The month of February is a very busy month for us and I want to mention just a few of the events coming:

1. This Thursday, is the Feast of St. Blaise and we will celebrate the Blessing of Throats after the 9am Mass and after a Mass at 6:00pm.
2. Next Saturday the Order of Malta will again host the World Day of Prayer for the Sick Mass here at St. Bernard, televised on EWTN. Bishop Olmsted will be here and anointing is available for those who are seriously ill. Also, on Sunday at our 9am Mass the Knights of Columbus will remember and honor those knights who have died this past year.
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Just a reminder: As you all know, the COVID problems continue and seem to be getting worse again. I worry that another “mutation or variant” will develop if we do not get this under control. With that said, I am again asking you to consider wearing masks as much as possible for your own safety and the safety of others. Also, please be aware of coughing and runny noses at Mass, especially among children. Our other parishioners get concerned if this occurs near them.

Last week I mentioned some of our liturgical ministries that need some help. Actually, all ministries always need new members as some either move away or decide to stop because of age or other reasons. The strength of a parish community comes from our volunteers and as we get busier we can always use more help.

Today is the Baptism of the Lord and the end of the season of Christmas. From now on we will walk with Jesus through his adult life and ministry. It is a time to listen and learn from our Lord. Although we call this time “Ordinary Time” there is nothing ordinary about it; actually the word comes from “ordinal” or “counted time”.

Christmas season is such a wonderful time with so many great feasts helping us remember the wonder of God’s great gift to us. Saturday is, or was, the feast of Mary the Mother of God; usually this is a obligatory feast but not this year since it fell on a Saturday . Sunday is the feast of the Epiphany, which signifies God’s being made present among us.

Next weekend we begin our annual Charity and Development Appeal for the various ministries in the Diocese of Phoenix. This is an important appeal for the witness of Christ in the works of our Diocese. I ask you all to prayerfully commit to helping these ministries in these critical times. Our parish goal is again $260,000.