So who said God doesn't have a sense of humor! We are rejoicing that Bishop Tobin is among us to put the shovel in the ground and mark the ceremonial start of the construction of our new church. On this very same day we hear proclaimed loud and clear first by Saint Paul in his letter to the Colossians: "Think of what is above, not of what is on earth....Put to death...the greed that is idolatry." Then the gospel has Jesus remind us in no uncertain terms "to guard against all greed, for .... One's life does not consist of possessions." The parable that Jesus relates in the gospel about a man who contemplates tearing down his barns to build bigger ones is no consolation at all! They are not the biblical texts we might have selected on our own to mark this historic moment in our parish life. When Bishop Tobin's secretary called a few weeks back and proposed this Sunday for the ground breaking I had no idea of what the Sunday readings for today were. Is it coincidence or grace?

That is the question. I come down on the latter side. It is good that we can sit and hear the challenging word of God that asks us to look into our hearts and see if what we say is most important to us is actually reflected in our decision making and the actions and activities that flow from it. I am proud to say that we have no reason to hang our heads in shame or any need to try to fade into the background. The project we are undertaking responds to genuine safety concerns about our present location as well as to being good stewards of the financial resources entrusted to our care.

The physical needs and inadequacies of the present facilities make the decision to build a new campus the right one. I also take great pride in looking over all that we have continued to do to assist others while we have been raising funds to build the new church.

Our commitment to the needs of the wider church and world has been unaffected. Our generous response to collections of money and food and clothing for a variety of less fortunate communities is impressive. The young people from our parish and their adult companions have gone summer after summer to other states to participate in week-long work camps to physically improve the quality of life of others. They have just returned this weekend from this year's work camp. Next year we will host more than 360 youth and their adult companions for a week-long work camp here in Rhode Island. A group sponsored by our parish went to New Orleans in the wake of Katrina to work. A group leaves for Haiti in October to visit the school we support. Our parish heart is where it should be. I'm still looking into my personal heart!!!

• 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
• SMILE!!!
  The Parish Center needs your family photo! We are updating our data base on the new parish software. Please email your family photo to parishcenter@sbcwickford.org. Be sure to include your name!
• Haitian Project
  The parish mission trip to Haiti scheduled for October 7-12 still has room for anyone interested in this remarkable and rewarding venture! Contact Pat Newell, 295-5160 for further information.
• Save-the-date
  The theme of this year's Stewardship Fair is "Breaking New Ground." It will be held Sunday, September 23, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. More details to follow.
• 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. Contact Deacon Ron 884-1687.
• "What would the twelve have done, lost in the immensity of the world, if they had not gathered around them men and women, the old and young, saying: 'We carry with us the treasure of heaven. Help to scatter it abroad'" Is God calling you to evangelize? Would you like to welcome our new parishioners? come to a Legion of Mary meeting Saturday at 10 a.m. or call Liz O'Keefe @ 295-0438.
• 25th, 40th, 50th, & over, Wedding Celebration Anniversary
  The Office of Marriage Preparation & Enrichment of the Diocese of Providence is sponsoring a Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Celebration for the year 2007 on Sunday, October 14th, 1:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of Sts. Peter & Paul. Diocesan couples that are observing those wedding anniversaries in 2007 will be honored at this celebration. Couples celebrating are encouraged to register for this event by contacting their parish before September 12. The Celebration will include Mass, renewal of Marriage Vows, and opportunity for the couple to have their picture taken with Bishop Tobin. Following Mass, a reception with light refreshments will be held for the couples and their families. For more information, please visit www.dioceseofprovidence.org or call 278-4576.
• Knights of Columbus
  Chicken barbecue Dinner on Saturday, August 11, 2007 from 5:30 to 7:30 at the Council Hall, 1265 Tower Hill Rd., NK. Barbecue chicken, Macaroni Salad, Corn on the Cob, Baked Beans, Tossed Salad, Bread/Butter, Coffee and Tea will be served. Cost is: $9.00 per person, $5:00 for children 12 and under (children 6 and under are free). Reservations by August 10, 2007; call the Hall at 295-0507.
• The Buzz
  Deadline for the fall issue of the Buzz is Wednesday, August 22. Please send news and photos to Carol Sarro at oceanus58@cox.net or Jane Allen at janeallen6@verizon.net or leave in pick up box at the Parish Center.

Do you have a child entering 1st Grade this fall?
Or are you and your children new to the Parish?
Please contact the Parish Center at 295-0387 to register for the Religious Education program and make sure that you receive all the mailings.

Generations of Faith - Have you sent in your registration yet? Look for your placement confirmation in the mail. This yellow postcard has your session dates and times on it. Please retain it for your records.

Are you called to be a catechist and share your faith? We need you! Think and pray about it. For more information about being a catechist, contact the Parish Center.

Attention 10th Grade Confirmation candidates! Informational letters regarding important dates and selecting a sponsor were sent out this week. If you did not get one, please contact the Parish Center!

All Confirmation candidates - Need service hours? We need volunteers to help with children's games at the Parish Picnic! Call the Parish Center at 295-0387 for more information.

".... Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." ~ Matthew 5:14-16

The Youth Ministry Camp Team is back from mission camp and boy are we Renovated by Jesus. This camp was a full week of renewal, love, servant hood, sacrifice, and peace. The team was able to discover and build our faith during this experience and is now ready to share it with us. We participated in 5 days of intense devotions and physical labor to repair and restore, not only the homes we worked on, but ourselves as well. Our group of 22 youths joined around 300 people in Lyons, New York and painted inside/outside, built decks & stairs, repaired roofs to 55 homes. That was 30 hours of community service per person. As well as, being involved in lunchtime prayer, evening programming, and evening devotions, which tied the service to God's word. It was amazing and it touched each one of us to commit to bring home that feeling of satisfaction of doing God's work by helping someone in need. A BIG THANKS to those involved in getting us there, our entire parish family, our sponsors and especially the parent chaperones - Roger Biron, Annemarie Gillette and Rob D'Alfonso.

While we are doing inventory and year end reporting this month, there are no scheduled full-service hours; however, you may call Deborah at 885-6405 for flexible openings, questions, or special orders.

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.

The Church says life is beautiful, it is not something to doubt, but it is a gift even when it is lived in difficult circumstances. It is always a gift.

Pope Benedict XVI, Conversation with the press, May 9, 2007

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.

Seeing Jesus transfigured made Peter want to do something to mark the event. But the Voice from the cloud said clearly that the first task of those who recognize Jesus as Lord is to listen to Jesus a- and then act!

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.

July 28 / 29	Actual $6,391.60	Budget
ACH	$500.00
Through 06/30/07	Actual $390,614.00	Budget $366,245.00

From "Madame Secretary":
Reminder - If your address or phone number have changed please call the Parish Center so we can update our records!

E-BUZZ. See the Buzz in full color! Call us with you e-mail address to receive the next issue via e-mail.

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.