St. Bernard School was established in 1891 by the Sisters of Perpetual Adoration (later to become known as the Sisters of the Most Holy Sacrament) who were invited to Breaux Bridge by Reverend Antoine Borias. Many students attended the school until they celebrated the sacrament of Confirmation, and then transferred to an accredited high school for graduation in order to be able to go to college.

In the year 1921, the school became accredited, allowing students to complete their education at St. Bernard School. The school produced many fine students who went on to become leaders in the community. Included among these students was Jules Jeanmard, who later served the Diocese of Lafayette as its first bishop.

Housed in different buildings since its beginning, the school’s current structure was erected in 1958. St. Bernard School served the community of Breaux Bridge and the surrounding areas for a number of years. However, declining numbers of religious serving the school made it difficult for the school to survive financially. The high school closed its doors in 1966, and the elementary school was closed in 1971.

Dedicated parents and alumni never gave up on the idea of providing a quality Catholic education for the students of the community. As a result of their determination and three years of organizational meetings, St. Bernard School reopened its doors in 1982 as a K-5 school with an enrollment of 190 students.

Among those who labored in this effort was Rene’ Calais, who served as Principal from 1982 - 1991. Under his leadership, St. Bernard School grew to a K-8 school, with a new junior high building added, which was dedicated to him on May 17, 1990.

Since its reopening, St. Bernard School has been the proud recipient of many prestigious awards. Those listed below are most cherished by the school community: St. Elizabeth Seton Award in 1983 and the national honor of a U. S. Exemplary School in 1988.

Mr. J. Carrol Mouton served the students of St. Bernard school as their Principal from 1991 – 1993. The school continued to thrive and many new families joined the St. Bernard School family.

Former Principal, L. Keith Bartlett, spent five years (1993 - 1998) at St. Bernard School. In this time, he was instrumental in establishing a Pre-Kindergarten Program (1995) as well as Annual Science Symposiums and a cultural arts series, “Baggin’ on the Bayou.” In July 1994, St. Bernard School was selected to attend New Frontiers at the University of Dayton.

Jeannine Menard served St. Bernard School as principal from July 1998 through May 2005. St. Bernard School continued to thrive under her direction and leadership. A second Pre-Kindergarten class was added in 1999. Mrs. Menard was voted “Administrator of the Year” as well as our school received the distinction of being named the Acadiana Reading Council’s School of the Year for 1998-1999.

The 2004 - 2005 school year was the first year students and teachers were in classrooms in our new Pre-K building, the Sidonie Thevenet Morgan Early Learning Center. In the spring of 2005, the new Anna Belle T. Huval Memorial Library opened. This beautiful building is truly a treasure for all the libraries of books as well as additional computers to aid in students’ research.

Bill Butcher was the interim principal for St. Bernard School for the 2005 - 2006 school year. The school’s enrollment included two sections of Pre-K, three sections of kindergarten and two sections of first through eighth grades. Mr. Butcher is also credited to beginning a Jr. Beta Honors Club here at St. Bernard School which saw a membership of over 60 sixth through eighth graders in its first year.

The 2006 – 2007 school year welcomes Glen Breaux as principal. He comes to St. Bernard School with over three decades of administrative experience within St. Martin Parish. Mr. Breaux is anxious to bring his experience in brain research and passion for professional development to the students and staff of St. Bernard in order to take the school to the next level.

We have many exciting programs and events that involve the community. We have an annual Passion Play, Advent Play and Christmas Play and we continue to offer the arts to our students through our cultural arts program. Now going into our 14th year, the annual Symposium of Learning is still growing strong. St. Bernard School continues to succeed with the assistance of parents, faculty, alumni, and our community support.

For the past 25 years, the St. Bernard School Foundation has helped ensure that the school will never again be faced with the dire straits of the past. Through generous donations and grants, community involvement, parental support, a dedicated church pastor, and a hardworking and caring staff, St. Bernard School faces a very bright future. We thank you for selecting a catholic education for your children and for choosing to become a member of the St. Bernard Catholic School family.

Our Patron Saint- Saint Bernard de Clairvaux

Son of Tescelin Sorrel and Aleth, daughter of the lord of Montbard, Bernard was born in 1090 at Fontaines les Dijon, the family castle new Dijon, Burgundy, the third son of seven children. He was sent to study to Chatillon, and after a frivolous youth, decided on the death of his mother to pursue a relgious life.

In 1112, at age 22, Bernard persuaded 31 of his friends and relatives (including four of his brother) to go with him to Citeaux, which had been founded in 1098, the first Cistercian monastery, which observed a strict interpretation of the Benedictine Rule. The abbot was St. Stephen Harding. In 1115, at age 25, Bernard was sent with 12 monks to found a Cistercian house at Langres, with Bernard as Abbot. There wer initial difficulties because of Bernard’s strict discipline and austerities, but soon his holiness attracted scores of disciples. The name was changed from Vallee’ d’Absinthe to Clairvaux, the mother house of 68 Cistercian monasteries.

Bernard became involved in matters outside the monastery as his reputation for learning and wisdom spread, and he was soon one of the most powerful influences in Europe, consulted by rulers and Popes. He supported Pope Innocent II’s election in 1130 against the antipope Anacletus II. He convinced the Lombards in N. Italy to accept do Lothaire II as emperor.

In 1140, Bernard began preaching in public and was regarded with awe for the miracles attributed to him and for the eloquence of his preaching, acclaimed the greatest preacher of his times. He led the attacks on Peter Abelard’s rationalism and extreme exaltation of human reason, opposing it with his certitude of faith and reliance on traditional authority. Abelard was condemned at the Council of Sens and forced into retirement. He also arbitrated a disputed succession to the see of York in England. He saw one of his monks elected as Pope Eugene III.

In 1145, the papal legate sent Bernard to Languedoc in S. France to combat the Alligension heresy, and his preaching was successful to extent. He helped to stop a series of persecutions in the Rhineland. In 1146, at the request of Pope Eugene, Bernard preached a crusade against the Muslim Turks, who had captured Edessa on Christmas in 1144. Bernard roused all of Europe to the Second Crusader, headed by Emperor Conrad and Louis VII of France, which ended in disaster, which Bernard blamed on the wickedness and lack of dedication of the crusaders. In 1153, while trying to mediate peace between the Duke of Lorraine and the city of Metz, Bernard died at Clairvaux on August 20 at age 63.

Bernard is considered the second founder of the Cistercians and he was the dominant influence in the religious and political sphere in Western Europe. He was invloved in almost every major event during the last 40 years of his life. Bernard’s mystical writings are outstanding medieval mystical works, forming the mysticism of the Middle Ages. 300 sermons and 500 known letters, his reflections on the Bible, his deep devotion to Mary and the infant Jesus, all had a profound effect on Catholic spirituality.

Called the Melliflous Doctor “flowing honey” for the sweetness of his preaching, Beranrd was canonized in 1174, only 21 years after his death. In 1830, St. Bernard was formally declared a Doctor of the Church. He is considered the last of the Fathers of the Church. His feast day is August 20, his birthday into heaven. St. Bernard’s prayer is the Memorare. His symbol in relgious art is the bee. His motto is Omnia per Mariam- All through Mary.

St. Bernard’s commentary on the Bible’s Song of Songs and his Treatise on the Love of God are treasurese of the faith. In liturgical art, Bernard’s symbol is the white dog. Bernard’s relics were moved from Clairvaux in 1790 to the Church of Ville-Sous-La-Forte, while his head was enshrined in the Cathedral of Troyes. St. Bernard is a patron saint of the Cistercians, Burgundy, Gibraltor, Speyer Cathedral in Germany, bees, candles, and climbers. He is invoked against children’s diseases, animal epidemics, demonic possession, storms, and approaching death.

Bernard’s mother is Blessed Aleth. Her relics were enshrined in Clairvaux in 1250. Her feast day is April 4. Bernard’s younger sister is St. Humbeline. Married and socially popular, she underwent a personal conversion. With permission from her husband, she entered the Benedictines and became abbess, succeeding her sister-in-law. She died in 1135 in her brother’s arms. Her feast day is February 12. Bernard’s brother is St. Gerard of Clairvaux, a soldier who was wounded and imprisoned. He followed his brother to Clairvaux, where he became the cellarer and Bernard’s close confidant and assistant, noted for his ferver and holiness. Feast day June 13.