Weekly Letter from the Pastor

Dear Fellow Parishioners of St. Benedict:

I trust that everyone had a safe, enjoyable, relaxing, and “thankful” Thanksgiving. There are so many things in our lives that we have to be thankful for, that setting aside one day to do so seems terribly inadequate. Fortunately, we have the great gift of being able to offer Thanksgiving each and every day as we celebrate and receive the Eucharist. The word itself means “thanksgiving.”

The students in our school did a remarkable job in assisting the RAINE Foundation in collecting food and in putting together the food baskets for Thanksgiving delivery. We are also grateful to the many volunteers -- students from here, SJV, and our youth group, and religious education programs for their support of the RAINE Thanksgiving dinner last Tuesday evening. Hundreds of families were served and everyone went home satisfied, and with some food to enjoy later in the week.

The tags from the giving trees are going strong, but there are still plenty left for families who are in need. The Youth Group Coat Drive was also a great success, as always. Due to deadline pressure in publishing this letter, we do not have a lot of final numbers, but suffice to say, it all went very well. Thank you!

Next weekend we celebrate the First Sunday of Advent, and we begin the new liturgical year. As a reminder we will bless the Advent Wreath and also invite everyone to bring in the candles from their wreaths at home to be blessed.

We will have the Christmas Tree lighting celebration after Mass next Saturday evening. There is a special guest booked for the evening, you are also invited to bring one Christmas ornament from your tree at home so that we can bless your tree as we bless the tree that adorns our parish property. Please join us!

There are plenty of opportunities for faith and fun here in the parish over the next few weeks -- come and partake of the many offerings we have.

I hope everyone has a blessed week!

Fr. Garry