Dear Fellow Parishioners of St. Benedict:

We are coming to the close of a very busy summer here at St. Benedict Parish. Firstly, Richard Romero joined the staff as the Director of Facilities, and is spearheading some necessary work to our buildings and grounds. We are working on a grant to assist in the replacement of the air conditioning units for the church, the school gym, and the offices. We will also replace the boilers which are original to the building. As I noted in one of my weekly letters this summer, ours is a middle-age building, and it is showing its age. We are assessing the work that needs to be done in order to be proactive and to exercise proper stewardship with the legacy handed on to us from the foundation here in 1959. Over the next few months we will be able to speak more clearly about the needs and how to prioritize them given budgetary constraints.

I am happy to report that St. Benedict School will open with 520 students this Fall. Given that we closed in June with 440, this is a significant increase in enrollment, and adds stress on our facilities. We have divided the former library and converted that into classroom space. We have added a third class in kindergarten; a third first grade class; and also a third sixth grade class. This increased enrollment also means additional staffing. We are in good shape to open the year, and excited about the year ahead. We have also done work in the Gym; removing the drop ceiling, opening up the space and, as both the air flow and student activities frequently disturbed the tiles, this increases the safety and the appearance of the room as well.

The Summer Campout grew dramatically this summer. Last year, the inaugural year of the camp, our total enrollment was just over forty campers; this summer we had just over ninety campers. The campers enjoyed a fun, educational, and productive summer. This program serves our community and is a benefit to our school and our teachers and staff. The Summer Religious Education Academy also had a busy three-week program with over four-hundred students in attendance.

I write as it is this time of the year when we have our annual 50/50 drawing, which goes to support various parish initiatives and programs. We will be setting aside the proceeds from the drawing to assist with the major maintenance projects that will emerge over the year as we continue to evaluate the buildings and grounds. Last year we dedicated the proceeds for air conditioning, and while that project is still in the works, because of the potential grant money, we are in pretty good shape with our responsibility for the project. 

Enclosed you will find the tickets for this year’s Super 50/50 Raffle. Split 50/50 with the winners, we will draw a first prize winner receiving 25% of the pot and ten winners receiving equal shares of 25% of total sales. Cash awards will equal 50% of total receipts. The drawing will be held on Sunday, September 29, 2024. Raffle tickets are $25 each or 5 tickets for $100.

• Peanut Butter
• Canned Goods
• Rice 
• Pasta 
• Cereals
• Any items that do not require refrigeration.