Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Lenten Season begins on Ash Wednesday, February 18, 2026. On Ash Wednesday, St. Bernadette parish will offer a 6:30am Mass, 8:30am Mass, a 12:00pm Liturgy of the Word and 5:00pm Mass. Everyone who comes to Mass, or the noonday Liturgy of the Word will receive ashes on their foreheads. The ashes are a reminder that each one of us came from dust and will return to dust one day. The ashes on our foreheads are in the shape of a cross. Wearing this sign on our foreheads proclaims to others "I live for Christ".

Dear Brothers and Sister,

On Wednesday, February 11th, we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, whose first of 18 apparitions to St. Bernadette took place 168 years ago in the Grotto of Massabielle in Lourdes, France. On February 26, 1858, during the 9th apparition, St. Bernadette, following Our Lady's request, uncovered the spring at Massabielle (the grotto). That same day, word spread of the event, but it was Catherine Latapie, who came just days later, who received what would become the first officially recognized miracle: her paralyzed hand was instantly restored after bathing it in the spring.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Presentation of the Lord and Candlemas Day The Church celebrates Candlemas Day on February 2nd every year which is the celebration of the Presentation of the Lord. This feast celebrates three important events. It commemorates the day that Our Blessed Mother Mary came to the Temple as the Law required of all women, to go through a purification ceremony 40 days after giving birth. Because of this, it is also referred to as the Feast of the Purification of Mary and is the reason why it is always celebrated on February 2nd.