Established before 1755
First church in 1872
First parish priest in 1882

Located at the corner of Botsford and Queen Streets in Moncton, St. Bernard Church has been at the heart of Catholic life in Greater Moncton for over 100 years. During this time, as the Mother Church, the church has witnessed a growing Catholic population.
Long before 1755, a small church existed, better known as "The Chapel," and had been built by Acadians near the present-day site of Le Mascaret Park. This church was destroyed by Commandant Scott, under the orders of Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Monckton, during the Deportation of 1755–63.
In the early 19th century, the Moncton area saw an influx of large numbers of Irish immigrants, particularly in the outlying parts of the city. Although the Irish did not have a church of their own, Eucharistic celebrations were initially held in private homes and later at the Free Temple on the corner of Steadman and Mountain Streets; at the Reading Room in the Salter Warehouse on Salter Wharf; and at the Dunlop Theatre and Music Hall on Main Street.
In 1851, a lot of land was purchased for the construction of a church on the present site. However, it was not until 1872 that a wooden church was erected and dedicated to St. Bernard. In 1877, construction began on a second, larger church, which was completed by Father William Foley, the first resident priest in Moncton, in 1879.
In 1882, with the appointment of Father Henry Alexis Meahan as parish priest, Moncton became the Parish of St. Bernard. Before 1888, a third, larger church was begun to meet the growing demand from Catholic parishioners. This new building also marked the first cut-stone construction in Moncton.
Built in the Gothic style, St. Bernard Church is an impressive tribute to the faith of its early parishioners. Inside, a large vaulted ceiling, supported by iron pillars, creates a sense of spaciousness and timelessness. Several stained-glass windows were donated by families in memory of deceased loved ones. While others came from donations from organizations such as the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association and the Canadian League of Catholic Women. The large pipe organ was built thanks to a 1918 donation from a religious group called the St. Cecilia Sodality.
Over the years, St. Bernard's Church has undergone several renovations. In the early 1960s, in an effort to modernize, the rectory was renovated, and a larger sacristy was added.
Irish culture continued to exert a strong influence on the parish. In 1884, the first recording of the St. Patrick's Day concert was made. This event has since become an annual tradition with games, activities, and musical performances. These concerts provided financial support for the parish until the 1950s. After the creation of the Canadian Irish Cultural Association in the 1980s, the traditional St. Patrick's Day Mass was followed by a typical Irish dinner in the parish hall.
With the arrival of the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of the Immaculate Conception in 1886, St. Bernard became the Catholic educational centre for Greater Moncton. For over 100 years, the nuns taught at schools located throughout Moncton, including one on Wesley Street, St. Bernard School, at Mary's House, and at the school on Mountain Road. Other organizations made significant contributions to parish life, such as the Knights of Columbus and the Legion of Mary.
St. Bernard also served the pastoral needs of the Italian community. Mass was celebrated in Italian approximately once a month, a practice that had continued since 1967.
As St. Bernard Parish grew steadily, other parishes were established to serve both Irish Catholics and Acadian parishioners: St. Louis-de-la-France (1909), L'Assomption (1914), St. Augustine (1956), Immaculate Heart of Mary (1958), Holy Family (1963), and St. Michael (1973).
During the 1970s and 1980s, the parish experienced a gradual decline in parishioner participation due to socio-demographic shifts in many families. However, with the continued economic boom in Greater Moncton, St. Bernard has once again become a thriving community with over 1,100 registered families, representing approximately 3,100 parishioners.