Who We Are
Learn more about our parish, our mission, and our Patron St. Bernard of Clairvax.
About Us
Welcome to St. Bernard Catholic Church. Our parish got its start in 1947 as a mission church in the small town of New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania. Since then, we have become an independent parish in the Diocese of Harrisburg and have grown from about 153 members to over 1,100 members. Over our 75 year history, we moved from the original parish property on McClure Street to a 20 acre property outside of town where a new church was built and dedicated in 2003. Soon after, a rectory, education center, parish hall, and garage were built to suit our growing spiritual and educational needs.
We invite you to join us as we give thanks to God for His abundant blessings and strive to spread the gospel throughout the world.
Our Mission
We are called to evangelize and spread the gospel by the way we live our daily faith in Jesus Christ. We are nourished by the Lord in the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and in the faithful reception of Holy Communion. We deepen our love for the Lord Jesus in the study of His sacred word and the teachings of our faith. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit we continue to grow as faithful members of the Body of Christ.
“As a Eucharistic Parish in the Catholic Tradition, formed by Gospel Faith in the Lordship of Jesus, we are called by the Holy Spirit to build the Body of Christ through prayer, evangelization, teaching, and loving service to our neighbor, and through Word and Sacrament in worship of God as we await the return of our Savior.”
Mission Statement of Parish
Our Mission
We are called to evangelize and spread the gospel by the way we live our daily faith in Jesus Christ. We are nourished by the Lord in the celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass and in the faithful reception of Holy Communion. We deepen our love for the Lord Jesus in the study of His sacred word and the teachings of our faith. Under the guidance of the Holy Spirit we continue to grow as faithful members of the Body of Christ.
“As a Eucharistic Parish in the Catholic Tradition, formed by Gospel Faith in the Lordship of Jesus, we are called by the Holy Spirit to build the Body of Christ through prayer, evangelization, teaching, and loving service to our neighbor, and through Word and Sacrament in worship of God as we await the return of our Savior.”
Mission Statement of Parish
Our Patron
Saint Bernard of Clairvaux: Abbot and Doctor of the Church
Bernard was born near Dijon, France in 1090. At twenty-two he entered the Benedictine abbey of Citeaux, where he founded the Cistercian order. In 1115, he was named Abbot of a new monastery at Clairvaux, which gave origin to many other Cistercian monastaries. During his life, he was the most powerful religious influence in Europe, known for his holy life, miraculous cures, and his teaching. He died in 1153, and devotion to his spirituality rapidly spread. Bernard is patron saint of beekeepers, candle makers, and skiers. Bernard’s name in German means “brave like bear.” His feast day is August 20th.
This mural of St. Bernard hangs in the narthex of our church.
Our History
Learn more about our 75 year history serving the people of New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania.