An updated Adoration Schedule is in the vestibule. We have many open hours available for you to spend time alone with Jesus. Call the office to let us know what time you are choosing.
Welcome!
Thank you for visiting us at Saint Bernadette Church, which is a Roman Catholic parish located in Bayou Vista - between Patterson and Berwick, Louisiana,
in the Diocese of Lafayette . St. Bernadette Church continues the Sacramental Traditions of Jesus Christ as handed down by the Apostles, we strive to live lives of Communion and Participation as we seek to fulfill the mission bestowed upon us by Christ.
Our Pastor is Father Thainese Alphonse.
The Liturgy of the Word for the Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time
In today's Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells the first of two parables about prayer. This first parable is a lesson in persistence in prayer. While the parable seems to present prayer as nagging God for what we want, such a reading misses the point. God is not like the judge in the parable, worn down by requests and coerced to respond. The key is found in the description of the judge as corrupt and unjust. Since God can be neither, we must understand Jesus to be saying that if even an unjust judge responds to the persistence of the widow, how much more so will God listen to our prayers. God truly wants to hear our needs and respond generously. It is the final lament of Jesus that gets to the point of the parable. The lesson is about the persistence of the one who prays. God wants us to be like the persistent widow, staying in relationship with God, confident that God hears and answers prayers. Then Jesus laments, "Will such faith be found when the Son of Man comes?" In this lament, Jesus notes how easy it can be for us to lose heart.
First Reading
Exodus 17:8-13
Joshua and the Israelites defeat Amalek with the help of God and his servant, Moses.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 121:1-2,3-4,5-6,7-8
The Lord is the Guardian of Israel.
Second Reading
2 Timothy 3:14-4:2
Paul exhorts Timothy to continue to preach the word Timothy received from his teachers.
Gospel Reading
Luke 18:1-8
Jesus urges his disciples to pray and not lose heart, for God hears and answers prayers.
Jesus told his disciples a parable
about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.
He said, "There was a judge in a certain town
who neither feared God nor respected any human being.
And a widow in that town used to come to him and say,
'Render a just decision for me against my adversary.'
For a long time the judge was unwilling, but eventually he thought,
'While it is true that I neither fear God nor respect any human being,
because this widow keeps bothering me
I shall deliver a just decision for her
lest she finally come and strike me.'"
The Lord said, "Pay attention to what the dishonest judge says.
Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones
who call out to him day and night?
Will he be slow to answer them?
I tell you, he will see to it that justice is done for them speedily.
But when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?"
Luke 18:1-8
Persistence In Prayer
The Gospel this week shows that God expects all to be persistent in prayer, asking Him for help. Being persistent when we pray is an essential practice for a deep, ongoing relationship with God. Here are some reasons why it is so powerful: Persistent Prayer...
Strengthens Faith by continuously reminding us that God is present and working on our behalf.
Develops Patience by teaching us to wait patiently for God's response.
Deepens Relationship with God by keeping us connected, preventing our relationship with God from growing stagnant.
Aligns Hearts with God's Will by helping us to stop asking only for what we think we need and start desiring what He wants for us.
Encourages Spiritual Growth by keeping us spiritually active, prompting us to seek God regularly.
Invokes God's Favor because when we persistently pray, we show God that we value His involvement in our lives. In turn, God often shows favor, whether through answered prayers, blessings, or peace in our hearts.
There are several themes in the liturgy today that we can draw our attention to and for us to reflect upon as we dedicate time for prayer and meditation for God and the Church this week.
First is about mutual support in prayer. The First Reading from Exodus depicts Moses receiving physical support from Aaron and Hur to keep his hands raised during the battle. This serves as a metaphor for the communal nature of prayer. The reading suggests that believers do not have to endure their struggles alone. Rather, they can and should support each other in their prayer life, especially when it is difficult to remain steadfast.
The Second theme expressed by the Second Reading suggests perseverance through hardship. Saint Paul's letter to Timothy exhorts believers to "be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient". This reinforces the idea that maintaining faith and prayer is not always easy. The reading acknowledges that challenges will arise, and it is through perseverance that Christians stay rooted and produce spiritual fruit.
The Third and final theme is about the importance of trust and unwavering faith. The story of the persistent widow in the Gospel of Luke and the account of Moses in Exodus both highlight the importance of unwavering trust in God. Moses keeps his arms raised in prayer for victory, illustrating a consistent reliance on God, while the widow's persistence wears down the unjust judge. This underscores the idea that if a corrupt human being will eventually grant justice, God, who is just and loving, will certainly hear the prayers of the faithful.
The prayers of the faithful, fueled by persistence, are part of the larger work of serving God in the world.
World Mission Sunday Most Rev. Michael F. Burbidge, Magnificat, October 2025.
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations (Mt 28:19).
Probably, all of us are familiar with these words, often called "the Great Commission." As Jesus ascends to his Father, he sends his apostles into the world to continue the preaching of the Gospel and to invite everyone into a communion of life and love with him. Since that moment, the Church has taken this commission to heart and proclaimed, with courage and charity, a message of hope to all peoples.
When we think of the missions, we easily think of the many faithful - priests, and religious, lay men and women - who went to distant lands to spend their lives in evangelizing others. Some of these missionaries are well known and have been canonized, like Saint Paul, Saint Francis Xavier, Saint Patrick, Saint Teresa of Calcutta, and Saint Marianne Cope. Others are not so familiar but have given themselves in faithful missionary service to the Lord. All of them, though, fulfilled Christ's commission through their preaching and teaching, works of service and charity, and living example. World Mission Sunday is an opportunity to give thanks to God for the selfless and even heroic witness of missionaries though the ages.
Yet Christian missionary identity is not reserved only to a few. Every member of the Church is meant to be a missionary disciple, bearing witness to Jesus and sharing the joy of the Gospel everywhere the Lord has placed us.
World Mission Sunday , then, reminds us that in baptism we have been consecrated to God and sent out to bring the Good News of salvation to our brothers and sisters. This missionary task begins within ourselves: We all need a conversion of heart so that we can listen better and more intently to what God is saying to us each day. Then it extends outward to our families, to the places where we go to school or work, to our neighborhoods and local communities, and ultimately to the whole of society. What a great challenge but also what a beautiful responsibility the Lord has entrusted to us: to make him known wherever we are!
This Jubilee Year we are now celebrating is an opportunity both to renew our commitment to follow Christ faithfully and to carry his message of hope to those around us. In a world that is experiencing conflict, division, anxiety, and increasing secularization, believers have the mission of sowing seeds of hope, of pointing to the Lord Jesus, the way and the truth and the life (Jn 14:6).
Missionaries of Hope: A Reflection on World Mission Sunday Mission Magazine By Cardinal Christophe Pierre
Every second-to-last Sunday of October, the Church invites us to turn our gaze outward - toward the margins, toward the peripheries, toward the many men, women, and children who long for the hope that only Christ can give.
World Mission Sunday, celebrated this year on October 19, is not merely a date on the calendar. It is a living expression of the Church's deepest identity. We are, by nature, a missionary people. We exist to evangelize: to bring Jesus and his saving Gospel to others.
The theme chosen by Pope Francis before his passing - Missionaries of Hope Among the Peoples - has now been taken up by Pope Leo XIV, who brings to the Chair of Peter the experience and heart of a missionary. For decades, he traversed the dusty roads and remote villages of Peru, celebrating the sacraments, proclaiming the Good News, and serving the poor. He understands deeply what it means to bring Christ where the Church is still young or struggling to stand on its own.
It is on his behalf that the World Mission Sunday collection is held in every parish in the world.
In my own ministry as a papal representative, I was blessed to serve in places like Uganda and Haiti - lands rich in faith but poor materially and in need of solidarity. I remember vividly the days in Uganda when I was tasked with distributing $4 million in funds from the Pontifical Mission Societies. That support helped build churches, schools and catechetical centers, medical clinics and chapels - signs of hope made possible by the prayers and sacrifices of Catholics around the world.
What a joy, then, to see that work continuing with such vibrancy today. Through the generosity of World Mission Sunday, the Church supports more than 1,124 mission territories. These are not just the statistics - they are dioceses, parishes, families, and individuals receiving the care of the Church in some of the world's most difficult settings.
The genius of French laywoman Blessed Pauline Jaricot, foundress of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith, was her recognition that everyone - young and old, rich and poor - has a role in the Church's missionary mandate. She asked for a penny a week and a daily prayer. That simple invitation ignited a worldwide movement. Today, we continue her work. And we must continue it with urgency. There are still vast areas of the world where people have never heard the name of Jesus. There are still children growing up without a church to worship in, a priest to baptize them, or a catechist to guide them. Nearly two millennia after Christ entrusted His Church with the command to make disciples of all nations, our missionary task remains immense.
I encourage you to let this issue of Mission Magazine inspire you. Let the stories within rekindle your faith, hope, and desire to respond. I encourage you to pray the World Mission Rosary. To speak to your parish priest about how your community can engage more deeply with the missions. To offer a sacrifice and make a gift.
Together, we can accompany Pope Leo XIV, our chief missionary, as he leads the Church in this apostolic moment. Together, as missionaries of hope, we can bring Christ our Hope to the whole world.
Cardinal Pierre is Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, the personal representative of Pope Leo XIV to the Church and government in the United States. He is also an ex-officio member of the Board of Directors of The Pontifical Mission Societies in USA.
Bible Quiz # 50 - The Book of Joshua (Chapters 11-24) ANSWERS
Why did Joshua not wage war with Hivites? - Because they had made peace with him (11:20).
How many kings Joshua conquered? - 31 (12:24).
Why did the tribe of Levi not get their heritage? - Because the priesthood of the Lord was their heritage (13:14 & 18:7).
Who are the descendants of Joseph? - Manasseh and Ephraim (14:4).
Why did the tribes of Joseph protest? - Because they were given only one lot and one share as their heritage (17:14).
Under whose obedience some pasture lands were allotted to the Levites? - In obedience to the Lord's command through Moses (21:8).
Where did Joshua gather all the tribes of Israel? - At Shechem (24:1).
What was the demand by Joshua after distributing the land to the Israelites? - To decide today whom you will serve (24:15).
What was the age of Joshua when he died? - 110 (24:29).
Where did they bury the bones of Joseph? - The bones of Joseph which the Israelites took with them as they left Egypt was fittingly buried at the ancient city of Shechem, near the border between the two Josephine tribes of Ephraim and Manasseh (24:32).
We thank and appreciate the following participants:
Alberta LeBlanc, John & Narcella Trevino, Michelle Tholen, Susan Legendre, Julia Hepler, Cindy & Sammy Viola, Lois Bosworth, Geneva Alcina, Carolyn Ackman, Kathleen Louviere, Melinda Frederick, Christina Wallace, Mary Jo Beadle, Landry Family. Debbie Hannagan, and Kenny Zimmer.
Hail, holy Queen enthroned above, oh Maria.
Hail, mother of mercy and of love, oh Maria.
Triumph all ye cherubim, Sing with us ye seraphim.
Heaven and earth resound the hymn.
Salve, Salve, Salve Regina.
The beautiful tradition of May Crowning reflects the beauty of the 5th Glorious Mystery of the Holy Rosary which it evokes. Honoring Our Lady, Queen of Heaven and Earth, honors her Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ Who first crowned her as His Queen. Adorning Our Lady with a crown of flowers is a custom of great devotion to Our Holy Mother and recalls the beauty of her love for us during difficult times in the world.
Our Lady always guides as a loving Mother. Her Immaculate Heart and her maternal beauty will always triumph over the ugliness of sin and suffering.
As we crown the Blessed Virgin on Mother's Day, we ask that she intercede for us to her Son.
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thine intercession was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my mother; to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.
Holiness demands a constant effort, but it is possible for everyone because, rather than a human effort, it is first and foremost a gift of God, thrice holy. The Apostle John remarks: See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. It is God, therefore, who loved us first and make us his adoptive sons in Jesus. Everything in our lives is a gift of his love: how can we be indifferent before such a great mystery? How can we not respond to the heavenly Father's love by living as grateful children? In Christ, he gave us the gift of his entire self and calls us to a personal and profound relationship with him. Consequently, the more we imitate Jesus and remain united to him the more we enter into the mystery of his divine holiness. We discover that he loves us infinitely, and this prompts us in turn to love our brethren. Loving always entails an act of self-denial, "losing ourselves," and it is precisely this that makes us happy….
In truth, the blessed par excellence is only Jesus. He is, in fact, the true poor in spirit, the one afflicted, the meek one, the one hungering and thirsting for justice, the merciful, the pure of heart, the peacemaker. He is the one persecuted for the sake of justice.
The Beatitudes show us the spiritual features of Jesus and thus express his mystery, the mystery of his death and Resurrection, of his Passion and the joy of his Resurrection. This mystery, which is the mystery of true blessedness, invites us to follow Jesus and thus to walk toward it. To the extent that we accept his proposal and set out to follow him—each one in his own circumstances—we too can participate in his blessedness. With him, the impossible becomes possible and even a camel can pass through the eye of a needle; with his help, only with his help can we become perfect as the heavenly Father is perfect.
One of the greatest graces for our parish is Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in our chapel.
To quote Pope John Paul II; "We come here to meet the Heart of Jesus pierced for us, from which water and blood gush. It is the redeeming love, which is at the origin of salvation, of our salvation, which is at the origin of the Church. Now still today, the living Christ loves us and presents His Heart to us as the source of our redemption… We are called not only to meditate and contemplate on this mystery of Christ's love; we are called to take part in it. It is the mystery of the Holy Eucharist, the center of our Faith, the center of our worship of Christ's merciful love manifested in His Sacred Heart, a mystery which is adored here night and day. In the Eucharist – this is also the meaning of perpetual adoration – we enter the movement of love from which all interior progress and all apostolate efficacy springs."
Mother Teresa taught "When you look at the crucifix, you understand how much Jesus loved you then. When you look at the Sacred Host you understand how much Jesus loves you now."
This examination of conscience is not intended merely as a checklist to be used prior to confession. The purpose of this examination is to help souls to know what actions or attitudes are sinful and the gravity of the particular sin. The hope is that this knowledge will serve to keep people from committing these sins.
* Three things are necessary for a sin to be mortal: 1. Serious matter (things listed on this sheet); 2. Knowledge or firm belief that the act is seriously wrong prior to committing the act; 3. Full consent to the will.
All three of these conditions must be present simultaneously for a sin to be mortal. This means that if you did not know the act was seriously wrong, then you are not guilty of having committed a mortal sin. If you did not will the act, e.g., if you were forced or if it was in a dream, you are not guilty of having committed a mortal sin.
All mortal sins committed since your last confession must be confessed by both type and number, i.e., the title of the sin and how many times it was done. If there is a mortal sin from the past that was forgotten and has not been confessed, it should be confessed at your next confession. It is not necessary to confess venial sins, but it is a good and pious practice.
There's an old saying that goes, "Once a Catholic, always a Catholic." Maybe you have been away from the Church for a little while or quite some time, but somehow you now feel a tug at your heart calling you back home to the Catholic Church. That's why we're here.
Whether or not you know you want to return to the Catholic Church, we're here to help you take that second look. That mysterious pull inside you, driving you to look into your faith once more, comes directly from God. Your Heavenly Father is yearning for a relationship with you again, in the Church founded by Jesus 2000 years ago. He's waiting for you with open arms. Please Read More...
USCCB - Pro-Life Activities
Laws that permit or promote abortion, infanticide, human cloning, destructive embryo research or physician-assisted suicide ignore the sanctity of each human life and undermine the foundation of a just and healthy society. As citizens and people of faith, each of us should actively advance our convictions in the public square in every legitimate and ethical way. We should rededicate ourselves to upholding the sanctity of human life, and hold those elected to represent us to the same standard. Please Read More...
Voter's Guide for Serious Catholics
This voter's guide helps you cast your vote in an informed manner consistent with Catholic moral teaching.
This voter's guide identifies five issues involving "non-negotiable" moral values in current politics and helps you narrow down the list of acceptable candidates, whether they are running for national, state, or local offices. Please Read More...
Weekly Reflection
Justice Through Mercy Jesus told his disciples a parable about the necessity for them to pray always without becoming weary.
Luke 18:1
In our parable for today, we have the witness of a widow who came to a dishonest judge and continuously begged him for a just judgment. Though the judge did not care about the woman, he eventually rendered a just decision for her because she was so persistent. It's interesting that Jesus used the image of a "dishonest judge" to teach us about persistent prayers being answered. He does so because He wants us to understand that if even those who are dishonest respond to persistence, then so much more will the Just Judge of Heaven respond to persistence.
Will God answer any prayer you pray if you offer that prayer day and night, day after day without fail? Does God eventually give into our requests as a parent might give into a child who keeps begging for something? Not exactly. One of the most important qualifiers mentioned in this parable is the word "just." We read that the woman's plea before the judge was, "render a just decision for me…" At the conclusion of the parable, Jesus gives this interpretation: "Will not God then secure the rights of his chosen ones who call out to him day and night?" When we pray, we ought not pray for whatever we want. We ought not pray for our preference, selfish desires, or our own ideas. We must pray only for the justice of God. When we do so with unwavering perseverance, God will secure our rights and bring forth His justice.
Justice, in the mind of God, is not only about righting certain wrongs. The prime example of this is the death of our Lord Himself. Clearly, Jesus was purely innocent and yet He suffered greatly. For that reason, would we conclude that the suffering and death of the Son of God was an injustice? Not really. The reason for this is that justice can be achieved best by mercy. Because Jesus embraced the injustice of His suffering and death and turned it into a free embrace out of love, this "injustice" became a sacrifice of love by which an abundance of mercy was bestowed. Jesus had every right to call down fire from Heaven and to destroy those who sinned against Him. But He had a far better plan. Instead, by choosing to accept the injustice of the Cross, and by freely embracing it with His own will, the injustice was transformed and a far greater good came forth.
In our own lives, whenever we are wronged by another, we are often tempted to anger and to desire revenge in the name of justice. We want them to pay for what they did. If you ever feel that way, know that the greatest form of justice is mercy. Know that your free embrace of injustice brings forth the transforming power of God in a way that punishment or retribution could never accomplish. This is the form of justice we must pray for night and day. We must beg God for the ability to accept all sufferings with love, to offer those sufferings as a sacrifice, and to allow them to be transformed into mercy. If this is our persistent prayer, we can be certain that our prayer will be answered.
Reflect, today, upon anything for which you desire justice. Is there anything that has been unfair in your life? Do you dwell upon any hurt inflicted upon you by another? As you call those things to mind, know that the power of your persistent prayer has the potential to transform those sufferings into God's mercy. Beg for this gift and know that God will always answer those prayers.
Most just Judge, You desire to transform every injustice into mercy by calling us to freely embrace those injustices out of love. This is a high calling, dear Lord, but it is also a glorious one. Please give me the grace I need to follow Your example and to persevere in this form of prayer always. Jesus, I trust in You. Source: mycatholic.life
If you have any questions regarding Religious Education, please call Becky at 395-2470.
Get Involved-
Catholics have a long history of action - feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, caring for the poor, praying for souls. Are you doing all you can to help? If not, find out if there is a parish ministry that could use your time, talent, or treasure. Catholics are meant to make a difference.
Lay people who place their time and talent as acolytes (altar servers), lectors, extraordinary ministers of Holy Communion, cantors, choir members, instrumentalists, and ushers become more fully in union with Christ and with each other.
Our current ministers are ready to partner up with any and all who are willing to say yes. At one time, we were all nervous and feared stepping into the sanctuary of the church - some of us are still nervous today. You don't have to do it alone. We will support and guide you.
Bishop Services Appeal 2025 - Stepping Through the Holy Doors
When someone wants to show you their affection and friendship, they invite you to their home. There are two important things which occur next: conversation and a meal. In the celebration of the Mass, it is Jesus who invites us to participate in his friendship, during which we also encounter these two important moments: conversation, which is when Jesus speaks to us through his Word and we respond with our prayers; and a meal, when Jesus offers us the Eucharistic banquet giving us his Body and Blood.
Knights of Columbus Council 6211 is located in Bayou Vista, La. We are currently recruiting new members from the Parish.
Monthly Meetings for the Bayou Vista Knights Council are held on the 1st Wednesday of every month at 7:00 p.m.
Location for the meeting is at 113 Sunset Rd, Bayou Vista, LA 70380. KC Council 6211 Contact Info... Knights
of Columbus Info...
St. Bernadette Parsih Pastoral Council and Finance Committee
Holiness demands a constant effort, but it is possible for everyone because, rather than a human effort, it is first and foremost a gift of God, thrice holy. The Apostle John remarks: See what love the Father has given us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. It is God, therefore, who loved us first and make us his adoptive sons in Jesus. Everything in our lives is a gift of his love: how can we be indifferent before such a great mystery? How can we not respond to the heavenly Father's love by living as grateful children? In Christ, he gave us the gift of his entire self and calls us to a personal and profound relationship with him. Consequently, the more we imitate Jesus and remain united to him the more we enter into the mystery of his divine holiness. We discover that he loves us infinitely, and this prompts us in turn to love our brethren. Loving always entails an act of self-denial, "losing ourselves," and it is precisely this that makes us happy….
One of the greatest graces for our parish is Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration in our chapel. 
