First Communion celebrations took place last Saturday and a few individual celebrations are to be held as we head into the close of the Easter Season. The children looked great and participated well in the liturgies. Children always inspire hope for the future and remind me of how important it is to do our best for them. Supporting parents in the fulfillment of their vocation is a high priority for our parish community and, I think, for each one of us. I pass on to you something Steve Goodier posted on his website: "An eastern newspaper reported that a train in Bangladesh accidentally struck a calf elephant. The mother elephant apparently became upset over the incident, for a little while later another train came along and spotted the female standing in the middle of the track. Though the engineer blasted his horn, she would not budge. When the train came to a halt, she began butting it with her head! For fifteen minutes she hammered the engine, rendering it inoperable. Once satisfied, she walked off into the jungle, stranding two hundred passengers for five hours while they waited for a replacement engine. Don't mess with her children!"

Devotion to our own children is essential. Here are some ways we can channel our devotion into productive areas.

1. Devote TIME to your child. Quality time means nothing if it rarely occurs. Spend time reading, laughing, playing, exploring, learning, talking, and just sitting quietly together.
2. Devote POSITIVE ATTENTION to your child. Let her know she is important by the way you speak and listen to her.
3. Devote LOVE to your child. He is one of the most important people you'll ever have the privilege of knowing.
4. Devote ENERGY to learning how to be the best parent possible. All of our children are different and require different skills from us.
5. Devote YOURSELF, and you'll never regret the valuable investment.

• MULCH RAFFLE
  CONGRATULATIONS TO ANDY SCHERBEN AND MICHAEL O'KEEFE, winners of the first two drawings of the MULCH RAFFLE. More Winners will be drawn after the 10:30 Mass every weekend in May! You still have a chance to 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/$20.00 and can be purchased after all Masses. All proceeds benefit St. Bernard's Building fund.
• WINNER'S CHOICE AUTO RAFFLE--DRAWING MAY 30th
  This is it--the final month of the raffle. You still have time to purchase a ticket - $20 each or 6 for $100. You only need 1 ticket to win so see John after Mass or call the parish center at 295-0387.
• The Buzz - Deadline for the next issue is Wednesday, May 23
  Please send photos (with ID provided) and/or articles (no longer than 300 words) to Carol Sarro at oceanus58@cox.net or leave in the pick-up box at the parish center.
• 5th Annual Stewardship Fair -- SAVE THE DATE...Sunday, September 23!!!
  Watch the bulletin for more details.
• SCHOLARSHIP BREAKFAST THANK YOU
  Thank you to so many for their support of the St. Bernard Scholarship Fund French Toast Breakfast held on May 6th. Special thanks to Duffy's Restaurant, the Knights of Columbus and Homestead Baking Co. Thank you to the 190 parishioners who came out to enjoy South County's finest French toast.
• Attention: Class of 2007
  Among those graduating from high school and college during this season are members of our parish. We'd love to know who they are, from where they are graduating and what their plans are for next year. If you know of any young men and women who are part of the Class of 2007, please let us know about them so we can acknowledge this milestone in their lives. You can send the information by mail, e-mail, or drop it in the collection basket. We're proud of them and want them to know it. Thanks!
• 6th Annual Ali Dunn Packer Memorial 5K Run/Walk and Kids Fun Run will be held on Sunday, June 3rd at 1 pm. This race is a benefit in memory of Ali, a Jamestown resident, North Kingstown soccer player, and LaSalle Academy student who was tragically killed in an automobile accident. Registration for the run/walk is $20 which includes a complimentary lunch. There are also free t-shirts for the first 300 registrants. The Kids Fun Run is free and will be held at 12 noon. All net proceeds go to the Ali Dunn Packer Memorial Fund which benefits youths who wish to pursue their interests in education, athletics, and the fine arts Registration forms are available at Alisrun.com or in the rear of the church and at the parish center. Any questions, please call 423-9695.
• MARRIED COUPLES
  Can people tell God is alive in your home and marriage? Let Worldwide Marriage Encounter help your home be a more powerful domestic church. Upcoming dates are June 22-24, July 20-22 and September 14-16. For more information call 1-800-710-WWME or (401) 397-8752 or visit our webpage at www.ri-me.org.

2007 Catholic Charity Fund Appeal

"Remarkable Wonders are Done Through You"

I would like to express my gratitude to those of you who have made a gift to the 2007 Catholic Charity Fund Appeal. If you have not already contributed, please make your pledge today.
Parish Goal: $95,065.00
Number of Families 406
Actual to Date: $73,751.46
Number of Cash Gifts: 178
Number of Pledge Gifts: 82

Classes and Generations of Faith may be over for the summer, but the office is busy planning for next year! Would you like to help? Consider sharing your Faith with the youth of our Parish.

Watch for information about registration for next year's classes coming soon!

Photos from First Eucharist will be available on the website soon. Go to the "Activity" section and click on "Events." You can also check out pictures from Generations of Faith.

Next Full Service is Sunday May 27th. Self service is available in Church vestibule and Parish Center. Call Deborah (885-6405) for other times.

The vestibule location (inside and to right of front doors of Church) throughout May features books on "Mary and other Holy Women" in honor of the traditional "month of Mary."

St. Bernard walkers off and walking again!

If you enjoy walking with friends and helping to raise money to benefit a number of good causes join us.

ALL AGES WELCOME!

Sunday, June 3rd - Two Walks -- Pick one
Morning - AIDS Walk RI at Roger Williams Park
Afternoon - Annual Ali Dunn Packer Memorial 5K Jamestown

Sunday September 30th - Alzheimer's Assn. Memory Walk

October (Dates to be announced) -
ALS Walk to D'Feet ALS, Warwick
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, Providence

For more information, please call the parish center at 295-0387.

Two groups are continuing with our study on "Scriptures of the Rosary." This week the topic is on the Sorrowful Mysteries.

New participants are always welcome. Call Deborah at 885-6405 or email dlmccoy@cox.net for more information.

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.

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 second reading today contains the somber warning that Jesus is coming soon and will bring to each person the reward that his or her conduct deserves. Has my stewardship of the blessings entrusted to me been such that I could respond joyfully, "Amen! Come, Lord Jesus!"?

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.

May 12 / 13	Actual $8115.00	Budget
Through 04/30/07	Actual $321,047	Budget $307,661

ACH $3,301.50

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.