Weekly Letter from the Pastor

Dear Fellow Parishioners of St. Benedict:

It might seem like the Lenten Season has passed quickly, certainly I feel like it did. We now enter into the most sacred time of the year – the Easter Triduum. Due to the various restrictions still in place for churches we will need to exact great care and prudence, but after Christmas and Ash Wednesday, we seem well poised to do so.

Holy week commences with the celebration of the Chrism Mass on Monday evening at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine in Freehold. Although attendance this year is greatly restricted, it will be live-streamed through the diocesan website, which we will link to our own. This is the Mass where the oils to be used in the celebration of the Sacraments for the upcoming year are consecrated by the bishop. Also, the priests present renew their priestly commitment with our bishop. At least we will be able to assemble together this year. Last year Father JM and I renewed our commitment in a Mass we celebrated together and the Bishop blessed the oils at a private Mass and they were delivered to the parish.

It will be wonderful to have people in church this year for the celebration of the Holy Triduum. Morning Prayer (Lauds) will be celebrated in the church Thursday, Friday, and Saturday at 9:00 a.m., being live-streamed as are the Masses. We will live-stream the Holy Thursday Mass of the Lord’s Supper, the Good Friday Veneration of the Cross, the Good Friday Seven last Words service, and the Easter Vigil on Holy Saturday. Certainly, you are most welcome to attend any or all of these services.

As you will note, we will have simultaneous Masses for Easter Sunday (8, 9:30, and 11:00 a.m.). The Sunrise Mass will be celebrated at 6:30 a.m. in the plaza in front of the church doors. Bring a chair in case there aren’t enough.

The Altar of Repose on Holy Thursday will be outside in the prayer garden in front of the school. This way we will be able to retain social distancing and yet remain reverent. In keeping with the church tradition, the Adoration Chapel will be closed on Friday, opening again on Monday at 10:00 a.m. Hopefully we will be able to return to opening the chapel on its intended twenty-four hour schedule some time soon.

In order to facilitate the reception of Communion we will be distributing Holy Communion at its proper place in the Mass during the Triduum and on Easter Sunday.

We were able to celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation this past week with our eighth-grade students. We also look forward to several adult confirmations to be celebrated during this Easter Season. If you or someone you know is in need of sacraments as an adult – Confirmation, First Communion, or the Convalidation of a Marriage that was performed outside of the church, please make contact with the parish office. Likewise, anyone knowing of someone who desires to enter the church, have them reach out as well.

This weekend we welcome Catechumen Steve Bazaz into the church as he receives the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation and Holy Eucharist at the Vigil. Ramon Trinidad will enter the church through the reception of Communion and Confirmation. Let us continue our prayers for them as they enter the period of the Mystagogy.

May the Lord draw all of us deeper into the mystery of his passion and death,
Fr. Garry