Fr. Mark Bernhard's Homilies

2021-11-21 Fr Mark - 34th Sunday of OT - Build Your Conviction: Jesus Is King

2021-11-7 Fr Mark - 32nd Sunday of OT - When You Feel Defeated

2021-10-31 Fr Mark - 31st Sunday of OT - OWN Your ATTENTION!

2021-10-17 Fr Mark - 29th Sunday of OT - My Perfectionism Meets Jesus

2021-10-10 Fr Mark - 28th Sunday of OT - The Power of Money

2021-10-03 Fr Mark - 27th Sunday of OT - As Marriage Goes, So Goes the Nation

2021-09-24 Fr Mark - School Mass - When In Need of a Pick-Me-Up

2021-09-19 Fr Mark - 25th Sunday of OT - Play Stupid Games, Win Stupid Prizes

2021-09-12 Fr Mark - 24th Sunday of OT - Never Ring the Bell

2021-09-05 Fr Mark - 23rd Sunday of OT - When Social Norms Lead To Spiritual Deafness

The environment in which we live can play a role in who we become. Fr. Mark encourages individuals and families to ask themselves, “What social norms do I follow that contribute to my spiritual deafness?” Although the secular environment is powerful, the Gospel is more powerful.

2021-08-22 Fr Mark 21st Sunday of OT - Wives, Do What?!

Ephesians 5 is a crucial passage in understanding God’s will for Christian marriage. Fr. Mark encourages married couples to remember that their marriage is a sacrament and to call upon God for help. 

2021-08-15 Fr Mark 20th Sunday of OT - Is Chastity Even Possible Today?

The Assumption of Mary proclaims the truth about the human body. Fr. Mark explains how this feast can be a revelatory moment in realizing the possibility of living a chaste life.

2021-08-01 Fr Mark - 18th Sunday of OT - We've Lost a Sense of Mystery

Our culture has lost a sense of mystery. Fr. Mark describes the importance of mystery and the harm of a grumbling disposition. He encourages us to surrender to the mystery of God and receive the nourishment which God wants to give us.

2021-07-25 Fr Mark - 17th Sunday of OT - The Need To Be In Tip-Top Shape

Given our secular culture, the need to be in Tip-Top shape is great. Fr. Mark encourages us to raise the bar and be consistent so we can live in a manner worthy of the call we have received.

2021-07-11 Fr Mark - 15th Sunday of OT - First Things First

2021-07-04 Fr Mark – 14th Sunday of OT – Hi, I’m Your New Pastor!

In Fr. Mark’s first homily at Notre Dame, he shares 3 promises and the convictions that will drive him during his time as a pastor. 

2021-06-20 Fr Mark - 12th Sunday of OT - Fr. Mark Says Goodbye to St. Mary

2021-06-06 Fr Mark - Corpus Christi Sunday - No More Eucharistic Ambiguity!

2021-05-19 Fr Mark - 8th Grade Ribbon Mass: Watch Out for the Wolves

2021-05-16 Fr Mark - Ascension Sunday - The Ascension! So What?

2021-05-02 Fr Mark - 5th Sunday of Easter -Avoid Burnout And Running Yourself Into The Ground

2021-04-18 Fr Mark - 3rd Sunday of Easter - It’s Time To Come Out Of Hiding And Be Robustly Catholic

2021-04-11 Fr Mark - Divine Mercy Sunday - Glorious Wounds

On Divine Mercy Sunday Fr. Mark explores the question: why does the resurrected Christ still have His wounds? He looks at three of the reasons that St. Thomas Aquinas gives and how we are to look at the glorious wounds of Christ.

2021-04-21 Fr Mark - Easter Sunday - Dealing With The Deceiver

2021-04-01 Fr Mark - Holy Thursday: Power Of The Lamb

2021-03-27 Fr Mark - Confirmation Homily - Turning Outward

2020-03-24 Fr Mark - Daily Mass - Sometimes It's Okay to Break the Rules

Father Mark explains to the kids at St. Mary's school that sometimes it is okay to break the rules.

2021-03-21 Fr Mark - 5th Sunday of Lent - Embrace The Process: Gethsemane Moments and Death

Our goal is to go deeper with Christ; this is a life-long process. Fr. Mark explains that the process always contains Gethsemane moments and the process must include death. As Jesus approaches His aim, He shows us how to better embrace the process.

2020-02-28 Fr Mark - 2nd Sunday of Lent- Going Deeper: The Battle of Prayer

Many parishioners took the step in the desert this past week by clearing some much-needed clutter and distractions; many were convicted that their phones and screen time keep them from going deeper. Now we go into the silence and engage in the battle of prayer. Fr. Mark gives us a tool to help us go deeper.

2021-02-21 Fr Mark - 1st Sunday of Lent - My Phone Is Keeping Me From Going Deeper!

The world is making us accustomed to staying shallow rather than going deep. We were created to go deep with Jesus, that only happens through prayer and silence. Fr. Mark invites us into the desert to clear the clutter and distractions that keep us from going deep with Christ. 

2021-01-31 Fr Mark - 4th Sunday of OT - No Authority? The Devil Runs Amuck!

In the gospel today we see Jesus teach and act with authority. Fr. Mark encourages us to submit to God’s supreme authority and then gives two practice steps to resist the devil in our day-to-day life.

2021-01-24 Fr Mark - 3rd Sunday of OT - America: Collapse or Thrive? Three Lessons We Must Learn

The city of Nineveh was on the verge of collapse due to a breakdown of the moral framework. Jonah was sent by God to preach repentance in the city. Before Jonah could go to Nineveh and preach repentance he has to learn three important lessons. Father Mark encourages us to learn these same lessons so as to bring about healing and conversion in our nation.

2020-12-27 Fr Mark - Feast of the Holy Family - Families Today Must Get Scrappy!

On the feast of the Holy Family Fr. Marks shares the importance of normalizing the faith in the home. He challenges us to consider the areas where we have not been scrappy enough.

2020-12-25 Fr Mark - Christmas - Behind Enemy Lines

God came quietly and secretively, born in disguise behind enemy lines so as to rescue us. Fr. Mark encourages everyone to take a Christmas assessment to determine what side of the line they are on.

2020-12-08 Fr Mark - Feast of the Immaculate Conception - Here Is My Heel!

Fr. Mark delivers the school Mass homily to the 3rd graders on the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

2020-12-06 Fr Mark - 2nd Sunday of Advent - It's Okay To Feel Bad About Yourself

The message of John the Baptist is contrary to the message of the world. Fr. Mark explains that it’s okay to feel bad about ourselves if that motivates us to get rid of the things that are bad about ourselves.

2020-11-22 Fr Mark - 34th Sunday of OT - Don't Drink the Kool Aid

Pope Pius XI instituted the Feast of Christ the King in 1925 to respond to the rise of secularism and nationalism. The result of believing things that were not true led to a lot of death and destruction.  Fr. Mark warns us not to drink the two cups of Kool-Aid that the world is offering us right now.  We need to obey God and have the right outlook on death.

2020-11-01 Fr Mark - 31st Sunday of OT - We’re Losing Because We Have A Crisis of Heroes!

On the Solemnity of All Saints, Fr. Mark encourages us to choose wisely the heroes that we have. Heroes play a role in who we become and we all must play our part to end the crisis and become a saint.

2020-10-18 Fr Mark - 29th Sunday of OT - Jesus, Democrat or Republican?

In saying “give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and give to God what belongs to God” Jesus teaches that all things, even politics, ought to be informed by strong and clear religious principles. Due to sin, there are many injustices that need attention in our nation; triage is needed. Fr. Mark encourages us to think with the mind of Christ and the Church when forming our conscience for the upcoming election.

2020-09-27 Fr Mark - 26th Sunday of OT - Check Yourself Before You Wreck Yourself

Pride and laziness contributed to the Chief Priests and Elders not repenting and turning from their wickedness. Fr. Mark explains the importance of self-knowledge and 'putting in the work’ in overcoming sin and progressing in the spiritual life.

2020-09-13 Fr Mark - 24th Sunday of OT- Freeloaders Are Annoying!

There is nothing worse than receiving God’s mercy and not giving it away. When it comes to forgiving others, everything is at stake; if we don’t forgive, we don’t get forgiven. Fr. Mark explains a false notion of forgiveness and the harm it can do and offers tips to help us forgive those who have harmed us.

2020-08-30 Fr Mark - 22nd Sunday of OT - You Calling Me A BUST?!?!

Last week Jesus chose Peter to be the one to build His church on; this week we find out that Peter is a bust because he resisted sacrifice. Fr. Mark explains the harmful consequences when we don’t habitually think with the mind of God in terms of sacrifice. He encourages us to look for opportunities to daily deny ourselves so we don’t become a bust.

2020-08-18 Fr Mark - Daily Mass - Hey buddy, you’re great and all, but you’re not God!

The Prince of Tyre thinks he is a God; he thinks he sits on a godly throne. Over and over again the Bible tells us that pride will destroy. We need to be given the same straight talk the  Prophet Ezekiel gives the Prince of Tyre.

2020-08-16 Fr Mark - 20th Sunday of OT - I'm a Priest and I Want to Get Married

In the Gospel today (Matthew 15:21-28) we hear a battle between Jesus and a woman where He draws her in. Fr. Mark explains the importance of expressing our longings and desires to Jesus; this battle is painful, but the battle must be routinely engaged to become whole and integrated.

2020-08-04 Fr Mark - Daily Mass - Elevate the Mundane

St. John Vianney was a simple country priest, but by elevating the mundane, he was an antidote to the chaos in 19th century France. Fr. Mark challenges us to look at the mundane things in our lives and see them as opportunities to sanctify ourselves and the world around us.

2020-08-02 Fr Mark - 18th Sunday of OT - Responsibility and Dependency

The disciples feel the weight of responsibility when Jesus asks them to feed the crowds themselves. Fr. Mark explains that responsibility and dependency are two crucial components to any Christian's walk with Christ. 

2020-07-19 Fr Mark - 16th Sunday of OT - Statues Of Jesus Beheaded: Start Small, Start Somewhere

It doesn’t take much effort to notice all the evil at work in the world today. Fr. Mark explains three principles that can be drawn from today's Gospel (Mt 13:24-43) in order to combat evil.

2020-07-18 Fr Mark - Daily Mass - Jesus' end goal wasn't to win arguments

In the gospel today, MT 12:14-21, we see Jesus intentionally walking away from an argument that was brewing.  Fr Mark asks us to be like Jesus towards people in our life, be it at work, at home with our family, friends and our kids wherein we see that the end goal of discourse is to aim for a healthy conversation and not arguments; conversations that lead towards the conversion of hearts.

2020-07-16 Fr Mark - Daily Mass - How Hard Is Your Bite?

In the Gospel today (Mt 11:28-30) Jesus asks us to learn from Him. Meekness is best understood as power under control. How quickly do we snap and lose control with family members? Fr. Mark encourages us to ask Jesus to harness us so we become meek.

2020-07-14 Fr Mark - Daily Mass - Sorry, But You Have Major Responsibility

In the Gospel this morning Mt 11:20-24, Jesus rails off some harsh words to those who have seen mighty deeds but are still unrepentant. With every blessing comes a degree of responsibility. Fr. Mark encourages us to feel the load of responsibility so as to repent and be a saint.