Dear Parishioners and Friends,
70th Anniversary Celebration
Over the coming weeks, we will celebrate the 70th anniversary of St Bernadette Parish. Why is it so important to celebrate an anniversary? For people of faith, an anniversary is an opportunity to recognise God's faithful presence in our lives and to give thanks for all that He has done among us.
For seventy years, St Bernadette’s has been a place where people have encountered Christ. It is where children have been baptised, families have gathered around the Lord's table, young people have received the sacraments, couples have exchanged their marriage vows, and we have entrusted our loved ones to God's eternal embrace. Through moments of joy and moments of sorrow, this parish has been a spiritual home for generations.
Moreover, I believe this anniversary is above all a celebration of gratitude. We thank God for those who had the vision and courage to establish this parish in 1956. We remember with affection the priests, sisters, parish staff, teachers, volunteers and parishioners whose generosity has built this community of faith. Each person, in ways great and small, has left a lasting legacy.
The anniversary also invites us to look towards the future. We are now the custodians of this wonderful parish. The faith we have received is not something to keep to ourselves, but a gift to be shared with future generations. Together, we are called to continue building a parish that is welcoming, joyful, compassionate and centred on Christ, a parish where every person knows that he or she belongs and where the Gospel is lived with conviction.
I warmly invite every one of you, whether you have been here for fifty years (or more), or have only recently joined our community, to be part of our anniversary celebrations. Your presence matters because you are part of the story of St Bernadette Parish.
As we celebrate seventy years of God's blessings, may we renew our commitment to walk together in faith, hope and love, trusting that the Lord, who has guided this parish for seven decades, will continue to lead us into the future.
Fr Silvio Bezzina MSSP
Parish Priest