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 Fourth Sunday of Lent
In today's Gospel from John, the healing of the man born blind invites us to focus on the physical and spiritual aspects of sight and light. In the first part of today's Gospel, we hear Jesus' response to a prevalent belief of his time: that misfortune and disability were the result of sin. That belief is why Jesus is asked the question of whose sin caused the man's blindness-his own or his parents'. Jesus does not answer directly, but instead gives the question an entirely different dimension-through this man's disability, God's power will be made manifest. Jesus then heals the man.
The healing is controversial because Jesus heals on the Sabbath. The Pharisees, the religious authorities of Jesus' time, understood that the law of Moses forbade work (including healing) on the Sabbath. They also have trouble believing that Jesus performed a miracle. To determine whether the man was really born blind, the Pharisees question him and his parents. The man challenges the leaders of the synagogue about their assessment of the good that Jesus has done. In turn, they expel the man for questioning their judgment.
The final revelation and moment of enlightenment comes when the man born blind encounters Jesus again. Having heard the news of his expulsion, Jesus seeks out the man born blind and reveals himself to him as the Son of Man. In this moment, the man born blind shows himself to be a man of faith and worships Jesus. Jesus replies by identifying the irony of the experience of many who encounter Jesus: Those who are blind will now see, and those who think they now see will be found to be blind. Through the man's encounter with Jesus, the man born blind is healed, his sight is restored, and his conversion to discipleship begins. The man born blind gradually comes to a greater understanding about who Jesus is and what it means to be his disciple, while the Pharisees (those who should see) are the ones who remain blind.
First Reading
1 Samuel 16:1b,6-7,10-13a
Samuel is sent to anoint David as king.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 23:1-6
The Lord is our shepherd.
Second Reading
Ephesians 5:8-14
The Ephesians are told to live as children of light.
Gospel Reading
John 9:1-41
Jesus heals the man born blind and reveals himself to him as the Son of Man.
As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth.
His disciples asked him,
"Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents,
that he was born blind?"
Jesus answered,
"Neither he nor his parents sinned;
it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him.
We have to do the works of the one who sent me while it is day.
Night is coming when no one can work.
While I am in the world, I am the light of the world."
When he had said this, he spat on the ground
and made clay with the saliva,
and smeared the clay on his eyes,
and said to him,
"Go wash in the Pool of Siloam" -which means Sent-.
So he went and washed, and came back able to see.
His neighbors and those who had seen him earlier as a beggar said,
"Isn't this the one who used to sit and beg?"
Some said, "It is, "
but others said, "No, he just looks like him."
He said, "I am."
So they said to him, "How were your eyes opened?"
He replied,
"The man called Jesus made clay and anointed my eyes
and told me, 'Go to Siloam and wash.'
So I went there and washed and was able to see."
And they said to him, "Where is he?"
He said, "I don't know."
They brought the one who was once blind to the Pharisees.
Now Jesus had made clay and opened his eyes on a sabbath.
So then the Pharisees also asked him how he was able to see.
He said to them,
"He put clay on my eyes, and I washed, and now I can see."
So some of the Pharisees said,
"This man is not from God,
because he does not keep the sabbath."
But others said,
"How can a sinful man do such signs?"
And there was a division among them.
So they said to the blind man again,
"What do you have to say about him,
since he opened your eyes?"
He said, "He is a prophet."
Now the Jews did not believe
that he had been blind and gained his sight
until they summoned the parents of the one who had gained his sight.
They asked them,
"Is this your son, who you say was born blind?
How does he now see?"
His parents answered and said,
"We know that this is our son and that he was born blind.
We do not know how he sees now,
nor do we know who opened his eyes.
Ask him, he is of age;
he can speak for himself."
His parents said this because they were afraid
of the Jews, for the Jews had already agreed
that if anyone acknowledged him as the Christ,
he would be expelled from the synagogue.
For this reason his parents said,
"He is of age; question him."
So a second time they called the man who had been blind
and said to him, "Give God the praise!
We know that this man is a sinner."
He replied,
"If he is a sinner, I do not know.
One thing I do know is that I was blind and now I see."
So they said to him,
"What did he do to you?
How did he open your eyes?"
He answered them,
"I told you already and you did not listen.
Why do you want to hear it again?
Do you want to become his disciples, too?"
They ridiculed him and said,
"You are that man's disciple;
we are disciples of Moses!
We know that God spoke to Moses,
but we do not know where this one is from."
The man answered and said to them,
"This is what is so amazing,
that you do not know where he is from, yet he opened my eyes.
We know that God does not listen to sinners,
but if one is devout and does his will, he listens to him.
It is unheard of that anyone ever opened the eyes of a person born blind.
If this man were not from God,
he would not be able to do anything."
They answered and said to him,
"You were born totally in sin,
and are you trying to teach us?"
Then they threw him out.
When Jesus heard that they had thrown him out,
he found him and said, Do you believe in the Son of Man?"
He answered and said,
"Who is he, sir, that I may believe in him?"
Jesus said to him,
"You have seen him,
the one speaking with you is he."
He said,
"I do believe, Lord," and he worshiped him.
Then Jesus said,
"I came into this world for judgment,
so that those who do not see might see,
and those who do see might become blind."
Some of the Pharisees who were with him heard this
and said to him, "Surely we are not also blind, are we?"
Jesus said to them,
"If you were blind, you would have no sin;
but now you are saying, 'We see,' so your sin remains.
John 9:1-41
A WORD FROM THE PASTOR
The Gift Of True Sight
Have you ever tried walking while blindfolded or taken part in a trust walk where someone else guides you? Experiences like these quickly make us appreciate the gift of sight. When our vision is taken away, even briefly, we realize how much we depend on it to navigate the world. Yet sight is not only a physical gift-it also has a deeper, spiritual meaning.
In today's culture, our eyes are constantly exposed to images and messages. Television commercials, social media, and advertisements are carefully designed to capture our attention. Through fast editing, colors, patterns, and timing, the media "speak" directly to our eyes. Our eyes can quickly read these visual messages, often without us even realizing it. But even though we are always looking, it does not necessarily mean we truly see.
The Gospel of John presents a powerful example of this truth in the story of the man born blind. When Jesus healed him, the man did not only receive the physical ability to see. He also gained something far greater: the ability to recognize the truth about Jesus. While others around him-people who had perfect physical eyesight-remained spiritually blind, the once-blind man came to see clearly who Jesus truly was.
Scripture scholar Fr. Harrington S.J. reflects on this moment by saying, "The blind man's progress in spiritual sight reminds us that we need God's grace and revelation to move toward sharper spiritual vision." In other words, spiritual sight is not something we achieve on our own. It is a gift that grows as we open our hearts to God's grace.
The healing itself is rich in symbolism. Jesus used clay and spittle to anoint the man's eyes and then sent him to wash in the Pool of Siloam. These actions remind us of the early rituals of Baptism in the Christian Church. In the early centuries, Baptism was often called "enlightenment." Through water and sacred gestures, believers symbolically moved from darkness into light.
Because of this connection, the early Church understood the blind man's journey as a reflection of the Christian life. Just as he moved from blindness to sight, believers are called to move from doubt to faith and from sin to forgiveness. Baptism represents this profound transformation. In Baptism, a person symbolically enters the waters and rises again spiritually renewed and made whole. Thus, becoming a follower of Christ is not merely a change in belief, but a miracle of inner transformation.
This Gospel story invites each of us to reflect on our own lives. Are there moments when we look but fail to truly see? Are we open to the light of God's truth in our daily lives? Just as Jesus opened the eyes of the blind man, he continues to open our hearts and minds today. True sight is not simply about what our eyes perceive; it is about recognizing God's presence and learning to live in the light of his truth.
Spiritual Blindness! When we accidentally bump into something or someone, we might be asked, "Are you blind?" or "Can't you see?" We often get angry at such remarks because we believe we can see very well. Yet, there are times when we must admit that we are blind - that we don't see further than our own noses. The liturgical readings remind us that it is God who gives us proper vision in both body and soul, and they instruct us to constantly be on guard against spiritual blindness.
The Gospel gives an account of the man born blind and how Jesus cures him on the Sabbath. His vision broadens, while the Pharisees - who believe they possess spiritual insight - see Jesus less and less. We encounter three groups of people showing different degrees of blindness: the disciples, the blind man's parents, and the Pharisees.
Go to thaisprings.info to read the entire sermon.
✞ Who Is to Blame?
✞ Acting as Blind:
✞ Refusing to See the Truth:
✞ The Paradox of Blindness:
✞ Reaching Out:
✞ Some Blind Spots:
Faith Formation 2025 - 2026
In our Gospel Weeklies lessons throughout the year, our children will be meeting Jesus in the Sunday Gospel, the same Gospel that will be proclaimed during Mass the upcoming weekend. As your child's first, and most important catechist, its your role to help them develop a personal relationship with God by providing them with opportunities to learn about the teachings of the Church, the sacraments, and the lives of the saints. While we are extremely grateful that your children are usually present at class weekly, it is more important for them to be in Mass every weekend. Your family belongs to the Catholic community, but in order to feel this sense of belonging, your family MUST BE involved in the life of the Church. By taking an active role in the life of the Church, you can help your children see the relevance and importance of our Catholic faith in our lives.
The Fourth Sunday of Lent is traditionally called Laetare Sunday, from the Latin phrase meaning "let us rejoice." Even in the midst of a penitential season, the Church invites us to pause and rejoice as we continue our journey toward Easter. Throughout today's Gospel, Jesus reveals himself emphatically as the Son of God, often referring to himself as the "Son of Man," a title drawn from the Book of Daniel with strong messianic meaning. This literary device underscores who Jesus truly is.
John's dramatic style is on full display in today's Gospel: the healing of the man born blind. The story opens with a familiar human instinct: the rush to judgment. The disciples immediately assume that the man's blindness must be the result of sin. Jesus corrects them decisively. Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so the works of God might be made visible through him... I am the light of the world.
Today's message is deeply encouraging. Christ is our light, opening our eyes and sustaining us when faith brings misunderstanding or opposition. For all who bear the name Christian – this is truly a reason to rejoice.
Lenten Prayer Calendar 2026
Classes throughout the year will be held on Wednesdays from 5:45pm - 7:00pm for ALL GRADE LEVELS (Kindergarten - 8th).
Our next Family Mass is March 22nd
I KEEP ROSARIES TUCKED AWAY IN SEVERAL PLACES - IN MY CAR, IN MY DESK DRAWER, IN THE POCKET OF MY COAT - READY WHEN I NEED THEM.
Each mystery of the rosary calls us not just to remember the life of Christ, but to be transformed by it. When I pray the rosary, I'm reminded of our faith's call to mercy, to humility, to sacrifice. And that doesn't stay in the chapel or the car - it moves into daily life.
This year, with our 2026 Bishop's Services Appeal theme Holding the Faith: Decades of Prayer & Service, we reflect on how our collective acts of charity form a powerful chain, much like the rosary itself.
Every act of generosity is like a bead on the rosary, creating the chain of prayer and service that is the Diocese of Lafayette. Your gift becomes more than a donation - it becomes a whispered prayer that links us in an unbroken circle of faith. In this, you bring the Mysteries of the Rosary to life.
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...
The Mass Explained
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.
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
Spiritual Sight Restored As Jesus passed by he saw a man blind from birth. His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" Jesus answered, "Neither he nor his parents sinned; it is so that the works of God might be made visible through him."
John 9:1-3
Imagine being blind throughout your life and then suddenly being healed. All of the sounds you had heard from childhood, all that you had touched, tasted, or smelled suddenly took on new form within your imagination as these images registered with sight for the first time. Colors suddenly made sense. Large items, such as trees that you had only heard in the wind and touched with your hands, could be seen from a distance, glimmering in the sunlight. Your mind suddenly perceived in a new way the utensils, clothing, and other items you used daily. Just as the blind man was filled with awe at receiving his sight, so too is the soul overwhelmed when freed from the blindness of sin and brought into the light of God's grace.
The healed blind man was given a gift that those who can see from birth are not. Perceiving and understanding the physical world only through four of his senses, and then adding the powerful fifth sense of sight later in life, provided immediate wonder and awe, filling him with profound gratitude for something most of us take for granted.
Think of a person who lives a sinful life for many years and understands life only through the distortions of sin and selfishness. Once set free from sin, the person's spiritual eyes are opened. Those who experience such a conversion are given a blessing that those who have been faithful throughout their lives do not receive in the same way. They understand the contrast between spiritual blindness and sight, and the newfound freedom they receive after conversion provides a greater understanding of the gift of God's grace and its transforming effects. They will never forget the weight of bondage once caused by their sin.
One reason God permitted this man to be born blind and live that way into adulthood was to illustrate the contrast between spiritual darkness and light. This is part of what Jesus means when He says this man was born blind "so that the works of God might be made visible through him." The miracle not only illustrated Jesus' divine power but also symbolized the much deeper spiritual healing He offers to all. Just as the blind man received physical sight, we are offered the gift of spiritual sight through grace.
We are born with poor spiritual sight. Our fallen human nature, which suffers from concupiscence, tends toward selfishness and sin. Although capable of love and affection, a child is prone to selfishness, anger, emotional outbursts, and other "childish" behavior. Over time, with the guidance of good mentors, children begin to understand the value of greater patience and selfless acts of love, kindness, and generosity. Those who are not well-formed as adolescents or who choose to rebel selfishly in their later years never gain a clearer spiritual sight. The world around them remains blurry, and divine wisdom never penetrates their eyes of faith.
The story of the man born blind is an opportunity for each of us to examine how clearly we perceive our lives and the world around us. Just as the man was healed, we need healing from the blindness caused by our fallen nature. God's grace restores our spiritual sight, allowing His light to illuminate all we encounter in life.
Reflect today on your own need to see more clearly. We need our spiritual sight restored and sharpened if we are to perceive ourselves and our world with divine Wisdom. It takes humility to admit we have poor spiritual sight, and profound humility to admit if we are spiritually blinded by sin. Learn from the wonder and awe that this healed blind man experienced, and know that our Lord wants us to have clearer spiritual vision.
My healing Lord, because of my fallen human nature and my sin, I often fail to see the light of truth with clarity. Please heal me, as You healed this blind man, so that I will understand my life and Your will more clearly and be filled with wonder and awe at the reception of that gift. Jesus, I trust in You. Source: mycatholic.life
Please help us flood Heaven with Prayers for Beau !!
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.
Knights
of Columbus
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. 
