Parish News
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POPE FRANCIS
Pope Francis will be remembered as a man of faith with a courageous voice in defence of social justice, human dignity, the environment and peace. Our world is better for his having been a part of it. In prayer, we entrust Pope Francis to the Lord and give thanks for him.
With hearts full of sorrow and gratitude, we pray for Pope Francis. May the Shepherd now rest with the Good Shepherd. Amen.
RCIA and the Easter Vigil
Easter is the most important feast of the Catholic Year.
St. Augustine <https://hallow.com/saints/augustine-of-hippo/> refers to the
Easter Vigil as "the mother of all holy vigils
<https://www.usccb.org/prayer-and-worship/liturgical-year-and-calendar/tridu
um/roman-missal-and-the-easter-vigil> ." The Easter Vigil marks the first
sign of Christ's light and resurrection. It is filled with powerful
symbols, rituals and Scripture. This year St. Bernard's Parish welcomes 7
new Catholics and 4 of their children to the Church. Bianca, Cass,
Kirthika, Lauren, Luke, Mel and Veena have been preparing to become
Catholics through on their Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults sessions.
They are ready to join us. At the Easter Vigil Mass they will receive the
Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Eucharist. Please welcome them and
keep them in your prayers .
SUNDAY 4th MAY
8:00am - 2:00pm
St Bernard’s Church Annual BOOK FAIR - Sunday 4th May
Clairvaux School Hall, Reynolds Rd. Belmont 8am to 2pm
St Bernard’s Book Fair is fast approaching. Peter & Margaret Wills have been busy throughout the year, collecting & sorting your donated books.
The Book Fair is a significant fund-raiser for the Parish & your contributions are sincerely appreciated. Thank you for your past support. We look forward to seeing you on 4th May.
NOTE : Sat 26th April is the final collection date, to allow time for sorting.
How you can help :
1. Sort through your shelves & bring books we can sell, to Clairvaux Hall on Saturday mornings, between 9 & 10am. (No magazines, textbooks or encyclopaedia thank you)
2. Pick up a bundle of flyers from the church foyer TODAY - letter box your street & display at your workplace.
3. Spread the word through your email or social media contacts.
4. Bring your family & friends. COME ALONG & browse through a huge selection of quality second-hand books - fiction, non-fiction & children’s books, jigsaw puzzles, DVDs & CDs - all at bargain prices.
5. Take home some freshly baked goods from the Cake Stall.
6. Helpers are needed for the pack up at 2pm on Sunday 4th May.
Something for everyone!
Laudato Si’
2025 is the 10th Anniversary of Pope Francis's Encyclical Laudato Si`. Indeed, the themes of this encyclical are still relevant today. God communicates to us through nature.
Pope Francis writes in his Encyclical Laudato Si'. "Due to an ill-considered exploitation of nature, humanity runs the risk of destroying it and becoming in turn a victim of this degradation". We offer this All Creatures Lament prayer as a Lenten reflection.
As you know St. Bernard's have a Laudato Si Action Plan. To create some awareness in our parish I would be grateful if we could play this beautiful prayer reflection 'All Creatures Lament' as a communion reflection next Sunday or the Sunday after at all masses? It is related to sin and asking for forgiveness regarding care for creation, particularly apt during Lent.
This is a link to the beautiful prayer for the environment to wake us up to the realities of the hottest decade in history with increasing fires, floods, cyclones and loss of biodiversity.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qjN8XafcMFn4ExSGiuWC2EY9QRJ1xgrE/view
Annual General Meeting of the Parish Leadership Team
The AGM (open to all Pillar members) was held on March 20, 2025.
The 2024 Annual Report was approved and is available on our Parish Structure page.
Nominations for Executive positions were received and approved with the following result:
Chair - Noreen Nicholson
Deputy Chair - Franca Bonanno
Secretary - Muriel Powell
There are currently some Pillar vacancies which we ask you to consider:
· Pillar leader, Outreach & Engagement in Faith
· Pillar Leader and new members required for Finance, Infrastructure & Management
We have also attached the Parish Pastoral Action Plan which outlines the purpose and responsibilities of each Pillar for your information.
There is an Expression of Interest form for those who would like to learn more about these important parish positions. The Executive Team will be happy to talk to those who may be interested in serving the parish. Please contact us at stbernardleadership@gmail.com.
We thank the previous PLT Executive Peter Dunn, Brian Sherwell and Muriel Powell who have actively served the parish community well over the last two years. We also thank all pillar members who together with the executive members have worked hard to achieve the successful results outlined in the Annual Report.
The Parish long service volunteer award goes to Brian Sherwell who has given his time and expertise to the Parish over the last 40 years. Brian has stood down from the PLT but will continue as a volunteer on the FIM Pillar. We thank Brian and are most grateful to him for his commitment to the Parish.
We have been blessed with Fr. Sang's leadership and now with Fr. Tho Tran we look forward to working closely in 2025 and beyond, to serve our parish community.
We welcome your feedback/comments at all times, contact us at stbernardleadership@gmail.com
Lenten Calendar
During the next few weeks, we are asked to reflect on how we can make Lent more meaningful in our own life through prayer, fasting, and almsgiving. In this Jubilee year, as Pilgrims of Hope, we are asked to consider how we care for creation and the impact this has on the poor and those who are suffering.
This Lenten Calendar has some thoughts for us to reflect on.
To DOWNLOAD the full Lenten Calendar click the link below
RCIA Candidates
We have 7 candidates on their RCIA journey this year. They are Bianca, Cass, Kirthika, Lauren, Luke, Mel and Veena. RCIA is the pathway for adults to become Catholics. Since August last year, our candidates have been going through their journey with Fr Sang and Fr Tho and the St. Bernard’s RCIA leaders’ team. This includes prayer, faith education sessions and reflection time to enable them to grow in a deeper relationship with Jesus and sharing God’s great love.
On Ash Wednesday 5 March they were presented to our Parish community, and we confirmed they were ready to continue their journey. That presentation was in preparation for them undertaking the Rite of Election and Presentation at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. They did that on Sunday 9 March with representatives from many of the other parishes in the Archdiocese.
This is a special time for St. Bernard’s. Please pray for Bianca, Cass, Kirthika, Lauren, Luke, Mel and Veena as they move through their final stage of preparation to become Catholics at Easter.
St. Bernard’s RCIA Team
RCIA
On the 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays of Lent the Gospel Readings will be taken from Year A for the Scrutinies celebrated by our catechumens and candidates. These are part of a series of rites belonging to the RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults) that are celebrated during the season of Lent. Read more on our Sharing Faith page.
Pope Francis’ message of Hope for Easter
Read more on our Church News page.
Mohammad Family Reunion
We've received the joyous news we've all been praying for—Mohammad’s wife and son have been granted partner visas by the Australian Government! After a long 13-year wait, Mohammad and his family will finally be reunited in Australia. St Bernard’s Parish has offered unwavering support and prayers for Mohammad throughout the years. In the near future, he intends to bring his family to the Parish to express his heartfelt gratitude and to celebrate this wonderful milestone.
From Peter and Margaret Wills
Thank you for all your support following Peter’s recent health diagnosis. We are grateful for all the prayers, messages, meals etc. We are pleased to let you know that Peter is well on the way to recovery and the Mill Market and Book drop off on Saturday mornings will resume on Saturday March 1st at 9am.
We are looking forward to restocking our stall at the market and collecting books for our upcoming Parish Book Fair in May.
Thank you for all your support for these great fundraisers, which will enable Father Tho and Parish leadership team to maintain important church improvements.
Holy Trinity Queenscliff is a Pilgrimage site!
A place of Pilgrimage for Jubilee Year 2025—Holy Trinity Church Queenscliff
Holy Trinity Church in Queenscliff has been nominated by Archbishop Peter A Comensoli as a Pilgrim Place for the need of faithful to visit and pray during the Jubilee Year 2025. On Sunday 2nd March at 11.00am, Bishop Martin Ashe, Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne, will celebrate Mass at Holy Trinity Church (34 Stevens Street, Queenscliff) to launch the Jubilee Year for pilgrims to visit during Jubilee Year; to experience God’s compassion and love through prayers and pilgrimage. All are welcome to join us for Mass and hospitality.
A list of Melbourne sites can be found on our Church News page.
Jubilee year 2025 - Pilgrims of Hope
This Sunday we will begin celebrating our Jubilee Year 2025 - Pilgrims of Hope.
What is the Jubilee?
A Jubilee is a significant moment in the life of the Church that happens every 25 years.
Biblically, the Jubilee is a time of renewal, celebration, rest and freedom.
In Old Testament times, debts were cancelled, prisoners and enslaved people were freed, and even the land was able to rest.
Pope Francis has called this Jubilee Year ‘Pilgrims of Hope’. It’s an invitation to renew our hope, a hope which comes from knowing that God loves each one of us, whoever we are.
He has asked us to be signs of hope for others, by putting Catholic Social Teaching into action through caring for our common home, and supporting our sisters and brothers who are experiencing war, hunger or poverty.
LENTEN REFLECTIONS
The painting is called “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord,” by Spanish artist Jose Luis Castrillo.
Start Anew in Christ is a call for all the followers of Jesus to examine their hearts and open themselves to be renewed and empowered by the Holy Spirit who makes all things new.
Our 2025 Lenten resource has been developed for both individual prayer and small groups. Lenten small groups are an opportunity to gather together to share life, faith and to pray with one another.
In this Year of Jubilee these formation activities provide opportunities to reorient, refresh, and renew our relationship with the Lord and with our neighbours.
You are invited to participate in this program in one of the following ways.
A weekly meeting in the church, led by a member of our team, using the Lenten resource, Start Anew in Christ.
A daily self-directed reflection, using the Lenten resource, Start Anew in Christ.
If this invitation appeals to you, could you please use the signup sheets after Mass or contact the Parish Office on 5243 2739 during office hours or email belmont@cam.org.au.
· Sessions commence on Monday 10th March
· Sessions to be held Mondays at 10 am and 7.30 pm
· $5 to be paid on ordering books, can be paid via cash/EFTPOS
· You can download the program as an eBook
https://archdiocesanministries.org.au/lent-resource
Ash Wednesday falls on March 5th this year – so please signup or contact parish office by Sunday February 16th.
Once we have gathered this information, we will inform you of details of how the program will proceed.
Outreach & Engagement in Faith team.
Popes Prayer Intentions for 2025
The Pope’s Worldwide Prayer Network (Apostleship of Prayer) is an international movement that is more than 170 years old. Each month, the Pope puts forward a prayer intention and asks Catholics around the world to join him in prayer. These intentions cover all sorts of areas of life, encouraging faith, renewing hope, and calling us to loving service. The Pope’s intentions for 2025 are available on our ‘Church News’ page.
What is ALPHA?
A chance to Explore life, faith, meaning.
Alpha is a safe place to explore life’s big questions.
Share a meal with others, watch a short video and engage in open discussion
in a friendly and non-judgemental environment.
Whatever your faith background, whatever your walk of life,
there is always a seat for you at Alpha.
Just come and see!
MONDAY NIGHTS STARTING FEBRUARY 17 @ 6.30 PM
at St. Bernard’s Parish, 74 Fryers Road, Belmont.
It’s Free! Register Via QR Code
Or call Chrissie on 0419 501 725 or 5243 2739 (Tues & Friday)
St Bernard’s Container Deposit Scheme
St Bernard’s has been registered as a charity with the Container Deposit Scheme.
Containers that come under the scheme are : Most aluminium, glass, plastic and liquid paperboard (carton) drink containers between 150mL and 3 litres are eligible.
You can keep the lids on, we recycle them too.
BUT NOT WINE BOTTLES.
To help identify the appropriate containers, look for the 10c mark on the drink container label. It is often located near the barcode.
To return containers:-
• Parishioners can either download the App and search the Charities in the App for St Bernard’s and make that as the preferred method of payment (the funds will be deposited directly to St Bernard’s parish Account)
St Bernard’s comes under Victoria’s Deposit scheme West and the App is CDS Vic West.
Parishioners can then take the containers themselves to one of the deposit sites and process them -
OR
• they can store the containers at their home and let the Parish Office know when they have a full bag e.g. in a large rubbish bag or tub etc.
They can either phone or email the office to advise or to arrange for a collection at the end of each month.
Merry Christmas from St Bernard’s Parish
Advent Week 4 Reflection
Read more Advent week 4
Mannya Dec 2024
This is the latest Multi-Purpose Hall update with a message from Fr Emma.
Dear Friends
Hope you are well.
This is to appreciate your contributions to the parish hall construction.
The doors and windows are now fixed.
May God bless you
Fr. Emma
Advent Week 3 Reflection
Read more Advent 3
Advent Week 2 Reflection
Read more select Advent week 2
Advent Week 1 Reflection
To read more click Week 1 Advent
RCIA
Rite of Christian Initiation of Catholics - RCIA
We have 7 candidates / catechumens in our parish making their journey to become Catholics. As part of their formal journey they will undertake their Rite of Acceptance and Welcome at Mass at St. Bernard’s on 1 December. Please keep them in your prayers and make them feel welcome when you see them about.
ADVENT PREPARATION
1. Watch video Advent in 2 Minutes (NEW!)
2. Prayer said together
Dear God, please allow us to embrace Advent in the right way – as a way to prepare for your arrival.
May everything I do, everything I send, every party I attend, every meal I share remind me to prepare space in my heart for you. Amen.
3. Advent marks the beginning of the Church’s new year and is a season of waiting and preparation. In fact, the season of Advent focuses on Christ’s threefold coming—past, present and future.
We await and prepare to celebrate the birth of Christ at Christmas.
We hope and give thanks for Christ’s presence in us and in the Word and sacraments.
We look to the future, waiting for Christ to come again.
In the coming four weeks, we prepare with mounting expectation for the coming of Christ in a spirit of waiting, conversion and hope.
4. Make an Advent wreath How to make your own Advent Wreath - including Blessing Ceremony.docx
5. Caritas, the Catholic Church’s international aid and development agency, invites us to journey through the 4 weeks of Advent, reflecting on the Scripture readings and sharing in the stories of our brothers and sisters around the world. Each week of Advent, themes of hope, peace, joy and love will be explored.
Each week we are invited to
- Pause and pray
- Light an Advent candle
- Read Scripture
- Reflect as in See, Judge, Act and Pray. Advent 2024 - Parish
Remembrance Mass
As a way of honouring our loved ones, St Bernard’s Parish respectfully invites you to a Mass of Remembrance, to celebrate the life of those who have died and we remember.
The Mass will be held in St Bernard’s Church
(74 Fryers Road Belmont) on
Thursday 28th November at 7.30pm.
During the Mass you will be invited to participate in a candle lighting ritual in honour of your loved one.
WELCOME!
This weekend, parishioners enjoyed wine and cheese, as well as morning tea after Sunday masses to welcome Fr. Tho to St. Bernard’s Parish. They had the chance to talk with Fr. Tho and connect with one another. Let us warmly include Fr. Tho in our parish family as we move forward together with the Holy Spirit's guidance. We pray that the Holy Spirit continues to strengthen you in serving our parish.
Invitation to Welcome Fr Tho
Dear Parishioners,
An invitation is extended to all parishioners to welcome Fr Tho to St Bernard’s parish next weekend 16th/17th November following each Mass.
A wine and cheese gathering will be held following Saturday 6:00pm Mass while a morning tea will be held after both the 9:00am and 10:30am Mass on Sunday. You are welcome to bring a small plate to share if you are able.
Kind Regards
Parish Leadership Team
Two new Bishops appointed!
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference
Pope Francis has this evening appointed two new auxiliary bishops for the Catholic Archdiocese of Melbourne.
They are the Reverend Father Thinh Nguyen and Reverend Father Rene Ramirez RCJ.
READ the media release:
https://mediablog.catholic.org.au/pope-francis-appoints.../
Bishop-elect Ramirez, who hails from Gapan, Philippines, has been a priest since June 1998. His first assignment as priest was as the vocation director for the Congregation of the Rogationists of the Heart of Jesus in the Philippines.
Bishop-elect Thinh was born in Saigon, Vietnam, and came to Australia as a teenager. He entered Corpus Christi College Regional Seminary Carlton in 1999 and was ordained for the priesthood by Archbishop Denis Hart on 16 September 2006 in St Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne.
Let us all rejoice in prayer for the new bishops-elect. Congratulations!
Welcome Fr Tho Tran
Welcome to the Parish of St Bernard of Clairvaux
It is with much joy that this week, we welcome our new Parish Priest, Fr Tho Tran.
We encourage parishioners to reach out and introduce themselves to get to know Fr Tho over the upcoming weeks. Let us extend our wonderful sense of hospitality and warmly welcome and support him, as he embarks on this new chapter of his priestly ministry with us.
Welcome, Fr Tho ~ we look forward to the journey ahead and the relationships that will form.
From Fr Tho:
My name is Tho Tran, currently I am serving in the communities of Brunswick and Moreland Catholic Mission: St Joseph- West Brunswick, St Fidelis-Moreland, St Ambrose-Brunswick, and Our Lady Help of Christian-East Brunswick. Before this current appointment, I served as an assistant priest a few years in the difference Parishes for Archdiocese of Melbourne, such as Holy Trinity Parish, Laverton, Altona and Point Cook and St Mary of the Assumption Parish, Keilor Downs.
I come from Vietnam and was born in a catholic traditional family, and I desired to become a priest during I was studying in Hanoi University. After a several years of discernment, I decided to join Saint Joseph’s Seminary in Hanoi, Vietnam. A few years later, I was asked by Archbishop Joseph Ngo Quang Kiet for undertaking further priestly formation in Melbourne. I arrived in Melbourne since 2008 and have made this beautiful city as my second home.
This is a great opportunity to be with you. I am looking forward to being a part of St Bernard’s community life, to pray together and to walk with you through a journey of faith.
May God bless you all.
Fr Tho Tran
Pope Francis has released a new encyclical titled, DILEXIT NOS‘, The Sacred Heart of Jesus’.
Read about it on our Sharing Faith page!
Farewell Fr Sang
Everyone is welcome to attend a morning tea next
Sunday 3rd Nov. following the 9.00am Mass,
in the church Café area, to farewell Fr Sang.
We wish Fr Sang every blessing in his new Parish.
NOVEMBER - MONTH OF REMEMBRANCE
All Saints Day: Mass Friday 1st November at 12 noon
All Souls Day: Mass Saturday 2nd November at 9:30am followed by a pilgrimage to the Highton cemetery.
Memorial Prayer space: Please bring a photo of your loved ones to add to the space and be remembered in prayer during the month of November.
Remembrance Mass: will be held on Thursday 28th November at 7.30pm.
Communion to the Sick Ministry
This Parish Renewal has been an opportunity to reflect on our own faith journey and how we can continue to be Christ like in the world today. Ministering to our community is one way in which we can bring Jesus’ word to others.
Our Communion Round reaches out to those who are unable to come to Mass and share in the Eucharist as a church community, thus we would like to invite you to join the team of volunteer Eucharistic ministers. This is a rewarding ministry that engages people and allows them to continue to be a part of the St Bernard’s community and invites relationships to form.
If you feel that this is a ministry that you could assist with, we invite you to sign up and be a part of this team. Formation will take place so that you will feel comfortable in knowing the process of the liturgy.
The ministry involves going to people’s homes and/or aged care facilities. All ministers will go out in pairs, so you would not be alone. Once you are there, a short prayer service is celebrated together before the distribution of communion.
Currently, the team gathers on a Friday to complete this ministry, however, if you would like to give an indication of your availability, we are aiming to work on a system that would provide this ministry on an alternate day.
Please consider signing up to this extraordinary ministry below.
or email stbernardleadership@gmail.com
Contact will be made with you and further details will be provided soon.
With kindness,
Liturgy Team
RCIA MINISTRY
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults at St. Bernard’s Parish
There is an interest in people wanting to become Catholics! This year we have eight inquirers undertaking their RCIA journey commencing in September until Easter.
Inquirers come to us for a variety of reasons. Primarily they want to find God and the Catholic church in their lives. A main reason is that they see St. Bernard’s offering a welcoming community.
If we can offer that vision - and then deliver on it - we will always be a better parish.
So, what do we need to continue this successful program at St. Bernard’s Parish?
• Leaders. We would welcome additional leaders and presenters to the RCIA sessions.
We have ready-made resources and sessions so we can help out any new leaders.
• Guest presenters. In the past we have had guest presenters, and this has worked very well.
• Godparents /sponsors. We are on the lookout for godparents / sponsors to walk with the catechumens / candidates.
• Prayers - please pray for us and the inquirers.
Consider offering your gift of service to this program.
Please leave your name and details below and we will be in contact:
In gratitude,
Outreach & Engagement in Faith Pillar
A HEALING MASS inclusive of the Sacrament of Anointing,
will be celebrated on Sunday October 20 at 10.30am to coincide with the Feast of St Luke (Oct 18th), Patron Saint of Physicians.
This sacrament is available to anyone attending and who would like to be anointed.
If you have a family member or know of someone who may not usually be able to attend mass, but would like to be anointed, why not organise to bring them along with you.
Parish Bulletin
The Archdiocese is is installing a new computer system which requires us to change the way we do things. We will stop using ‘Mailchimp’ from now on. If you would like to continue to receive our St Bernard’s Parish Bulletin by email you will need to subscribe using the button above. This is a FREE subscription. Click the Button above and follow the simple prompts. The information you provide will not be provided to any third party.
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Welcome!
Are you new to the Parish?
Are you a Parishioner and would like to know more about our Parish?
Would you like to get to know others in our Parish?
Our Parish Leadership Team (PLT) are here to help!
On the FIRST WEEKEND of the month a member of the PLT will be available after mass in the foyer, to answer any questions you may have or just to be available for a chat. Maybe you have some new ideas. Let us know!