November begins with the great days of remembrance: All Saints Day followed by All Souls Day. They are days to remember all those people who have touched our life. Our grandmother, our parents, a beloved teacher, a good friend. Anyone who has made the love of God a reality in our life. Stop reading right now!

Take a moment and give thanks for everyone in heaven whom you love and who loves you... Don't you feel better already? You might want to hum or sing aloud: "I want to be in that number when the saints go marching in," (Thanks to Woodeene Koenig-Bricker for this idea. It really works!) I have the experience of the joy that comes from this remembering every Christmas as I preside at the late evening Eucharist. When the church has been darkened and "Silent Night" is sung, I look out at the congregation and I see the place where my mother sat the last time she came to Mass before she died. It was Christmas Eve. She was in the late stages of Alzheimer's. She didn't know us most of the time. But that evening she sang every verse of every carol and in doing so seemed to know the peace and joy that they celebrate. When I look out now I see her and then beside her my father and then my brother and aunts and uncles, friends..... Before long I have a church filled with people who loved me and were there for me and whom I love very much.

That moment is the gift of Christmas for me. I look forward to it and I look forward to being with them one day. Here is a good succinct statement of what our faith invites us to believe as we remember our dead: The Christian who dies in Christ reaches at the end of this earthly existence the fulfillment of that new life which was begun in Baptism, strengthened in Confirmation, and nourished in the Eucharist, the foretaste of the heavenly banquet... the Christian who dies in Christ Jesus goes 'away from the body to be at home with the Lord' (2 Corinthians 5:8)" - Compendium of the Catechism, n.354

And as my good friend Peter is fond of saying: "This does not depend on our worthiness. It is Jesus' sacred mission, that Father's gracious will, that none be lost."

• Annual Memorial Service
  The annual Memorial Service will be held Monday, November 6, 7 p.m., at St. Bernard's. This nondenominational service is open to parishioners, family and friends, and is a moving tribute to those who have passed away during the past year. Candlelight, music and readings provide a special way of remembering those closest to us. If you have lost a loved one in the past year, please call the Parish Center at 295-0387 to have them included.
• ANNUAL COAT DRIVE Please drop off your GOOD USED COATS at the Parish Center. We distribute to local agencies. For more information call the Parish Center at 295-0387 or e-mail us at parishcenter@sbcwickford.org.
• The Buzz -- Prose and pictures needed for next issue of The Buzz. Please submit all material to Carol Sarro (oceanus58@cox.net or leave in the pick-up box at the parish center) by Friday, November 17.
• Jesse Coppa Eagle Project, Troop 152, Clothing Drive
  October 23 - November 11, I will be collecting clothing for Butler Hospital patients 4-85 years old. ALL CLOTHING MUST BE NEW IN ORIGINAL PACKAGING. The clothing needed: boys briefs, men's briefs, women's briefs, support bras, colored tee shirts, sweatpants, sweatshirts, sweat shorts, tube socks, flip flops. The need for clothing ranges from Children to adult sizes. Please bring these items to a clothing drive box in the rear of church.
• Please Mark your calendars!
  Our annual Flu Clinic is scheduled for Sunday, November 12 from 8 AM to 1 PM at the Parish Center. For more information please call 294-6314. Home Bound Flu Visitation will continue again this year. If you know someone who is homebound or unable to stand due to disabilities, Parish Nursing will come to your home. Please call for an appointment, 294-6314.
• Children's Choir Rehearsals have begun and we're always looking for new voices in grades 1 through 6. Join us on Thursdays at 4:30 in the Church as we prepare for Thanksgiving and Christmas. See Alison Shea after Mass for details.
• Raffle tickets for the Annual Quilt Raffle to benefit St. Bernard's Scholarship Fund are due November 6th. The quilt will be on display at church the weekends of October 28 and November 4. The winner will be drawn Sunday, November 12th at the 8:30 am Mass. If you need tickets contact Kathy Biron at 294-9351.
• Merton Series: "Becoming Who You Already Are"
  The next morning of reflection, based on the spirituality of Thomas Merton will take place on Wednesday, November 8. 2006 from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon at Sabbath Place, One Wright Lane, North Kingstown, R.I. For further information or to register call Sister Joanne at 294-9022.
• The N. K. Veterans Day Parade will take place Saturday, November 11. The parade will stat at 10:00 at Wilson Park, travel along West Main Street, Brown Street and Boston Neck Road and conclude at the N.K. High School.
• Election Day Food Drive
  On Tuesday, Nov. 7th, voters are asked to bring non-perishable food items to their polling place. For information call the N.K. Chamber of Commerce, 295-5566.
• The Haitian Project, which supports and operates a tuition-free, Catholic, co-ed secondary boarding school for poor Haitian children, is seeking a President. Qualified candidates must be Catholic, have administrative & financial leadership and the ability to travel. For more information visit www.haitianproject.org.
• Gregorian Concert Choir and Orchestra will perform a concert on Sunday, December 3rd at 3 pm. At the Cathedral of Sts. Peter and Paul entitled "The Sounds of the Season". This concert will benefit the Interfaith Dire Emergency Fuel Fund. Tickets are $10. For tickets and information call 331-2434.
• Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend
  Upcoming dates - November 10-12, 17-19 and December 1-3. For information call 1-800-710-WWME or (401) 397-8752 or visit www.ri-me.org
• Jesus Scarves for the Homeless
  We need donations of yarn and knitters to make the scarves which will be distributed to homeless shelters. Drop yarn off in the container in the rear of church. For information or to help call Mike Edwards at 294-9069 or contact the parish center at 295-0387.

Registered 8th and 9th graders are invited to a meeting on Wednesday, November 8 at 7 pm in the Parish Center to find out more about service projects and requirements for Confirmation. Letters went out this week.

Confirmation Candidates: The next sponsor/candidate meeting is Sunday, November 5 at 7 PM. Confirmation rehearsal is Monday, November 13 at 7 PM. These are mandatory!

Confirmation is Thursday, November 16 at 7 PM.

Generations of Faith Continues in November

Session 4: Tuesday, Nov. 14th, 6:00-8:30 pm
Session 5: Wednesday, Nov. 15th, 6:00-8:30 pm
Session 1: Sunday, Nov. 19th, 12:00-2:30 pm
Session 2: Sunday, Nov. 19th, 5:00--7:30 pm
Session 3: Tuesday, Nov. 21st, 6:00-8:30 pm

The Church has a long tradition of remembering those who have died, commending them to the love and mercy of God. We do this in a special way throughout November. In many churches around the world, there is a Book of the Names of the Dead, as a continuing reminder of our prayer. A Book of the Names of the Dead is found below the statue of the Blessed Virgin on the left front side of the church. You are invited to inscribe the names you wish to be remembered in our prayer during the month of November. May this book and our prayers remind us of our faith in our life-giving baptism into the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Confirmation gifts are available in Room 1 of the parish center. Books & More will be open the 1st and 4th Sunday from 9-12. For customer service call Deborah at 885-6405.

Vote this Tuesday! "We encourage all citizens, particularly Catholics, to embrace their citizenship not merely as a duty and privilege, but as an opportunity meaningfully to participate in building the culture of life. Every voice matters in the public forum. Every vote counts. Every act of responsible citizenship is an exercise of significant individual power. We must exercise that power in ways that defend human life, especially those of God's children who are unborn, disabled or otherwise vulnerable. We get the public officials we deserve. Their virtue -- or lack thereof -- is a judgment not only on them, but on us. Because of this, we urge our fellow citizens to see beyond party politics, to analyze campaign rhetoric critically, and to choose their political leaders according to principle, not party affiliation or mere self-interest"

US Bishops, Living the Gospel of Life, n. 34

Those who would like to bring the bread and wine to the altar, please call the Parish Center at 295-0387 to arrange.

Click Here for Today's Reading

For prayerful preparation during the week before Sunday Mass, please visit http://liturgy.slu.edu. Reflecting on the spirituality of the scriptures before Mass can have a great impact on hearing the Word proclaimed on Sunday.

Please submit bulletin materials directly to the Parish Office, or via e-mail to parishcenter@sbcwickford.org, attention to Jane Allen. The deadline for the submission is Tuesday by 5:00 pm. Please take into consideration the cutoff time and the space limit. Thank you.

What percentage does God ask of me as a good steward? All of my heart, all of my soul, all of my mind, and all of my strength!

St. Bernard's now offers parishioners the opportunity to make their budget contributions by Direct Debit. Call the Parish Center, 295-0387 for further information.

October 28 / 29	Actual $5,324.00	Budget $7,043.00
Through 9/30/06	Actual $80,662.04	Budget $85,962.00

Direct Debit $360.00

Matching Contributions: Many companies offer matching funds for donations to non-profit organizations. If you donate weekly to St. Bernard's your company might match it! Please take time to find out if your company has this policy.

Thank you for your continuous support and generosity.