Saint Bernard Church April 25, 2021 Fourth Sunday of Easter Rev. David F. Gaffney, Pastor Baptism: Please call Angelo at the Parish [email protected] Center for information about Rev. John E. Unsworth, Pastor, Emeritus scheduling and preparation. Rev. Charles Maher, Weekend Assistant Communion Please notify us of those sick and Pastoral Assistant: Angelo Giacchi to the Sick: in need of Communion at home. Business Manager: David Cote Elementary Faith Formation: Dawn Masterson Marriage: Please call 10 months in advance. Youth Faith Formation: Christina Pichette Holy Orders: Tel: 401-831-8011 Music Director: Alison Shea www.catholicpriest.com Mass Schedules Project Rachel: Post abortion counseling Tel: 401-421-7833, ext. 118 Weekends Saturday Vigil ~ 5:00 PM Sacrament of Reconciliation: Saturdays 4:00 PM Sundays Eucharistic Adoration 7:00 AM 8:30 AM 10:30 AM Following Tuesday’s 8:00 AM Mass until 11:00 AM Weekdays 8:00 AM Monday through Friday Family Faith Formation Program Our programs provides parishioners of all ages oppor- Address: 275 Tower Hill Road North Kingstown, RI 02852 tunities for learning, growing and living our Faith through common experiences, age-specific learning Phone : 401-295-0387 and interactive sharing. Please call the Parish Center E-mail: [email protected] for information regarding any of our programs or Web: www.stbernardnk.org email: Hours: Mon - Tues: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Grades: 1 to 5: [email protected] Wednesday 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM Thursday & Friday: Closed Grades: 6 to 10: [email protected] Ponderings The Titanic sank on April 15, 1912----its maiden voyage across the Atlantic. There were 2,224 people on the ship and 1,503 lost their lives in the icy waters. The story of the Titanic continues to captivate so many people. According to James Cameron, the director of the 1997 film named after the ship, “her story is like a great novel that really happened.” Several years ago, I went to an exhibit of ‘memorabilia from the Titanic’ and discovered that one of the people who lost his life in that tragic event was a catholic priest. Just recently I came across the story of his life. His name was Rev. Thomas Byles, a 42-year-old catholic priest who was born in Leeds, England. He was the oldest son of a Protestant minister who, while studying theology at Oxford, decided to convert to Catholicism. He was ordained in Rome in 1902. Ten years later, his brother William, who had also converted to Catholicism, asked him to officiate at his wedding in New York. Father Byles boarded the Titanic as a second-class passenger in Southampton on April 10th. On the morning of Sunday, April 14th he celebrated Mass for the Catholics in the third-class section. His homily, as we know it, was about the need for a ‘lifeboat in the shape of religious consolation at hand in case of spiritual shipwreck.’ According to witnesses, Fr. Byles was out on deck praying his breviary shortly before midnight when the ship struck an iceberg. As the lifeboats were being boarded, Fr. Byles made his way to steerage where many of the Catholics were housed. He helped to lead those third-class passengers to the boat deck where the lifeboats were. According to Ellen Mary Mockler, an Irish immigrant in third class, One sailor warned the priest of his danger and begged him to board a boat. Father Byles refused. The same seamen spoke to him again and he seemed anxious to help him, but he refused. Fr. Byles could have been saved, but he would not leave. “After I got into the boat, which was the last one to leave, and we were slowly going fur- ther away from the ship, I could hear distinctly the voice of the priest and the responses to his prayers. Then they became fainter and fainter, until I could only hear the strains of ‘Nearer My God to Thee’ and the screams of the people left behind.” Fr. Byles helped many people to get to the lifeboats. He prayed with them. He heard their confessions and absolved them. He refused to leave on one of the lifeboats, but stayed on board, praying with those who did not make it on to the lifeboats. He died giving his life for those under his care. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle reported the following: “There was a wedding this morning that was not all joy, at St. Paul’s Church. William E. Byles was married to Isabelle Russell by Rev. William F. McGinnis. The wedding was to have been performed by the bridegroom’s brother, the Rev. Thomas R.D. Byles, but the latter was one of the victims of the Titanic disaster, and from all accounts one of the heroes of the aw- ful calamity. It is said that he administered the last rites to all that asked his services and helped also to save many people from death……. After the low nuptial mass today, a solemn high requiem mass was cel- ebrated for the lost priest.” When Fr. Byles left for New York aboard the Titanic he had been assigned to St. Helen’s parish in Ongar, England. In 2015, Rev. Graham Smith, pastor of St. Helen’s introduced the cause for the beatification of Rev. Thomas R.D. Byles. On this Good Shepherd Sunday we hear Jesus say, “A good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” Rev. Thomas R.D. Byles was that Good Shepherd who did lay down his life for so many aboard the Titan- ic. I thought it was an inspiring story. I hope you do, too. Fr. Gaffney 2 Mass Progressive Jackpot Raffle. We anticipate reaching the goal of selling 250 Intentions tickets! That’s great news! Thanks for your sup- port of this new fund-raising initiative! But…… what about those parishioners who still want to participate?----those who have recently sent in MONDAY, April 26 their ticket request or those who were planning to 8:00 AM – Al Wong do so? A tentative plan is to have a ‘second raf- by his family fle’----to be drawn on July 4th----the ticket price TUESDAY, April 27 and the prize schema would be the same---the 8:00 AM – Rev. Marinaldo Batista, CSP more tickets sold, the greater the prizes! Keep sending in your ticket requests! Watch for more WEDNESDAY, April 28 details! This will accommodate all who want to 8:00 AM – The Deceased of the Parish participate! And……the parish benefits! THURSDAY, April 29 8:00 AM – Rowland Hazard & Family A Successful Clean-Up. by their family On Saturday morning (April 17th) we had a FRIDAY, April 30 group of scouts with parents and Confirmation 8:00 AM The Deceased of the Parish candidates helping to do a ‘Spring cleaning of the property’. They collected litter (just outside the wall) and lots of twigs and branches on the lawn. WEEKEND MASS SCHEDULE Thanks for your hard work! SATURDAY, May 1 5:00 PM – Joseph & Edna Gillen Catholic Charity Appeal. by their granddaughter SUNDAY, May 2 Our goal for this year is $80,750. To date con- 7:00 AM – The Deceased of the Parish tributions from parishioners have totaled $53,356 which is approximately 66% of goal. Thank you 8:30 AM – Therese Cheurette for your generosity! Beneficiaries of the Appeal by the Biron family include youth, elderly, seminarians, homeless, 10:30 AM – Leonard Patrick Kelly and so many more! Envelopes with donations can by his son Conn be placed in the collection baskets and we will forward them to the Chancery Office. 3 Parish Support April 11, 2021 2020 Basket $8,367.00 $10,385.00 ACH $2,704.00 $2,841.94 April 18, 2021 2020 Basket $5,599.00 $2,885.00 ACH $2,916.00 $2,642.00 YTD $393,607.00 $393,889.65 Online Giving We offer an online option that complements our offering envelope use. By signing up to give your weekly offertory and special collections online, you will help the parish more accurately forecast our finances and plan more strategically. Online Giving is a safe, secure and dependable means of income for the parish. Visit www.stbernardnk.org, click on “Support your Parish” for more infor- mation. Eucharistic Adoration Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament takes place immediately after the morning Mass on Tuesdays (approximately 8:30 a.m.) Benediction and repo- sition at 11:00 a.m. This is an opportunity for quiet, prayerful reflection before the Blessed Sac- rament. High School Seniors We are inviting all High School Seniors to a Parish Support special Mass of Graduation which will be held on Sunday, May 23rd at the 10:30AM Mass. We are truly grateful to the many members of During the Mass the graduating Seniors will the Parish who have been so faithful and gener- be recognized and receive a special blessing. ous in using ACH accounts or mailing in their Those seniors who have served in our Parish budget envelopes to help support the finances since their Confirmation will also be recog- of the Parish. You can send us one check for nized with the Youth Ministry Award. your entire month’s donation or you can open If you have a High School Senior, please an ACH account by going to our website:. In- RSVP by Wednesday, March 12th to Christina structions and the Online Giving link can be at [email protected]. found on our website: Please let her know their plans for next year www.stbernardnk.org/support-your-parish and how many people will be accompanying them to Mass.