A few months back (my how time flies!) I commented on the choir's extremely beautiful rendition of Bernadette Farrell's piece "Restless is the Heart." I said that I would go back to this difficult but very moving composition at a later date. Tuesday's feast of Saint Augustine of Hippo reminded me that I had in fact never done that.

Ms Farrell's refrain "Restless is the heart until it comes to rest in you" Is based on the famous passage from St. Augustine's Confessions in which he states "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heartis restless until it rests in you." The Confessions is not an autobiography in the sense we use that term today. Rather it is a book in which he looks back at the events of his life in which he now recognizes that God was at work in him although he was unaware of that at the time. He straddled the 4th and 5th centuries and spent more than 30 years searching for God and simultaneously resisting God's grace in his life. He went on to be a bishop and great theologian whose ideas have shaped Catholic belief for centuries.

In my early seminary years we read the Confessions in the original Latin and translated them. At the time I didn't appreciate either his linguistic style or his profound content. Thirty years later I was on sabbatical studies in Carlow, Ireland, when I introduced to Ms Farrell's musical composition which draws on that work. It is a difficult piece to appreciate while in the process of learning to sing it. As a group we rebelled against learning it and became quite uncooperative with the Musical Director who was determined we would master it.

Sister Gerard was a formidable person who finally got her way. When everything finally came together, we had to admit she was right in persevering against our best efforts to sabotage the piece. In a sense the uncomfortable process of mastering the piece required our submission to one who had been there and knew it was worth the time and effort to learn it and was therefore a perfect reflection of that long personal search that Augustine had to endure to become the outstanding person of faith and servant to the gospel that he is remembered as today. Every time I hear "Restless Is the Heart" I recall not just the song or Augustine's experience but those moments in my own life as well that confirm that the best things, the most important and valuable things do not always come to us quickly nor easily.

• St. Bernard Ornaments
  These remarkable keepsakes will be available at the Stewardship Fair on Sept. 23! These 24K gold plated ornaments depict the front of our current church. They were designed by local artist, Marjorie Vogel and are $17 each including tax. For an additional $4 each, you may have the back engraved by Atlantic Trophy. Ornaments are also always available at the Parish Center and at "Books and More" during regular hours. For an additional $1 per ornament you may have it mailed.
  Don't miss this opportunity to have a little touch of history on your tree or bookshelf.
• The Parish Center will be closed Monday, September 3rd in observance of Labor Day.
• 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!
• The Buzz
  The Fall issue of the Buzz is nearly completed. If you would like to be "the first on your block" to receive it, please call the parish center, 295-0387 and give us your email address. You will receive the E-Buzz, in color, before all your snail-mail friends.
• "BREAKING NEW GROUND" is the theme of this year's Stewardship Fair which will be held Sunday, Sept. 23, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. More details to follow.
• "Calling all voices"
  It's time to start a new year with our adult choir. We are looking forward to an exciting year of getting our voices ready for the opening of our new church. We are always looking for new singers-no experience needed.The first rehearsal is Wednesday Sept 5th and from then on are Thursday nights at 7pm in the church. Please see Alison Shea for more info.
• The Annual Memory Walk for the Alzheimers' Association will be held in Newport on Sunday, September 30th. St. Bernard's Walkers and members of this year's Confirmation class will be participating. If you would like to join us, please call the parish center at 295-0387 for sponsor forms. If you cannot join us please consideration sponsoring a walker.
• Knights of Columbus Yard Sale will be held on Saturday, September 8th 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, at the Council Hall, The hall will be open to receive donated items between the hours of 6:00PM and 9:00 PM on Thursday, September 6, and Friday, September 7. Pick up service of large items is available by calling 295-0507. Please leave a message.
• The Knights of Columbus will have a Breakfast on Sunday, September 9th, from 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM at the Council Hall Scrambled eggs, Sausage, Pancakes, Beans, Home Fries, Juice, Coffee and Tea will be served. $6.00/person, $4.00 children12 and under (children 6 and under are free) Proceeds will benefit the Haitian Project.
• Haitian Project
  The parish mission trip to Haiti scheduled for Oct. 7-12 still has room for anyone interested in this remarkable and rewarding venture! Call Pat Newell, 295-5160 for more information.

Do you have a First Grader? Registering for Generations of Faith automatically registers your child for Religious Education classes. Sacramental Preparation Classes for Grades 1,2,3,8 and 9 start Sunday, October 28. Not sure if you are registered? Contact the Parish Center at 295-0387.

Attention all 9th Graders!!!!! You should have received a letter with information regarding class and a permission slip for the retreat being held on Saturday, September 22 at Mother of Hope Camp in Chepachet. The retreat is a REQUIREMENT!!! Please get your permission slip to the Parish Center by September 10th. Questions? Call the Parish Center.

Need Service Hours? We are looking for volunteers to help out at the Stewardship Fair (Set up on 9/22, Fair date is 9/23) Help is also needed at Generations of Faith Events and at Masses in September collecting for the Alzheimer's Walk. Call us at the Parish Center to sign up!

Calling all Catechists! We need you! Call the Parish Center at 295-0387 for more information!

The Youth Ministry will be meeting soon to plan a new year's worth of great events. If you enjoy helping others, being creative, socializing, and having FUN join the Youth Ministry. Any youth in grades 6 thru 12 or adult is welcome to participate on a volunteer basis. THE PLANNING MEETING is MONDAY, 9/10 FROM 7-8:30 pm -JOIN US!!!

St. Bernard's Church is hosting WORKCAMP 2008 at Davisville Middle School from June 29 - July 5, 2008. Please stay tuned for details of an awesome opportunity for YOU to get involved with WORKCAMP. If you have read about the team's experience and thought that this is something you would love to do, this is your chance. There is something for everyone to do; fundraising, collecting ladders, searching for job sites, baking cookies, and volunteering our time to show our appreciation to 400 youth and adults from across the country, who will be improving our local town (50-60 needy homes). There is something for everyone to do. Check us out at the Stewardship Fair, as well as the church website.

OPEN TODAY (Sunday the 2nd) with full service in the Parish Center from 9-12 in Room 1. However, the parish center location of Books & More will not be open September 23rd (the day of the Stewardship Fair). A representative of the store will be at the Stewardship Fair with a few book selections on the theme of Stewardship and ministry. Please continue to visit the store whenever the parish center is open and use the self-service instructions. For all other customer service, call Deborah at 885-6405.

JUST IN: Pope Benedict XVI's book Jesus of Nazareth is now available at a discount price of $20.00.

Help needed: Our parish store needs additional help with staffing on Sunday mornings. Please call Deborah for information. 885-6405

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.

RI Right to Life Annual Walk For Life Walk-A-Thon

DATE: Saturday, September 22, 2007
TIME: 9:00 am Registration
10:00 am Walk-A-Thon Begins (Rain or Shine!)
LOCATION: RI Right to Life Headquarters
266 Smith Street, Providence, RI 02908

For More Information: 401-521-1860

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.

In the Gospel today, Jesus warns us not to give in hopes of repayment, but to give open-handedly to the poor and needy. That sort of giving mirrors the bountiful giving of God, and Jesus assures us it is blessed indeed!

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 25 / 26	Actual $5,662.00	Budget
ACH	$508.00
Through 06/30/07	Actual $390,614.00	Budget $366,245.00

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.