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-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
In today's Gospel from Mark, Jesus asks the disciples what others say about him. He then turns the question directly to the disciples and asks what they believe. Peter speaks for all of them when he announces that they believe Jesus to be the Christ. Now that the disciples have acknowledged Jesus as the Christ, Jesus confides in them the outcome of his ministry: he will be rejected, must suffer and die, and will rise after three days. Peter rejects this prediction, and Jesus rebukes him severely.
Jesus then teaches the crowd and the disciples about the path of discipleship: To be Chris's disciple is to follow in the way of the cross. The path that Jesus was inviting his disciples to share meant tremendous suffering and death. This is the kind of radical commitment and sacrifice that Jesus calls us to adopt for the sake of the Gospel.
First Reading
Isaiah 50:5-9a
The suffering servant of Yahweh is assured of God's help.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 116:1-2,3-4,5-6,8-9
A prayer of praise to God for his salvation
Second Reading
James 2:14-18
James teaches that faith must be demonstrated in one's works.
Gospel Reading
Mark 8:27-35
Peter declares that Jesus is the Christ, and Jesus teaches that those who would follow him must take up his or her cross.
Jesus and his disciples set out
for the villages of Caesarea Philippi.
Along the way he asked his disciples,
"Who do people say that I am?"
They said in reply,
"John the Baptist, others Elijah,
still others one of the prophets."
And he asked them,
"But who do you say that I am?"
Peter said to him in reply,
"You are the Christ."
Then he warned them not to tell anyone about him.
He began to teach them
that the Son of Man must suffer greatly
and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes,
and be killed, and rise after three days.
He spoke this openly.
Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.
At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples,
rebuked Peter and said, "Get behind me, Satan.
You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."
He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them,
"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake
and that of the gospel will save it."
Mark 8:27-35
The Story of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross
Early in the fourth century, St. Helena, mother of Roman Emperor Constantine, went to Jerusalem in search of the holy places of Christ's life. She razed the second-century Temple of Aphrodite, which tradition held was built over the Savior's tomb, and her son built the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher on that spot. During the excavation, workers found three crosses. Legend has it that the one on which Jesus died was identified when its touch healed a dying woman.
The cross became an object of veneration. At a Good Friday celebration in Jerusalem, according to an eyewitness, the wood was taken out of its silver container and placed on a table together with the inscription Pilate ordered placed above Jesus' head. Then "all the people pass through one by one; all of them bow down, touching the cross and the inscription, first with their foreheads, then with their eyes; and, after kissing the cross, they move on."
Eastern Churches, Catholic and Orthodox alike, celebrate the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on the September anniversary of the basilica's dedication (September 14). The feast entered the Western calendar in the seventh century after Emperor Heraclius recovered the cross from the Persians, who had carried it off in 614, 15 years earlier. According to the story, the emperor intended to carry the cross back into Jerusalem himself, but was unable to move forward until he took off his imperial garb and became a barefoot pilgrim. (vaticannews.va)
Today, the cruelty of the Cross is not what is exalted, but the Love that God manifested to humanity by accepting death on the Cross: "Who, though in the form of God, emptied himself, taking the form of a slave. This is the glory of the Cross of Jesus!" (Pope Francis)
A Message from Father Thainese
My dear Parishioners,
I am glad to inform you that I am having my home visit from September 2 to October 2, 2024. This visit is planned exclusively to solemnize the marriage of my nephew (my brother's son). The sacramental marriage will take place on 15 and 16 of September at my village church - Our Lady of Rosary Church. I will have the privilege of seeing my relatives whom I have not seen for over 3 decades.
I will make two pilgrimages (Our Lady of Thainese Shrine and Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health) with our newly wedded couple for Mother Mary's blessing upon them. Along with my immediate family members, some people from my village will also join us. I assure you of my prayers in both places.
I will have the opportunity to attend my 1985 ordination class meeting on 18th and 19th of September in a place some 4 hours drive from my home.
My home visit holiday will be for 4 weekends. Fr Mike Bergeron from Houma will do the Masses for the first three weekends and the last weekend will be by one Mission appeal priest, Fr Paul.
Weekday Masses will be only on Tuesday and Friday, celebrated by Fr Francis of Holy Cross.
I request you to pray for my successful trip.
Father Thainese was checking on us as we were preparing for Hurricane Francine. He asked me to let everyone know that he has been offering his Masses for our safety.
He continued to check on us during and after the weather as well. He even set his alarm to wake himself up at 3:30 am on Thursday morning in India because it was 5:00 pm on Wednesday for us - the time predicted for landfall. Last night I was able to tell him to relax - we are fine and our church is good. Please keep him and his family in your prayers as they will be celebrating his nephew's wedding this Monday & Tuesday, Sept. 16 - 17.
2024-2025 Faith Formation
Our 2024-2025 Faith Formation year begins with a Faith Formation Family Mass on Catechetical Sunday, September 15th at 10:30 am. The first day of classes will be on Wednesday, September 18th, 2024. This first day of classes includes a MANDATORY Parent Meeting. Kindergarten - 5th grades at 4:00 pm and 6th grade - Confirmation at 7:00 pm.
Catechetical Sunday
Please join us for our 1st 2024-2025 Faith Formation Mass at 10:30am Sunday, Sept. 15th. We acknowledge, with grateful hearts, this year's Faith Formation Volunteers:
Maria Landry
Kamry Landry
Mona Thibodeaux
Renee' Garris
Roland Brannon
Judy Brannon
Frances Bullard
Jenny Guillot
Elaine Landry
Roz Meranta
Kathy Shilling
Kim Meranta
Melinda Frederick
Cindy Viola
Jane Vaccerella
Brenda Nelson
What is Catechetical?
The Ministry of the Word includes the mission of Evangelization and Catechesis. Catechesis means "to echo." Believers who embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the best news ever proclaimed are eager to "echo" the Good News everywhere.
The U.S. Bishops have designated this Sunday as Catechetical Sunday to honor those who share in the evangelizing and teaching mission of the Church. At St. Bernadette, we are so grateful for the dedicated ministry of all, past and present, who have accepted the call to catechize our youth in our Faith Formation program.
Weaving God into the everyday moments of our lives helps our children do the same. But, if we limit God to Faith Formation classes and only occasionally going to church only, our children will only find Him there. God is everywhere. Let's help our children to see, know, and experience Him all around.
Tips to help when making faith practices into daily habits:
It's never too late to start. 8 or 18-years-old. It doesn't matter. God has a way of gracefully filling in the gaps.
It's never too early to start. Taking your baby and young children to church is one way to establish that church (therefore, God) is safe and important.
You don't have to have all the answers. It's okay to say, "I don't know," when it comes to questions about faith. Other great responses are, "Let's ask someone who knows more," or "Let's look it up together."
Tap into resources. There are tons available - apps, books, our Faith Formation program lesson and family pages.
It starts with you. The best way to help our children form faith habits is to practice them in our own lives. Modeling a daily pursuit of our relationship with God accomplishes way more than our words ever could.
God Bless! Becky Wiggins, DRE
Invite Jesus Into Your Heart
MAKE THE CALL: While going about daily tasks, repeatedly ask Jesus to join you. This means verbally asking Him to join in whatever we are doing and allowing His presence to invade our plans. This helps us recognize that we live, breathe, and work under His watchful eye.
STOP AND LISTEN: Beginnings and endings of our activities are prime moments to listen to Jesus. He speaks quietly, but His words carry great weight. Make it a point to pause throughout the day to stop and listen.
MAKE A SPACE: Save a seat where you and Jesus meet. Jesus' presence is not limited to a church sanctuary. We should make a space, set a time, and pull up a chair for Jesus.
TAKE A WALK: Movement clears the clutter so we can connect with Christ. Walking and talking builds meaningful moments of connection. Discipleship, by definition, is a way of walking and talking with Jesus.
LINGER IN THE GOSPELS: Reading Gospel stories slowly, awakens our senses to engage with our Savior. When we read with our imagination and emotions, not just our intellect, we are more likely to encounter the lilt in Jesus' voice, glimmer in his eye, and the gentle pressure of his hand on our shoulder.
Faith is a Gift!
Followers of Christ can be divided into two groups — those who "returned to their former way of life" (John 6:66) where their faith wasn't challenged and those who, with Peter, can only say "We have come to believe and are convinced that You are the Holy One of God" (John 6:69). Many of us share the experience of confusion when trying to understand Christ's teachings. We may even find it difficult to respond like Peter by putting our trust in God always.
Take some time this week to consider the following questions:
What makes you convinced that Jesus is God and Savior? Are you convinced?
What teaching of Christ do you struggle with the most? Do you follow Christ always or only when it makes sense to your natural reason?
Which is more reliable — Christ's wisdom or your own? Why?
Do you find it hard to believe in the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist? If yes, why? If not, why not? If you have a deep belief in the Holy Eucharist, how might you share that belief with someone else?
Bible Quiz #40 - Genesis Chapters 46-50
Where did Israel offer sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac?
Where did Joseph meet his father?
Where did Joseph settle his father and brothers?
What was the law Joseph made for the land in Egypt with regard to produce?
What was the promise Joseph made to his father?
Where was Israel's (Jacob's) wife Rachel buried?
On whose head Israel put his right hand and blessed?
Where did Joseph bury his father?
How did Joseph react to his brothers when they expressed their fear and insecurity in Egypt after the death of their father?
What was the favor Joseph asked his brothers to do after his death?
DUE DATE - October 3rd
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 Reflections
He summoned the crowd with his disciples and said to them, "Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and that of the gospel will save it."
Practically speaking, how do we follow Jesus and save our souls? Is it enough to profess that we believe in Jesus? Jesus is quite clear that salvation requires action on our part. We must deny ourselves, take up our crosses, and follow Him. Furthermore, the road to salvation requires that we lose ourselves for the sake of Christ and the Gospel. What exactly does this mean, practically speaking?
Jesus' teaching, that we must deny ourselves, take up our cross, and follow Him, is the road map to saving your eternal soul and to discovering a spiritual fulfillment that far surpasses anything this world or our flesh have to offer. But in order to understand this road map and then to follow it, we often need to make a "spiritual U-turn" so to speak. This U-turn begins with us choosing the Cross on every level of our being and concludes with God stripping away all selfish desires and replacing them with a desire for sacrificial love.
If you were to carefully examine your thoughts throughout the day, you might find that you think about yourself a lot. "I like this, don't want to do that, am angry about this, and am trying to avoid that…" Very often, our thoughts begin with "I" and end with "me." Denying yourself, taking up your cross, and losing your life means that you no longer think about yourself. It means that the eyes of your soul have turned away from yourself and focus exclusively upon the will of God and the love of others. But this will never be possible until we are freed of the numerous selfish desires that often direct most of our actions day in and day out.
Reflect, today, upon that which you desire throughout your day. What occupies your thoughts the most? What are you drawn to the most? Do you spend most of your day thinking about how you can better serve God and His holy will? Or do you spend most of your day thinking about yourself? Do the eyes of your soul most often turn to the selfless service of others? Or do they more often think about what you want in a selfish way? Reflect upon these difficult questions and seek to eradicate everything within you that is selfish. Doing so will enable you to make a spiritual U-turn so that you can carry the glorious and transforming Cross of Christ.
My sacrificial Lord, You lived a selfless life in which Your only concerns were the glory of the Father in Heaven and the salvation of the world. Please free me from all selfishness so that I will be more able to deny myself in every way, run toward every cross in life, and follow You into the beautiful life of selfless and sacrificial love. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen
RCIA
Are you desiring to become Catholic and participate in the Sacraments instituted by Christ? Already baptized Catholic but have not completed all of the Sacraments for Initiaton?
Would you just like to know more about the Sacraments?
Reach out to Father Thainese to begin your Journey of Faith
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 2024 - Uniting as the Body of Christ
"Take and eat; this is my body."
– Matthew 26:26
When the host is raised after its blessing as Jesus did at the Last Supper, there is that beautiful, mysterious and sacred moment when it becomes our Lord's Body right before our eyes and in our hearts. Imagine what happens when, with that same faith, we place our own personal treasure in Jesus's hands: it becomes transformed into something that transforms.
This faith is what we are called to in the Bishop's Services Appeal: to trust that with us and through us, God transforms our gifts into what the lost and broken need most.
We may not all be able to physically feed or shelter or care for or minister to all those who need to be served. What we can do is support life-giving ministries through prayer and a personal offering of resources. The BSA helps us to ensure that the most essential services continue to reach the most vulnerable in our Diocese.
Please join in Uniting as the Body of Christ so that the very Real Presence of Jesus is evident in you and your charitable works.
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. 
