Weekly Letter from the Pastor

Dear Fellow Parishioners of St. Benedict:

While our parish and school family was rocked and devastated by the passing of Lauren Hewski in May, her parents Dennis and Kim, have channeled their grief into an opportunity to honor her legacy and promote the gifts and talents of students both here at SBS and St. John Vianney HS, where Lauren was a senior.

The Lauren Hewski Memorial Scholarship is sponsored by Lauren’s Light, a charity organization founded in memory of Lauren Hewski, Saint Benedict School alumna, Class of 2019.

This year’s scholarship will be awarded to a current 6th grader. The scholarship recipient will receive $1,500 annually for three years. The scholarship is open to female students that have at least a B average, participate in extracurricular activities, and remain at Saint Benedict School through 8th grade. Priority will be given to families in need. The application process includes general information as well as three short answer prompts.
Interested students must complete the application process for consideration by 11:59pm on Friday, September 29, 2023. The scholarship recipient will be notified via email no later than 5pm on Friday, October 27, 2023. To retain the scholarship, the student must remain in good academic standing with a B average and have no disciplinary violations during their Saint Benedict School career.

We are grateful for their generosity and support of SBS. For more information and opportunities to get involved with the foundation, visit Laurens-light.org.

The countdown is on to the Family Fun Weekend – Sept. 22-23-24. There will be plenty of opportunities to get involved. Raffle tickets are being mailed. It should prove to be a fun weekend for all. Please leave some time on your calendar to stop by that weekend.

As a new school year looms, the students age into and out of various ministries and opportunities for service. Altar servers can begin in the fourth grade; junior lectors are welcome from the sixth grade; high school juniors can serve as special ministers of Holy Communion, and students from the sixth grade on are welcome to serve as screen operators and live-stream technicians. Anyone interested in these ministries should make contact with Eileen Cannarozzo in the parish office.

Next weekend, in preparation for the opening of schools, we will offer a “Backpack blessing” for all students who are going to school this fall. Students from all grade levels and all schools are invited to participate and receive the blessing for the school year
ahead.

Yes, hard to believe that next weekend is Labor Day weekend. Blessings and safe journey to all who travel over the holiday.

Enjoy this “last week of summer.”
Fr. Garry