Pastor Bernadette grew up in a Catholic family who attended church regularly. She is the middle child with one older sister and one younger brother. Although she never claimed Catholicism as her own, she grew up familiar with God and with Jesus and looking back, can see how Jesus was “wooing” her and encountering her in big and small ways throughout her life. 

​

Bernadette had her son when she was 19 years old and married his father the following year. She and her husband both gave their lives to Christ a few years later in the fall of 1995. It wasn't long before she received the gift of the Holy Spirit and then quickly began asking the Lord for His “call” on her life, eagerly wanting to serve Him in whatever way He might choose to use her. Shortly after, she saw and responded to an advertisement in the church bulletin for part time work in the nursery. Over the next 10 years time, she served in 3 different positions of leadership in Children’s Ministries. The Lord used that time of teaching children and leading volunteers and staff to saturate her in the things of God. He used this time to develop her leadership capabilities and abilities to help foster and nurture the faith of the children she taught. 

​

Toward the end of her time working with kids,  after 10 years of marriage, she found herself enduring a deep betrayal and subsequently a very painful divorce. Over the course of the next few years, as the Lord was putting the pieces of her life back together, she began to sense a shift in the call on her life. Prior to and after the divorce, she had attended several years of personal counseling.  The Lord used this time to address the many wounds of her childhood and young adult life. Counseling became something she was very passionate about, and the Lord began to show her that if she would allow Him, He would use the pain she had experienced to guide others along their paths of emotional and spiritual healing.

 

As a single mom,  who had spent many years being away from formal education, Bernadette began an undergraduate degree in Psychology. While working full time to provide for herself and her son, she used most of her spare time to accomplished her first degree. 

 

In 2006, she transitioned from kids’ ministry and began her work in Pastoral Care. It was a good fit for what the Lord had begun building in her and how he would use her in future ministry assignments. She began to experience the Lord burdening her heart for those hurting and deepening her desire to walk with them in intentional and compassionate ways. She continued her education earning a Master of Arts in Pastoral Counseling in 2022. 

Pastor Bernadette’s time serving in church ministry came to a close at the end of 2025 having served the last 8 years as the Director of the Pastoral Care and Counseling. 

 

After many personal trials and difficulties, with almost 30 years in full time church ministry, a formal education as well as many additional trainings and certifications, Pastor Bernadette is trained, available and willing to help you, should you desire and the Lord allow. 

 

Her joy-filled journey continues, now with her husband Jason! They married in 2019 and have a splendid-blended family including 4 grand children!