This week leads us into the Holiday Season. Thursday we will take a moment or more to count our blessings and to think about those less fortunate than ourselves. After that, for many of us at least, it will be time to put on our running shoes and hit the road to get all that Christmas shopping done.

Some of us love the hustle-bustle of it all. Others of us long to find the secret formula that allows us to have peace and quiet to just enjoy the holidays. Nothing's perfect. In the end we are left to do our best to both meet others' expectations and also to find time and space for ourselves and our preferred way of celebrating the holidays. This is as it should be: life is a give and take.

I recently came across a reference to Bill Callahan's essay on prayer entitled "Noisy Contemplation." Bill argues that most of us are not called to be contemplatives or to have large blocks of time that afford us solitude and silence. He posits a need to pray in the midst of the noisiness of our lives. He urges us to build habits of contemplative prayer that can flourish in the ordinary surroundings of our day, including situations of tension and conflict.

Some one else refers to this as "crabgrass contemplation." Crabgrass springs up wherever a pavement crack offers the tiniest space. Likewise, crabgrass contemplation is sustainable because it can take place anywhere there is the tiniest space along our daily path. Whatever we call it we can try to make the very busyness of our lives material for our prayer. Pray the moment: take your pulse and present what you find to God. Take stock of the surroundings and pray them as you see them. Take into account the people present and pray for them whether they be gift, grace, nuisance or a real pain in the neck.

• The Parish Center will be closed Thursday, November 23rd and Friday, November 24th for the Thanksgiving Holiday.

  On Thanksgiving Day, we will celebrate the Eucharist at 8:30 a.m.

  Please bring a non-perishable for the North Kingstown Food Pantry.

• THE GARDNER FAMILY MINISTRY, a large-scale distribution of clothing and toys delivered to homeless shelters, churches and other agencies in need is gearing up again to provide a happier Christmas to many families. Mark, Mary Lou & Nicholas Gardner purchase the items during the year and on Thanksgiving weekend sort, box and distribute them. This is a major operation that could benefit from many hands. If you can spare a few hours on any day that weekend please call the parish center at 295-0387.
• 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.
• Working Together for Wellness Forum: Internet Safety, Preventing Substance Abuse and Other Risky Behaviors
  Adults and students in the 5th grade and up are invited to this special community conversation on keeping families and children healthy and safe. Joining us will be Dr Lawrence Filippelli, nationally known expert on internet safety. November 20th, 6:30 - 8:30 PM at the N. K. High School Auditorium. For more information, contact Kathy Yeager 268-6269 or Carolyn James 635-2560.
• Calendars
  On behalf of Bishop Hendricken High School, thank you for the support that you have shown by supporting our annual calendar fundraising drive. Additional calendars will be available during the week at the parish center. Thank you again for your support and God bless. Gratefully, Sean D'Alfonso.
• Quilt Raffle
  Congratulations to Diane DelMastro, winner of the 2006 scholarship quilt. Thank you all who continue supporting the Scholarship Fund and a special thank you to ladies who made the quilt possible; Kathy Biron, Dee Dee Chatham, Mary Farvey, Peg Fitzpatrick, Pat Livernois and Wanda Yelle.
• 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. 294-3631
• 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 - 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.

Congratulations to our Confirmation Class of 2006!!!

Special thanks to Bishop Tobin, Fr. Dennis and all who helped to make the celebration of this sacrament so special.

Generations of Faith Continues in November

Advent is coming! Are you ready? Would you like to find out more about Advent? Join us at Generations of Faith this month as we enter into this special season. You don't have to be a child to be part of this experience. All ages are welcome! Contact the Parish Center for available space. Home Kits for those who missed the November session will be available in the foyer of the Parish Center after the Masses next weekend.

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.

If your family, or any family you know, needs help with gifts for children this Christmas, please leave your name and phone number with Jane at the parish center.

Advent materials are available now, including: Advent calendars, candles, wreaths, books, etc. There is limited selection of boxed Christmas cards but will order other designs. Full service: Sunday November 25th and December 3rd. We will also be open for 30 minutes following the "Generation of Faith" sessions this week.

Mark your calendars for the following events and plan on checking out!!!! It will be an experience that you will want to repeat. Details for all the events can be found on the church website.

Our WORKCAMP TEAM REUNION is Saturday, November 25th from 6-8 pm at the Knights of Columbus Hall. All are invited.

PARENTS NIGHT OUT, Saturday, December 2nd from 6-10 pm, is a babysitting service for parents to enjoy a night out (dinner, Christmas shopping, movie, etc.) while we care for your children.

"Catholic to the Core" workshop with Jesse Manibusan, Senior Pose, Thursday, Dec. 7th. Commotion 2006 for the Junior Group is on Saturday, December 9th from 7-8:30 pm. Please call Dawn to confirm your attendance.

The Church opposes abortion, but embraces with mercy those who have made this mistake. Let's all take encouragement from these words of Pope John Paul II: "I would now like to say a special word to women who have had an abortion. The Church is aware of the many factors which may have influenced your decision, and she does not doubt that in many cases it was a painful and even shattering decision. The wound in your heart may not yet have healed. Certainly what happened was and remains terribly wrong. But do not give in to discouragement and do not lose hope. Try rather to understand what happened and face it honestly. If you have not already done so, give yourselves over with humility and trust to repentance. The Father of mercies is ready to give you his forgiveness and his peace in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. To the same Father and to his mercy you can with sure hope entrust your child."

The Gospel of Life, #99

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.

The readings today speak of the end of the world and the coming of the Kingdom. The bishops' pastoral on stewardship says clearly that "that 'life to come' is in continuity with this present life through the human goods, the worthy human purposes, which people foster now." May our good stewardship cause us to be numbered among the chosen on the last day!

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.

November 11 / 12 Budget: Loose: Direct Debit: Total:	Actual $8,525.00 $1,356.00    $360.00 $10,241.00	Budget $7,043.00
Through 10/31/06	Actual $113,330.00	Budget $114,600.00

Annual Collection $3,3031

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.