Weekly Letter from the Pastor

Dear Fellow Parishioners of St. Benedict:

It sure feels like winter out there these past few days. All things considered, it is nice to see snow, especially as we had no significant snow over the past two winters. I recall that several years ago when Father JM was speaking with his then three-year old niece in the Philippines she asked him what snow felt like. He told her to “go to the kitchen, open the freezer, put your hand inside, and leave it there.” I think that was great advice. When it’s 14o outside, even the freezer is warmer!

Regardless of the cold of winter, it is not too early to think about the summer. Registration for the Summer Academy for Religious Education will begin on Sunday, January 21st. Please see the Faith Formation page for the registration link.

Likewise, the school is announcing the details of the Summer Camp-Out. Our first summer camp for children was very well received and successful last summer, and we are happy to announce that we will hold it again this summer. Again, check the bulletin for more information.

It seems like January is moving along pretty quickly. This week the Knights of Columbus chapters in our Cohort of parishes (St. Clement, Our Lady of Fatima, and Holy Family) are observing a Novena for Life, praying on this anniversary week of Roe v. Wade (January 22, 1973) for the end of abortion in our country and our world. We will host the prayers here this week on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. In conjunction with this, the Knights here are also sponsoring their annual Baby Bottle Boom-a-rang in support of Birthright in Freehold. Take a bottle, fill it with change, bills, or a cheque (payable to Birthright) and return it the weekend of February 3rd-4th.

Sign-up continues for the Open House for SBS grades pre-K3 to 8th. See the school website for details or make contact with the Parish Office.

The annual Polar Plunge to support Catholic Schools will be on Sunday, February 4th in Sea Bright. Please consider sponsoring an SBS student in your family or neighborhood. Not only is this a fun (depending on how that is defined) event, it also raises support money for the school.

With Lent right around the corner -- Wednesday, February 14th it is time to gather the old palm from prior Palm Sunday’s that you have hanging around the house, and bring them to the Narthex where there will be bins to deposit them. We use this palm to make the ashes for distribution on Ash Wednesday.

Have a safe and blessed week,

Fr. Garry