St. Bernadette's Parish

Lent seeks a change of heart that we may truly celebrate Easter. In preparation for this great feast many celebrate this “change of heart” in the Sacrament of Penance. Confession to a priest is an essential part of the Sacrament of Penance but what are we to do this year, when because of coronavirus, Church services are suspended and everyone is to stay at home? Pope Francis spoke about this situation recently and said that we should do what the Catechism of the Catholic Church says. The Catechism reminds us that the confessor is not the master of God’s forgiveness, but its servant. Only God forgives sin and God, who is the Father of tenderness, always waits for the return of the Prodigal and always welcomes with a loving embrace – God’s forgiveness is immediate! In our present uniquely difficult situation, when it is not possible to come to the Church for Confession, speak to God from your heart; acknowledge truthfully what you have done or failed to do, and with all your heart ask forgiveness with a sincere Act of Sorrow confident that God always forgives the contrite. Later, when coronavirus has released its grip, we can return to the Church and avail of Confession, and celebrate the forgiveness that has been so freely given.

You may find this document helpful. – Download Here

Bishop Noel Treanor has released a letter and video message to the Parishioners of Down and Connor – full details can be found here: http://www.downandconnor.org/blog/2020/03/25/25-march-2020-video-message-bishop-noel-treanor-pastoral-measures-response-covid-19/

Following the latest government announcement on Coronavirus (COVID-19), St. Bernadette’s Church will be closed. Mass and Services will continue to be streamed via the webcam – http://www.stbernadettesparish.org/live
Please keep checking the Parish website for the latest updates and developments.

When we cannot attend Mass, we can still make an Act of Spiritual Communion, in which we express our faith in Christ and in His Presence in the Eucharist, and ask Him to unite Himself with us. The basic elements of an Act of Spiritual Communion are an Act of Faith; an Act of Love; a desire to receive Christ; and an invitation to Him to come into your heart.
Please download the Parish’s Spiritual Communion here.

From Wednesday 18 March, the public celebration of Mass is suspended in all Churches in the Diocese. This includes all religious houses where the public may attend and special gatherings of the faithful.

All the faithful are dispensed from the obligation to attend Mass on Sunday and Holy Days of obligation.

Parishes will do all they can to raise awareness of available opportunities to participate in Mass via radio, TV, and web streaming. Information will be shared on the Diocesan website (www.downandconnor.org) and through parish social media.

Full details can be found on the Diocesan website

In order to comply with the Data Protection Act, all requests for Sacramental Certificates need to be made in writing and a certificate can only be issued to those named on the Parish records – for instance, the person who was baptised, or, in the case of someone under the age of 16, their parent or guardian.

To request a certificate confirming entry in one of the church registers, please visit the Sacramental Certificates page for more details.

After the renovations in the Church, and the installation of the new tabernacle, Fr Armstrong donated the old one along with vestments, statues and a processional cross. The tabernacle has been delivered to Fr Ignatius in Malawi and is in the process of being installed. The other items have been delivered to Parishes north of Malawi.

Apostolic Work has been working in Ireland since 1923, and in our Parish since it’s foundation, as committed lay people and religious to pray for and support the work of Irish Missionaries (and others) wherever they serve.

The Parish branch would like to thank the parishioners for their ongoing support and generosity.

The Parish webcamera is now online, all Masses from the church will be streamed via the website and can be accessed around the world. 

It is hoped that broadcasts will enable Parishioners who are sick and housebound, and who have access to the internet, to be a part of the daily celebration of the Eucharist. If you have a relative or friend who would like to use live-streaming and may not be familiar with the internet, please help them to access the service via whichever device they can easily learn to use.

We are very grateful to the Order of the Knights of Saint Columbanus for their generous donation towards the cost of this project.

Next Sunday (29th May), Bishop Noel Treanor will preside at the official opening of the church at 12p.m. This is a major event in the history of the Parish as we approach the 50th. Anniversary of the building of the church in 1967. The Parish choirs will join together for this great celebration. All Parishioners and friends are most welcome to attend.

Warmest congratulations and best wishes to the children from the P4 classes of St. Bernard’s P.S. and Cregagh P.S. who made their First Holy Communion on Saturday. A word of thanks to those who helped prepare the church for this great Parish celebration: the members of the Cleaning Teams who gave up some of their time last Sunday to clean the church, the members of the P.T.A., parents, and friends who provided the food and refreshments for the children and their families in the Parish Centre.

The ceremony was streamed live on the Parish Website and is available to view again below.