Weekly Letter from the Pastor

Dear Fellow Parishioners of St. Benedict:

Our campus has been busy over the past two weeks with the presence of public servants offering information programs to the youngest students in our school, from pre-K-3 through second grade. The Holmdel Police Department sent a cruiser and other vehicles to show to the students, while discussing safety and protection skills with them. They also visited with students and offered them tips on how to remain safe and vigilant during Halloween festivities. The EMS and Fire Department also sent vehicles and offered the students an opportunity to learn about fire safety and the work that they all do to keep us safe. We are grateful to these dedicated public servants who take the time to come here and offer instruction and be a friendly face to the children. It is important that they learn to put their trust in public servants and to see them as safe and friendly if they should ever be in need. We are grateful for all of the assistance we receive from the local police, fire and EMS squads, and especially to the Holmdel Police who are so often present on our property, insuring the safety of our property and the people who pass through here each day.

On November 11th the school will hold their annual celebration of Veteran’s Day with public ceremonies recognizing the many veterans in our community and within the school families. More details on this will be forthcoming.

Although Monday is the Solemnity of All Saints, as it is not a Holy Day of Obligation this year (because it falls on a Monday) we will only offer the regular 9:00 am Mass that day. Tuesday, the Feast of All Souls, is an opportunity for us to pray for all of our beloved deceased, and especially those who have passed since last November 1st. Besides the 9:00 am Mass, we will also offer Mass at 7:00 pm. All are invited to attend. Special envelopes, where we remember all of our deceased families and friends will be placed before the altar for the entire month of November, called the Month of the Poor Souls.

Next weekend (November 6th - 7th) and the following weekend (November 13th – 14th) we will be focusing our attention on the invitation to pray and work for vocations to the priesthood in our diocese. At present with only eleven seminarians for our diocese we are at a critical point where in just a few years we will not be able to staff all of the parishes. We are fortunate to have many retired priests who are available to assist in the parishes, but that remains a temporary solution to an endemic problem. We are asked to encourage and invite young men to consider a vocation to the priesthood. Father AL and I will be devoting our preaching time to this program.

In keeping with the civic leadership and responsibility theme, this week (Tuesday) is Election Day. If you have not done so, please remember to cast your ballot. It is most certainly an important duty that falls on all of us who are of age. Besides our state and local officials, there are some important ballot questions for us to consider. While it can seem frivolous and we might even feel that our vote doesn’t matter, it always matters. So, prayerfully consider the implications of your votes and make what, in your conscience, seems to be the best decision.

The times in which we live now are so uncertain and challenging that we need to find strong leadership and always pray for healing, peace, and security.

Take care and do well this week,
Fr. Garry