Weekly Letter from the Pastor

Dear Fellow Parishioners of St. Benedict:

The Groundhog saw his shadow last weekend and we paid the price this past week as Winter does not seem to want to break its hold on us. Perhaps the very late Easter (April 20th) adds to the feeling that Spring is far away.

Things here at the parish continue to move forward. The project for replacing the heating and air conditioning systems for the complex continues as the engineers are working to make sure that everything is happening on a schedule that works with the schedules of the school and the church. There are many moving parts to work with, and we have a good schedule and calendar of work. You will be kept apprised of progress. This month we are replacing the split units that are found in various offices and some of the classrooms in the school.

St. Benedict School is holding a Gala to celebrate the work of the school and to promote the plan to move forward with a dedicated and properly furnished Music Room in the school. We have several preliminary plans that we are studying so that we can make the best move for our school.

The Gala is scheduled for March 1st at the Reception Center at St. Clement’s Church in Matawan. The event, entitled Note Worthy will be an evening of entertainment, celebration of our school, and an opportunity to connect with friends and neighbors. Go to the school website for more information and to purchase tickets or support a sponsorship.

This Tuesday (February 11th) is the World Day of the Sick, in conjunction with the Feast of our Lady of Lourdes. Anointing of the Sick will be offered at Mass at 1pm.

Many of us have years of old palm from Palm Sunday around our houses, and don’t know what to do with them, well, as Ash Wednesday is in a month — March 5 — we are collecting old palms to make the ashes for that celebration (yes, that is where the ashes always come from). Drop old palm in the bins in the narthex and we will take care of them. 

Apparently, there is a football game today that some people are interested in watching. Enjoy the game (go Birds) and I hope everyone has a blessed and enjoyable week.
Fr. Garry