165 Bethany Road
Holmdel, New Jersey 07733
732.264.4712
Dear Fellow Parishioners of St. Benedict:
As I write this letter there are predictions of some nasty weather this weekend, so I am not sure how many of you will be reading this in the bulletin! It is winter after all, and we haven’t had a significant snowfall in 23 months, so I guess we are due anyway.
January is a busy month, even as cold and nasty as it can be. We observe Pro-Life month, and the area Knights of Columbus Chapters are hosting the Novena for Life from January 19th – 27th. They will be here at St. Benedict on January 23rd and 24th. Check the bulletin for more details.
We will observe Catholic Schools Week beginning with the 5pm Mass on January 27th and continuing through February 3rd. The week kicks-off with Open House for Prospective Families on January 27th with two sessions (9am and 1pm) and Mass at 5pm. The Polar Plunge to support the school is on Sunday, February 4th. If you know any families who would like to enroll their children in the school, please apprise them of the dates and ask them to call the school office to schedule a tour. More information can be found in the bulletin. A sponsorship for a student who will be making the plunge will also be deeply appreciated. Thank you for your support of our school.
Monday (January 8th) is the last day of the Christmas Season, and Ordinary Time begins on Tuesday. We have a short stretch this year until Ash Wednesday (February 14th) It's never too early to begin our preparations for the Lenten Season. Information will be coming fast and furious as we get closer.
Today is the Feast of Epiphany. The chalk and prayer for the house blessing can be found at the doors of the church. This ancient annual tradition is a beautiful way to sanctify our homes and our families and to bring a blessing to each of our lives and our families.
Let us offer our prayers this week for our Bishop, and some twenty priests of our diocese who are on a pilgrimage to Rome.
Father JM and I will be going on a pilgrimage to Rome and Assisi in September. If you would like to join us, details are in the bulletin and on the brochures at the doors of the church.
It was a very nice, relaxing, and refreshing Christmas Season. I was blessed to be able to spend time with my Mother, to visit with family and friends, and just catch up on relaxing over the week. I hope each of you had the opportunity to do the same.
Blessings and peace.
Fr. Garry