Weekly Letter from the Pastor

Dear Fellow Parishioners of Saint Benedict:

Ash Wednesday is this week. While the rest of the world will celebrate Valentine’s Day we will be standing as countercultural as possible to the excesses and frivolity of that Hallmark holiday through prayer, fasting, abstinence, and penance. As I reflected on this contrast, I think this is a most timely coincidence. It has been over seventy years since this confluence of celebrations last occurred. In our time we need to shed the excesses of made-up holidays and secular celebrations and return to the austere simplicity of faith and life that prepares us for life eternal.

The Lenten Season affords us the occasion to reflect more deeply on our life of faith, and our relationship with Jesus Christ. Hopefully you will be able to make some sacrifice, and to take up an additional act of charity to better prepare for the Easter Triduum. Of course, we are always preparing for eternal life.

Along with the First Sunday of Lent we will be making the announcement of the Annual Catholic Appeal (ACA). This provides an opportunity to participate in an active way with our treasure as we assist the diocese in the work of caring for those in need. The video presentation – which is much shorter this year than in years past – will highlight the main points of the work here in our diocese. It is always amazing when we look at the number of people who are served by the various ministries of our diocese. The work of the Kingdom of God nourishes our communities with great abundance. I ask that every family comes prepared to make a pledge – regardless of how much – so that we can continue to grow the annual appeal to serve the needs of the church.

“Time, talent, and treasure” is the clarion call of stewardship. We continue to need all of the above in the work of the parish. We are always looking for people to extend themselves for the work of the church – whether in service as a liturgical minister, as an aide in the school, or in assisting with the parish carnival – as the needs grow, the turnover of available partners continues to grow. While giving time is important, we also always need to identify people with particular talents and skill sets to assist us in specialized ways. In a couple of weeks the Finance Council will present the annual financial report to the parish. There we will see as well the need for growth in stewardship in order to continue to meet the demands of a growing parish mission.

One of the most important things we can do this Lent is to bring someone to Mass who hasn’t been to Mass in a while. We want to welcome home those who have strayed from the path, allowing Lent to be a time of reconciliation and healing. Lent indeed is a busy time for a parish. Hopefully you can all take time to participate in some aspect of our ministry during the forty days of the Season.

My prayers are with you as you discern this week your Lenten sacrifice, and as you continue to grow in your relationship with Christ and his Church.

Blessings to you and your families,
Fr. Garry