On Monday evening driving back from a visit with friends in Framingham, I listened to WGBH's Eric in the Night. I have mentioned before that on Martin Luther King Day this jazz program is always a tribute to Dr. King's memory and legacy. Eric played a recording of King's "March on Washington" speech. It is more familiar to us as the "I Have a Dream" speech. Forty-four years after its original delivery the speech remains a powerful challenge to us as Americans.

King's majestic voice and passionate conviction increase tremendously the impact of his words. He spoke as a Christian pastor and addressed himself to all of us who are Christians. He changed the Catholic Church in our nation in important ways. He, like Pope John XXIII who died just a short while before the March on Washington, broke through the walls that kept Christians of one church or another apart. Church leaders were moved to come out of their churches and join hands in working to create a society that Christ would be proud of.

The holiday in honor of Dr. King always occurs shortly before the annual Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins on January 18. This annual observance doesn't get the attention it merits. The divisions among churches who claim to be communities of disciples committed to the gospel of Jesus seriously weaken the impact of our witness to the faith in a world that is increasingly unconcerned about that gospel. We are fortunate as Americans to live in a society that has been since its inception religiously pluralistic. If this presents problems in communicating convincingly a particular denominational spin on dogma and discipline, it more than compensates for it by allowing us the chance to live and work together and practice the essential commandment of Christ that we love one another following his example. It is a great time to thank God for the gift of great pastors like Dr. King and the gift of so many wonderful sisters and brothers whose lives keep alive the hallmark of the followers of Jesus: "See how these Christians love one another."

• Sparkling memory for your tree
  Sparkling St Bernard signature ornaments are now available after all Masses and in the Parish Center during normal business hours. Each 24K gold plated ornament comes in an attractive gift box with a brief history card. They are $17 each (including tax) and all proceeds will benefit the building fund. There are a limited number available so don't miss out on this opportunity for buy a gift for yourself or especially for anyone who received the sacrament of Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation or Matrimony here at St Bernard.
• Coming February 4 - "Souper Bowl Sunday"
  To benefit the North Kingstown Food Pantry. NFC vs. AFC Support your favorite team. The most food donated is the "winner". Our Patriots could be the AFC team! Go Pats!
• Golf Tournament
  St. Bernard's would like to run a Golf Tournament this spring. The proceeds will benefit the building fund. Some of the ground work for a tournament has been laid, but we need an enterprising person or persons to chair the event. If you would like to get involved please call the Parish Center, 295-0387.
• LITERACY VOLUNTEERS OF SOUTH COUNTY will be holding weekly meetings at St. Bernard's Parish Center on Wednesday, from 9:30 -11:00 a.m. Please come and join others who want to improve their conversational skills. If you would like more information on attending these sessions or would like to volunteer to assist, contact Iona Gardiner, Literacy Volunteers of South County, at lvsouthcounty@yahoo.com or 225-1068.
• Msgr. Clarke School Open House will be held on Monday, January 29th from 9-11 a.m. We cannot accommodate children in the classrooms, therefore, the Open House is for adults only.
• Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend
  "...the greatest of these is love..." (Second Reading) Help your love grow in your marriage. Upcoming dates are January 26-28, February 9-11, and March 2-4. For more information call 1-800-710-WWME or (401) 397-8752 or visit our webpage at www.ri-me.org.
• The Providence Visitor
  On February 3rd and 4th, there will be copies of the Visitor in the back of the church after Mass. Please pick up a copy, take a look at it, bring it home and share it with your family and friends. The Visitor has much to offer.
• Bishop's Retreat
  Bishop Tobin will direct a weekend retreat on February 23-24 for men 18-35, who are discerning a call to the priesthood. The retreat will be offered at the Seminary of Our Lady of Providence. If you know anyone interested, please contact Fr. Michael Najim, Asst. Vocation Director, at 831-8011 or www.catholicpriests.com.
• Forming Disciples...Building One Church
  The annual collection for the Church in Latin America will be taken up next weekend. All proceeds support and develop the work of Catholic faith communities in Latin American and the Caribbean. In 2005 153 dioceses, 99 parishes, 81 religious congregations, 32 seminaries, and a number of other Catholic institutions were assisted. Please be generous.
• Knights of Columbus Basketball Free Throw Contest for boys and girls, ages 10-14, will be held Sunday, January 21 beginning at 1:00PM at the N. K. High School. Entry forms are available on the day of event. If there are any questions please call, Tom Mulligan (294-4516 / 623-7083)
• St. Joseph Health Services of RI has provided us with free copies of their inaugural magazine, Our Health. Copies are available in the entryway of the church.
• Drive for the cure
  The American Cancer Society Road to Recovery is seeking volunteer drivers who are available between 9 am and 5 pm to assist with providing transportation to cancer patients. Hours and days are up to you. To learn more call 401-243-2632.
• 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.

This week only class will be from 5:00--6:00 for 8th and 9th grades due to the Patriot's game. Go Pats!!!!

Sacramental Preparation classes meet this weekend.

Confirmation Candidates (8th and 9th Grade): Please remember that Service Projects (a total of 20 hours) are a required part of the program. Need ideas? Need Service Project Forms? Please contact the Parish Center.

Mark your Calendars! Remember that the February dates are:
Tuesday, February 6, 6-8:30 PM, Session 4
Wednesday, February 7, 6-8:30 PM, Session 5
Sunday, February 11, 12-2:30 PM, Session 1
Sunday, February 11, 5-7:30 PM, Session 2
Tuesday, February 13, 6-8:30 PM, Session 3

Next full service dates will be Sundays - January 28th, February 11th and 25th. Look for the red "OPEN" sign. Self service is available during parish center hours. For help at other times call Deborah at 885-6405. Help yourself to the second hand statues and other religious items in the vestibule of the Church.

The Youth Ministry is fired up for February....... The Senior Posse is again going to the Food Bank (2/24; date changed from 2/3). We are offering a Parents' Night Out (babysitting service) on Saturday, February 10th - 6-10 pm. And during February school vacation, we are planning a Family Ice Skating Night with dinner at the Fleet Center (date TBA). So, mark your calendars and we hope to see you soon - living out your New Year's Resolution!!!

Any parent of a Workcamper, please attend a fundraising planning meeting this Monday, January 22nd from 7-8 pm. We will be discussing the Tag Sale and other options for raising money for this year's trip. Please let Dawn you are attending by email (birondawn@yahoo.com) or by calling her at 461-3048.

Is this you? Or somebody you know? For any number of reasons baptized Catholics do not always complete their initiation into the Church. This is done through the Sacrament of Confirmation and receiving Holy Communion. This is a simple process of preparation that results in the satisfaction of participating fully in the sacramental life that Christ has given us for our joy and support. For more information call Father Reardon.

The Gabriel Project: If you are interested in helping mothers in a crisis pregnancy by listening, lending a helping hand, praying or by helping with some specific needs please attend the next workshop at St. Gregory the Great, 360 Cowesett Road, Warwick on February 10th from 9:00 am to12:30 pm. For more information or to register call 421-7833 x 118 or email ri.outreach@dioceseofprovidence.org.

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 U.S. bishops pastoral on stewardship reinforces today's readings from 1Corinthians: "Because its individual members do collectively make up the Body of Christ, that body's health and well-being are the responsibility of the members-the personal responsibility of each one of us. We all are stewards of the Church."

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.

January 13 / 14	Actual $4,798.88	Budget $8,020.96
Through 12/31/06	Actual $190,468.89	Budget $190,234.00

ACH $365.00

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.