Weekly Letter from the Pastor

Dear Fellow Parishioners of St. Benedict:

This weekend we observe the May Crowning at the 11:00 am Mass. This time-honored tradition draws our focus to the intercession of the Blessed Mother in the life of the church, reminding us of her role in salvation history, and in our own spiritual lives. This is a good time to add the Rosary to our daily prayer devotion, and to seek her intercession in our needs. However, it is also a noble thing to take the time to express our gratitude for her presence with us, her on-going intercession, and the inspiration that she is and offers to us and to the church.

We continue with the First Holy Communion celebrations this weekend as well.

Just by way of reminder, this coming Thursday is NOT observed as Ascension Thursday in our diocese any longer, nor is it a holy day of obligation. We will celebrate Ascension next Sunday.

The Diocese of Trenton is hosting a job fair for those who are looking for jobs in the schools (teachers, aides, coaches, etc.) at St. John Vianney HS this Tuesday, May 7th from 4-7:00 pm. If you are interested, please feel free to attend. There is a QR-Code in the bulletin to register.

Thursday, May 16th we will have a Healing Mass with Fr. John Bashobora at 7:00 pm. Please check the bulletin for more details. Father has been with us before and we are happy to have him here again to celebrate this Mass. This is different from the Mass of Anointing of the Sick which we hold each year in conjunction with the World Day of the Sick (February 11th; Feast of our Lady of Lourdes); and again in August near the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Mother.

Remember that on Saturday evening, May 18th there will be no 5pm Mass as we celebrate instead the Pentecost Vigil at 8pm. Please mark your calendars accordingly.

Sunday, May 19th is the New Jersey Catholic Youth Rally at Great Adventure. You will find a flier on this in the bulletin and as always, please make contact with Ciro Saverino for more detailed information.

Please see some information further on in the bulletin about the Diocesan Eucharistic Pilgrimage. The event is being held the last week of May, on the 28th, 29th, and 30th. This pilgrimage is part of the larger National Eucharistic Revival events to be held in Indianapolis in July.

Please join us on Wednesday, May 1st for the Via Lucis at 5:30 pm followed by pasta and Scripture reflection.

Also, consider joining Father JM and me in Rome this September! Full details about the trip and what we plan to see are in the bulletin or in handouts available in the Gathering Space. We would love to have you accompany us especially as we plan to visit Assisi as well on this the 800th anniversary year of the death of St. Francis of Assisi. May comes at us with many activities, and there is always much going on here at St. Benedict.

Thank you for your support, thoughtfulness, and generosity.
Father Garry