Palm Sunday falls on April 1 this year which is, of course, April Fools' Day. The historical origins of this day for playing good-natured pranks are unclear. Many think it has to do with the change of seasons and that fickle quality of Mother Nature that plays tricks on us. One day we have spring and the next we are back into winter. Mark Twain is reported to have said: "The first of April is the day we remember what we are the other 364 days of the year."

Maybe, maybe not. Palm Sunday might be for us, as Christians, the day that clarifies what we are the other 364 days of the year. Are we followers of Christ at all times and in all circumstances? If we are not, then are we not fools? The enthusiastic crowds that welcome Jesus into Jerusalem are absent on the day of his sentencing to crucifixion later in the same week. Or worse, they are a part of the angry mob that demands Christ be crucified. We say good-naturedly that Palm Sunday is one of the only two days in the year when a lot of people come to church (Ash Wednesday being the other). Everyone loves a good parade and the palms are all about that. Nobody wants to be crucified and perhaps the reading of the Passion on Palm Sunday is sufficient reminder that taking Christ too seriously has consequences best avoided.

Avoided at what cost is the question I suppose. None of us can pass judgment on others. The frequency, or lack of, with which a person comes to church, is not the ultimate criterion upon which to measure the quality of a person's relationship with the Lord. The start of Holy Week is, though, for all of us a good time to ask ourselves if we are, in Saint Paul's words, "fools for Christ" or just plain fools, idiots, those-who-don't-get-it, etc. Coming to church during this week on the three days that make it "holy" could do a lot to help us answer the Big Question.

I recommend as a great supplemental exercise for these solemn and sacred days a great French film "The Dinner Game (Le Diner de Cons, which is literally "The Idiots Dinner"). It is a short but very funny film that gets to the point about who really is the idiot or fool. I first saw it as part of the Jamestown Library Winter Film series. I later got it and watched it again at home. At any rate don't miss the opportunity of the year: Holy Week! You'd be a fool to miss out on it.

• The Parish Center will be closed Holy Thursday, April 5th and Good Friday, April 6th
• MULCH RAFFLE
  Win 10 cubic yards of Native Pine Mix Bark Mulch - a $350 value -- DELIVERED (within a 15 mile radius)! Tickets are $5.00 each or 5 for $20.00 and can be purchased next week after all Masses. Four chances to win. Drawings will be held weekly beginning the first week of May. All proceeds benefit St. Bernard's Building fund.
• GOOD FRIDAY HOPE WALK
  Members of this year's Confirmation class will available after all the Masses today to solicit sponsors for the annual Good Friday walk. If you would like to participate in the walk call the Parish Center at 295-0387.
• St Bernard Scholarship Fund applications are now available at the Parish center and on the parish web site for graduating high school seniors of the parish. Eight $1,000 scholarship grants will be awarded in June 2007. To be considered, completed applications must be return by April 16, 2007.
• RECONCILIATION
  On Tuesday, March 27, 2007, 45 students in the First Reconciliation Class celebrated this sacrament for the first time. Please remember them in your prayers. Members of the First Eucharist Class celebrated the sacrament of Reconciliation on Wednesday, March 28, 2007 in preparation for receiving the Blessed Sacrament on May 12. Please keep them in your prayers as they get ready for their special day.
• A special gift for a special day!
  Children in the First Eucharist Class should have received a blue order form with the opportunity to purchase an engraved St. Bernard Church ornament. Orders and payment must be received by April 22 to be ready by May 6.
• INCREASED WEEKLY GIVING PROGRAM
  St. Bernard's Increased Weekly Giving Program is very important to our financial stability. It is also important to show our gratitude to God for our many gifts by responding to the needs of our parish. If you have not returned your response envelope, please do so at the first opportunity.
• Books & More
  Next full service date is April 1st. Self Service available or call Deborah (885-6405). We have reading material for Lent and Easter, Easter cards, religious jewelry and gift items. Books are available in the vestibule of the Church. Special offer: Buy a book and, when you're finished with it, donate it to the parish lending library and you'll pay COST, not retail. This offer does not apply to Bibles or Children's books.
• Parish Lending Library
  Lent and Easter selections are displayed in Room 1. Browse the shelves labeled "spiritual living," "prayer," or "contemplation" for Lenten reading. Donations of religious books should be brought to the parish center only, and clearly labeled "Donations for Library." Any other books left in the vestibule or parish center will be considered lost items and placed in the "lost and found" box.

Tuesday, April 3rd
Penance Service - 7:00 pm at St. Francis de Sales

Wednesday, April 4th:
Ecumenical Lunch: 12 noon to 1:00 pm
Seventh Day Adventist Church
8050 Post Road, North Kingstown

Holy Thursday
*Mass of the Lord's Supper - 7:30 pm

Good Friday
Good Friday Hope Walk - 8:00 am
Ecumenical Way of the Cross, Wickford Baptist Church - 1:00 pm
Stations of the Cross - 3:00 pm
Celebration of the Lord's Passion - 7:30 pm

Offering for the Churches in the Holy Land --- the budget envelope for the Special Collection for the Holy Land may be brought to the Good Friday service. There will be a special container at the entrance of the church into which you may place your offering.

Holy Saturday
*Easter Vigil - Mass of the Resurrection - 7:30 pm

Easter Sunday Masses:
7:00 am, *8:30 am, & 10:30 am

*Incense will be used

The branches that are blessed and brought home on Passion (Palm) Sunday are placed near the crucifix in the home. They remind us that Lent is the slow coming of spring to the earth, the renewal of life. At a convenient time, the household gathers where the palms have been placed. A member of the household says this short prayer:

Blessed are you, God of Israel, so rich in love and mercy. Let these palm branches always remind us of Christ's triumph. May we rejoice in his cross and sing your praise each day of our lives and for ever and ever. Amen.

If you did not return your Rice Bowl today or place your envelope for this important project in the collection today. You may do so when you come to the 7:30 PM Mass on Thursday.

Sacramental Prep classes: Final Class for all 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders today

First Reconciliation for Second Graders is scheduled for Tuesday, March 27 at 6:30 PM.

Reconciliation Service for Third Graders preparing for First Eucharist is scheduled for Wednesday, March 28 at 6:30 PM.

Please keep these young people in your prayers.

First Eucharist: A letter went home today with important information for all children preparing to celebrate First Eucharist this May.

Attention 9th Grade Confirmation Candidates! The Annual Good Friday walk is on April 6. The bus will be leaving the Parish Center at 8 AM and return around 1 PM. More information is going home this week.

Service hour forms are now available online. Check out the "Confirmation Corner" at www.sbcwickford.org.

Remember to decorate your butterfly and bring it to the Church on Palm Sunday! If you need a butterfly, please pick one up at the entrance to the church. If you have not returned your butterfly, please drop it off this week at the parish center.

Join us next month as we wrap up our first year of Generations and learn what it means to be an Easter People. The dates are: Tuesday, April 24; Wednesday, April 25; Sunday, April 29th and Tuesday, May 1st.

Can't remember which session you signed up for? Or maybe you need to switch. Interested in signing up for a session? Contact the Parish Center for available space.

Home Kits for those who missed their session are available in the Church or at the Parish Center.

Next full service dates are April 1st and Sunday April 22nd. Self Service available during parish center hours. For additional customer service or special orders call Deborah at 885-6405. We have reading material for Lent and Easter, Easter cards, religious jewelry and gift items. Books are available in the vestibule of the Church.

A limited selection of First Communion gifts are available. It's time to pick something from our catalogues in order to have it for First Communion celebrations.

We celebrated our annual Easter Breakfast this weekend and we had a hopping good time. A special thanks to the Knights of Columbus for the use of the their Hall and the delicious HOT Breakfast. Thank you all the youth who decorated and helped, to the adults who volunteered their time to help and donated the needed supplies and to the Easter Bunny for spending the morning with us. We created fun crafts, got Easter tattoos and had our picture taken with the bunny. God Bless!!

There are still 4 open spaces for our 2007 Workcamp trip. The spaces are first come, first serve with a deposit. We will be attending Lyons, New York during the week of July 29th thru August 4th. If any youth, entering the 9th grade in the fall, is interested - please contact Dawn at 461-3048 or by email at birondawn@yahoo.com) for more information.

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.

Paul and Barnabas encountered both violent rejection and joyful acceptance of the message that they preached. We, too, may meet with mixed reactions when we use our gifts in the service of God. But, the Gospel assures us, the reward for those who follow faithfully is eternal life.

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.

March 24 / 25	Actual $6,862.00	Budget
Through 02/28/07	Actual $238,312	Budget $245,285

ACH $432.50

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.