Weekly Letter from the Pastor

Dear Fellow Parishioners of St. Benedict:

There is a deep sense of angst that grips our country, our state, and even our parish as we move through these dark days of uncertainty around the COVID-19 outbreak. It is essential that as men and women of faith that we continue to place our trust in the Lord and to be best prepared for all eventualities.

I have been musing that in a very real way the Lord is himself providing our entire country, indeed much of the world, with a Lenten opportunity. The ability to slow our lives, spend time with our families, or even alone in our homes, and to refrain from our consumeristic and epicurean excesses. Indeed, we can consider the next several weeks (months?) either as a massive inconvenience and overreaction, or as an opportunity to reset and retool our lives. Throughout the Scriptures, the call to conversion is universal, and at the same time specific to the people of God. These are days when we are called to a deeper life of prayer, reflection, and self-denial. Let us all make the most of them.

Sadly, in light of the need to quarantine and maintain a healthy social distance from others, even the church is now required to close for public Masses and services as well. Effective immediately, and at least until April 3rd, there will be no open doors to public liturgy here. In the bulletin you will find the letter from Bishop O’Connell outlining the general directives for the diocese. Allow me to emphasize and particularize those remarks for our parish.

Father JM and I will celebrate daily Mass as usual at 9:00 a.m., though such Masses will not be open to the public. Daily Mass will be live-streamed from the church and available on the parish website. Mass will be live-streamed on Saturday evening, at 5:00 p.m., and on Sunday at 8:00 a.m. Of course, the Mass will remain on the website so that you may participate in the Mass at any time during the day. Father JM has prepared instructions for “attending” such Masses.

The Sacrament of Confession will remain available on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. Due to the nature of the Confessional we will move the Confession into the Church. Please keep a healthy distance as you wait for the sacrament. The Hall of Saints is also open for devotion and devotional candles.

The Adoration Chapel remains open 24/7. Please use prudence in sitting near each other. All are invited. Although the church doors are locked during the day – as per normal – the church is accessible by coming to the parish office. The parish office is open between 9:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.

We are also putting on our parish website other resources for prayer. As we journey through this lent – and perhaps it may be an extended Lent on a social level – the opportunity for prayer is a blessing bestowed on us. You will find Stations of the Cross, A Prayer Amid an Epidemic, and other resources there, all to bring us together virtually even when we cannot do so together.

The bell system of the parish will play theDivine Mercy Chaplet each day at 3:00 p.m., along with the recitation of A Prayer Amid an Epidemic. If you feel the need or desire, drive to the parish parking lot and sit in your car and join us in the prayer.

We are asking for a Parish Day of Penance to be observed on Friday, March 27th. Through prayer and a day of fasting we ask reparation of our sins – not just our individual sins – but the sins of the community, the church, and the whole world. As all Lenten Friday’s are days of abstinence from meat, we are inviting all to a special and extra day of fasting. A Day of Fast means that one eats only one full meal during the day, and that the other two meals are not together larger than the one meal. No other food (except for those who for medical reasons need to eat) would be eaten during the day. We will then celebrate Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament live and on-line at 7:00 p.m. on that Friday.

Be safe – be well – be smart – be holy,
Fr. Garry