Weekly Letter from the Pastor

Dear Fellow Parishioners of St. Benedict:

One thing that Catholics learn, sometimes in a very sad way, is the regular transition of pastoral leadership. Unlike Congregationalist churches who hire their own ministers -- of course they can fire them as well -- all of us serve at the pleasure of the Bishop. This weekend we undergo that transition again.

Father AL has settled into St. James Parish in Red Bank, and we welcome Father Adam Midor (call him Father Adam) who joins us from his most recent assignment at St. Vincent de Paul in Yardville, where he also served as a chaplain at the hospitals in the Mercer County area. We welcome him and look forward to his ministry with us here at St. Benedict Parish.

Also in transition this week is Deacon Rich Morris who has requested a transfer to St. Gabriel Parish in Marlboro. Deacon Rich has served our parish well for these past thirteen years, and we are sad to see him go. However, there is a great need at St. Gabriel’s, and Deacon Rich is looking for new challenges and opportunities. We send him our prayerful best wishes.

I am also excited to announce that Nicholas Cammarano is the new principal of St. Benedict School. Mr. Cammarano taught here for one year (1997 - 1998) and has been a teacher and administrator in various public schools ever since. He has just completed his time as vice-principal of the Samuel E. Shull Middle School in Perth Amboy, A resident of Matawan and a parishioner here, Mr. Cammarano brings much experience to this position. We are happy to have him on board.

Mrs. Christine Keeling is continuing in her role as vice-principal of the school. Joining the administrative team of the school is Mrs. Megan Gallagher. Mrs. Gallagher is a graduate of the school, a parishioner here, and presently teaching in the Pre-K 4 program. She was the first teacher hired when we began the program and we are excited now to announce that she has accepted the position of vice-principal with oversight of early childhood education, grades PreK 3 - to third grade. Our school continues to grow -- we are hovering in the 470 student range at present for the coming school year -- so by diocesan standards we should have two vice-principals. With a new principal on board, this is a good time to make this transition as well.

WOW -- that is a lot of moving parts! I also want to introduce a young man to our parish who is discerning a call to priesthood. Mr. William “Billy” Attardi, Jr., is a 2022 graduate of Christian Brothers Academy. During this past year he has discerned that he is being called to investigate the possibility of a vocation. We have brought him on board here to learn the working of the parish and to become more involved in ministry. You will see him regularly at daily Mass and now also at some of the weekend Masses. We welcome him, and pray
for his discernment.

Next weekend we celebrate the Solemnity of our patron -- Saint Benedict, whose actual feast is July 11. We begin praying the Novena to St. Benedict this weekend.

This is, of course, the Fourth of July weekend. Many of you are away on vacation now. This is, a great time to remember the many gifts we have received as residents of the USA. We continue to pray for our president, congress, supreme court, and all federal workers in their work of serving the common good, and protecting the general welfare of our nation.

Have a blessed and safe Fourth!
Father Garry