Weekly Letter from the Pastor

Dear Fellow Parishioners of St. Benedict:

This weekend we observe Catechetical Sunday. This is an opportunity to say “thank you” and to bless and acknowledge the many catechists who serve our parish community. Because of the structure of our faith formation program: the summer sessions; the all-year session; the Confirmation year program; the school religion classes; adult programs and the other sacramental preparation sessions, we have many volunteers and professional staff involved in faith formation. This weekend we will celebrate and bless them in their work and ministry. We owe much to the hard work and deep commitment of Nancy Arkin (Director of Faith Formation), Ciro Saverino (Confirmation Program and Youth and Young Adult Ministry) Lori McCahill (School Religion Coordinator and Marriage Minister)
Loretta Assini (Administrative Assistant) and Margaret Roddy (Sacrament Coordinator). We are still looking for a part-time assistant to Nancy in the Faith Formation Office. See the bulletin for more details.

This week the Youth Ministry programs begin. This is an opportunity for the youth of the parish to make friends, have some fun, and to share some components of their faith journey. Truly, all of the youth of the parish are welcome to become involved in the program that is age appropriate to them. Ciro does a great job with the program, and of course, we are always looking for more volunteers to help along the way.

You might have noticed that at many of the Masses on the weekend we are lacking any altar servers at all. This is a real post-pandemic issue, and our parish is not alone in this shortage. I know one parish not too far from here that has eliminated altar servers entirely from the parish ministry. That is something, of course, that is unnecessary and really counter-productive. Any parishioner in the fourth grade or beyond is eligible to serve at the altar. We will be holding a recruitment session for all ministries soon. Please speak with your children and assess their interest, and encourage them to consider service at the altar. It is a great way for them to grow closer to their faith and to become more engaged at Mass, as they learn the essential elements of the liturgical celebration.

We are also hoping to expand the service of Holy Communion at the hospital and the long-term care facilities served by our parish. At present only the Villas at Holmdel has a weekly distribution of Holy Communion.

This coming Friday kicks-off the Family Fun weekend. I hope to see everyone here at some point over the weekend.
Saturday (23rd) is the first day of Fall -- time to break out the sweaters and the pumpkin everything!

Have a blessed week!

Fr. Garry