Celebrating the 67th Feast Day of St Bernadette Parish
- 3 days ago
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Last April 18, 2026, our parish family joyfully marked the 67th Feast Day of St Bernadette with prayer, fellowship, and thanksgiving. The celebration was preceded by a three-day Triduum, preparing our hearts to honor our patroness more deeply.
Parishioners gathered for Vespers, beginning the Triduum
The Triduum
Each evening (April 15, 16, 17) began with Vespers*, followed by Mass. The priests—Friar Derrick Yap, Rev. Fr. Peter Koh, and Rev. Msgr. Marinko Antolovic (Counsellor of the Apostolic Nunciature)—who respectively celebrated the Triduum Masses, offered homilies that wove together the life of St Bernadette with the Easter season’s Gospel themes, inviting us to see her witness as a living echo of the Resurrection. For those who were unable to join us, these homilies were recorded and remain available to listen here.
Triduum mass Celebrants - Friar Derrick Yap, Rev. Fr Peter Koh, Rev. Msgr. Marinko Antolovic
✦ What Are Vespers?
Vespers are the evening prayers of the Church, part of the Liturgy of the Hours (also called the Divine Office). Traditionally prayed at sunset, Vespers include psalms, a short scripture reading, the Magnificat (Mary's song of praise), intercessions, and a closing prayer.
By beginning each Triduum evening with Vespers, our parish joined the wider Church in sanctifying the day with prayer, lifting our hearts in thanksgiving and praise before the Mass.
After Mass, parishioners gathered for refreshments, strengthening bonds of community and friendship.
Fellowship after Mass—refreshments shared in joy and community
Feast Day Mass and Procession
“Parish family united in worship during the Feast Day liturgy.
On the Feast Day itself, the parish came together in full joy. The solemn procession of St. Bernadette’s relic around the church compound, together with the praying of the rosary, alternately in four languages (English, Chinese, Bahasa Indonesia and Tagalog), was a beautiful testament to our shared faith. The celebrant, Msgr Marinko Antolovic's homily reminded us, that St. Bernadette’s simplicity and trust in God continue to inspire us to live the Easter message with courage and hope.
The relic of St. Bernadette carried in solemn procession around the church compound
The evening concluded with a communal dinner, where laughter and fellowship carried the spirit of celebration into the night.
Communal dinner after the procession—celebrating faith and friendship
Launch of Our New Parish Theme
This year’s Feast Day carried a special significance: during the Mass, our parish officially launched the new theme, “Create Christ Encounter, Many Parts One Body.” Rooted in St. Paul’s vision of the Church as one body with many members, this theme invites each of us to recognize our unique gifts and to use them in service of Christ and one another.
The Feast Day celebration became the perfect moment to embrace this call—reminding us that just as St Bernadette encountered Christ through her humility and devotion, we too are called to create spaces where others can meet Him in prayer, fellowship, and service.
Rev Fr. Aloysius in his homily on the weekend Sunday mass of our feast day celebrations, reflected on how our parish is entering into its new theme and how as a parish we are moving from participation to discipleship, moving from discipleship then to mission. To carry the message beyond the celebration, a commemorative bookmark was distributed to parishioners, reminding us daily of our call to live as one body in Christ.
Read more about our Parish theme here.
Rev Fr Aloysius, our Parish priest giving his homily, reflecting on the Feast Day theme. .
Banners of our Parish theme in the sanctuary, and a commemorative bookmark
For those who were not able to join us on April 19, 2026, the Sunday weekend mass of our feast day celebration - listen to the homily of Rev Fr Aloysius, that was recorded.
Why We Celebrate Our Patroness
Feast days are more than anniversaries; they are moments of renewal. By celebrating St Bernadette, we remember her humility, perseverance, and unwavering devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes. Her life reminds us that holiness is found not in grandeur, but in simple fidelity to God’s call. For our parish, her feast day is a time to recommit ourselves to her example, asking for her intercession as we continue our journey of faith. Her feast day marks her death anniversary, considered her "birthday in heaven".
How Other Parishes Celebrate
Around the world, parishes celebrate their patronal feast days in ways that reflect both local culture and Catholic tradition:
Philippines: Parish feast days often include novenas, processions, and festive gatherings with music, food, and cultural performances. The town folks open their homes to visitors to share a simple meal.
Italy: Patronal feasts are marked with solemn liturgies, candlelight processions, and sometimes fireworks.
Latin America: Many parishes celebrate with vibrant processions, traditional dances, and public devotions, often lasting several days.
India: Feast days often include novenas, decorated church grounds, and communal meals, with parishioners contributing to the festivities as acts of thanksgiving.
Though varied, these celebrations share a common thread: they are expressions of gratitude to God for the gift of a patron saint, and opportunities for communities to strengthen their bonds of faith and fellowship.
Reflection
St Bernadette’s life teaches us that God works through the humble and the small. Her courage in bearing witness to Our Lady of Lourdes, despite poverty and frailty, reminds us that faith is not about strength or status, but about trust. In our parish, her example calls us to live simply, pray deeply, and serve generously
Testimonial
"What touched me most about the Feast Day celebration was the procession of St Bernadette and her relics, and praying the rosary. It brought me back to my time when I was in Lourdes attending the rosary procession and praying in different languages as we did here that night. It was definitely a spirit-filled evening, everyone in one voice despite the different languages leading in the prayers.
It reminded me that we are one community, gathered from many parts, coming together in faith and thanksgiving. In that shared prayer, I was given a glimpse of what we are called to be: one Church that is evangelical, missionary, and alive in Christ. I thank God for giving me the opportunity to experience that evening with the community. - Esther Chia - Parishioner
Call to Action
As we continue in the joy of Eastertide, let us carry St Bernadette’s witness into our daily lives:
Pray with humility and trust, even in small moments.
Belong more deeply to our parish family by sharing fellowship and service.
Serve others with simplicity, reflecting Christ’s love in practical ways.
May this feast inspire us to live as living witnesses of faith, just as St. Bernadette did. And may our new parish theme, “Create Christ Encounter, Many Parts One Body,” guide us in building a community where Christ is encountered in every prayer, every act of service, and every moment of belonging.
