Welcome to St Bernadette's Catholic Community!
WELCOME TO OUR PARISH WEBSITE
The Parish Newsletter is updated regularly. Catch up on all the latest by clicking on the Massabielle link.
Parish life
St Bernadette's is a very active parish, with many ministries to serve the whole community. These include a range of youth and young adult programs running as part of our Life Teen youth ministry. Please contact the Parish Office for details, and please refer to the Massabielle for upcoming events.
New to the Parish? Visiting?
We would love to meet you! Please feel free to come and see us, or contact the Parish Office for help.
Faith Formation Course
Parents are the first teachers of their children in the ways of faith. To support parents in this vital role, St Bernadette's parish has developed the Faith Formation Course as a key element of its sacramental preparation program. Families wishing to undertake preparation for their child's sacraments of first Reconciliation, Confirmation and first Eucharist, need to ensure that at least one parent has completed the Faith Formation Course.
The 2008 course commenced the week beginning Monday 18th August 2008, and the final opportunity for registration is immediately prior to the session commencing 3:30pm Saturday 23rd August 2008. Details for the 2009 course will be made available in the Massabielle when date are finalised.
Sacramental Preparation Programs
To help better meet the needs of our Parish families, St Bernadette's Parish has renewed its sacramental preparation process. This includes changes to the usual ages at which families begin undertaking formal preparation for their children to receive the sacraments of first Reconciliation, Confirmation, and first Eucharist. We believe that parents are the first teachers of their children in the ways of faith; to support parents in this vital role, the new process will emphasise family faith development.
After completing the Faith Formation Course, parents will need to consider whether their family is ready to begin preparing their child for the sacraments. The new process has been designed for children in at least Year 3, however this is a minimum age only and it is up to parents to determine the readiness of their child.
For families who feel they are ready, the parish preparation program is an integrated, year-long process in which families meet, during school terms, to prepare for the sacraments which will be celebrated at various times throughout the year. Sessions aim to help families explore and learn about God, our Catholic faith and the place of sacraments in the Christian life, and to foster an early sense of Christian discipleship. Please watch the weekly parish bulletin - the Massabielle - for information regarding enrolling in the program; enrolment information will only be advertised in the Massabielle.
Adults wishing to receive full initiation into the Church will continue to go through the RCIA; please contact the Parish Office for details.
Alpha
St Bernadette's Parish ALPHA team invites you to dinner at 7.15pm on Wednesday 30 July 2008 to find out more about ALPHA. We would love you to come and bring family, friends or neighbors who may want to find out more about Christianity. During the evening ALPHA will be explained and you will be invited to register and continue with the ALPHA course over the following 9 Wednesdays with a weekend away held Friday 19 September to Sunday 21 September.
Looking for another Parish of St Bernadette in Parramatta Diocese?
For St Bernadette's Parish, Dundas Valley, click here.
For St Bernadette's Parish, Lalor Park, please call (02) 96724037.
Please also note that St Angela's Primary School, Castle Hill, is in the parish of Our Lady of the Rosary, Kellyville. The telephone number for the Kellyville Parish is (02) 96292595 or (02) 96299499.