St. John the Evangelist Catholic Community and the Knights of Columbus Council # 6125 are proud to announce that Bernard (Bernie) F. Yandura is the Family of the Month for December 2024. Bernie grew up in Detroit, Michigan. He has had a distinguished business career both as an entrepreneur and as a top-notch business manager with several companies, including Harshaw Chemical in Cleveland, OH, and Metal-Fab, Inc., headquartered in Wichita, KS. Starting his career at General Motors with an Associate in Science degree, Bernie later earned an Executive MBA.
In 1963, Bernie married the love of his life, Susanne Zella. In 1967, the joy of their life, Monica Hope, was born. Two years later, they learned that Monica had PKU, a genetic disease. An emergency distress call was made to the Lord, but progress was slow and so their prayers increased. Through Sue’s committed love and constant home presence, Monica graduated from high school with a special education degree. God answered their prayers again by providing Monica with a home as an adult at Bishop Grady Villas.
Bernie, Sue, and Monica moved to Ohio in 1972 and joined St. Blaise, a new church. The priest asked for help, so Sue and Bernie became involved as lectors and eucharistic ministers. They also attended a Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) retreat. When they later moved to Daytona Beach, Bernie and Sue immediately got involved at St. Paul’s.
The Yandura family moved to Viera in 1988, where they attended Holy Name of Jesus. At Father David Paige’s request, Bernie and Sue attended the three-year diocesan Pastoral Ministry Program. During their third year, they were required to start a new ministry. Guided by the Holy Spirit, Bernie and Sue introduced the CRHP retreat program at Holy Name. Later, they were instrumental in forming a CRHP traveling team, through which they helped 34 churches in the Orlando Diocese and three churches in another diocese.
Bernie and Sue were awarded the distinguished Papal Cross from Pope Benedict XVI in 2008 at the Orlando Diocese’s 40th Anniversary Jubilee Celebration.
The Yanduras joined St. John the Evangelist in 2017. The next year, on August 25, Bernie lost Sue, his best friend, wife, mother, business partner, and adventurist. Despite his loss, Bernie continues to serve at St. John’s, where he is an EMHC, provides adult faith formation through the Flourish Our Faith ministry, participates in the Men’s Group bible study, and is always evangelizing.
Thank you, Bernie, for all you have done and continue to do for your parish communities as well as your steadfast witness to the Faith. We thank God for your lifetime of faithful service and participation here at St. John’s.