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Pastoral Ministries

Hospital Visits: The Priest, Pastoral Associate or Parish Nurse visit the Madison hospitals on a regular basis. If someone you know is in the hospital, please contact the Parish Office at 831-6531.
Ministers to the Sick and the Homebound: These ministers visit nursing homes and homebound parishioners on a regular basis. They pray with them and bring the Eucharist to them.
Transportation to Mass: Service to and from church for parishioners who are not able to drive is offered on Sunday for our 9:00 am Mass. Please contact the Pastoral Associate for more information.
Parish Nurse: The parish nurse facilitates the health ministry including the young and old, active or homebound, physical, emotional and spiritual needs of individuals and families at St. Bernard's. The Parish Nurse will:
* Assess the physical, emotional and spiritual needs through individual consultations and/or group survey.
* Plans individual programs to meet needs as these needs are identified.
* Counsel parishioners on personal/individual health issues.
* Teach health-related classes and facilitate group discussions.
* Organize health screening.
* Refer parishioners to various cost-effective community health resources.
* Recruits and coordinates volunteers to help with visitations, transportation and meals for those in need.
* Works with the Parish Health Commission.
(The parish nurse does not compete with home care agencies. Rather, the nurse cooperates with them by helping individuals find the care they need and promote clear communication with caregivers.)
Please call the Parish Office, 831-6531, for more information.
Education and Support Programs:
* Grief Support: Support sessions are available for adults who have lost a loved one, spouse, parent, child, relative or friend. Sessions are held as needed. The Parish Minister or Parish Nurse attends to individual bereavement needs.
* Grief Stepping Stones: Educational series offered by Hospice Care which examines the grief process in three consecutive sessions. It is not intended to be a support group; presenters offer practical information and advice.
* Befriender's: This program was developed by Pastor Willard Lund in consultation with guest speakers, family members, trained professionals and others to help build stronger communities by helping people to respond to personal difficulties. We all find ourselves in the dark at some point. How can we encourage people? What can we say to our family and friends who are experiencing difficult situations? How can we express genuine sympathy, care and concern?
* Share the Care: A team of people working together to provide support with meal planning, shopping, errands, or just to give the caregiver a little rest time.
* Yoga: In these sessions you learn how to strengthen your body, nurture your spirit, find freedom from stress. Discover how Yoga can enrich your Christianity and revitalize your faith through gentle movements, breathing and relaxation.
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Parish Activities and Events

     St. Bernard Picnic: The picnic is a social event to thank parishioners. Members of our sister parish, St. Francis in Milwaukee, are also invited to join us. This annual event is held in late summer (on a Sunday close to St. Bernard's Feast Day) following the 11:00 am Sunday Mass. Food, games and entertainment are provided by the parish. Parish volunteers participate in the planning, preparation, and set-up for the day's festivities.
     Coffee Sundays: Held once a month during the months of September through April following the 7:30 am and 9:00 am Sunday Masses. Watch the bulletin for upcoming dates and join other parishioners in fellowship and conversation over coffee and rolls.
     God's Plan: This is your contribution or pledge commitment to St. Bernard Parish for financial support. At St. Bernard's our pledge drive is done once a year in November. It is a personal agreement between you and God. It is not a legally binding agreement, but your contribution or pledge is commitment to St. Bernard Parish for financial support. If interested, you contributions can be made by an electronic bank transfer. Call the Parish Office for more information.
     Appreciation Dinner: This social/dinner has been celebrated by the parish for over 20 years as a special recognition and an expression of thanks to those parishioners who volunteer so many hours of their time helping in the parish by serving as: liturgical ministers, religious education teachers, council and commission members and pastoral ministers of service and outreach.
     Fall Women's Luncheon: This social luncheon for all women of the parish is sponsored by the Social Activities Commission. Following lunch there is a guest speaker or presentation.
     Halloween Carnival: The Halloween Carnival is a fun, social event for preschoolers through Grade 5 consisting of a variety of games and food. Volunteers from students in Grades 6-8 through adults are asked to help with preparation, decorating, running games or providing goodies. This event is held on the Friday closest to Halloween from noon until 2:30 pm.
     All Souls Day: At the morning Mass on All Souls Day we remember, by name, those whose funeral service was held at St. Bernard's. This tradition has come to us from the earliest days of the Church. The "Book of Remembrance", in which are inscribed the names of departed loved ones, is also available at this Mass. We continue this remembrance over coffee and rolls after Mass.
     Chili Supper: This is a dinner and social fundraiser by the youth of our parish to help support and defray the cost for special youth trips. It is also a service opportunity for the youth.
     Spaghetti Dinner: For over 50 years, this annual event has usually been held the first weekend in February. An advance mailing is sent to all parishioners. Parish volunteers participate in the planning, preparation, set-up, serving, and/or donation of baked goods. This is the largest fundraiser done in the parish and is a lot of fun.
     Soup and Stations: A Lenten program offered by the Fellowship Commission held on two Wednesday evenings during Lent. This light meal consists of homemade soups (chicken and vegetable), fruit and bread. Following the meal the Stations of the Cross are held in the church.
     Easter Basket Decorating: Share the joy of spring as family members of all ages are invited to make Easter baskets for residents of area nursing homes and shut-ins from our parish. This event is sponsored by the Human Needs Commission and the Religious Education Department.
     Funeral Luncheons: This ministry can work around any schedule. Volunteers prepare a salad, dessert and/or help in the kitchen along with the regular staff.
     Child Care: Occasionally a sitter may be needed for a parish event for a couple of hours.
     Parish Bulletin Boards: These boards are done periodically and follow a theme. You will receive guidance from the Environment Committee in design and assembly.
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Groups and Organizations
FACILITIES/VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR:
MARY HOLEWINSKI , Parish Office 831-6531

     Five-O-Club: The members of this group meet the third Thursday (September through May) for Mass and breakfast. Special activities including card parties, day trips, informative presentations and social gatherings are held throughout the year. For more information contact Carol Larsen.
     Knights of Columbus (KC's): The Msgr. Lederer K.C. Council #4549 was instituted in March 1958. It is a Catholic, family, fraternal service organization devoting its works for the promotion of charity and education. The organization has a broad program including educational scholarships, social welfare activities, youth programs and spiritual and tangible assistance in time of need. The council meets on the second and fourth Tuesday each month. The Grand Knight is Pat Camus and
Ross McVey and Bill Jolicoeur are handling Membership.
     Morning for Moms and Dads: A weekly gathering for moms and dads to do something special for themselves and to meet other parents with young children.
     The Living Rosary Group: This group was begun in May 1929 by fifteen women parishioners. Members pray a decade/mystery of the rosary each day. On the 1st Friday of May and October, members of the Living Rosary Group gather at St. Bernard's to pray the rosary, sing, and recite the Litany of Loretto. Members of the Living Rosary and parishioners who are able come and pray the rosary at the funeral for the deceased and their families. They meet a half hour before the beginning of the funeral in the Eucharistic Chapel. For information contact: Lori Lonergan or Mary Wrzesinski.
     The Madonna's Rosary Makers: Parishioners from St. Bernard's Middleton, St. Mary's Pine Bluff and St. Francis Cross Plains have formed The Madonna's Rosary Makers. The group makes rosaries for the missions throughout the world and prays the Rosary at their bimonthly meetings. For information contact: Jo Meier, President.
     The Monday Evening Prayer Group: The group meets on Monday evenings, 7:30 pm in the Chapel. For more details, please call the Parish Office, 831-6531 or contact, Pat Brumm.
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Outreach Ministries

     Meal Programs
                St. Martin's: The third Monday of each month, volunteers from our parish prepare a hot, home-cooked meal at St. Bernard's and serve it at the Multicultural Center on the south side of Madison. Donated items include: vegetables, milk, butter, potatoes, bread, or money for the purchase of meat and non-donated items. For more information contact Rick Kurz.
                Community Meal Program: The first Wednesday of the month, parishioners prepare, serve, and share in a family-style noon meal at the Luke House in Madison (formerly at St. Paul's University Center). Monthly or occasional contributions of food, money or time, to cook and/or serve, are needed. For more information contact Maryanne Huttleston.
     Middleton Village Nursing Home Birthday Celebrations: Every month St. Bernard's sponsors a birthday party for the residents at Middleton Village Nursing Home. Cookies are prepared and served by volunteers from the parish. Musicians also volunteer to sing a short program, which concludes with "Happy Birthday." Gifts are given to the residents who have a birthday that month. Volunteers assist by either visiting, providing entertainment (music) or baking treats. Call Alice Caldwell at  the Parish Office for more information.
     Middleton Outreach Ministry -- M.O.M.
           Food Pantry: This is an ongoing ministry where parishioners can donate food and non-food items to keep the pantry shelves stocked. Items most in need are: canned meats, jam and jelly, meals in a box, potatoes and stuffing, macaroni and cheese, pancake mix and syrup, Jell-O and pudding, peanut butter, spaghetti sauce, canned soup, canned vegetables, dry soups, household paper products, laundry soap (dry), dish soap, bar soap, shampoo, deodorant, diapers and baby food. These items can be brought in at anytime and put in the M.O.M. donation boxes located in the entrances to the church.
           Thanksgiving Food Drive: Food donations are brought to church anytime before Thanksgiving. Volunteers help bag items and deliver the donations Thanksgiving morning to the food pantry.
           Receipts from Cub Foods West: M.O.M. receives 1% of the total value of Cub Food West receipts. Just save your cash register receipts and place them in the M.O.M. collection box. You may mail directly to the M.O.M. office at 7432 Hubbard Ave., Middleton, WI 53562.
           M.O.M. Christmas Dinner: Sponsored by Middleton area Christian churches for those who may be alone or just wishing to participate in this Christmas dinner. Volunteers from these churches help with donations, preparations, and the day's event.
     Our Sister Parish -- St. Francis in Milwaukee
           School Supplies Drive: Human Needs Commission collects donations of spiral notebooks, folders, pencils, pens, colored pencils, markers, scissors, erasers, construction paper, rulers (both English and metric) and glue to benefit our sister parish and the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
           Winter Clothing Drive: St. Bernard's assists those in need in our sister parish, St. Francis in Milwaukee, and the recipients of  the St. Vincent de Paul Conference. Especially needed are any warm (new or gently) used children's winter jackets, gloves, or hats. Several volunteers are needed to help sort and pack clothing on the first Monday after Thanksgiving.
           Giving Tree: Trees are placed in church the first weekend of Advent and parishioners are asked to bring the joy of Christmas to others by taking an ornament tag that suggests a gift for a child, teenager or family in our sister parish or St. Vincent de Paul. Parishioners share their blessings by purchasing a gift, and return it along with the ornament tag the next weekend. Volunteers are needed to sort and deliver gifts.
           Operation Rice Bowl: Monies collected will go to support the food program at our sister parish. The Human Needs Commission of our parish agreed to send money each month to help St. Francis serve the needs of hungry people in their region of Milwaukee.
     Wisconsin/Nicaragua Partners of the Americas, Inc.: Parishioners support medical missions to this country through donations of medical supplies and equipment, eye glasses, fabric and sewing supplies, school supplies and monetary donations. These items have made many projects possible for local hospitals, sewing schools and grade schools. A new preschool was named after our parish in appreciation for our many contributions.
     St. Vincent de Paul Conference: Representatives from our group visit needy families in Madison and Middleton filling requests for food, furnishings and household needs from parishioner donations. Small gifts for children in those households such as a set of crayons and a coloring book, picture books, novels, magazines, pens, drawing paper, puzzle books or mazes are greatly appreciated. The Bundle Sunday collection drive includes:
                  Recycle the Warmth: Donations are sought for new or used blanket or bedding.
                  Toy Drive: Donations are to be of first quality toys in good condition.
                  School Supplies: Donations include all useable school supplies.
                  Winter Clothing: St. Bernard's assists those in need in our sister parish, St. Francis in Milwaukee, and St. Vincent de Paul Society. Especially needed are any warm (new or gently used) children's winter jackets, gloves, or hats. Several volunteers are needed to help sort and pack clothing on the first Monday after Thanksgiving. For more information on the St. Vincent de Paul Conference contact Cathy Robinson.
     Rose Sale: After all the weekend Masses on Mother's Day, roses are sold for the Dane County Right to Life. Several volunteers sell roses after each Mass.
     Mission Sunday: Once a year a missionary makes an appeal speaking about their mission work and their needs at all the weekend Masses. The offertory collection at all the Masses (other than the weekly contribution envelopes) goes for their cause.

For any of these events, volunteer requests are made through bulletin announcements, sign-ups at Mass, or during our Time and Talents Commitment Weekend. These events are a wonderful way to be involved in your parish and to meet parishioners.

For more information on any of these ministries, organizations, groups or events, please call the Parish Office at 831-6531, consult the Sunday bulletin and/or St. Bernard Web Site for dates, times and location of events.

FACILITIES/VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR
Mary Holewinski