Weekly Letter from the Pastor

Dear Fellow Parishioners of St. Benedict:

Hopefully, we all had a safe, healthy, and reasonably enjoyable Holy/holiday season. It was surreal in many ways, for sure. I am sure it’s not a stretch to say that I hope and pray that 2021 will be a much better year for all of us. With the hope and promise of a vaccine being available for most of us by this spring, the end seems around the corner. I hope that the letter in the bulletin a few weeks ago outlining the moral implications of the vaccine will have allayed any fears or doubts about receiving the vaccine. I am sure by the time that I am eligible to get it I will be in line. I cannot say that I don’t get a bit concerned each time that either Father JM or I have to go to the hospital, a long-term health care facility, or even a parishioner’s home.

This week the school is virtual, though there will be students here to attend class virtually just as we did the week after Thanksgiving. Considering Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, this makes a great deal of sense.

There are many ways in which thank you needs to be expressed as we come to an end of the season. Of course, I wish to thank everyone for your cooperation, patience, and thoughtfulness given all of the restrictions we are under during these days. Everything we were able to do worked as well as it did because of your thoughtfulness and understanding.

Thank you for your generosity to the parish – the church and the school – this Christmas Season. I also want to express our deepest gratitude for the many gifts sent to the parish staff, the teachers and staff in the school, and to the deacons, Father JM, and myself. We deeply appreciate your generosity, and concern, and your inclusion of us in the priorities of your holiday greetings and gifts.

I also want to thank Bob Cognat and his staff for the hard work that they do in keeping the parish facilities in as good a shape as they are. The need for disinfecting the church and facilities throughout the Christmas weekend celebrations were demanding. The Knights of Columbus have done a wonderful job in serving as ushers throughout this entire time since our re-opening in June, and certainly through the Christmas season. I am also grateful to the Holmdel Police Department for their assistance and presence on Christmas Eve and Day again this year.

The hard work that was put in by Ellen Remick and Tom O’Brien with all of the Masses over Christmas is a blessing for all of us.

Thank you also for your response to our Advent offerings – the Series of Hope and the Lights of Hope. I was struck by how many cars I observed driving through the outdoor stations. I am especially grateful to Father JM for his work in organizing and producing the videos and the recordings for those series. We have all seen just how talented he is, and certainly look forward to when we can gather in the FAL to see what other offerings he has in mind!

This weekend we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany – the reminder to us that God is indeed manifest in our presence. As we begin this near year, with all of the hopes and expectations that it brings, even in the midst of uncertainty, I hope that in making a commitment to grow deeper in faith, and in our exercise of charity, and the spiritual and corporal works of mercy; we can find the hope, strength, and graces necessary to face the challenges ahead. Let us all make the most of it.

Blessings and peace,
Fr. Garry