For a few weeks a theater in Seekonk had an exclusive run of the film "Away from Her". Now it has moved closer to home, to Newport. I quickly decided to see it while it lasted there. The film is abut Alzheimer's disease and on that level it effectively portrays the pain of the separation that occurs as the person with the disease goes deeper and deeper into a world that leaves the rest of those in her life in a world that she no longer inhabits.

It is gripping, even unsettling, but not depressing. Fiona is only 62 when her husband must confront the reality that something is not right. She takes control of her future by reading up on the disease and makes the decision to move into an institution. Her husband Grant is left feeling on the outside of all that is happening inside of his wife. The difficulties of the caregiver are unfolded with brutal honesty. So too are those moments of breaking through to the present reality and making connections with people and events if only for a few moments. They are, in my own experience, powerful and beautiful.

I'd encourage people to see the movie for these beautifully filmed and acted insights into life with Alzheimer's. But there is an entirely different level examined by the film. It is the complexity of applying rules to life situations that don't seem to fit them. Morality on paper is always easier to make into a case of right and wrong, black and white. Life as it unfolds can be so much more complicated. The film looks at this reality too. It is also very effective on this level as well. I'm not taking sides with anyone in the picture. I don't think it asks us to do so. It does remind us that life can be complicated and invites us to put ourselves in another's shoes. If all this makes the movie seem too heavy for general viewing, all I can say is that while it is not light and fluffy the film is ultimately a very satisfactory experience.

• Parish Center Summer Hours
  During the months of July and August the Parish Office hours are as follows:
  Mon. through Wed. 8:30 am--5:00 pm
  Thursday and Friday: Closed
• E-Buzz!
  Last week we e-mailed our newsletter out to the parishioners whose e-mail addresses were in our database to invite them to sign up to receive the Buzz regularly through e-mail. If you did not receive the e-mail, please call or e-mail the Parish Center with your updated e-mail address. If you have not had a chance to share your e-mail address with us, you may do so and you too can receive the Buzz this way! (Those who get the Buzz through e-mail receive it in color, so don't miss out!)
• 5th Annual Stewardship Fair -- SAVE THE DATE...Sun., Sept. 23!!!
  Watch the bulletin for more details.
• Parish Family Day in Jamestown
  Remember, Sunday, August 19, will be the second annual Parish feast of family and friends. You do not want to miss it. Everyone had a fabulous time last year. All are welcomed and encouraged to come. Volunteers are needed. Please contact Deacon Ron 884-1687.
• 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.
• Congratulations to Eileen Murphy who was named Volunteer of the Year by Hamilton Elementary School!
• The Chur d'Enfants et Jeune Chur d'Ile de France, a 120 member children's choir and youth orchestra, will be in concert on Friday, July 20 at 8:00 pm at the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul in Providence, RI. The ensemble comprised of 37 children, 30 persons and a 50 person orchestra will be under the direction of Mr. Francis Bardot. Under his direction, the children's choir has performed throughout the leading concert halls of Europe and North America with stars in music and opera including Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti. This year's tour will include an all-French program featuring the recently discovered Charles Gounod Requiem. The concert is open to the public with a good will offering taken in lieu of purchasing tickets.

2007 Catholic Charity Fund Appeal

"Remarkable Wonders are Done Through You"

The annual Catholic Charity Fund Appeal ends on Saturday, June 30th. Thanks to all of you who donated to this year's appeal. With all the requests for increased giving and charitable organizations, this year was especially challenging.
Parish Goal: $95,065.00
Actual to Date: $88,171.46
Number of Cash Gifts: 204
Number of Pledge Gifts: 95

This is our LAST WEEK to reach our goal and we are SO close! If you haven't already made a pledge or a contribution, won't you help now? Please send your gift or pledge to the Parish Center by this Friday, June 29th. Your prayers for a successful completion will also help us reach our goal.

Attention Confirmation Candidates! Do you need service hours? Are you creative? We are looking for someone to design Posters for the upcoming Generations of Faith Program. Are you good with computers? Call the Parish Center at 295-0387.

Generations of Faith - We are in the process of scheduling a Focus Group. If you didn't get a chance to sign up, please consider joining us. Call the Parish Center.

Thanks to the hard work of the Ruggieri family the mulch raffle raised almost $1800.00 for the Capital Campaign. Barbara and David, who own Hopedale Trucking, planned and organized the raffle. Their son Michael sold tickets outside of church on Saturdays and Sundays as his Confirmation service project. Thanks again for your idea and hard work to help build our new church!

If you have any ideas which could benefit the Capital Campaign, please call the Parish Center at 295-0387.

CLEARANCE SALE continues until end of month. Books and religious gift items are on sale. Salespeople available TODAY (Sunday) from 9 AM to 12 Noon. Self service only at all other times. Not all items are out or marked down during self-service hours, so please call Deborah at 885-6405 or use the "Bill Me" instructions to get the clearance prices. There will be no salesperson available during July.

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.

Project Rachel is a Catholic outreach to women and men hurting from past abortions. The central focus of Project Rachel is the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession). For more information, call Kristin Caproni, coordinator at 421-7833, ext. 119.

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.

Today's Gospel presents us with the paradox that to save our lives we must lose them. Stewardship poses a similar paradox: to receive we must give.

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.

June 16 / 17	Actual $5,863.70	Budget
Through 05/31/07	Actual $354,650.00	Budget $335,838.00

ACH $494.70
Youth Ministry. $1,553.20

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.