Bernard seeks to provide children and their families with the knowledge, experience and skills necessary to become faithful and fruitful disciples of Jesus Christ. In keeping with their age, they will assume responsibility as vital members of our Parish family. They will be able to participate in the Church's mission to proclaim, celebrate and serve the Kingdom of God here on earth. First Reconcil
iation and 1st Eucharist will be received in 2nd Grade. All students registering in our Sacramental Program must provide a copy of their Baptismal Certificate at registration. Parents will be notified on the dates that these Sacraments will be celebrated at St. Bernard at the beginning of the school year. Any child who has not received a Sacrament by the above-mentioned Grades will be accommodated into the Sacramental Program. There will be separate Mandatory Family Meetings for any student registered in the Parish Sacramental Program. PSR Schedule
Our Program usually begins after the Labor Day weekend in September and continues through to the thrid week in May. Safe Environment Training will be held for PArents and Students the week before Classes begin. These classes are mandated by the Diocese of Venice and are voluntary. Classes for Grades K - 5 are held on Tuedsdays from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. according to the Public School Calendar. The students who attend Anna Maria Elementary School will be met in the School Cafeteria by 2 adults from the Program and walked over to the Parish Hall. Snacks are provided by the Parish and the children will have an opportunity to join our Children's Choir. Choir practice is from 5pm until 5.30pm. Confirmation Classes will be taught as required. All Teachers and Volunteers in the Parish Program have been fingerprinted and have had background checks. Adults who have not been cleared by the Diocese of Venice will not be allowed to be alone with any child from our Program. Cost: $20.00 for 1 Child $30.00 for 2 or more Children
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St. Bernard's Council of Catholic Women
St. Bernard's Council of Catholic Women (CCW) organization is affiliated with the National Council of Catholic Women. The NCCW is a nation-wide organization with over 5,000 affiliations representing millions of Catholic women. Mission Statement
Support, empower, and educate all Catholic women in spirituality, leadership and service. At our Parish we are blessed to have women who care about their faith and issues of their Church, both locally and globally. They are women who make a difference by working to enrich our Parish community through their actions and through prayer. All women of the Parish are eligible for membership. Meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month from September through May. Board meetings are held prior to the general membership meeting. A day of recollection is held annually for spiritual renewal. The CCW works closely with the Holy Name Society to provide an important foundation for St. Bernard's Catholic Churcvh. "O Mother of Good Counsel, patroness of the National Council of Catholic Women, intercede for us, that we may be wise, courageous and loving leaders of the church".
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The Holy Name Society
"Blessed Be His Holy Name, Now and Forever"
The St. Bernard Holy Name Society is a confraternity of Catholic Men canonically chartered to encourage and promote reverence for God's Holy Name in accord with the Second Commandment, to abstain from blasphemy, cursing and profane and indecent language, and to safeguard the proper observance of Sundays and Holy Days. Holy Name men proudly profess their faith through participation in various parish ministries, through public support for the Catholic Church and its apostolic teaching, and through providing assistance to the Pastor in various projects for the benefit of the entire parish. Bernard Holy Name Society meets monthly on the second Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.. Meetings are not held during the summer months. The society receives Holy Communion as a group on the third Sunday of each month; September through May. All men of the parish are encouraged to inquire about membership in the Holy Name Society. The Society welcomes all Catholic Men ages 18 and older to join their ministry. Seasonal residents are always welcome and encouraged to join. The men of The Holy Name Society do cook the now legendary breakfast after Mass, throughout season each year! It's YUMMY ;)
For further information please contact the church office 941-778-4769
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On Wednesday mornings....
After Morning Prayer is completed, around 9:30 am, Parishioners meet for Bible Studies. The Old Testament is presently being discussed. These classes are not only a way to learn from the Sacred Scriptures but also a way to understand how the books of the Old Testament are imbedded in the New Testament and how the books of the New Testament came to be because there were promises in the Old that needed to be fulfilled or brought to completion. The classes are of active participation. They are basically a "Directed Reading" of the Bible Books with discussions on the themes read, interaction with other books of the Bible and questions answered. The classes last about one hour. Please try to make room in your schedule to be informed about our Faith through our Sacred Scripture.
