About St. Bernadette · Panama City Beach, Florida
St. Bernadette Catholic Parish is a Roman Catholic parish in the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee serving Panama City Beach, Florida. Founded in 1956 as a summer mission of St. Dominic Parish in Panama City, it has grown into a vibrant year-round faith community on the Gulf Coast. The parish's stated mission is to 'Know, Love, Serve, Educate and Promote the Gospel Values of Jesus Christ and the Devotion to Our Blessed Mother.' In addition to its liturgical life, the parish operates the St. Bernadette Child Development Academy (a Florida DCF-certified child care center) and the John Lee Outreach Center, a thrift shop serving local families in need.
- Established
- 1956
- Patron
- St. Bernadette Soubirous (of Lourdes)
- Rector
- Rev. Ted Sosnowski
- Diocese
- Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
Why belong here
St. Bernadette is a welcoming, family-oriented parish that combines traditional Catholic liturgy and Eucharistic adoration with active lay ministries. Families appreciate the on-site Child Development Academy (ages 6 months to 5 years) and the parish's faith formation program (K through 10th grade, including Confirmation), while adults can join OCIA, the Ladies Guild, the Knights of Columbus, or serve as Extraordinary Ministers, lectors, or parish council members. The John Lee Outreach Center thrift shop is a tangible expression of the parish's commitment to the surrounding Panama City Beach community, channeling proceeds to Catholic Charities, Beach Care Services, and the Child Development Academy. Year-round daily Mass, Saturday confession, monthly First Friday adoration, and a winter Bingo social night give parishioners — both locals and 'snowbird' visitors — multiple ways to plug into parish life.
Mass times at St. Bernadette
Weekly Mass schedule
Confession times
- Saturday 4:30 pm – 5:30 pm (Easter through January 1; summer schedule)
- Saturday 2:30 pm – 3:30 pm (January through Palm Sunday; winter schedule)
- Communal Penance Services twice a year during Advent and Lent
- Private confession by appointment through the parish office (850-234-3266)
Adoration times
- First Friday of every month, beginning after the 8:00 am Mass
Parish Identity & Mission
St. Bernadette Catholic Parish describes itself as 'a diverse community called to Know, Love, Serve, Educate and Promote the Gospel Values of Jesus Christ and the Devotion to Our Blessed Mother.' The parish takes its name from St. Bernadette Soubirous of Lourdes and operates within the East Central Deanery of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee, alongside parishes such as St. Dominic, Our Lady of the Rosary, and Sts. Peter and Paul.
- Patron: St. Bernadette Soubirous (feast day April 16)
- Diocese: Pensacola-Tallahassee (East Central Deanery)
- Mission: Know, Love, Serve, Educate and Promote the Gospel Values of Jesus Christ and devotion to Our Blessed Mother
History of St. Bernadette Parish
St. Bernadette traces its founding to 1956, when Father Andrew McGovern, pastor of St. Dominic Parish in Panama City, built the first church on Moylan Road to serve Catholics on Panama City Beach. Before construction, summer Masses had been celebrated in a local theater for the seasonal Catholic population. Father McGovern served as pastor of both parishes until 1958; he died in 1960 and is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Pensacola.
- 1956: Parish founded as a mission of St. Dominic; first church built on Moylan Road
- Prior summer Masses held in a local theater
- 1970s: Ladies Guild founded
- Continuing ministries: outreach, religious education, Child Development Academy
Faith Formation & Religious Education
The parish's Religious Education program serves students from Kindergarten through 10th grade. Classes meet most Sundays from 8:45 am to 9:45 am in the Catholic Center, with students attending the 10:00 am Mass afterwards. First Reconciliation and First Communion are celebrated in 2nd grade, and Confirmation is conferred in 10th grade by the Bishop at the parish. Adult formation is provided through OCIA (Order of Christian Initiation for Adults), which meets Thursdays from 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm in the Media Center and culminates at Easter with the reception of the Sacraments by the Bishop.
- Director of Religious Education: Valerie Voorheis
- OCIA Director: Chris Voorheis
- Religious Education Classes: K–10th grade, Sundays 8:45–9:45 am in the Catholic Center
- Confirmation: 10th grade, Wednesdays 6:00–7:30 pm in the Media Center
- OCIA: Thursdays 7:30–8:30 pm in the Media Center
Parish Ministries & Groups
St. Bernadette's lay ministries form the backbone of parish life and outreach. The Ladies Guild, founded in the 1970s, supports the parish through the Altar Society, bereavement support, dinners, religious article sales, and seasonal decorating. The Knights of Columbus Council meets the third Thursday of each month at 6:00 pm in the Parish Hall. The Parish Pastoral Council meets quarterly on Wednesdays at 5:00 pm in the Parish Hall, and the Finance Committee advises the pastor on the parish budget and quarterly statements.
- Ladies Guild — meets first Friday of each month after 8:00 am Mass
- Knights of Columbus — third Thursday, 6:00 pm, Parish Hall
- Parish Pastoral Council — quarterly Wednesday meetings, 5:00 pm, Parish Hall
- Finance Committee — appointed by the pastor, typically three-year terms
- Extraordinary Ministers of Holy Communion (including homebound visits)
- Lectors
Sacraments
The parish celebrates all seven Catholic sacraments and provides preparation for each. Baptisms are usually scheduled on the 2nd and 4th Sundays during the 10:00 am Mass, with required parent and godparent preparation. The Sacrament of the Sick and Healing Masses are arranged through the parish office. Marriage preparation follows the diocesan norm of 4 to 6 months, with weddings booked at least six months in advance.
- Baptism — 2nd & 4th Sundays during 10:00 am Mass
- First Reconciliation & First Communion — 2nd grade
- Confirmation — 10th grade, celebrated by the Bishop
- Reconciliation — Saturday (seasonal) plus Advent/Lenten communal services
- Matrimony — Saturday ceremonies at 11:00 am, 1:00 pm, or 2:00 pm; rehearsal Friday 5:00 pm
- Sacrament of the Sick — by appointment / Healing Masses
Outreach: John Lee Outreach Center
Located at 1329 Moylan Road — two buildings south of St. Bernadette Church — the John Lee Outreach Center is a parish-run thrift shop that provides clothing and household items to the Panama City Beach community. The Center partners with Beach Care Services to supply families in need at no cost, and proceeds benefit Catholic Charities, Beach Care Services, and the St. Bernadette Child Development Academy.
- Hours: Monday–Friday 9:00 am – 1:00 pm; Saturday 9:00 am – 12:00 pm
- Phone: 850-236-5252
- Address: 1329 Moylan Road, Panama City Beach, FL 32407
- Beneficiaries: Catholic Charities, Beach Care Services, Child Development Academy
St. Bernadette Child Development Academy
The parish operates the St. Bernadette Child Development Academy, a Florida Department of Children & Families (DCF)-certified child care facility serving children ages 6 months through 5 years. The Academy is a ministry of the parish and a beneficiary of the John Lee Outreach Center's proceeds, providing an early-childhood education option for local families on Panama City Beach.
- Ages served: 6 months – 5 years
- Hours: Monday–Friday 7:30 am – 5:30 pm
- Phone: 850-230-0009
- Email: [email protected]
- Certification: Florida Department of Children & Families (DCF)
Parish Staff
The pastoral team includes the pastor, a religious sister, a parish secretary, a bookkeeper, and lay directors of Religious Education and OCIA. The parish office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm and closed on Friday.
- Pastor: Rev. Ted Sosnowski
- Religious: Sister Theresa Ngo
- Director of Religious Education: Valerie Voorheis
- OCIA Director: Chris Voorheis
- Parish Secretary: Laura Mitchell
- Bookkeeper: Juli Roock
Visiting & Contact Information
St. Bernadette Catholic Church is located at 1214 Moylan Road, Panama City Beach, FL 32407. From Panama City, take Hwy 98 west across the Hathaway Bridge, stay right onto Back Beach Road, and turn left at Moylan Road (about 2 miles). From Destin, travel east on Hwy 98 / Back Beach Road and turn right at Moylan Road. The parish office can be reached at 850-234-3266 or [email protected].
- Address: 1214 Moylan Rd, Panama City Beach, FL 32407
- Phone: 850-234-3266; Fax: 850-233-1177
- Email: [email protected]
- Office Hours: Mon–Thu 9:00 am – 3:00 pm (closed Friday)
- Mailing/Physical location is on Moylan Road at Exit B / Hwy 98
Community Life & Fundraising
Beyond liturgy and formation, St. Bernadette cultivates parish fellowship through seasonal events and fundraisers. Each winter from December through Easter, the parish hosts weekly Bingo on Monday evenings in the Parish Hall, with the Knights of Columbus providing dinner specials. The parish bulletin, posted online via the official site, lists ongoing meetings, devotions, and outreach opportunities throughout the year.
- Winter Bingo — Mondays 6:00–9:00 pm, December through Easter
- Cash prizes $20–$50 per game; jackpot $250 on final game
- Knights of Columbus dinner specials on Bingo nights
- Ladies Guild dinners, religious article sales, and seasonal decorating
Pastors & rectors through the years
- Rev. Andrew McGovern1956–1958
Founding pastor; supervised construction of St. Bernadette church on Panama City Beach while serving as pastor of St. Dominic Parish in Panama City. Retired due to ill health in 1958; died May 21, 1960, buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Pensacola.