Today's Feast of Pentecost concludes our Easter Season for this year. If Jesus is God's Word-made-one-of-us, then the Spirit is God-in-action-among-us and God-moving-us-to action. In John's Gospel the Spirit is handed over to the disciples very quietly on Easter Evening. Jesus breathed on them and said "Receive the Holy Spirit." It was as low key as that. He also on that occasion specified their mission, their program of action: forgiveness and reconciliation.

Luke records a later experience, a much more dramatic experience. The Holy Spirit dwelling within them came out and settled upon them as a fire that drove them out into the streets. They had prayed enough. It was time to act.

Faith isn't a head trip it is a life's journey. If our celebration of Pentecost this year means anything, it is an invitation to be more pro-active in applying our faith to the daily circumstances and situations of our life. We might want to act quietly, breathing new life into old relationships or take a more dramatic step to change our life or challenge something in life that we have been watching but never addressed before. Here is something that might jump start us and head us in a new direction, an excerpt from a prayer by Rabbi Jack Reimer (found in Living God's Justice: Reflections and Prayers):

"We cannot merely pray to You, O God to end war: For we know you made the world in a way that we must find our own path of peace within ourselves and with our neighbor. We cannot merely pray to You, O God, to root out prejudice: For you have already given us eyes with which to see the good in all people if we would only use them rightly."

Thanks to all who have contributed to the Catholic Charity Fund Appeal this year. If you haven't done so yet, join the community and support the diocesan church in its active service to the needy among us. Thanks!

• The Parish Center will be closed Monday, May 28th in observance of Memorial Day.
• Annual North Kingstown Memorial Day Parade
  The annual North Kingstown Memorial Day Parade will take place on Monday, May 28th at 10:00 am. The parade route will follow West Main Street to Brown and Phillips Streets and continue onto Tower Hill Road to the Great Army of the Republic Memorial at Elmgrove Cemetery.
• THANK YOU to Confirmation candidate KEVIN MCMULLEN for building a new bookcase for our Parish Library! Great job! It was long needed and will soon be filled with books that have been donated in the last few months. If you aren't familiar with our Parish library collection, "check it out" in room 1 of the Parish Center, just left of the first door, coming in.
• 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.
• MULCH RAFFLE
  Mulch Raffle Winner last weekend was Colleen Pickering. This weekend is the last chance to be a ticket. Final drawing will be after the 10:30 Mass today. 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.
• 5th Annual Stewardship Fair -- SAVE THE DATE...Sunday, September 23!!!
  Watch the bulletin for more details.
• 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: $77,246.46
Number of Cash Gifts: 181
Number of Pledge Gifts: 85

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 are available on the website. Go to the "Activity" section and click on "Events." You can also check out pictures from Generations of Faith.

If ANYONE still has items for the GIANT TAG SALE, the Team will be at the Hall on Wednesday, May 30th from 3-7 pm and Wednesday & Thursday, June 6th/7th from 5-7 pm and Friday, 6/8 from 4-7 pm. COME AND SHOP - at the TAG SALE - SATURDAY, JUNE 9th from 8 am-12 pm. Rain or shine. Proceeds benefit the Summer Mission Camp Team.

The Camp Team will also be outside WalMart on Saturday, June 1st from 8:30 am to 4 pm - asking for donations for our 2007 Workcamp trip. Please visit us and support the cause.

The Youth Ministry will be celebrating this year's accomplishments and congratulating our graduating Class of 2007 seniors at an Appreciation Celebration on Friday, June 1st with a dinner at the Knights of Columbus Hall. Please RSVP by May 29th. Thanks to all those who supported and prayed for us, we believe we are a ministry serving our church and our community - and it feels great.

Bible Study continues this week!! "Scripture and the Rosary" focuses on the biblical stories that provide the background for the mysteries of the rosary. Tuesdays from 9:30-11:00 and Thursday evenings from 7:00-8:30 PM. Call Deborah at 885-6405 or emailing dlmccoy@cox.net.

Full service hours TODAY (Sunday) from 9-12. Call Deborah for access to store at other times. 885-6405.

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.

Our study of the "Scriptures of the Rosary" continues. The Tuesday morning group will be concluding this week with a discussion of the "Glorious Mysteries." The Thursday evening group will be discussing the "Sorrowful Mysteries" this week and concluding with the "Glorious Mysteries" on June 6th.

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.

Not only have we received the gift of the Holy Spirit, but also Paul reminds us that we have been given the gift of the Spirit for the common good. Now we, as good stewards, use our gifts for the common good?

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 $6,633.00	Budget
Through 04/30/07	Actual $321,047	Budget $307,661

ACH $497.50

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.