What happens post ground breaking? I'll tell you what I'm doing a little later in this piece. First I want to say how pleased I am with how Sunday went. The liturgy was simple and simply beautifully prayerful. The choir sang well and the readers proclaimed the scripture as it should be: in a manner that caused us to listen most attentively. The servers did us proud too. Bishop Tobin's homily on the church as God's house and as the house of God's people challenged us appropriately to be a people of prayer and action but action that flows from our faith and our desire to do Christ's work in this place and at this time. The reception that followed "under the big tent" was a joyful event.

So what am I up to now? I'm off to rest for a few days and read the finale in the Harry Potter series as well as acquaint myself with our new poet laureate, Charles Simic. His body of work is ample. I am only familiar with a few of poems. In one he addresses "little birdies" whom he cautions "not a peep out of you now/after the bedlam this morning" and asks "Are you begging pardon of me/ hidden up there among the leaves/ or are your brains monetarily overtaxed?" In another he contemplates an ant "powerless /Against a raised boot,/And only has an instant /To have a bright idea or two." I'm not sure these poems are typical of his work.

Again thanks to all who brought us to Sunday's ground breaking. The Steering Committee, the office staff and all of you.

• 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
• The Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
  Wednesday is the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary and a holy day of obligation.
  Masses are at 8:00, Noon and 7 p.m.
• 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.
• Our Lady of Mercy School has some openings for placement in various grades for September. Call 884-118 for more information.
• 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.
• 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.
• Shrine of the Little Flower 14th Annual Feast Day will be celebrated on Sunday, August 19th at the St. Theresa's Shrine, routes 102 and 7, Nasonville. This special celebration begins at 9:00 am with a concelebrated Solemn Feast Mass at 2:00 pm at the outdoor shrine altar. For information please call 568-0575 or 568-8280.
• Domestic Violence Resource Center of South County (DVRCSC) is LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD VOLUNTEERS
  DVRCSC seeks volunteers to provide information, referrals, emotional support and crisis intervention by answering the agency's 24-Hour Helpline and meeting "drop in" clients at their Wakefield office. After training, volunteers commit to 2 to 4 four-hour shifts a month. All volunteers must attend 3 training sessions and a 3-hour observation. For more information, please call 782.3995 x14.
• "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.

Attention Real Estate Brokers

As part of the financing plan for our new church, the current Parish facilities will need to be sold. We will be sending out RFPs to find a real estate broker to market and sell the church property. If you are a licensed broker and would like a copy of the RFP please call the office. Qualified brokers must submit their responses no later than August 27.

Generations of Faith - Sunday Sessions A and B are now full. Please make sure to indicate a 2nd choice on your registration form. A yellow placement confirmation card will be sent out to you with your session's dates and times.

8th and 9th Graders - Letters went out this week regarding classes for Confirmation Preparation. Remember, you must also register for Generations of Faith!

We need you! Come and share your faith as a catechist. For more information, contact the Parish Center at 295-0387.

The Youth Ministry Camp Team is back from mission camp and boy did we get renovated with choice, forgiveness, peace, love, and living. 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 350 people in Lyons, New York and repaired 50 homes with new windows, doors, paint, decks, skirting, and steps. That was 30 hours of community service per person in 90/95 degree weather. 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 (YOU ARE MY GOD SIGHTINGS FOR THE TRIP). Look forward to how you can help transform 50 homes in North Kingstown in 2008. Check out the Workcamp 2008 booth at the Stewardship Fair and the church website for details in the near future.

NEXT FULL SERVICE HOURS at the Parish Center location will be Sunday August 26th from 9 AM to Noon. Self-service purchases can be made when the parish center is open. For openings at other times, inquiries or special orders call Deborah at 885-6504.

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.

Gabriel Project Workshop:Helping mothers in a crisis pregnancy

Are you interested in helping mothers in a crisis pregnancy by listening, lending a helping hand, praying or by helping in some other way? Then a workshop, being held on Saturday, August 25th at St. Paul Church, Cranston, may be of interest to you. For more information call 421-7833 x 118.

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.

Am I waiting for the "right" time to become a good steward? Do I plan to share my time and talents "later"? Today's Gospel warns those who are procrastinating about stewardship to be prepared--"at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come."

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.

August 4 / 5	Actual $6,535.00	Budget
ACH	$3,389.00
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.