Weekly Letter from the Pastor

 Dear Fellow Parishioners of St. Benedict:

Our Lenten journey can often be fraught with the struggle to keep the discipline going. It is easy to become discouraged and disappointed along the way. In the Hall of Saints we have a Lenten shrine, focused on the Pieta and the Stations of the Cross. Near the shrine is a basket with some pencils and slips of paper. You are welcome to write your journey – whatever that journey might be – and place it into the basket. This way of articulating our prayers helps to put a sense of hope and the solidarity of the saints with our journey. No matter how alone we might feel, we know that we are never truly alone as the saints walk with us on our journey to sainthood.

The Icons have been hung in the Hall of Saints and they are being dedicated at the 12:30 p.m. Mass this weekend. One of the Icons in the chapel is that of Saint Patrick and today just happens to also be his feast day – as though anyone actually needed a reminder! We are grateful to all who dedicated these Icons for the beauty of the chapel and to assist us in our prayers. To feel the presence of the saints with us is a powerful experience. We use images – statues, icons, and other forms of art – as a reminder of the humanity of the saints and as a challenge to us that we, too, are on the path to sanctity. The saints represented in the chapel are the patrons of the various causes that are dear to so many of us. The development of this chapel comes from the inspiration of parishioner Dennis Vassallo who desired to have the images of the Apostles in the church. The rest of the icons grew from there. There are yet other icons we would like to add to the chapel, and that will happen in due time. While historically more associated with the Eastern Rite Catholic and Orthodox Churches, Icons are nonetheless a rich part of our own tradition, and worthy of our proper veneration.

Tuesday is the celebration of the Solemnity of Saint Joseph. The husband of Mary, Joseph is the patron of the universal church. Though silent in the New Testament, Joseph speaks to us loudly and boldly as the protector of the Holy Family, and as the patron saint of those who are dying. We have been saying the Novena to St. Joseph in preparation for the feast. One of the benefits of a solemnity in Lent is that it gives us a chance to break from the fast and to celebrate. We will bless the St. Joseph’s Table after the 9:00 a.m. Mass, and we will have a special Mass on Tuesday evening at 7:00 p.m. Saint Joseph is also the patron of Italy and is, therefore, especially honored by those of Italian-American heritage.

As we consider the many challenges in the church and in our world today, it is most fitting for us to take this time to invoke St. Joseph’s intercession on behalf of the church. Please join us in celebration on Tuesday.

Thank you for the response to date on the Annual Catholic Appeal. We had already achieved 10% of our annual goal ($90,000) before we kicked off the appeal last weekend. Please drop off pledge cards or donations to the main office or the collection basket. Obviously we have a long way to go, but it is a goal that we easily surpass each year. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and generosity. It is in times like this that we most need a show of support and every dollar and every individual donor makes a difference. I cannot stress enough that every dollar contributed to the ACA goes solely to the work of the programs, and not for any other administrative or hidden expenditures.

Blessings to all.
Fr. Garry