Weekly Letter from the Pastor

Dear Fellow Parishioners of Saint Benedict:

We have been blessed with three weddings already this June – July season and have several more on the books for the rest of the year. This is a great blessing to our parish and a hopeful sign of things to come. I know that many parishes would not be very impressed with three weddings at this time of the year, but that is two more than all of last year and one more than all of the year before.

There is a great deal of movement with annulments and people seeing con-validation for marriages that were not originally celebrated in a sacramental manner.

The marriage ministry, under the guidance of Lori McCahill, kicked off in January with the couples dinner. In two weeks time (July 16th) we will be sponsoring our first annual parish family picnic. This event is intentionally scheduled around the patronal feast of St. Benedict (July 11th) and is intended solely to be a fun day for families to come together here and enjoy some games, food and fun. This is not a carnival preview nor is it intended to be a fundraiser. It is for fun and the further building of community. Please check the details further along in the bulletin. We hope it will be a wonderful day for everyone. Of course, single people are welcome as well. It is a parish family event, with a focus here on parish as family as well.

We want to honor and recognize our parishioners who are reaching marriage anniversary milestones. The opportunity to receive a blessing at or after Mass at a time close to your wedding anniversary is always possible. If you would like to receive a blessing or renew your marriage vows, please make contact with Lori and she will make those arrangements with us.

The diocese celebrates couples achieving milestones of one, twenty-five, fifty years, and beyond, at a special Mass each year. This year the celebration is on Sunday, October 8th at 3:00 p.m. at St. Aloysius Church, Jackson. Please consider attending this Mass, to be celebrated by our bishop. I will be there to concelebrate and to offer blessings at the end of Mass. It is always a well-done and beautiful event. I hope all milestone anniversary couples (and families) will be able to attend.

Strengthening marriages and families is an important goal of parish ministry and the new evangelization. However, I am very sensitive to those who are not in a marital relationship either by life choice or life circumstance. Obviously all of you are part of the St. Benedict parish family and in need of some outreach and ministry. Single parents in particular have certain needs that we as a parish are working to address. Ministry with and for everyone is the goal not just those who meet a certain model of life.

This week we celebrate Independence Day. I hope the long weekend is safe and enjoyable for everyone. Don’t forget to pause and thank God for the gift of freedom here and also to pray that freedom and peace will take root in our world. While we are a nation divided on many political and social issues, we are one people under God, seeking liberty and justice for all men and women.

Blessings,
Fr. Garry