St Bernadette Church

Midnight mass. It’s a tradition my family has held for years, mostly bound by my grandparents who have attended this parish since my dad was younger than me. Nanny bakes the Eucharist; Pappy helps count money. They always sit in the front row and know exactly when you’re supposed to sit or stand.
Though my own path has led me away from the Catholic church, I confess I do enjoy coming here for our traditional Christmas Eve service. Sure, part of it’s nostalgia; part of it’s the Christmas carols. But I also love how different this parish is – no massive stainglass windows or gothic stone structure (though those are certainly beautiful!); this church is so modest and approachable. Jesus’ statue is art deco. The priest homily opens with a joke delivered with stand up comedic ease. The choir is 4-​part harmony and always does a nice job; plus they mix in drums, violins, oboe, and flute along with piano in the arrangements.
A particularly warm and inviting place for folks to celebrate their faith.