Weekly Letter from the Pastor

Dear Fellow Parishioners of St. Benedict:

Farewell, Father AL, we will all miss your enthusiastic “Hello, Catholics!” at each Mass, and your presence here with us. We know that the people of St. James Parish are fortunate to have you joining their parish team. We hope that you will not be a stranger here, but that we will see you for some of our parish events in the future.

Next weekend we will meet Father Adam Midor, our new parish priest, who joins us from St. Vincent de Paul Parish in Yardville.

We also bid farewell this week to Mr. Kevin Donahue, principal of St. Benedict School. His five-year tenure at our school has been marked with growth on many different fronts. Mr. Donahue proved to be an outstanding educator, administrator, and promoter of our school. Even Bishop O’Connell expressed his sadness at Donahue’s departure, as his reputation as a principal was well-regarded throughout the diocese. I cannot express enough my gratitude for his leadership, collaboration, and friendship over the years. We wish him and his family well. Blessings on his new position.

We will be announcing shortly a new principal for St. Benedict School. I am grateful for the diligent and careful work of the search committee in considering the many candidates for the position.

The first week of our Summer Religious Education Academy kicks-off this week. There are a lot of moving pieces that make this week work. Thank you to all of the volunteers and the paid staff. After a week of rest for the Fourth of July break, we have two more weeks scheduled in July. Mrs. Nancy Arkin and her staff have done an outstanding job getting all of this organized for this summer. There are spaces available for the later weeks of the summer if anyone has yet to register.

Speaking of which, we also have openings in some of the grades of the school in case anyone is interested in an SBS education for their children or grandchildren.

We do have some staff openings here as well. We are looking for a STEM teacher in the school (full or part time) and we have an opening for a maintenance person also either full or part time.

Overall, we are poised here for a busy and productive summer. I am looking forward, hopefully, to some time off as well.

Have a blessed week -- and safe travels for all who are heading away next weekend for the July 4th festivities.

Have a blessed week,
Father Garry