Weekly Letter from the Pastor

Dear Fellow Parishioners of St. Benedict:

We have reached the proverbial “midpoint of summer,” though that is certainly far from the case. This week we have the opportunity to reflect on our national identity, to give thanks to God for the liberty secured for us by the blood of so many hundreds of thousands of our citizens, and envisioned by independent-minded and forward thinking enlightened thinkers of the eighteenth century. I hope that July 4 is more than just a day of fireworks, beach, and picnics, but also a time to reflect on what makes our country the inspiration it is to the world. 

It is also a nice and quiet week here at the parish. Our first week of the religious education academy went well, and next week we rev up in earnest for two more weeks.

I want to welcome on-board to our parish Kate Rose Marino who is taking on the reins of the Young Adult Ministry from Ciro Saverino. Ciro, who will continue to coordinate our Confirmation preparation program, is stepping aside fromYouth and Young Adult Ministry. Kate Rose is taking on theYoung Adult Ministry. We will be looking for a full-time assistant to faith formation and youth minister later this summer.

In the meantime, we are moving forward with some summer projects in the school and we are anticipating some significant capital needs for the parish, especially with the church, over the next year.

Overall, though, things are in pretty good shape and we are well-poised to open school in September with an enrollment of about 500 students.

One additional item, which I am sure some of you have seen in the Monitor, I have been appointed as the Vicar Forane of the Bay Shore Deanery, effective tomorrow. In that role I am responsible for some limited oversight of the parishes and to support the priests in the Bay Shore area. But mostly it means that I get to call meetings, attend additional meetings, and convey information. It does come with a title and some initials, so you will notice that I will carry the formal title of Very Reverend with the initials V.F. following my name. All of this is very temporary and ephemeral, but I am grateful to the bishop for extending to me this honor and responsibility.

I hope that everyone has a nice holiday week. I am spending some time this week in PA visiting with my Mother who just returned home from her snowbird time in Florida.

Happy 4th and blessings to all,
Fr. Garry