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 reading Peter asks Jesus how many times one ought to extend forgiveness to another. Peter proposes a reasonable number of times, perhaps seven. Jesus replies by extending Peter's proposal by an enormous amount; not just seven times should one forgive, but 77 times. The parable of the unforgiving servant is Jesus' elaboration of his initial reply to Peter. Through the parable we come to understand the depths of God's mercy toward us and the results of our acceptance of God's forgiveness.
In the parable the king's forgiveness is like God's forgiveness, and it transforms us, helping us to be as forgiving as God. The lesson is clear: If we hoard God's mercy while showing no mercy to others, we risk forfeiting the effects of God's mercy in our lives.
First Reading
Sirach 27:30—28:9
Those who seek God's mercy must be merciful toward others.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 103:1-4,9-12
A song of praise to God who is kind and merciful.
Second Reading
Romans 14:7-9
We belong to the Lord.
Gospel Reading
Matthew 18:21-35
Jesus teaches that we must forgive one another as God has forgiven us.
Peter approached Jesus and asked him,
"Lord, if my brother sins against me,
how often must I forgive?
As many as seven times?"
Jesus answered, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times.
That is why the kingdom of heaven may be likened to a king
who decided to settle accounts with his servants.
When he began the accounting,
a debtor was brought before him who owed him a huge amount.
Since he had no way of paying it back,
his master ordered him to be sold,
along with his wife, his children, and all his property,
in payment of the debt.
At that, the servant fell down, did him homage, and said,
'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back in full.'
Moved with compassion the master of that servant
let him go and forgave him the loan.
When that servant had left, he found one of his fellow servants
who owed him a much smaller amount.
He seized him and started to choke him, demanding,
'Pay back what you owe.'
Falling to his knees, his fellow servant begged him,
'Be patient with me, and I will pay you back.'
But he refused.
Instead, he had the fellow servant put in prison
until he paid back the debt.
Now when his fellow servants saw what had happened,
they were deeply disturbed, and went to their master
and reported the whole affair.
His master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant!
I forgave you your entire debt because you begged me to.
Should you not have had pity on your fellow servant,
as I had pity on you?'
Then in anger his master handed him over to the torturers
until he should pay back the whole debt.
So will my heavenly Father do to you,
unless each of you forgives your brother from your heart."
Matthew 18:21-35
A WORD FROM THE PASTOR
Nurture a Healthy Heart
A certain married couple had many sharp disagreements. Yet somehow the wife always stayed calm and collected. One day her husband commented on his wife's restraint. "When I get mad at you," he said, "you never fight back. How do you control your anger?" The wife said: "I work it off by cleaning the toilet." The husband asked: "How does that help?" She said: "I use your toothbrush!"
Our liturgical readings for this 24th Sunday concern forgiving and being reconciled with those who wound us. All three readings today remind us of the path to forgiveness, mercy, and reconciliation and challenge us to walk this path with Jesus, the only Way to Life. Peter thought forgiving a wrong doer seven times was already too much. But Jesus shocks Peter when he demands forgiving seventy-times. Who could possibly do that? But that's the point. Forgiveness isn't something that is tracked on a scoreboard, with a certain number of boxes to fill in. The goal of forgiveness is reconciliation. Until that is reached we need to keep trying.
Forgiveness begins in the heart. Unfortunately, so do wrath and anger, which the book of Sirach (first reading) urges us to avoid. When we are wronged, especially when it hurts, especially when it has long -term consequences or even changes our lives completely, it is difficult for the heart to make a complete turn from anger to mercy. But as doctors will say, we need to nurture a healthy heart. When we hug tightly to wrath and anger, allowing them to fester into resentment or bitterness, we are unconsciously choosing to have an unhealthy heart.
John Huffman once said, "The world's most miserable person is one who won't forgive." The truth is that nurtured resentment mostly hurts the one who nurtures it. Forgiveness allows us to reconcile with the consequences of the action that hurt us as well as with the cause of that hurt. It allows us to heal the broken relationship with that person. Today, God's word would take us "below decks" to look inside ourselves concerning the whole matter of forgiveness. When Jesus commands us to love our enemies, he gives us the grace we will need to forgive them.
Forgiveness is an art of letting go. It is letting go of the past, looking forward to the future, and enjoying the emotional freedom you deserve. Forgiveness multiplies when freely given to the offender. Whether we like it or not, something good may come out from the experience and will probably change the person for the better. And that is the good news that the Gospel offers us this Sunday.
When was the last time it was very difficult to forgive? If you did forgive, how did you feel?
A few weeks ago, we defined Faith Formation as the lifelong process of shaping our relationships with God, self, others, and all creation, and learned that children begin their spiritual journeys with their families. Families
help one another grow in faith by their witness of a Christian Life. When families participate together to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, they are strengthening the roots of their children's faith. This immersion in the beauty and depth of worshipping God may be the most important thing we can do for our children.
Becky Wiggins, DRE
Wednesday, September 13th was our first day of Faith Formation classes. Students and volunteers participated in a beautiful blessing service with Fr. Thainese.
About the Gospel
It is not always easy to forgive someone who hurts you. Jesus tells us that we must forgive, just as God the Father forgives us. When we hurt someone, we should ask for forgiveness right away. When someone asks for our forgiveness, we should not answer, "It's okay," but rather say, "I forgive you."
In Church
Listen for the prayer that asks us to forgive as we are forgiven by God.
Question of the Week
Why is it better to say,"I forgive you," than, "It's okay "when someone asks forgiveness?
Family Prayer Help us Lord, to offer and ask for forgiveness when we have hurt each other. Amen.
Deciding to travel the challenging road of forgiveness is choosing a journey toward greater freedom. Resentment, anger, and clinging to past hurts not only keep open wounds that long for healing but bring us down paths that are eventually self-destructive. Harboring grudges and withholding forgiveness not only shut down relationships with others, but with God and myself as well. To choose to forgive another person, regardless of how grave the wrong, is a choice to be released from bondage to past wounds and scars and to pursue the gift of life and love again. Who among us has not wrong or sinned against another? We certainly would want God to understand, forgive, and show mercy upon us. It is hypocritical of us to not extend that same grace to our neighbor.
Bible quiz# 30 Acts of the Apostles (Chapters 22 to 28)
Who was the teacher of Paul in Jewish laws?
Was Paul a Roman citizen by birth?
Who reported to the commander about Jews' conspiracy
to kill Paul?
To whom the commander sent Paul to Caesarea?
Why did the governor summon Paul quite often?
Who was king Agrippa?
How many times did Paul defend himself before the
authorities?
Who sent Paul to Rome?
Who did Paul heal in Malta?
What did Paul do in Rome?
Answers Due
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.
At the end of February, Most Reverend J. Douglas Deshotel, D.D., issued a decree regarding the Sacrament of Confirmation in the Diocese of Lafayette. A portion of his Decree letter is printed below. You can also find a video by Bishop Deshotel on the Diocese of Lafayette website (diolaf.org).
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...
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
God's mercy is abundant.
We must pass that mercy on to others through heartfelt forgiveness that goes beyond mere words and actions. Just as we are forgiven by God, we are called to extend that same grace to others. We must be mindful of how we treat others and recognize that our actions reflect our true relationship with God.
Questions to Ponder
How do you practice empathy and compassion in your daily life?
How does your own forgiveness (or lank thereof) towards others reftect your relationship with God? What might you change in your approach to others?
Challenge: What steps can you take to align your life with the principles of forgiveness and empathy as you strive to reflect God's boundless forgiveness in your daily life?
Faith Formation
We will be accepting donations of snacks throughout our Faith Formation year. Donations can be dropped off at the hall on Wednesdays after 1:00pm or at the office during regular office hours.
Our 2023-2024 Faith Formation year begins on Wednesday, September 13th K - 5th 3:15 - 4:30 pm
6th - 11th 6:30 - 7:30 pm
By participating in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, whether our first time in days, weeks, months or years, we are experiencing God's individual and unwavering love for us, and one of the true graces made available to us by our Catholic faith. God loves us just the way we are, but he loves us too much to leave us that way. When we return to the Church for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, Jesus rejoices like the father in the Parable of the Prodigal Son. It is never "too late" to return to Jesus and ask for forgiveness. Imagine how joyful you will feel upon confessing your sins, big or small!
Currently we have only 17 of our parishioners serving as a Sacristans, Lectors, and/or Ministers of Holy Communion for our three weekend Masses. Ideally, we’d like to be able to schedule each person once a month. We need your help to do this! Please prayerfully consider where God is calling you to serve and call the office to volunteer.
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.
Eucharistic Rally
On October 5th, you have the opportunity to join us on a spiritual pilgrimage to the Diocesan Eucharistic Rally where Christ's light will surely be shining. We have reserved a charter bus and hope that you will skip the driving and just get on the bus with us! We are asking for members of Ladies Altar Society, Knights of Columbus, Ultreya, and Come, Lord Jesus! to contact your group leader for information and to sign up. All others, call the
office. We are asking for a $40 donation to help cover the cost of the bus. We'll depart St. Bernadette at 4:00pm and return at 10:45pm. All are welcome!!
Bishop Services Appeal 2023- Living a Legacy of Faithfulness and Purpose
Through acts both large and small, we bring positive change into our own lives and the lives of others. We have only to look to the examples of 12-year old Charlene Richard, the young Fr. Verbis Lafleur, and the humble "Nonco" Auguste Pelafigue. Holiness is not a lofty ideal. It is born of generous hearts. It is love lived to the full in service to others. We are all called to everyday sainthood. It is in the striving that we build and Live a Legacy of Faithfulness and Purpose. The ministries supported by the Bishop's Services Appeal are part of how we answer God's call.
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...
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...
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. 
