Bishop O'Connell's Church Reopening Announcement
The Bishop is extending permission for in-church Masses to be celebrated beginning on Monday, June 8. There are many restrictions in place regarding how many people can attend each Mass and on the requirement for attending, receiving Communion, etc. Please watch video for St. Benedict Church seat reservations for weekend Mass.

Hall of Saints to Open 5/13

LINK TO EMAIL
St. Benedict Church Hall of Saints (Daily Chapel)
OPEN MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, FRIDAY
STARTING WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 2020
HOURS: 10 AM – 4 PM

The Bishop has announced the re-opening of churches in a limited capacity for private prayer only starting on Wednesday, May 13. In light of this, the St. Benedict Hall of Saints (formerly the daily chapel) will be open starting Wednesday, May 13 for private prayer and devotion. The Hall of Saints will be open on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 am to 4 pm. When you arrive, please park in the rear parking lot of the church. Access to the Hall of Saints is through Door 6 only, located at the back of the church.

Inside the Hall of Saints, there will be 10 seats available. If fully occupied, we ask that you kindly wait outside in your car until a seat becomes available.

Once inside the Hall of Saints, people are to be seated, not standing. Wear your masks and observe social distancing at all times. Please observe silence to respect others who are praying. Be mindful of others who may also want to visit the Hall of Saints and aware of your time spent in the Hall, allowing you and others time to pray. Only private prayers, no group prayers can be observed at this time. Candles will be available for purchase. Please refrain from touching any surfaces including the statues in the Hall of Saints. 

It is important to note that the main church is NOT open. The Perpetual Adoration Chapel will also remain closed at this time.

There will be no access to the main church and you are kindly asked to use the marked door inside the Hall of Saints for emergency purposes only. The restroom will not be open.

For your comfort and safety, the Hall of Saints will be disinfected daily for safety and hygienic purposes. There will be hand sanitizer available in the hallway and inside the Hall of Saints as well.

We thank you for your understanding and cooperation at this time.
Father Garry and Father JM 

1- Dispose yourself properly before beginning.
2- Remove distractions.
3- Pray the Act of Spiritual Communion.
4- Say the Prayer Amid an Epidemic.

Click image above to view.

Act of Spiritual Communion

My Jesus, I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. 
I love You above all things, and I desire to receive You into my soul. 
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace You as if You were already there and unite myself wholly to You.
Never permit me to be separated from You.
Amen.

CLICK TO Download Audio PRAYER
WITH FATHER GARRY.

A Prayer Amid an Epidemic
By Kerry Weber

Jesus Christ, you traveled through towns and villages “curing every disease and illness.” At your command, the sick were made well. Come to our aid now, in the midst of the global spread of the coronavirus, that we may experience your healing love.

Heal those who are sick with the virus. May they regain their strength and health through quality medical care.

Heal us from our fear, which prevents nations from working together and neighbors from helping one another.

Heal us from our pride, which can make us claim invulnerability to a disease that knows no borders.

Jesus Christ, healer of all, stay by our side in this time of uncertainty and sorrow.

Be with those who have died from the virus. May they be at rest with you in your eternal peace.

Be with the families of those who are sick or have died. As they worry and grieve, defend them from illness and despair. May they know your peace.

Be with the doctors, nurses, researchers and all medical professionals who seek to heal and help those affected and who put themselves at risk in the process. May they know your protection and peace.

Be with the leaders of all nations. Give them the foresight to act with charity and true concern for the well-being of the people they are meant to serve. Give them the wisdom to invest in long-term solutions that will help prepare for or prevent future outbreaks. May they know your peace, as they work together to achieve it on earth.

Whether we are home or abroad, surrounded by many people suffering from this illness or only a few, Jesus Christ, stay with us as we endure and mourn, persist and prepare. In place of our anxiety, give us your peace.

Jesus Christ, heal us.

America Magazine

St. Benedict Church plays daily at 3pm via the Bell System followed by "A Prayer Amid the Epidemic" in the Parish Parking Lot/Church Plaza.

How To Pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy, click link below:
http://www.usccb.org/beliefs-and-teachings/how-we-teach/new-evangelization/year-of-faith/how-to-pray-the-chaplet-of-divine-mercy.cfm

Click link below to listen:
http://www.discerninghearts.com/Devotionals/Divine_Mercy_Bruce_Kris.mp3

PRAYER INTENTIONS AND DEVOTIONAL CANDLES

Due to church closure, in lieu of adding prayer intentions to the petition book and lighting devotional candles inside of St. Benedict Church and daily chapel, please be informed that we have set up an email address: prayerwall@stbenedictnj.org

Please email your prayer intentions and we will include them in the petition book.

Bishop O'Connell has asked that his letter and request be sent out to our community.

Today, the Bishops of NJ and I learned that the House Democrats released The Heroes Act, H.R. 6800, the fourth phase of economic stimulus relief or CARES 4.

H.R.6800 includes several provisions that would protect and even expand funding for programs that Congress established in the last CARES act, such as an extension of unemployment benefits until January 31, 2021, expansion of the SBA payroll protection program loans to include all nonprofits regardless of size, and increased funding for the Supplemental Nutrition assistance program. However, unlike the previous CARES act, H.R.6800 WOULD PROHIBIT NONPUBLIC SCHOOLS INCLUDING OUR CATHOLIC SCHOOLS IN THE DIOCESE OF TRENTON FROM ACCESSING ANY PORTION OF THE PROPOSED $200 BILLION INCLUDED IN THE LEGISLATION FOR EDUCATION.

Our Catholic schools struggle to stay open as it is and the pandemic will impact them negatively as our neighboring dioceses in NJ have revealed. You can contact our NJ Senators and Congressman using the “alert” message template here: 
https://www.votervoice.net/NJCC/campaigns/74344/respond

Thank you and God bless you in these stressful days.

Respectfully yours in the Lord,

Bishop O’Connell