Weekly Letter from the Pastor

Dear Fellow Parishioners of St. Benedict:

The teachers here at SBS will be on the campus on Tuesday for the orientation to the new school year. It seems hard to believe that the summer has sped by so quickly, but at the same time, it seemed nice and relaxing. While the parish was busy, and there were several adjustments to make to the facilities, faculty, and schedule, all now seems to be in order. It looks like, as of this writing that we are opening with 459 students, which is a healthy increase from the 423 that we opened with last year. This is certainly a strong and positive trend for our school. We have a strong and committed faculty, and our administration: Principal Kevin Donahue and Assistant Principal Christine Keeling, do an exceptional job in their ministry and the management of our school.

Last weekend our school was featured on the television show “Balancing Act.” The opportunity to appear on the show came to us unsolicited and unexpectedly. The producers were interested in featuring a private school as an alternative to the public school systems. Some of our other recent publicity brought us to their attention. The crew spent almost a full day here interviewing key personnel and videoing our school in session. The show was unscripted and they filmed it as they wanted. We have full access and rights to the televised segment to use for promotional purposes for the school. The final product is a good representation of the school and our programs, and we are all very happy with it. Many thanks to both our Principal, Kevin Donahue, and our Director of Marketing and Event Management, Lori Ulrich, for bringing this all together. 

As we prepare for the institution of the Sunday 5pm Mass, I want to thank those who have already expressed an interest in serving as ministers for that liturgy. If you would like to be on that schedule, or are interested in serving as a Lector, Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion, screen operator, usher, or altar server for this, or any of the Masses on the weekend, please make contact with Eileen Cannarozzo in the parish office.

Adding this Mass to the schedule will enable us to better serve the local community, especially but not exclusively the younger individuals and families of the parish. In particular we are hoping that not only the students in the Confirmation program, but their families as well, will attend this Mass.

The response so far for the celebration of the 60th Anniversary Gala for the school has been good and steady. Thanks to Tom O’Brien, music minister, we have secured the popular Jersey shore band, Brian Kirk and the Jirks, for the evening. Tom is, well, one of the Jirks in the band, so a bonus will be to enjoy Tom in his other music career. We are still calling all alumni and anyone who has an interest in supporting our school to go to either the parish or school website and register. Please consider supporting the event through other forms of participation that are available. Thank you. Patti Dickens, Director of Stewardship, and Lori Ulrich, Director of Marketing and Event Management, for all their efforts in planning this event.

Planning is underway for the parish’s participation in the Year of Eucharistic Revival. Deacon Paul Remick will chair the parish efforts, while the rest of the core team is still forming. The diocesan formation session is scheduled for September. We will be holding special events this year to enrich our understanding of the importance of the True Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. Please also consider spending time in the adoration chapel which is always open.

Saturday, November 12th, is the diocesan pilgrimage to the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, on the campus of the Catholic University, Washington, DC. Our parish will be sponsoring a bus. Details will follow shortly, but this is a good way to experience a sense of the fullness of the church while visiting the beautiful basilica and taking part of the Mass celebrated there by our bishop. Please consider joining us for the day.

Enjoy this the last full week of the summer --- enjoy the Labor Day weekend!
Fr. Garry