Weekly Letter from the Pastor

Dear Fellow Parishioners of St. Benedict:

For all of our shortcomings, failures, and sins as individuals and as a corporate body, the Catholic Church remains the largest provider of services to the poor, homeless, elderly, infirmed, youth, and person’s in crisis in the world, the United States, and New Jersey.

In the wake of present scandal it is easy to lose sight of the mission of the Church to proclaim the Gospel to the world and to carry out the mission that Jesus entrusted to us. Unfortunately, he handed this mission to human beings and not to angels, and so we often seem to work against our own call, but the work continues because the Lord bids us to do it and he promises that ultimately we will not fail.

In most of the parishes in our diocese this weekend or next weekend is the launch of the Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA). Since Father JM and I are in the Holy Land both weekends, we will not conduct the in-pew solicitation until March 10, the First Sunday of Lent. However, all of you should have received or will receive a mailing from the diocese concerning the appeal. Historically we as a parish are very generous to the ACA, surpassing goal ($90,000) each year. As we go over goal we receive a reimbursement from the diocese, monies that we use to cover some extraordinary expenses in the parish. The same will be true this year.

The diocese is committed to – and achieves – that 100% of the money raised goes to the mission as outlined in the program. No money is spent on the administrative costs, publication of materials, mailing, etc., nor is any money diverted to other expenses, such as diocesan operational costs, purchases, or settlement of insurance or legal claims against the diocese or any persons or the parishes within the diocese.

As always, we ask for your prayerful generosity to the campaign. We will speak more of this when we do the solicitation in two weeks.

I am happy to say that SBS is doing well. Our enrollment goal for next year is definitely within sight. We have already filled one classroom of PreK-4 and one classroom of Kindergarten, and have students registered for the second classroom as well. This is ahead of the past several years. If you or a family member or friend is considering SBS for the coming school year, please have them register, or at least inquire, within short order.

As you read this (Sunday) Father JM, Deacon Steve, and I – along with some forty-three other pilgrims – are in the wilderness. We left for Jerusalem this morning (there is a seven hour time difference) and travel to the Judean wilderness: Jericho, the Dead Sea, Qumran, and Masada.

We are scheduled to celebrate Mass in Jerusalem this evening, and tomorrow (Monday) we will walk the Via Dolorosa on our way to celebrate Holy Mass at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Father JM and I will certainly remember you in our prayers, as we have throughout our pilgrimage. Please remember also to pray for us.

We would like again to thank the wonderful priests who have covered for us in our absence, and those who will be here this week. May the Lord bless each of them for his goodness – and also the parish staff who are enjoying our absence!

Next week from the Holy Land –
Father Garry