Bernadette invites new people, no matter their experiences, to encounter the mission and community of Eden Invitation through media, mailers, emails, and the written word. Bernadette graduated from Mount St. Mary University with a Bachelor’s in English Education and from the University of Wroclaw (Poland) with a Master’s in English Philology. She's worked as a campus minister, middle school teacher, proofreader, and editor. The thread tying these experiences together is her love of good stories, those that communicate the truth, goodness, and beauty written into every life.
"On the Porch" with Bernadette
We’re more than what we do or what we’ve done– we’re unrepeatable people with unique stories to tell.
So if you have a moment, pull up a chair on our metaphorical porch here and get to know us a bit more!
How have you seen God moving in your life?
God has given me a gift for words and a heart that longs for unity in the Body of Christ. He walks with me, ever patient and ever merciful, and reveals His Love through the beauty of creation, the crazy timing of seemingly unrelated things, and the stories and people I receive along the way.
In these little glimpses, God has shown me the open sky He's bringing us towards. One example is the gradual way I came to know Eden Invitation; first reading a blog in 2018, then meeting Anna Carter and Shannon Ochoa at a conference a year later. The heart of Eden Invitation's mission and community was a light that pierced through the fog for me. I can't help but cry out what I see! For me, working in this mission is my means of inviting other people surrounded by discouragement and confusion about faith and LGBTQ+ experiences to look up, to see the sky that touches the Horizon line of Heaven. He's prepared each of us a place there, and He's a God who keeps His Promises.
Who has inspired you on this Journey to Heaven? Patron Saints, role models, cool authors?
Saints (or "To Be Saints Someday") | St. Joan of Arc, St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (Edith Stein), St. Faustina Kowalska, St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Saint John Paul II, Blessed Sára Salkaházi, Servant of God Sr. Clare Crockett, Servant of God Catherine Doherty
Other Cool People | C.S. Lewis, Jaques Maritain, Dana Gioia, Mary Shaffer, Flannery O'Connor, Seamus Heaney, Madeline L'Engle, Dante Alighieri, Bishop Erik Varden
What’s a beautiful part of your job? Perhaps something that people may not see from the surface level of your job description?
Communications could be boiled down to emails, media posts, website pages, mailers-- things that we often take for granted. But in each of these mediums, I have the opportunity to collaborate with people from a wide range of experiences to invite others to encounter God. And more importantly-- we all share this opportunity to collaborate with God and His work in the world.
When I stop and really let that sink in, it floors me.
Can you show us a glimpse of your experience in this mission, like videos, links, interviews, etc?
Sparks of Hope | 2023 Anniversary Drive Feature
Promises Blog Series, June 2023 | I shared more in-depth about my story, from navigating same-sex attraction to encountering Eden Invitation, and the ways God has been faithful to His Promises in my life.
Heir to the Kingdom | 2024 Anniversary Drive Feature
Every General Newsletter or Good Fruit Donor Newsletter you receive in your email inbox!
And if you get things in the mail from us- that's my work too!
How can people be praying for you and your work?
Language is a powerful thing-- it opens opportunities to understand and grow with each other, but those are also opportunities for misunderstandings, judgement, and pain. Please pray for me and for all of those who reach out to us, that we can have our hearts open to whatever graces the Lord is inviting us to discover and receive through each interaction.
Porch Events are opportunities for people to get to know our community better. If we did a Potluck for a Porch Event, what are you bringing?
I don't claim to cook; I experiment.
One successful mistake that has been a party favorite is Homemade Green Tomato Jam, in which I royally misjudged how many spices to add. Paired with a goat cheese though, the heavy spices are balanced out-- a lovely addition to any autumnal charcuterie board!
Book Clubs are centered on walking together as striving Disciples with LGBTQ+ experiences, usually reading a spiritual classic or Eden Invitation blogs. BUT if you could do a Book Club with Eden Invitation people, on ANY book, which book would you choose?
Of course I can't choose just one... I would love to do a Book Club on any of the following:
Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis
Wick and Arrow by Mary Shaffer
Any Flannery O'Connor stories or books
We love seeing the beloved and unrepeatable talents of our Community and Pastoral Team during our Retreat TalenTED show! What would you do for TalenTED?
At my first Eden Invitation Retreat in 2021, I read some of my original poetry for TalenTED. It was the first time I ever shared them with an audience! Since then, I've taken on coordinating TalenTED for each retreat, so my talents are largely in the background.
If I did a TED talk though, it would be on the characters of the English alphabet we lost because of the invention of the printing press.
If you could go on a Community Weekend, a kind of “family vacation” with your Hearth Group, to ANYWHERE in the world, where would you want to go?
I would love to take people on a little tour of Poland or Ireland! If staying Stateside, I'd love to tour some museums!
It’s time for Toasts! When we raise a glass to celebrate God’s Graces in our lives, what bevvy are you lifting up?
Sparkling water is a go-to, but I would also enjoy a glass of red wine or port.
What’s your favorite piece of EI gear?
I love our Pilgrim Longing logo! I especially love the cozier items we have-- a hoodie, a mug, or a 5-panel cap.
We love building playlists for each year’s Retreat theme– what are some top songs on your playlists?
creature-w/ Orchestra by half alive
The Summer- Live at the Sydney Opera House/ 2015 by Josh Pyke
Struggler by Brother Isaiah
Free by Florence + The Machine
Moscow by Autoheart
Baba Yetu by Christopher Tin
Wedding Song by Anais Mitchell and Justin Vernon