Weekly Letter from the Pastor

Dear Fellow Parishioners of St. Benedict:

Thank you all so much for your overwhelming in support for the annual 50/50 raffle. We broke all records for the raffle this past weekend, with the parish netting some $31,000 from the raffle. Given all of the additional expenses related to the new protocols – especially with regards to cleaning – this boost in the arm will be very helpful. Yes, sadly we were unable to hold the annual carnival, but hopefully everything will be on track for some kind of celebration in the near future.

This is a Spirit-filled week here at St. Benedict as our students – who were to have been Confirmed on April 3rd – will finally be able to receive this Sacrament beginning Thursday. Due to the restrictions we need to celebrate four ceremonies, so two groups this Thursday and two groups next Thursday. This is a sign of hope, for sure, but also a reminder to us that our journey in faith continues, even in the face of the pandemic. Let us pray for our students celebrating Confirmation, that they might be inspired to live the faith that we share with them.

So far so good with the opening of school: all of the procedures are being carefully monitored and, certainly the beautiful Fall weather has been an asset, enabling the students to get outside several times per day for outdoor learning along with the opportunity to get some fresh air and renewal. From what we have seen with some of the high schools around us, it doesn’t take long for one infection to disrupt the routine, so let us continue to pray that we will all be safe and careful at the same time.

As we enter this week into the month of October, we are reminded that this is the Month of the Holy Rosary. Our bishop has appealed to us to pray the Rosary each day for the overall welfare of our country. The political turmoil, unchecked pandemic, and confluence of natural disasters, has certainly set us into territory not seen in over a generation. To some extent this feels like 1968 – 1969 all over again. We know, through the study of history, that such struggles are always necessary. As a philosophy student one of my favorite studies was that of G.W.F. Hegel (1770 – 1831). Among his many philosophical insights is his Philosophy of History, wherein he posits the position that the political and social tensions such as we experience now are necessary and in a sense programmed into the human experience as we strive unconsciously towards the necessary end of history. We are living now through a period where we will emerge with a new synthesis of human experience and achieving yet another step towards the goal that the Lord set us upon at the time of creation. Hence, I view this turmoil not as a destructive time, but as the birth pains of a new period. Sadly, it doesn’t seem that we ever quite move that far. This period is reminiscent perhaps of the turmoil of 1789, or 1848, or even the 1920’s. Let us all pray that we have the wisdom and grace to listen to the promptings of the Holy Spirit as we move closer to the Kingdom of God.

Okay, perhaps that was too heavy – I just want us to all live along the path of the three evangelical virtues –faith, hope, and love.

In doing so, the world will be transformed and the will of God will be more fully realized in our midst.

Through the intercession of our Lady of the Rosary, let us continue to pray for one another,
Fr. Garry