History of the Parish

From 1889 to 1940, St. Bernard was a mission parish of St. Peter Catholic Church in Ashton. It celebrated its golden jubilee in 1939 with a membership of 135 families. Fr. Ferdinand A. Mack served as the first resident pastor from 1940 until his golden jubilee and retirement in 1981. Throughout those years, the parish grew and became very active - building a new church, rectory, opening a school, implementing a religious education program and establishing various parish groups.

Fr. Joseph P. Higgins was named pastor and served in this position from 1981 until his retirement in June 2002. Under Monsignor Higgins' leadership the parish grew to the present membership of over 1,750 families. Other improvements included the building of the parish center, a new priest's residence, remodeling the sanctuary and renovating the parish offices and religious education center. Programs, such as RENEW and Small Faith Communities, also were initiated.

St. Bernard's faith community has been blessed with the guidance and service of many associates, sisters, lay staff and parish volunteers for its spiritual needs and opportunities to serve God.

History Profile:

1889 St. Bernard's became a mission parish of St. Peter's, Ashton. Small stone church was built.

1890 December, dedicated the new cemetery at New Year's Eve Mass.

1924 New addition to church was dedicated.

1940 June 22, Fr. Ferdinand A. Mack celebrated Mass as first resident pastor of St. Bernard's.

1946 September, school started in church basement with 85 students.

1949 September new school opened with 263 students, 6 sisters, and 1 lay teacher.

1953 Rectory built at 2015 Parmenter Street for three priests, offices and guests.

1959 Holy Week, new church dedicated at a cost of $480,000.

1970 March 1, Parish Council elected, six commissions formed.

1974 June, school closed, religious education program expanded, directors hired.

1975 Parish Home Visitor hired--first in Diocese.

1981 Monsignor Mack celebrates golden jubilee as priest and 75th birthday, retires in June; successor, Fr. Joseph P. Higgins, chancellor of Diocese of Madison.

1982 Rectory remodeled; God's Plan initiated.

1985 New Parish Center dedicated at a cost of $525,000 in March.

1989 Sanctuary remodeling completed; Centennial celebrated.

1994-95 Priests' residence built, rectory converted to parish offices, Religious Education Center remodeled.

1996 Re-dedication of Religious Education Center; blessing and dedication of St. Bernard statue.

1998 Partners in Congregational Nursing implemented (Parish Nurse).

2002 Monsignor Joseph P. Higgins retired in June; successor Monsignor Paul J. Swain, vicar general of the Diocese of Madison. Rev. Michael (Mick) Moon appointed Parochial Vicar.

2003 Monsignor Paul Swain and Rev. Mick Moon reassigned in June; successor Monsignor Douglas L. Dushack was named new pastor. (Monsignor Swain was ordained Bishop of Sioux Falls, S.D., in 2006 and retired in 2019.)

2015 Monsignor. Douglas L. Dushack retired in July (and passed away in 2019); successor Rev. Brian Wilk was named new pastor.

2015 New roof on church: membrane replace, copper re-installed.

2016 Sanctuary reconfigured; baptismal font moved to the right.

2019 Hardscape for St. Raphael Terrace garden area installed on west side of church in November. Hand-carved St. Bernard of Clairvaux statue installed on east wall of church on Dec. 10.

2020 Masses suspended in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. The dispensation is lifted in September. Stained glass windows in church damaged by impaired driver in October.

2021 Hearing loop installed in September. Stained glass windows repaired and installed in October. Renovation of parish center and construction of narthex begins on Oct. 25. Parish moves to "Family of Faith" format for religious education.

2022 Parish makes plans for the Diocese of Madison's "Go Make Disciples" initiative. Craig Wood ordained as deacon for St. Bernard Parish in July. Pastorate formed with St. Francis Xavier, St. Peter of Ashton, St. Martin of Tours and St. Mary of Pine Bluff as part of diocese's "Into the Deep" initiative.

2023  Narthex completed between church and parish hall. Parish hall updated and named Msgr. Higgins Hall. As part of the "Into the Deep" initiative, Fr. Brian Wilk becomes the new administrator at Queen of Peace and St. Thomas Aquinas parishes in Madison. St. Bernard and the other parishes in our pastorate get four new priests: Fr. Scott Jablonski, Fr. Brian Dulli, Fr. Michael Wanta and Fr. Tait Schroeder.

     Bernard was born in Dijon, France. He had six brothers and sisters, and they were very well educated. He was only 17 years old, when his mother died and his heart was broken.
     His lively sister, Humbeline, did not let him remain sad, and she did whatever she could to cheer him up.
     Soon Bernard became a very popular man. He was handsome and intelligent, full of fun and good humor and people enjoyed being with him.
     Then one day, Bernard surprised all his friends by telling them he was going to join the very strict Cistercian order and become a priest. They did all they could to make him give up the idea.
     But in the end, Bernard convinced his brothers, an uncle and 26 friends to join him.
     As Bernard and his brothers left their home, they said to their little brother Nivard, who was playing with other children: "Good-bye, little Nivard. You will now have all the lands and property for yourself."
     But the boy answered: "What! How can all of you go to heaven and leave me here on earth? Do you call that fair?"
     And when Nivard was older, he too joined his brothers in the monastery.
     St. Bernard became a very good monk.
     After three years, he was sent to start a new Cistercian monastery to be its abbot.
     The new monastery was in the Valley of Light, which in French is called "Clairvaux," and Bernard was the abbot there for the rest of his life.
     Although he would have liked to stay working and praying in his monastery, he was called out sometimes for special work. He preached, made peace between rulers and advised the Pope.
     He also wrote beautiful spiritual books. He became very famous, and people everywhere had great respect for him. But he did not want fame. More than anything else, Bernard wanted to be a monk and be close to God.
     This saint had a great devotion to the Blessed Mother. It is said that when he passed her statue, he often greeted her with a "Hail Mary." He also promoted the Memorare, a prayer asking for Mary’s intercession, during his lifetime.
     He is called mellificuus meaning his eloquence is “as sweet as honey.”
     St. Bernard died in 1153.—Reprinted from Holy Spirit Interactive Kids’ Zone