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Link to 360 Tour
Saint Bernadette Catholic Church was founded on April 8, 2008. On May 15, 2011, Archbishop Kurtz officiated at a ground-breaking ceremony for Saint Bernadette Church. The dedication of the new church was held on April 21, 2013.
Bell Tower – The Bell in the Bell Tower is from Transfiguration of Our Lord in Goshen (prior to that is was at St. John, Jackson Street). The bell rings on the hour and prior to Mass as a call to prayer.
Narthex/Gathering Space – The narthex or gathering space is where we prepare to enter God’s house. This is a place of community building and mission. There are several meeting rooms; a small kitchen; a nursery; restrooms; and the Day Chapel.
Baptismal Font – The Baptismal Font is located at the entrance of the Nave. This design is unique and purposeful to remind us that we are baptized into Christ, fed by the word and sacrament, strengthened, and sent forth on mission into the world. At Saint Bernadette, there is a lower font used from Easter Sunday to Pentecost Sunday and an upper font used throughout the rest of the year. The wooden cross on the floor covers the lower font. The cross is a compass with Christ guiding us always in the right direction. The letters INRI stand for Latin words that mean “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews”. These letters were put on the cross that Jesus died on. There are 12 circles in the wood – a symbol of the 12 apostles and the 12 tribes of Israel.
Day Chapel – The Day Chapel is a place where people can come to pray quietly. The capacity of the Day Chapel is 72, which corresponds to the 72 disciples sent forth by Christ.
The Grotto in our chapel honors Bernadette Soubirous, who lived in a village in France called Lourdes. Mary appeared to Bernadette, a young girl, many times in Lourdes and miracles of healing took place there. The Grotto in the Chapel is about 100 years old and was once in St. Phillip Neri Church.
The stain glass windows (added in 2015) depict the Candlelight Marian Procession that occurs each evening in Lourdes, France prior to the last Mass of the day.
The wooden statue of the Holy Family is from Mother of Good Counsel Church.
You will also notice two leather memorial books – one records all donations to the building of the church and the other records memorial gifts for those who have died and donations to the baptismal font (“Pennies for Heaven”).
Nave – The nave is the big area in the church where God’s people gather for Mass. There is seating for 1200 people at Saint Bernadette. We enter in silence because we are entering a sacred space. The people are called the “Assembly” because we assemble for Mass. The pews are the seats where the people sit to listen to God’s Word and pray.
Reconciliation Room - It is here that we have the opportunity to tell God that we are sorry. We can talk to the priest about this either face to face sitting in chairs or we can use the screen if we feel more comfortable.
Sanctuary – This is the area all around the altar. The Baldacchino is the large fixed canopy over the altar.
Altar – The altar is the table where the priest celebrates the Eucharist. The word Eucharist means “to give thanks”. Our altar is made of marble that came from Italy. All of the marble pieces you see in our church were used in another church before it closed, St. Vincent DePaul, here in Louisville.
Crucifix –The crucifix reminds us of Jesus’ great love for us. This crucifix came from the Mother of Good Counsel Church.
Ambo – The ambo is where people read God’s word to us during the Mass. Do you see the Lamb on the front of the Ambo? Jesus is the Lamb of God; He sacrificed His life for us. Do you see the Greek letters Alpha and Omega on the sides of the Ambo? Jesus is the Alpha (beginning) and the Omega (end).
Choir area - To the left of the Sanctuary –– This is where the musicians and choir sit. What a gift it is to have beautiful voices to praise God and the talent to play an instrument to praise Him! The choir has a Choir Room behind this area where they can practice.
Sacristy – The sacristy is where the priest and ministers prepare for Mass. The altar servers, lectors, and Eucharistic ministers meet in the sacristy before Mass. Supplies like vessels (patens, ciborium, chalices), purificators, altar cloth, corporals, candles, etc. are kept here.
Reservation Chapel – The Tabernacle is in the Reservation Chapel. The Tabernacle is where the Eucharist is kept. The Sacred Body (blessed hosts) of Jesus is “reserved” here to take to the sick at home and in the hospitals. There is a lit candle beside it to show that Jesus is present there in the Eucharist. A Reservation Chapel is “reserved” for those who wish to pray privately; the main area of the church is for public worship.
Statues of Mary/Joseph – Many churches have statues of saints. Almost every church has a statue of Mary, the Mother of Jesus. These saint statues remind us of the lives these holy people lived; they loved God very much and tried hard to be like Jesus.
Stations of the Cross – The Stations of the Cross are hanging on the wall. There are 14 stations. (Some churches have 15 stations, including the Resurrection.) These Stations of the Cross are from St. Vincent DePaul Church too.
Vestry (far right rear of church) – This is where the priest and deacons vestments are kept. They wear different colors during the different Church seasons.