The cat and I watched the Memorial Day parade on its journey south on Tower Hill Road toward Elmgrove Cemetery. This year's event seemed larger (marchers and viewers) and more spirited than previous years. There was a certain contagious quality to the interactions of both groups. At one point while the music was playing and the onlookers clapping and waving their little flags a jogger ran northwards. She had her ear plugs in place to connect her to her music of choice. She had that runner's expression of determination fixed on her face. She seemed oblivious to all that was going on around her. She seemed completely encapsulated in her own little self-created world, population one.

The community gathering with all its tangible excitement of shared pride in being Americans and North Kingstownians (probably not a word!) seemed not to exist for that jogger. Of course, this is just my perception; I have no idea of her actual frame of mind. She just seemed to me to be an icon of many people who really do live in their own little worlds where the center of their particular universe is himself/herself. "It's All About Me" may not be an actual song but it would serve very well as the anthem of this twenty-first century "rugged individuals".

All this is by way of contrast to what we celebrate today, our Trinitarian (read communitarian) godhead. God is interactive community in service to all creation. We are a part of that community and the beneficiaries of all that caring. It is also in contrast to the gospel we have adopted as our manual on how to live a life worth living. The central teaching there is "Love one another" followed by "whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all. For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." We are meant to be connected, to be attentive to one another, to be active members of the community we call "church". This is not an anti-iPod piece. I love my MP3 player. It's just a friendly reminder part of our distorted human nature tends to withdraw from the outside world and make it all about "ME". This is deadly for the individual and also robs the world of many of the gifts they have to share because they miss the opportunities to put themselves at the service of others.

• HAPPY 90TH BIRTHDAY--EVELYN COSTANTINO!
  Congratulations to Evelyn who celebrated her 90th birthday on Saturday, June 2nd with a party for family and friends at the Alpine Country Club.
• Mulch Raffle Winner
  Roger Marshal was the final winner of the mulch raffle drawing last weekend. Thanks to all who bought tickets to make this a great success.
• 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!
• 1st Annual Steve Hernandez Memorial Golf Tournament will be held at Quidnessett Country Club on Monday, July 23rd. Proceeds will benefit Monsignor Clarke School. To receive an application for golf and tee sponsorship, please call the parish center at 295-0387 For more information please call Tami Gwaltney 294-9784 or 521-4000 ex. 111.
• ITALIAN NIGHT at The Knights of Columbus, on Saturday, June 9th from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM at the K of C Hall. Meatballs, Pasta, Tossed Salad, Italian Bread/Butter will be served. $7.00 per adult; $4.00 per child 12 and under; children 6 and under are free. Reservations required by June 7th. Please call 295-0507.
• Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend, June 22-24 in Milford, MA
  Scripture says about married people "Two shall live as one". How often do you find yourselves living as two? A Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend can help you get back to basics in this complicated day and age. For more information call Ray & Beth Ginepro at 1-800-710-WWME or visit our webpage at www.wwmeMA.org.
• The Annual Catholic Communication Campaign Collection will be held next weekend. The Campaign is a significant voice of the church in the media. Please be generous.

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: $77,986.46
Number of Cash Gifts: 190
Number of Pledge Gifts: 90

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.

The Youth Ministry would like to thank all of you who donated your treasures for our GIANT TAG SALE. If ANYONE still has items, the Team will be at the Hall this week on Wednesday, Thursday (6/6 & 7) from 5-7 pm and Friday from 4-7 pm. OR COME AND SHOP - next weekend at the TAG SALE - SATURDAY, JUNE 9th from 8 am-12 pm. Rain or shine. Proceeds from this event will benefit the Summer Mission Camp Team.

The Youth Ministry will also be celebrating our accomplishments of this year with an Appreciation Celebration PICNIC which has been rescheduled to Tuesday, July 10th with a POTLUCK picnic. Please RSVP by July 6th. We would like to thank all those who have supported and prayed for us, we truly believe that we are a ministry serving our church and our community - and it feels great. Congratulations to the Class of 2007 graduating seniors!!

The evening Bible Study group finishes up the "Scriptures of the Rosary" this week with a discussion of the "Glorious Mysteries." For information or recommendations for next year's Scripture Study program contact Deborah at 885-6405 or dlmccoy@cox.net.

BIG CLEARANCE SALE this month on books, religious statues, sacramental gifts, rosaries, boxed Christmas cards, ornaments and jewelry. Visit us in Room 1 on Sunday June 3rd and Sunday June 24th from 9 AM to 12 NOON. Prices will be dropped to "wholesale cost" in most cases at the time of purchase. For access to the store at other times, call Deborah at 885-6405.

During June our vestibule self-service area will feature books on "Holy Men" in honor of Father's Day. In order to get the clearance sale price, bring those items over to the Parish Center during the above times, or use the "bill me" option of payment and you will receive an invoice in the mail with the sale price applied.

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.

The Lord's kindness is great--we have been blessed enormously. Let us constantly praise the Lord for those blessings.

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 26 / 27	Actual $6,470.00	Budget
Through 04/30/07	Actual $354,650.00	Budget $335,838.00

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.