Dear “New” Friends,
Since I am a relative unknown to most of you at Holy Redeemer, Father Paul has asked me to share a few things about myself by way of introduction. So, here’s the short version…
I consider myself an “Evansville boy”, even though I was born in St. Louis. Being born there is the extent of my Missourian pedigree. Aside from a few days in the hospital, almost the rest of our life has been spent here in Evansville.
I grew up on Rotherwood Avenue right across from what was then “Evansville College”. Those early years were spent in St. Benedict’s Parish. I have lots of wonderful memories of St. Ben’s that extend from Kindergarten right up through eighth grade. For those of you who are old enough to remember the Latin School (located in what is now the Catholic Center), I spent the first two years of high school there. About that time I discovered girls, which put a fast end to my aspirations to the priesthood. When I was sixteen, we moved into Christ the King Parish, where I established many close ties. I finished my high school career as a boarder at a Jesuit prep school in Bethesda, MD just outside Washington, D.C. These were great years. In fact, my entire childhood is filled with wonderful memories. Mom and Dad were devoted Catholics who really lived their faith.
Following high school, I found my way to the University of Notre Dame, but only after a couple of “false starts” at Fordham and Georgetown. Still managed to get my degree in four years; then onto the University of Illinois for a Master Degree in Urban Planning.
I met Mary Coerver, my wife of forty years in the Fall of 1973. We were married in June 1975 and our Lord has blessed us with five tremendous children – one boy followed by four girls. We now have five grandchildren and one “step grandchild”, all of whom are here in Evansville!
In 1980, I co-founded a planning and civil engineering consulting firm here in Evansville. The first several years were very tough, but we managed to survive and eventually thrive. I was ordained a permanent deacon in July 2005 and retired from Bernardin, Lochmueller & Associates three years later. Since ordination, I have served at St. John the Baptist Church in Newburgh and Christ the King in Evansville. Five of those years, I worked full-time in parish ministry. My greatest passion in ministry is the “New Evangelization”, helping people make that step of commitment to give their lives to Christ in the Catholic Church.
I can’t wait to get to know you all better in the coming months. If you’d like to talk one-on-one, please call the parish office and Becky Dossett can put you in touch with me. Or, email me at vbernardin@evdio.org. Thank you so much for your warm welcome.
With prayers and affection,
Deacon Vince Bernardin
Since I am a relative unknown to most of you at Holy Redeemer, Father Paul has asked me to share a few things about myself by way of introduction. So, here’s the short version…
I consider myself an “Evansville boy”, even though I was born in St. Louis. Being born there is the extent of my Missourian pedigree. Aside from a few days in the hospital, almost the rest of our life has been spent here in Evansville.
I grew up on Rotherwood Avenue right across from what was then “Evansville College”. Those early years were spent in St. Benedict’s Parish. I have lots of wonderful memories of St. Ben’s that extend from Kindergarten right up through eighth grade. For those of you who are old enough to remember the Latin School (located in what is now the Catholic Center), I spent the first two years of high school there. About that time I discovered girls, which put a fast end to my aspirations to the priesthood. When I was sixteen, we moved into Christ the King Parish, where I established many close ties. I finished my high school career as a boarder at a Jesuit prep school in Bethesda, MD just outside Washington, D.C. These were great years. In fact, my entire childhood is filled with wonderful memories. Mom and Dad were devoted Catholics who really lived their faith.
Following high school, I found my way to the University of Notre Dame, but only after a couple of “false starts” at Fordham and Georgetown. Still managed to get my degree in four years; then onto the University of Illinois for a Master Degree in Urban Planning.
I met Mary Coerver, my wife of forty years in the Fall of 1973. We were married in June 1975 and our Lord has blessed us with five tremendous children – one boy followed by four girls. We now have five grandchildren and one “step grandchild”, all of whom are here in Evansville!
In 1980, I co-founded a planning and civil engineering consulting firm here in Evansville. The first several years were very tough, but we managed to survive and eventually thrive. I was ordained a permanent deacon in July 2005 and retired from Bernardin, Lochmueller & Associates three years later. Since ordination, I have served at St. John the Baptist Church in Newburgh and Christ the King in Evansville. Five of those years, I worked full-time in parish ministry. My greatest passion in ministry is the “New Evangelization”, helping people make that step of commitment to give their lives to Christ in the Catholic Church.
I can’t wait to get to know you all better in the coming months. If you’d like to talk one-on-one, please call the parish office and Becky Dossett can put you in touch with me. Or, email me at vbernardin@evdio.org. Thank you so much for your warm welcome.
With prayers and affection,
Deacon Vince Bernardin