Please view the statement that has been released by the Massachusetts Catholic Conference in anticipation of the upcoming Summit Meeting in Rome.  This letter from the Bishops of Massachusetts to the Catholics of the Commonwealth can be found here.

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Next week Fr. Ron will be away at a conference Monday through Friday, and Mass will be celebrated at area churches:

• St. Rose of Lima: 9:00 AM Monday, 8:30 AM Tuesday-Friday
• St. Luke, Westboro: 9:00 AM
• St. Mary, Shrewsbury: 8:30 AM
• Immaculate Conception, Marlboro: 7:30 AM

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Registration for the Conference is now open!  Students entering grades 9-12 in the fall or have graduated high school in the spring of 2019 are all welcome to attend.  For more information and to register, visit our Steubenville East page.

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Coffee & Conversation is a group for St. Bernadette Parish parents to focus on the challenge to learn and grow in faith so that we can better pass the faith on to our children.  Come and join us on the following dates while your children are in class on Sunday morning following the 9 AM Mass for coffee and conversation!

• March 3rd - The Eucharist
• March 31st - Sin & Reconciliation

We will meet upstairs in the Pastoral Center conference room at 10:15 AM.  Contact Ginny Boland with any questions at ginnyboland@stb-parish.net.

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Save the date for our next Senior Luncheon:  Tuesday, March 5th at 12:00 PM in the Parish Hall.

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Lent begins on Wednesday, March 6th.  Ash Wednesday Masses will be held at:

• 8:30 AM
• 10:00 AM (with the school)
• 7:00 PM

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St. Bernadette Youth Ministry invites you to a Lenten Soup Supper on Friday, March 8th, in the Pastoral Center Hall, from 6:00 - 6:55 PM.  The Soup Supper will be followed by Stations of the Cross in the Church, led by the Knights of Columbus, from 7:00 - 8:00 PM.  All are welcome!  Please sign up in the gathering space.

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The next Holy Grounds Coffee Hour will be held on March 10th at 10AM.  Hosted by the HOPE Ministry.  Mark your calendars!

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The Knights of Columbus from St. Bernadette and St. Rose will be hosting a St. Patrick's Day Corned Beef Dinner on Saturday, March 16th at 6 PM in the St. Bernadette Charbonneau Activity Center.  An evening of entertainment is planned with performances by Irish Step Dancers and live music with local performers.  Dinner will include corned beef, potatoes, carrots, turnips, cabbage and home made soda bread and desserts.  Tickets will be sold on the weekend prior, after all Masses.  Save the date - you'll be glad you did!

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Partners in Charity...Generate Joy!  What an inspiration it is for all of us to know that when we support the Annual Partners in Charity Appeal we generate joy in the lives of those served by our many agencies and ministries.  And you, in turn, share in the joy of bringing hope into the lives of those we serve.  Text giving is hands down the easiest and most secure way to give.  If you know how to send a text message, you can make a gift to Partners in Charity in seconds on your phone.  Text the word donate to 84576.  In addition to giving, you can also view the 2019 appeal video.  You can also make your gift online at www.partners-charity.net.  Thank you for your continued support!

The In Pew Commitment Weekend for the 2019 Partners in Charity Appeal will be held March 23 & 24.  Once a year, we commit ourselves to this ongoing work by supporting this life-giving appeal.  We reflect on God's great generosity, and respond with generous giving of our own.  With your support, faith in action is visibile every day in the compassionate outreach of Catholic Charities, to the least among us; in the prayerful witness of our retired priests and the joy of new priestly vocations; to the many diocesan ministries and programs that heal, teach and care for others.  Watch the Appeal video at home this week at www.partners-charity.net.

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On Saturday, March 30 from 7 AM to 7 PM, St. Bernadette Parish Respect for Life Ministry is participating in the national 40 Days for Life campaign by holding a peaceful prayer vigil outside Planned Parenthood in Worcester.  You can make a life-saving impact by joining us in prayer and fasting or by signing up for an hour or two at the vigil.  We pray that, with God's help, this will mark the beginning of the end of abortion in Worcester - and throughout America.  

40 Days for Life is a focused pro-life effort that consists of 40 days of prayer and fasting, 40 days of peaceful vigil, and 40 days of community outreach.

For more information contact Russ Lindquist at 508-277-5719 or russlindquist11@gmail.com.  Or log onto www.40daysforlife.com/worcester.

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The 19th Annual Diocesan Catholic Men's Conference will be held on Saturday, April 6th at Assumption College.  Men (of all ages, including teens and college students) are invited to this important annual conference.  Visit the conference website at www.firstmensconf.org for information and to purchase tickets online and elsewhere.

Come and hear dynamic talks from outstanding Catholic leaders: Kevin Dunn, Francesco Cesareo, Trent Horn, Father Warren Savage, Mike Aquilina and Eric Mahl.  Bishops and priests will hear confessions.  Bishop McManus will offer the Conference Mass.  For a Conference brochure, further information, or registration, call Sara Smillie at 508-929-4345.  Adult tickets are $45 until March 25th, afterwards $60.  Student tickets are always $30.

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If you have ever considered joining the Altar Society or perhaps you have been looking for a new ministry to join, the Altar Society is in need of several new members.  The Altar Society Ministry members are responsible for cleaning and preparing the church for weekend services.  No one is asked to work beyond his or her capabilites.  You can expect to work in small groups for 2 hours (usually Saturday mornings) once every 2 months.  The ministry is made up of individuals, couples, and families.  For more information or to volunteer, contact Walter Zydlewski at 508-485-7683.

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Join us for Amplify on Sunday, December 16th from 5:30 - 8:00 PM!  The night will include dinner followed by games and icebreakers, music, and Eucharistic Adoration and Reconciliation. Cost is FREE! The event is open to youth in grades 9-12. Contact Mrs. Boland at ginnyboland@stb-parish.net for more information.

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Save the date! The Steubenville East Youth Conference will take place July 12-14, 2019.  Visit the Steubenville East page for all the details and to sign up!

Middle School and High School students, meet at Mama's Pizza at 6:15 PM, followed by bowling at Sawyer's Bowling at 7:00 PM.  Cost is $15 per person.

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