-83rd Street, Brooklyn, NY), Monday, March 10th at 6:30PM. Guest Speaker: Sr.Susan Sable, C.S.J. There will be a free will offering to benefit St. Batholomew’s Parish Outreach - Dedicated in Loving Memory of Sister Pauline Day, C.S.J. Please register at the Rectory Office if you plan to attend
  

• Memorial Funds
  Remember to support St. Bernadette memorial funds next time you need to memorialize a relative or friend. Arrangements can be made through the Rectory to memorialize with bread, wine, altar flowers, altar candle or sanctuary lamp for one week.
  
  
• Prayer Cards
  Available now in the Rectory Office is an assortment of prayer cards for different saints and various special donations. The selection of prayer cards will change depending on the Liturgical season and upcoming feast days. There is a small donation of 25 cents for each card.
  
  
• St. Bernadette Wall of Remembrance
  You can remember your beloved departed with a small cross. The donation for the first year is $200.00 and each additional year is $100.00 The crosses are made from imported wood from Belgium, with the name engraved on a metal plate. There are three ways that the engraving can be made on these plates - "John Doe", "Mrs & Mrs. John Doe" or "The Doe Family". Included in this donation will be remembrance each month at the Purgatorial Mass and a special remembrance on All Souls Day. If someone wishes not to re-enroll, we will give them the cross as a keepsake. The cross is placed on the wall with a temporary label, and when the metal plate is engraved, it will be put on the cross. Arrangements can be made through the Rectory Office Monday to Friday from 9am to 4pm.
  
  
• Box Tops Education
  In the vestibule of the church, there is a large box where Box Tops can be dropped off. Find and clip 10¢ Box Tops coupon on hundreds of General Mills, Ziploc and Kleenex products to help St. Bernadette School can earn up to $60,000.00 per year.