Weekly Letter from the Pastor

Dear Fellow Parishioners of St. Benedict:

Well, the school year is just about over. On Wednesday we graduated 58 students from St. Benedict School. We are grateful to their families for entrusting them to our care for their academic and faith formation. Most of the graduates -- 34 in fact -- are continuing their education at St. John Vianney HS. Congratulations!

This weekend we are celebrating our high school, college, graduate, and professional school graduates. We are happy to celebrate their accomplishments and to support them on their journey in life. Our community has much to be proud of and for which to be grateful. We also want to congratulate their parents! While it is always bitter-sweet, they certainly celebrate the accomplishments of their children and are, deservedly so, proud parents!

This week the Vocations Office of the Diocese of Trenton is holding a come and see event for any male between the ages of 16 and 40 who is interested in a conversation about the priesthood. The gathering begins at 4pm at the Co-Cathedral of St. Robert Bellarmine in Freehold with a Mass celebrated by Bishop O’Connell, followed by a BBQ dinner. If you can not make it time for the Mass, you are still welcome to come to the BBQ. Although no pre-registration is necessary, please let the office here know if you are coming.

If, however, you cannot make it and are still interested, we are happy to have the diocesan Director of Vocations, Father Chris Colavito here to preach at all of the Masses next weekend.

This Thursday is the Feast of St. Anthony of Padua. At the Mass on Thursday we will bless the St. Anthony Table and hold a special collection for the Saint Vincent de Paul Society in keeping with the tradition of collecting bread for the poor on this feast.

This is the time of the year when many organizations sponsor special events -- cycling races, 5k’s, and other similar happenings, in order to raise funds and awareness of various causes. There are a number of these that are advertised throughout the bulletin, so allow me to draw your focus to them, especially for you cyclists and runners out there.

I also invite the youth of the parish to attend the Youth Group wrap-up bonfire and hangout on June 20th from 5 to 7pm. Even if you are not a regular participant in these events, please join us. We are happy to have you. Please make contact with Ciro to rsvp.

We are moving forward with several summer projects here at SBS in order to be ready for the coming school year.

Increasing enrollment in the school is a challenge and a gift. We are making every effort to make sure that we are poised to remain on the top tier of Catholic Schools in the diocese.

I hope everyone has a pleasant and safe week ahead,
Father Garry