St. Bernard Parish at 500 Route 22 East, Bridgewater, NJ 08807 US - Liturgy and Worship Commission

The life and mission of the Church finds its source and summit in Liturgy, especially in the celebration of the Eucharist.

This commission studies the liturgical documents and the Rites of the Church, and works to nurture the spirituality of the parish. Found among the ministries which comprise the Commission for Liturgy and Worship are the following: Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion both in liturgy and to the home-bound and nursing home residents; Choirs; Readers; Altar Servers; Children's Liturgy; Liturgical Environment; Office of the Sacristan; Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults; Baptism; Ministers of Hospitality.

Introducing our new Director of Sacred Music.....

We are happy to announce that Mrs. Barbara Sanderman will be joining the St. Bernard Parish staff on August first as our new Director of Sacred Music. Barbara was Director of Music at Our Lady of the Mount Church in Warren for almost fifteen years, during which time she directed the Parish Choir, Children's Choir, smaller select music groups, a Handbell Choir and also coached cantors and instrumentalists. She also oversaw the direction of a recently formed Teen Music Group, run by a college student. Barbara was also responsible the recruiting and training of all music ministry volunteers, and was involved in the music for Sacraments and Vacation Bible School, which was known as "Jesus Week." She was also instrumental in developing a local Interfaith Thanksgiving Service which included local churches and synagogues.

The Beloved Daughters, a women's ensemble, was developed by Barbara. The group sang here at St. Bernard in 1999 for a National Pastoral Musician's Mass, have performed concerts, and have made a recording for the benefit of the Adorno Fathers' African Mission. Along with all of this she is pianist for the Grace Trio, a classical chamber ensemble comprised of flute, cello and piano. The Grace Trio, currently on hiatus while one of the members does a year of missionary work, has played at local churches, including St. Joseph, Bound Brook and St. Mary, South Amboy.

Barbara has served on the board of directors of the Metuchen Chapter of the National Pastoral Musicians Association, has often been involved in NPM events, and is currently Chapter Director.

She studied and performed as choral director with the Siena Session of Music and the Arts in Siena, Italy, studied church music at Westminster Choir College and musicology at Rutgers University. Her undergraduate degree in piano and math was received from Indiana University School of Music.

Barbara lives in Warren with her husband and two daughters.

We welcome Barbara to the St. Bernard parish family!