FROM THE ARCHIVES OF FATHER JEWITT’S FOOD FOR THOUGHT
It would be nice if we could all live in a perfect world - free from all the trials and tribulations of human inadequacy and imperfection. How much easier life would have been if we had married the perfect wife or husband, given birth to perfect children, bought a perfect car, enjoyed perfect health, developed a perfect golf swing, worked for a perfect boss. There would be no weeds of discontent to mar the perfect beauty of our little garden of life and we could live out our days in happiness and security.

At the same time, we have a healthy suspicion of perfection. When things are too good to be true they usually are! Life, we know, is just not like that. We become uncomfortable when things are going too well. We have the uneasy feeling that we are living in a dream world.

Part of growing up consists in learning to deal with life as we would rather not have it - to accept with good grace the fact that people, institutions, objects and ideas are often flawed. We must learn to look beyond the limitations of life and see its possibilities, and we have a great admiration for individuals who overcome handicaps and disabilities to succeed in some skill or endeavor. In fact, it is the weeds of life that make the wheat all the more valuable and appreciated.

We live in a Church that has its share of human imperfections. Not all our popes have been saints, not all our bishops are wise, not all our priests endowed with outstanding holiness, our nuns models of patient love or our fellow parishioners paragons of virtue. The question is, what do we see - the weeds or the wheat? Do we spend all our time criticizing, carping and complaining, or can we appreciate and enjoy the fact that in spite of human imperfection the miracle of divine grace continues to shine through the dross of human imperfection?


IN CONCERT
On August 3, at 7:00 p.m. Kurt and Julie Carrick will host a free concert to help the parish kick off the year of Saint Paul with evangelization through song. As part of the concert the Carrick’s will have music and witness of grace, hope and healing


WELCOME CARRIE ARCHUAL – YOUTH MINISTER
Carrie and her husband, Andrew, have come to us from the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Why the 1,400 miles, you ask? Following the Lord’s path, Andrew has begun his intern year at the In His Image Family Medicine residency program. This is a missions – focused Christian program; one of only two in the country. Carrie and Andrew have been married just over one year, still awaiting the blessing of children. Carrie studied Elementary Education and Spanish at Indiana University, where she met Andrew. Since then, she has discerned a call to youth ministry. Some of the passions she brings to St. Bernard’s include social justice outreach, formation in Pope John Paul II’s ‘Theology of the Body,’ Pro-Life prayer and advocacy, and vocation encouragement. Carrie & Andrew have long felt the call to overseas missions and are looking forward to this time of service and preparation. Please come introduce yourself to Carrie!


RELIGIOUS EDUCATION REPORT
Registration forms for the 2008-2009 Religious Education Program will be mailed to all households registered in the parish on August 1. Classes will begin on Sunday, September 7, and Wednesday, September 10. Please take the summer to prayerfully consider how you can support the religious education of our children, youth, and adults. Questions, comments, or suggestions can be emailed to: slecthenberg@stbernardstulsa.org or call the parish office.


RELIGION TEACHERS
NEEDED!!!! Teachers and teacher’s aides are needed for 2008-2009. If you would like to help or would like to know more about it, please call Sharon in the parish office or e-mail her at slechtenberg@stbernardstulsa.org.


FIRST HOLY COMMUNION AND CONFIRMATION
Pictures, certificates, and DVD’s of both celebrations are in the back of church by the stain glass windows. Please pick yours up as soon as possible.


VIRTUS—PROTECTING GOD’S CHILDREN PROGRAM
Are you 16 years old or older? Do you volunteer to help in any programs involving children? Do any of them meet on the church grounds or are sponsored by the Church? You must attend a one time VIRTUS program in order to be eligible to participate in any program involving children. Sessions offered this summer are the following:

Church of the Madalene, Monday, July 28, 6:30 p.m.
Church of the Madalene, Monday, August 25, 6:30 p.m.


COMING SOON
The Annual Catechetical Conference will be held on Friday evening, August 22, and Saturday, August 23, during the day. If anyone is interested in the discussion and/or teaching the Sacrament of Confirmation, do not miss this conference. It will be the only topic for the entire conference. If you want to sign up, the parish will be taking care of this for anyone who wants to go. Call or e-mail Sharon in the parish office.


PRESCHOOL NEWS
Student slots are still available in the three year old class for next year. The two and four year old classes are now full. Please contact the school at 299-9551 to get on the waiting list for those classes.

We will be happy to receive the Campbell’s food labels even during the summer. Please drop them off at the parish office. To be considered for redemption, the UPC bar code must be showing. As always, thanks for helping pre-school.


NURSERY PROJECT
The nursery needs some basic sewing projects undertaken. Fabric scraps for hemming dress-up head scarves. Cloth books need sewing from pre-cut patterns. Doll clothes and doll blankets are needed for 12-14 inch dolls. Call Diana at 493-5950 to volunteer or call the parish office and leave your contact information.


JUSTICE AND PEACE
The annual parish back to school collection will continue through the month of July. As you get your own children outfitted for school, please remember the young people who come to Catholic Charities for assistance. Needed are new or gently used clothing, shoes, supplies such as backpacks, pencils, pens, lined paper, notebooks etc. Donations may be placed in back of the church.

Thanks to those who continue contributing to the construction of Habitat House #10 in memory of Father Jewitt. Funding is in place for House #9 and we have $24,570.84 of the $40,000 needed for #10. We hope to begin construction of both houses in March 2009. Memorial contributions can be made throughout the year. Please make checks payable to St. Bernard’s Habitat House #10 and place them in an envelope marked “Habitat House #10 in memory of _________” to the attention of Deacon Campbell. We will be happy to acknowledge your memorial gift to the bereaved family.

Snack Items are needed each Tuesday for the homeless. Items such as packaged fruit bars, crackers and sandwich bags for snacks are needed. Mark all donations for the Day Center and have them at the parish any Tuesday by 10:00 a.m.

Meals on Wheels: If you are interested in being a driver or packer for Jenks Meals on Wheels, please contact Deacon Campbell in the parish office at 299-9406.

Meals for the homeless. St. Bernard’s youth group will be providing and serving the evening meal for the homeless on Sunday, July 27.

40 Days for Life:
The Family Life Office is conducting a 40 Days for Life campaign September 24 – November 2. The mission is to bring together the body of Christ in a spirit of unity during a focused 40 day campaign of prayer, fasting and peaceful activism, with the purpose of repentance, to seek God’s favor to turn hearts and minds from a culture of death to a culture of life, thus bringing an end to abortion in America. Attend the information and planning meeting, Thursday, July 24 at Saint Pius X Church, Dorney Hall. Mass at 6:30 p.m. and meeting from 7-9:00 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Pray for the success of this campaign! For more details call 307-4939 or e-mail familylife.office@dioceseoftulsa.org.


BAPTISM CLASS
The next Baptism preparation class is scheduled for Thursday, July 24, 7:00 p.m. in the community room. New and expectant parents please call the office and let us know that you will be attending. The nursery will be open that evening.


NEXT SUNDAY’S READINGS - 17th Sunday in Ordinary Time
First Reading: 1 Kings 3:5, 7-12
Second Reading: Romans 8:28-30
Gospel: Matthew 13:44-52


LAST SUNDAY’S OFFERING
Envelopes: 300/$22,466.39
Electronic: 38/$3,868.00
Loose: $755.00
Misc.: $105.00
Total: $27,194.39
Children’s: 16/$29.50
Thank you for your support of the parish.
To sign up for electronic contributions please call the office.


PARISH LIFE AND MINISTRY NOTES
Keenagers: July 24, come, bring your lunch at 11:30 a.m. and stay till 2:00 p.m. The group is considerably smaller in the summer so it is a good way to get acquainted with a few people at a time, if you are the shy type. Lots of our friends are visiting relatives so you won’t see everyone. But we do have a good time on a smaller scale. All retirees are welcome! At the gathering on the 24th, we hope to make some plans for the next year’s events to begin in September. Bus trips will be planned for the fall, rather than the spring semester in hopes of avoiding snow and ice days. So come with some new ideas for short trips. We look forward to seeing you all!

Bernardfest/30th Anniversary: Just a brief reminder that the Feast of St. Bernard is not that far away, August 20th. We will be starting our celebration with a Clean-up Day (Day of Caring) on the 16th of August at 9:00 a.m. Please take a minute to sign up in the back of Church so we will know how much food to buy for lunches. The 16th will be our one day to clean classrooms and the church and kitchens, etc., before school starts again and before we celebrate our 30th anniversary as a parish. The yard looks great but it will still need the usual weeding and mulching by August. And there may be some new branches down since the last storm that will need to be dragged to the dumpster. Hedges always need trimming too. So please plan to bring your yard tools and your energy. We have dusters and mops and window washing materials here. If you have an extra vacuum cleaner, it will help us with dusting the cushions on the pews and in the book racks. The chapel needs a good cleaning too. It is difficult to keep it clean when we have Adoration from 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. during the week. So please come and help us because many hands make short work. Thanks!

After the clean-up, we will celebrate the 30th anniversary on the 23rd and 24th of August. An adult dinner/dance will be held on Saturday and a family pot-luck is planned for Sunday at 1:30 p.m. We will eat first, and then the little guys and girls will have fun with water games on the back terrace and maybe in the yard. There will be fans there to help stir the air in case it is hot?! Tickets will be sold for the dinner on Saturday the 23rd, by Clairvaux Club Ladies on the weekends, to insure that we have enough space to seat the attendees. 30th Anniversary celebrations will be both Saturday evening and Sunday afternoon. Those parishioners, who have been here all 30 years, will have a special place at each celebration.


CATHOLIC FAMILY CONFERENCE
The 9th annual Midwest Catholic Conference is scheduled for August 1-3 in Wichita, KS at the Century II Convention Center located at 225 West Douglas Avenue. Programs for all ages: adults, youth, children and singles. Speakers include Fr. Frank Pavone, Moderator General of the community of priests dedicated to pro-like work, Tim Staples, sought after speaker and author of many books and tapes and Teresa Tomeo an award winning reporter who has left full-time broadcasting to focus on spreading Catholic teaching through her books and talk show.

Bishop Michael Jackels of Wichita will be the principle celebrant and homilist for the Sunday Mass. For information visit: www.catholicfamilyconference.org.


DINNER AND DIAGNOSIS
Church of the Resurrection is sponsoring an evening of food and entertainment along with both a silent and live auction to benefit Neighbor for Neighbor’s medical and dental clinics. This event is scheduled for July 27, 4:30 p.m. at the Allen Chapman Center on the T. U. campus. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased by contacting Bill Weisrock at 493-3435 or Sande/Ray Ruess, 493-3541. Tables for eight may also be purchased for $500.


KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
Membership into Council 11959 is open. Visit www.okkofc.org/11959 or the parish website’s link (www.stbernardstulsa.org) for further details.


SUMMER RETREAT OPPORTUNITY
Saint Gregory’s Abbey is offering a retreat this summer to be led by Father Charles Buckley who will discuss Fredrick Buechner’s “Telling the Truth: the Gospel as Comedy, Tragedy, and Fairy Tale” – the marvel of the Gospel promise from August 1-3. For reservations or more details please call Fr. Charles at 405-878-5462 or e-mail cjbuckley@stbgregorys.edu.


SATURDAY SING-ALONG
The weekly sing-along continues at area health care centers. If you are a singer, dancer or just enjoy being with people please join this ministry. Next weekend’s sing-along visit is scheduled for July 26, 9:00 a.m. at Franciscan Villa. Call Anne in the office for information.


SAVE THE DATE!
St. Bernard’s Triviafest - Saturday, November 8 - Watch the bulletin for more details.


PROPOSED MISSION TRIP FROM FATHER TONY
Father Tony Palazzola, our visiting priest last week, has offered to meet us in Florida and led a mission trip to Jamaica. To make this trip happen twenty people must sign up and agree on a date for traveling. Two suggested dates are in October during the annual fall break and just after Christmas. Transportation, housing and meals from Fort Lauderdale to Jamaica are $1,300 and do not include air fare from Tulsa. For more details call the parish office.


MASS INTENTIONS
For the week of July 20-26
Sunday:
8:30 a.m., +Lee Quinlan, by M/M Bob Stoven
5:00 p.m., +Anne Merkel, by Barbara McGuire

Monday:
8:30 a.m., +Nick McCormack, by M/M Ed Saucier

Tuesday:
8:30 a.m., +Fr. Jewitt

Wednesday:
8:30 a.m., +Fr. Jewitt
6:30 p.m., Doris Withrow, by Valerie Edgeller

Thursday:
8:30 a.m., +Elizabeth Ashton, by Betty Mars

Friday:
8:30 a.m., +Joe Wleklinski, by George Margalski
12:00 p.m., +Fr. Jewitt

Saturday:
8:30 a.m., +Lee Quinlan, by Susan Bogan and Katie Stoven
5:00 p.m., +Loretta Nee, by Irene McIlroy

Rosary Prayed:
*Weekdays:
8:05 a.m., Tuesday-Friday, Good Shepherd Chapel.
*Friday:
6:30 p.m., also in the chapel, led by the Knights of Columbus.
*Saturday:
4:40 p.m., just before the 5:00 p.m. Mass, church, led by the Knights.
*Sunday:
10:55 a.m., just before the 11:15 a.m. Mass, church, led by the Knights.

Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament is held, 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m., Monday – Friday in the Good Shepherd Chapel. More adorers are always welcomed. Please sign up for an hour each week on the tables in the back of the church.


FALL CLASSES
The Pastoral Studies Institute will begin its fall class schedule in late August.
This year's schedule includes the following offerings:

THEO 2023 Theology of the Church
THEO 4883 Praying the Gospels
THEO 2003 Introduction to Doctrine
THEO 4023 Theology and Methods of Ministry
THEO 3003 Christian Morality and Social Issues
THEO 4883 History and Theology of the Mass, Part I

For information regarding course content along with when and where each class will be offered contact the Pastoral Studies Institute at 307-4941 or e-mail Mary Malcom at: mary.malcom@dioceseoftulsa.org.


SIMON’S SHOULDER
“Bear one another’s burdens.” Galatians 6:2
In your prayers please remember the following parishioners and others who are ill or recovering from surgery this week: Lila Lindner, Virginia Johnson, Gloria Clifton, John McCleary, Martha Valancius, Arthur Geweniger, Peg Lewis, Lucillo Roman, Robin Hill, Norma Jean Taylor, Eddie Williams, Phillip Honeywell, Eugene Honeywell ( Phillip is the son of and Eugene is the brother of John Honeywell), Elizabeth Vecchio, Kelsie Cygan, Lawrence Williams, James Lavendusky, William Stoce, Deb Pitvorec, Cecilia Mares, Patricia Conway, Harold Beardsley (father of Wayne Beardsley) and Betty Mars.

We also ask your prayers for the repose of the souls of Mimi Borlaza, sister of Elizabeth Fuentes, who passed away this past week and Arthur Geweniger, husband of Dorothy Geweniger, and father of Bob Geweniger.