Rev. Raymond Gramata Pastor

Rev. James Gutting Senior Associate

P.O. Box 2394

Bradford, PA 16701-5394

Phone: (814) 362-6825

Fax: (814) 362-1479

Email: sboffice@atlanticbb.net

St. Bernard of Clairvaux

St. Francis of Assisi

Our Mother of Perpetual Help (A Secondary Mission Church)

The Catholic Community

of Bradford

April 18, 2021

April 22nd

ST. BERNARD OF CLAIRVAUX CHURCH BRADFORD, PA

Let us listen carefully to the words of Saint Peter from the Acts of the Apostles. He is pointing out

short comings and correcting the people. Not in harsh condemning tones, but tones rooted in his

appreciation for what Jesus had done to him. As we know, Peter denied 3 times that he knew Je-

sus, but at the scene by the riverbank, Jesus forgives him by asking this question three times: “Do

you love me more than these?” Peter answers in the affirmative. Jesus offers Peter forgiveness

and he accepts it. Peter can’t forget what he has done, he will remember it always, but now he is

set free.

In the reading Peter tells the people: “You denied the Holy and Righteous One and asked that a

murderer be released to you… I know, brothers, that you acted out of ignorance, just as your lead-

ers did… Repent, therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be wiped away.” In this pas-

sage, we hear Peter, much like Jesus, pointing out their fault. Also, like Jesus, there is no harsh

tone, just tones of love and forgiveness. Peter is doing just what Jesus did for him. He is setting them free from the guilt and

shame of their actions. The people know that they cannot change what happened and they won’t forget. But they have to learn

from it. The lesson is simply is that God loves them and forgives them.

Last Sunday, we celebrated Divine Mercy Sunday. This feast reminds us that our God has not given up on us, but truly is a

merciful God. All of us are familiar with the story of the lost sheep where the shepherd leaves the ninety-nine in search of the

lost one. When we first hear it, it sounds both stupid and foolish. But to the shepherd it is neither, he must go out and search

for the lost sheep. Why? Because he loves that sheep like he loves the ninety-nine.

What we must remember is that the only one who can block God’s forgiveness is us - if we don’t ask for it or accept it. John, in

the epistle reading for today, presents us with a challenge: “Those who say, ‘I know him,’ but do not keep his commandments

are liars, and the truth is not found in them. But whoever keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfected in him.”

Like Peter, we will continue to make mistakes along the way. But the thing that Peter learned was simply that Jesus is there to

pick us up, if we extend our hand to his. Think of the occasion where Peter walked on the water, then remember the lyrics

from the song, Put Your Hand in the Hand by songwriter Mac Lellan Gene:

“Put you hand in the hand of the man who stilled the water

Put your hand in the hand of the man who calmed the sea

Take a look at yourself and you can look at others differently

Put your hand in the hand of the man from Galilee.”

Also, a reminder that next Sunday, April 25th at 1 p.m. we, as a faith community, will be celebrating the Sacrament of Confir-

mation. We have nineteen students who will be confirmed. Bishop Persico has given me permission to celebrate the Sacra-

ment in his absence. God Bless, Fr. Ray

APRIL 18, 2021

LAST WEEK’S COLLECTIONS

St. Bernard - Needed Weekly: $ 4,627 April 18 ..…….....….$ 6,365

2021 SB CSA Assessment……………$ 34,619 SB 2021 CSA Collected………$ 22,799

St. Francis of Assisi - Needed Weekly: $ 2,892 April 18 ……….…….$ 2,263

2021 SF CSA Assessment……………$ 22,249 SF 2021 CSA Collected………$ 12,370

OUR PARISHES THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS

Thank YOU Parishioners! Both parishes have gone past the half-way point on the

way to our 2021 CSA goals! Keep up the good work!

UPCOMING MEETINGSCatholic Women: Tues, May 11th @ 6:30 pm @ Church

REP 1-7: Sunday, Apr 18th @ 11:00 am - SB Social Ctr REP 8 -11: Sunday, Apr 18th @ 3 - 4 pm - SB Church Rosary Altar: Thurs, May 13th @ 6:30 pm @ Ritchie Hall K of C #403 : Tuesday, May 11th @ 7 pm

APRIL 18, 2021

CATHOLIC WOMEN The Catholic Women’s group will be meet on Tuesday, May 11, 2021 at 6:30 pm in the church. This gathering will be for fellow-ship and completion of the rosary. All parishioners are welcome to attend. Let us get together and pray with one another.

MARRIAGE MOMENTS When Jesus appeared to his disciples after Easter “he showed them his hands and his feet” (Luke 24:40) to reveal the marks of his crucifixion. You and your beloved have been through a lot together. Relax and massage each oth-er’s hands and feet in memory of your service to each oth-er.

SUPPORT YOUR BULLETIN Your bulletin is paid for by our advertisers on the back page. Please consider purchasing an ad through LPi for you business. Contact Servaas Verbiest at sverbiest@4LPi.com or 1-800-477-4574 x6630 for more information.

WELCOME

Baptism - April 11, 2021

Maliya Aleksa Graham

STANLEY E. PECORA, JR. & ERICA L. MILLS ATTORNEYS AT LAW

PLEASE GIVE THEM YOUR SUPPORT!

ATTENTION CONFIRMATION STUDENTS & SPONSORS: This year Confirmation will be celebrated by Father Raymond Gramata at St. Bernard Church on April 25, 2021 at a 1:00 pm mass. In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, Bishop Persico has given Father Ray permission to confirm this year’s candidates.

PRACTICE: Confirmation practice will take place on Sunday, April 18th from 3:00 to 4:00 pm at St. Bernard church. Sponsors are welcome to attend if they are able.

**Due to COVID restrictions we are still mandat-ed to wear masks and socially distance. There will NOT be a social gathering afterward.

First Communion will take place on May 2nd at

12:00 at St. Bernard Church. Father Raymond

Gramata will be the celebrant.

There will be PRACTICE & CONFESSION on

April 24th at 11;00 am at St. Bernard. The stu-

dents and parents will meet in the church. Par-

ents are invited to stay for the practice.

We continue to follow COVID protocols and will

be wearing masks and social distancing. There

will be no gathering after the mass.

Father Ray Gramata Ordination Date: May 7, 1970 Celebration Date: Sunday, May 23, 2021

A 3 pm Mass will be held at St. Francis, with Fr. Ray as the celebrant, followed by a reception for all

at Fr. G. Carlton Ritchie Social Hall! Please plan to join us as we celebrate 50 plus one

years of God’s faithful servant.

+1

Get resources and suggestions for your family at the Diocese of Erie’s family website, www.ErieRCD.org/fam.htm. At the Diocese of Erie, families always matter! Go Families!

New marriage preparation retreat option

The Marriage and Family Life Office of the Diocese of Erie is happy to offer a new, completely online, community-focused option for marriage preparation beginning in 2021. The Mentor-Cohort option takes place over four weeks in a small group with one or two mentor couples and engaged couples. It includes private time for couples to discuss and grow, space in a small community to process and wrestle with significant themes, and direct instruction from Dynamic Catholic’s Better Together program. For more information, dates and a profile of couples for whom this would be a ben-efit, please see the attached flier or visit https://www.eriercd.org/familylifeoffice/mentor-cohort.html.

APRIL 18, 2021

NOTABLE QUOTES "Any woman who has felt a baby stir inside her [and] any man who has seen the tiny heart pulsing on an ultrasound screen, knows that abortion is about ending a life." ~ Karen Kissane

FAMILY LIFE The apostles were afraid of Jesus until he ate with them and they touched him. In your family, the ordinary acts of eating together, touching, embracing not only confirm our love for each other, but also celebrate God’s presence in your fami-ly. These ‘ordinary’ moments contain the ‘Extraordinary.”

Some of Mrs. VanHorn’s handiwork. You can see it in the Fr. Leo Gallina Social Center. We ap-preciate her decorations! (Another bulletin board below left.)

Child Protection and Creating Safe Environments Child Abuse Prevention Month: The “Creating A Safe Environment” training program is an integral component to the prevention effort in our diocese. The mandated pro-gram trains employees and volunteers in the warning signs of abuse and how to report suspected abuse of a minor. Since 2003 over 60,000 adults in the diocese have re-ceived the training to recognize and report child abuse. With the help of the safe environment training program, the faithful are guided and educated about the responsibility to keep God’s children protected and safe. Visit https://www.eriercd.org/childprotection/ to take the training pro-gram or learn what is required for employees and volun-teers to work with children in diocesan parishes/schools/agencies.

OUR RETIRED DIOCESAN PRIESTS Next week, we will have our annual Good Shepherd Col-lection in our parish to assist with the needs of caring for our retired diocesan priests. There is a special need to as-sist them with the escalating health care costs and long-term care expenses. As more priests become eligible to retire from active ministry in the next few years, our Priest Retirement Plan must be adequately funded to cover their future needs. Please consider a generous gift to the annual Diocesan Good Shepherd Collection on the weekend of April 24th & 25th. Use the special envelope provided or any envelope and mark on it – “Good Shepherd Collection.”

APRIL 18, 2021

BULLETIN INFORMATION MUST BE RECEIVED IN WRITING BY NOON ON FRIDAY

2 WEEKS PRIOR TO BULLETIN DATE.

APRIL 18, 2021

PASTORAL STAFF: Rev. Raymond C. Gramata, Pastor

Rev. James Gutting, Senior Associate

OFFICE HOURS: Monday thru Friday: 8 am to 4 pm (Now OPEN through lunch hour) Wendy Thomson, Office Manager

Lisa Kuret, Administrative Assistant

MASS SCHEDULE: Please consult bulletin

CONFESSIONS: St. Bernard — Saturdays from 4:30 to 5 pm before 5:15 mass, Thursday before First Friday from 4:30 to 5 pm. St. Francis — After 9 am mass on Saturdays. Private appointments may be made by calling the Parish Office (362-6825).

REP Coordinator: Kim VanHorn Students not attending Catholic school should be enrolled in REP programs. The Bradford Catholic Community Religious Education program meets at follows: Grades 1-7, 11:00 am every other Sunday morning

at St. Bernard in Fr. Leo Gallina Social Center Grades 8, 9, 10 & 11(Confirmation), 5:45 pm

every other Sunday evening at Fr. Leo Gallina Social Center

For more info call the parish office 362-6825

Liturgical Altar Servers, Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors

Organist St. Bernard Rita Bennardi Organist St. Francis Michael Hicks Resurrection Choir Joan Raabe God’s Housekeepers Parish Office Liturgy Fr. Raymond C. Gramata

Parish Community Parish Council Fr. Raymond Gramata Catholic Women’s Club Teri Everett Rosary Altar Society Telephone Prayer Chain Natalie Marasco (598-5565)

Cover photos of churches by LongArt Photography

Please write separate checks for each different type of donation: CSA, candles, fuel, 2nd collections, masses and any oth-er. These collections are processed separately.

You do not need to return every week’s envelope with your check when combining weeks.

Do NOT make any checks out to OMPH. OMPH is part of St. Francis and we have no bank account for OMPH.

Please do NOT staple or tape your envelope.

MEMBERSHIP: All Baptized Catholics should be registered, practicing and supporting members of a Parish. Only properly registered members appear on our parish list and are eligible to receive the benefits of parish membership for sacraments. Each parishioner is called upon to practice good stewardship of time, talent and treasure. If you are not currently receiving envelopes, you may not be registered. Call the Parish Office - we would love to meet you!

MARRIAGE: Couples need to contact a priest at least six months before their wedding. Registered and active participation needs to be considered before marriage.

We welcome all inquiries about the Catholic faith. This RCIA process begins in the fall of the year. Please call the Parish Office for further information.

PASTORAL CARE OF THE SICK: Please call the Parish Office to request the Sacrament of the Sick for family members who are seriously ill. Communion for the sick is taken to the hospital, nursing homes, and the home-bound on a regular basis.

BAPTISM: Both parents must attend the Pre-Baptism Preparation Program. Please call the St. Bernard Parish Office for dates and times of upcoming class. Baptisms are scheduled after completing the program. Call the Parish Office to schedule the class and baptism. Godparents must be at least 16, confirmed and active, registered members of their parish.

CEMETERY ADORNMENTS

It’s Spring ! Time to clean up the Cemetery! Please spruce up around your grave sites, pick up any

debris and prepare for Memorial Day. New flowers/pots can be placed after April 15th.

April 22, 2021

Readings for Week APRIL 18, 2021

Sunday: Acts 3:13-15, 17-19/Ps 4:2, 4, 7-8, 9 [7a]/ 1 Jn 2:1-5a/Lk 24:35-48 Monday: Acts 6:8-15/Ps 119:23-24, 26-27, 29-30 [1ab]/Jn 6:22-29 Tuesday: Acts 7:51 - 8:1a/Ps 31:3cd-4, 6 and 7b and 8a, 17 and 21ab [6a]/Jn 6:30-35 Wednesday: Acts 8:1b-8/Ps 66:1-3a, 4-5, 6-7a [1]/Jn 6:35-40 Thursday: Acts 8:26-40/Ps 66:8-9, 16-17, 20 [1]/Jn 6:44-51 Friday: Acts 9:1-20/Ps 117:1bc, 2 [Mk 16:15]/Jn 6:52-59 Saturday: Acts 9:31-42/Ps 116:12-13, 14-15, 16-17 [12]/ Jn 6:60-69 Next Sunday: Acts 4:8-12/Ps 118:1, 8-9, 21-23, 26, 28, 29 [22]/1 Jn 3:1-2/Jn 10:11-18

Thomas Ackley, Virgil Anderson, Mary Beth Behan, Kaitlynn Behan, Barb Bernheisel, Theresa Bond, Barbara Boser, Kathy Bryant, Bonnie Buccolini, Gigi Carroll, Dominic “Frank” Cavallero, Annie Champagne, Gerry Cierpilowski, Dick Clark, Melissa Cox, Billie Cummins, Paul Curcio, Charlotte Cuthbertson, Denise Douthit, Richard Douthit, Alliyson Feldman, Stepheny Franco, Pat Geary, Pat Girard, Rick Grandinetti, Jill Henry, Craig Johnson, Robert Kaczmarek, Lilly Keesler, Judy Keenan, Mary Keesler, James Kibby, Bill Kline, Craig Kloss, Mason LaBrozzi, Rita Leone, Shirley Lerch, Elizabeth Lindemuth, Paula Louk, Jude Luke, Barbara Matto, Mariana Militelo, Joe Monago, Lou Monti, Mary O’Connell, Cheri O’Mara, Dom Piganelli, John Pockey, Dan Popiel, Courtney Prentiss, Stacie Riddel, Angela Rimer, Steve Schmidt, Judy Signor, Steve Skaggs, Hailey Smith, Bonnie Swackhamer, Alex Tingley, David Tominez, Matthew Whelan, Beckett Whitney, Corrine Wilson, Donna Whitford, Lisa Zurat, and All those affected by the Covid-19 virus

May they be strengthened by the healing presence of God’s Spirit.

Monday, April 19

SB 8:00 am St. Bernard School Class of 1947 (Class of 1947) SF 9:00 am Victoria & Sam Luciano (Nancy O’Donnell & Family) Tuesday, April 20 SF 9:00 am Dr. Qazi Jamil (Ron & Shirley Lerch) Wednesday, April 21 SB 8:00 am Augustine Sposato (John Cummiskey) Thursday, April 22 - Earth Day SB 8:00 am Louis W. Pascarella (Family) SF 9:00 am Parishioners

April 23 SB 8:00 am Sullivan Family (Fr. Steve, Diane & Mike Schreiber) Saturday, April 24 SF 9:00 pm Theresa Zandi (Nellie Vecellio) SB 5:15 pm Frank “Jim” Ulyan (Kathy O’Mara)

Sunday, April 25 - World Day of Prayer for Vocations SF 8:00 am Lea Zetts (Nancy O’Donnell & Family)

SB 10:00 am Connie Schreiber (Catholic Women) OM 11:30 am Flora White (Family)

SB 1:00 pm Confirmation Mass (Weekly confessions Saturdays after 9 am St. Francis Mass

and at 4:30 pm before 5:15 pm St. Bernard Mass)

MINISTER SCHEDULE FOR MASSES APR 24 - 25

Saturday: SB 5:15 pm Lector: Tammy Black EM: Kim VanHorn Servers: Cooper & Peyton Haight

Sunday: SF 8:00 am Lector: Jody Randolph EM: Chris Pehonsky

Servers: Samantha Soyke SB 10:00 am

Lector: Greg Ulyan EM: Kim Lance Servers: Timothy Mulcahy & Christian Peterson OM 11:30 am Lector: David Ditz EM: Kim Ditz Servers: Jacob Hannahs

: No visits until further notice

GOD’S HOUSEKEEPERS

April 19 - April 23 TEAM 3: T. Maduri / A. Campogiani / T. Orris /

B. Geisler / T. Rounsville / J. DeGolier We are in need of more housekeepers.

PRAYER REQUESTS FOR PRIESTS

Please Pray for the Following Priests

Sun, Apr 18 - Rev. Andrew Boyd Mon, Apr 19 - Rev. Dennis A. Martin Tues, Apr 20 - Rev. David Whiteford Wed, Apr 21 - Rev. Edward J. Walk Thurs, Apr 22 - Rev. Robert P. Susa Fri, Apr 23 - Rev. Samuel G. Bungo Sat, Apr 24 - Rev. Msgr. Thomas J. McSweeney