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-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time
In today's Gospel of Luke, we hear about how Jesus, continuing on his journey to Jerusalem, heals 10 lepers. This story is a lesson about faith and reminds us that faith is sometimes found in unlikely places. Ten people afflicted with leprosy cry out to Jesus. Struck with pity, Jesus heals all 10. However, only one is described as glorifying God and returning to thank Jesus. The one who returns is a Samaritan, a foreigner. In the Jewish circles in which Jesus lived, Samaritans were looked down upon because of the differences between the two communities in their observance of Judaism. It is significant, therefore, that Jesus commends the Samaritan for his faith, which has been his salvation. Throughout Luke's Gospel, faith is found in surprising places.
Another lesson for us in this Gospel has to do with salvation. All 10 of the lepers were given the gift of healing, but in his gratitude to God for this gift, the Samaritan found salvation. Our salvation is found in recognizing the gifts we have been given and knowing to whom we must offer our thanks.
First Reading
2 Kings 5:14-17
Naaman is cleansed of his leprosy and chooses to serve the God of Israel.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 98:1,2-3,3-4
Rejoice! The salvation of God is made known to all.
Second Reading
2 Timothy 2:8-13
Those who remain faithful to Christ will share Christ's glory.
Gospel Reading
Luke 17:11-19
Jesus heals 10 lepers, and one, the Samaritan, returns to give thanks.
As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem,
he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.
As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him.
They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying,
"Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!"
And when he saw them, he said,
"Go show yourselves to the priests."
As they were going they were cleansed.
And one of them, realizing he had been healed,
returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;
and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.
He was a Samaritan.
Jesus said in reply,
"Ten were cleansed, were they not?
Where are the other nine?
Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?"
Then he said to him, "Stand up and go;
your faith has saved you."
Luke 17:11-19
Healing the Outsiders
Our First Reading today from 2 Kings(5:14-17) is an Old Testament antecedent to our Gospel story. Elisha was the young prophet called by God to follow Elijah, who was taken up into heaven at the end of his prophetic work. He, like Elijah, was a miracle worker. Elisha was visited by Namaan, the pagan commander of the army of the king of Syria. He had leprosy; his wife had a little Hebrew maid who had been carried away from Israel as a slave after battle. She urged her mistress to send her husband to see Elisha, who was in Samaria. He went, and Elisha told him to plunge himself into the Jordan "seven times."
Namaan at first was insulted by such an odd response from Elisha, but he finally agreed to submit to it. He, like the lepers in the Gospel, had to obey God's word before there was any visible sign that he would be healed. When he did, it was almost as if he had been reborn: "His flesh became again like the flesh of a little child, and he was clean of leprosy." We can see that this foreigner also had a thorough conversion to the God of Israel. His gratitude and worship of the one true God foreshadows the reach of the Gospel everywhere to heal us all of sin (note that it took seven dips into the Jordan to heal Namaan, an anticipation of the seven sacraments Jesus has given the Church to heal the whole world).
Here, Namaan, the outsider, becomes an insider in God's family.
Heavenly Father, help me obey You in order to be healed, even when it seems like nothing is happening.
Dear Parish Family, On behalf of St Bernadette Church Parish Pastoral Council and Staff, I extend my sincerest gratitude for your generous donations toward our recent roof replacement project. Your support and commitment to our church community have been truly humbling.
Your commitment to the future of our church is a shining example of our faith in action. It is through the grace of God and the selflessness of believers like you that we can accomplish such important projects. Thanks to your compassion, our aging and deteriorating roof has been successfully replaced with a new, sturdy one that will protect our church for decades to come. Your contributions ensure that our church remains a safe and welcoming place for worship, fellowship, and ministry for all who walk through our doors.
This project could not have been completed without your faithful giving. Your generosity is a testament to the strong community spirit that makes this parish so special. Every donation, no matter the size, has made a significant impact and is deeply appreciated. This extraordinary gesture is one among the many that we have accomplished in the past 6 years.
As we move forward, we are committed to being good stewards of your trust and your donations. Please know that you and your families are in my prayers.
Thank you once again for your unwavering support and for being such an integral part of our church community.
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.
Sunday Mass: Why Do We Have to Go?
In our first 4 weeks of class, we've had at least 95% of our registered students in attendance. Not only are they coming, they are eagerly participating. It's such a blessing to be a part of something these children are excited about. However, that joy and love for God that shines from the children when they are with us in the hall is dimmed when they tell us that no one brought them to Mass on Sunday. When our children go to Mass, they are physically in the presence of Christ. They hear the Word of God and pray prayers praising Him. When our children go to Mass, they will see that the Communion of Saints is made up of real people, old, young, rich, poor, healthy, disabled, good, bad, bored, sincere, but all united in the same act of worshipping God.
Why do we have to go to Mass? Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, do not stop them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these" Mk 10:13-14. Parents, you signed up your child (children) for Faith Formation classes, but these classes are only tiny parts in the formation of our Catholic faith. Bringing children to Mass every Sunday is part of fulfilling the promise you made at their baptism when you responded "We (I) do" to these or similar words - "You have asked to have your child baptized. In doing so you are accepting the responsibility of training him (her) in the practice of the faith. It will be your duty to bring him (her) up to keep God's commandments as Christ taught us. Do you clearly understand what you are undertaking?" Raising a child Catholic includes attending Mass, teaching the faith, praying with and for the child, and receiving sacraments like Reconciliation, First Communion, and Confirmation. When we go to Mass, we share in the death and resurrection of Jesus and are strengthened by the Holy Eucharist. The Mass gives meaning and purpose to our lives and offers a kind of peace that the world can not give.
Never forget, God does not expect perfection. He just wants a sincere heart and honest effort in guiding our families toward heaven. God Bless! BWM, DRE
Please keep the following volunteers in your prayers as they give of their time and talent for our children in St. Bernadette's Faith Formation.
Maria Landry
Kamry Landry
Paula Wiggins Oliver
Becky Blanchard
Renee Garris
Melinda Frederick
Cindy Viola
Vanessa Solet
Giselle Cerritos
Judy Brannon
Roland Brannon
Frances Bullard
Elaine Landry
Roz Meranta
Kathy Shilling
Kim Meranta
Baylee Guillory
Ethan Meranta
* Countless others who help in various ways!!
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 October 26th
I can't wait to see and pray with everyone this Wednesday!
"Enkindle the love of Jesus in the hearts of the young." -Saint John Baptist de La Salle
These words from Saint John Baptist de La Salle are the heart and goal of the ministry behind faith formation. Broadly speaking, Catholic faith formation, or catechesis, is the process by which young people come to know, love and follow God and the teachings of the Church.
Faith Formation...
is a life-long process that helps us grow in our relationship with God.
involves learning the core beliefs, practices, and moral teachings of our faith, including sacraments, prayer, and scripture.
aims to deepen understanding of scripture, tradition, and the Church's teachings as outlined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church (CCC).
is an essential process to foster a strong spiritual life and prepares us to live out our faith in the world.
is not just for children but continues through adulthood.
vitally strengthens our Catholic identity and community.
Faith Formation is a shared responsibility among parishes, clergy, and families. It builds a foundation for living a life rooted in Catholic values and thrives when the whole Church participates. Without family involvement, children might see faith as separate from daily life. This collective responsibility is vital to keeping our faith alive.
www.catholicshare.com
Bible Quiz # 50 - The Book of Joshua (Chapters 11-24)
Why did Joshua not wage war with Hivites?
How many kings Joshua conquered?
Why did the tribe of Levi not get their heritage?
Who are the descendants of Joseph?
Why did the tribes of Joseph protest?
Under whose obedience some pasture lands were allotted to the Levites?
Where did Joshua gather all the tribes of Israel?
What was the demand by Joshua after distributing the land to the Israelites?
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
Praying for More than Our Needs As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem, he traveled through Samaria and Galilee. As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him. They stood at a distance from him and raised their voices, saying, "Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!"
Luke 17:11 - 13
This story begins very well for all ten of these lepers. For nine of them, it ends tragically. For one, it ends in an even better and more glorious way than it began.
The lepers represent us all. Their illness was a symbol of all sin and the consequences of sin. When the disease began, the lepers began to experience the effects of their disease. Discolored and thick dry skin, sores, and rashes would set in. Once detected, each leper was removed from the community to stop the spread of the disease and was only free to associate with other lepers. They no longer could gather freely with their loved ones as the lepers entered isolation and shame. Analogously, all sin has similar effects. Sin causes pain within our souls as we discover the growing wounds it causes. Sin affects our relationships and our ability to freely relate to those whom we love.
The initial cure for sin is simple. We cry out, "Jesus, Master! Have pity on me!" But that is only the first step. By curing the lepers, Jesus was showing us that He had power over our sin. He could forgive us and will forgive us when we seek His mercy. But forgiveness will end in tragedy if it does not lead us to faith and to a following of the will of God with zeal and determination. If we take the forgiveness of sins for granted, then we will be in an even more miserable state than before. The nine lepers who failed to return and give thanks to God represent those who do not convert their lives when touched by God's merciful hand.
This story highlights the importance of our response to God when He does touch us. We must glorify God with a loud voice, fall on our knees before Him and express our deepest gratitude. When the one leper does this, Jesus says to him, "Stand up and go; your faith has saved you." That mercy from our Lord was a mercy that touched his soul. It imparted the gift of faith and enabled this man to go forth and be healed with eternal graces.
Too often we turn to God in prayer only when we have a problem. Then, once the problem is taken care of, we pay little to no attention to our Lord. God's role in our lives is not to fix our problems so that we can then go about our daily lives as normal. His mercy must evoke ongoing and profound gratitude. Gratitude to God is nothing other than an acknowledgement of the truth. We owe everything to God. Without Him, we are nothing. We are dead in our sins. Just one leper realized this and was blessed with the gift of faith that saved not only his body, but also his soul.
Reflect, today, upon the ways in which you turn to God in prayer. It is good to come to Him with your needs and problems. It is good to cry out "Jesus, Master! Have pity on me!" It is good to come to Him as the Physician of your soul and the source of healing you need. But that is not enough. In fact, if you stop there in your life of prayer, you will end in a most miserable state. You will be using God for your selfish advantage. Reflect upon whether you are able to take the next and most important step in faith. Do you come to Him when all is well? Do you praise Him with all your might for all that He has done for you? Do you fall on your knees before Him with the deepest gratitude in your heart? Reflect upon your prayer and seek to imitate this one leper. If you do, your faith will also save you and our Lord will invite you to rise and go forth, healed in the truest way possible.
Most merciful Lord, You are able to do all things. You are able to heal all my wounds, forgive my sins and solve every problem I encounter. As I cry out to You in my need, please do heal me. In response, may I always turn back to You with the deepest gratitude and praise so that my faith in You will grow and my love for You will truly flourish. 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. 
