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Memorial Mass at St. Bridget’s set for Sr. Bernadette Kieninger

A Memorial Mass for Sister Bernadette Julie Kieninger, a member of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, will be celebrated in Saint Bridget Church in Richmond on Saturday, June 21, at 10 a.m.

Sister Bernadette, who had been Minister of Religious Education at St. Bridget’s since 1996, died suddenly May 30 soon after arriving in Florida to visit family. She had not been ill and had recently celebrated her 50th anniversary as a member of her religious community.

Sister Edithann Kane and Sister Mary Donohoe of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur Chesapeake Province wrote to Msgr. William Carr, St. Bridget Parish pastor: “We share in your sorrow at the death of our Sister and your parish’s good friend. With you we were able to celebrate her Golden Jubilee at St. Bridget last fall. She will be sorely missed.”

Sister Bernadette was born in the Bronx, NY, in 1939 and entered the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur in 1957. She taught primary school in Mt. Rainier, MD; Dexel Hill, PA; Decatur, GA, and Queens, NY.

In 1975 she was invited to open one of the first day care centers in Maryland and five years later was called upon to open another day care center in Washington, D.C.

Her remaining years of ministry were spent in the Richmond Diocese, with the exception of three years in a parish in Illinois.

In this diocese she served as Minister of Religious Education for Blessed Sacrament Parish, Harrisonburg; St. Augustine Parish, Richmond; Diocesan Regional Religious Education Coordinator for Region 6, and at St. Bridget’s.

Sister Bernadette represented the Baltimore Province on The National Conference for Catechetical Leadership and served in the diocese on the Planning Committee of the Richmond Catechetical Leaders Association.

Dennis Beeman, Director of the Diocesan Office of Christian Formation, said: “What I liked about her most was that she always challenged her peers to think beyond their local circumstances and to be aware of the larger issues of the diocesan, national and universal Church.

“She was also insistent that catechesis is a professional ministry that requires its leaders to be professionally trained in order to best hand on the gospel message of Jesus Christ.”

Sister Bernadette inspired many parishioners to increase their involvement in parish ministry. Over the years she taught everything pertaining to religious education and in recent years particularly enjoyed leading Bible studies for adults.

She leaves her mother, Gertrude Kieninger, of Vero Beach, FL, her brother, William and his wife Maureen, and her sister, Nancy Leahy, and husband John along with one niece, two nephews and five great nieces and nephews along with a host of loving and admiring friends.

“Sister Bernadette was committed to Christ, an intelligent leader and frugal in her personal life,” said Msgr. William Carr, pastor of St. Bridget’s.

“She was a great teacher and inspired many. Please come help us celebrate her life (at the June 21 Memorial Mass).”

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