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We had a nice weekend last weekend, too bad the rain took out the Saturday evening entertainment. We will have to reschedule the band and the activities for another time. Congratulations to the winners of the parish 50/50 raffle. Thank you to all who participated.

We are celebrating our Family Fun Weekend this weekend, sadly the weather does not appear to be cooperating with the full activities, but hopefully we are able to generate some fun (and raise some money for the school) out of the process. Read more.

This weekend we observe Catechetical Sunday. This is an opportunity to say “thank you” and to bless and acknowledge the many catechists who serve our parish community. Because of the structure of our faith formation program: the summer sessions; the all-year session; the Confirmation year program; the school religion classes; adult programs and the other sacramental preparation sessions, we have many volunteers and professional staff involved in faith formation. This weekend we will celebrate and bless them in their work and ministry. We owe much to the hard work and deep commitment of Nancy Arkin (Director of Faith Formation), Ciro Saverino (Confirmation Program and Youth and Young Adult Ministry) Lori McCahill (School Religion Coordinator and Marriage Minister) Loretta Assini (Administrative Assistant) and Margaret Roddy (Sacrament Coordinator). We are still looking for a part-time assistant to Nancy in the Faith Formation Office. See the bulletin for more details. Read more.

School is off to a banner start this week, and seems to be running smoothly. Our new administration team (Nicholas Camarrano and Meghan Gallagher) is making its impact on the school and it looks like we are poised for a strong year ahead. There are still families calling to express interest in attending, and we are fortunate to have openings in some of the grades. Read more.

I hope everyone has an enjoyable Labor Day Weekend. It looks like we should have some nice weather, and it is a great time to be able to get together for that end-of-summer bbq. Our teachers were back last week and the students arrive on Wednesday for the opening of another school year -- the sixty-second school year -- at St. Benedict School. Enrollment is strong --- somewhere over 450 --- and we are poised and ready to go. Read more.

While our parish and school family was rocked and devastated by the passing of Lauren Hewski in May, her parents Dennis and Kim, have channeled their grief into an opportunity to honor her legacy and promote the gifts and talents of students both here at SBS and St. John Vianney HS, where Lauren was a senior. Read more.

It sure seems that summer is flying by, and we are entering those fateful last two weeks of August when somehow we seem to have to scramble to do all of those things that we swore we would do this summer. Good luck! Read more.

This week we observe the Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Mother, a Holy Day of Obligation. Mass times are in the bulletin. Friday we celebrate the Mass of Anointing of the Sick. Anyone who has a serious medical condition should consider attending for the sacrament. Read more.

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Transfiguration, one of the few events on the calendar of the church that is so important that it supersedes a Sunday celebration. Tradition holds that the Transfiguration happened forty days before the crucifixion of Jesus, so that the two paramount and defining moments in the life of Jesus point back and forward to each other. This is the second time this year that we will have heard this account, as the Transfiguration Gospel is always proclaimed on the Second Sunday of Lent. Read more.

Thank you for your generous support of the Annual Catholic Appeal. We have surpassed our goal, which means that 50% of all monies contributed above the goal return now to the parish. Certainly the bishop is grateful for your support. If you have yet to make a contribution to the appeal, pledge cards are available in the narthex and the tables in the church. Read more.

We have now completed the religious education Summer Academy. We are all most grateful to Nancy, Jen, Loretta, Ciro and a host of teachers and volunteers who made the past three weeks as positive, fun, and effective as they have been. We are now gearing up with dates and activities for the fall programs. Read more.

July is certainly flying by, and life here at the parish continues to be busy and productive. We have completed two weeks of the religious education Summer Academy and begin the third and final week this coming Monday. It has been a good two weeks so far -- Nancy Arkin and her team have been very busy, and thanks to their efforts it has all gone extremely well. For this we are very grateful. Of course summer is also a time for planning the coming school year. It looks like we are in good shape for the opening of the year, but I do need to look into some internal remodeling and renovations. I am looking now for an architect who can put some fresh eyes on the facilities. If you know of anyone, please let me know. Thanks. Read more.

This weekend we celebrate the feast of our patron, Saint Benedict. As we have done in years past this feast, though actually on July 11, can be transferred to the nearest Sunday. We are reminded of the significant role that Benedict played in church history, the development of monasticism and the rules for religious life and, indeed, the progress of European culture and history. Benedict, and the thousands of monks and nuns who have lived the Benedictine rule over the past fifteen hundred years, have been an enormous blessing to the church and to the world. We cannot overlook either the contributions of his greatest collaborator, and his twin sister, Saint Scholastica, whose feast is February 10. Read more.

One thing that Catholics learn, sometimes in a very sad way, is the regular transition of pastoral leadership. Unlike Congregationalist churches who hire their own ministers -- of course they can fire them as well -- all of us serve at the pleasure of the Bishop. This weekend we undergo that transition again. Read more.

Farewell, Father AL, we will all miss your enthusiastic “Hello, Catholics!” at each Mass, and your presence here with us. We know that the people of St. James Parish are fortunate to have you joining their parish team. We hope that you will not be a stranger here, but that we will see you for some of our parish events in the future. Read more.

This weekend we observe Father’s Day. This is another reminder to us of the importance of family and certainly the role of the father within the family. We are grateful for the many fathers, grandfathers, uncles, coaches, teachers, and other male role models in our lives. I was fortunate to have two wonderful grandfathers, and after my paternal grandfather died young, my grandmother remarried and brought another wonderful man into our family. My own father was a solid and loving dad. He passed away in 2006. Like most kids of course, I had many other role models in my life as well. Certainly there were more than a few priests who were very instrumental in walking on my life’s journey. This weekend, we remember those who have passed and we honor those who are still with us. Read more.

Today we celebrate the Feast of Corpus Christi the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. The procession at the 11:00 am Mass reminds us of the great processions of the past and highlights the power of Jesus Christ in the world. This begins the parish phase of the three-year period of Eucharistic revival inaugurated by the bishops last year. We have a number of special events planned for the year ahead. Read more.

Summer certainly began in beautiful fashion this past Memorial Day Weekend. I hope everyone had a chance to enjoy the weekend. It feels really good to have things back to normal now that all of the pandemic protocols are ended. Read more.

Happy Memorial Day weekend -- the “unofficial” beginning of the summer -- and all of that. Of course, and with far greater importance, this weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of Pentecost -- the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples and the birth of the church. Read more.

It has been a very challenging and difficult week here for the SBS and SJV communities as we deal with the tragic passing of Lauren Hewski, SBS ‘19. Our prayers for her parents, Dennis and Kim, as well as our continued support for them are of prime importance now and in the days ahead. Read more.