Weekly Letter from the Pastor

Dear Fellow Parishioners of St. Benedict:

As I write this letter, we are just hours away from the first vote of the conclave, so I am not able to intelligently address any of the issues around the election of the 267th pope in the life of the church.

We have all been riveted to our televisions and to social media, fascinated, intrigued, and hopefully enriched by the solemnity and the specificity of the ritual that surrounds the passing of a pope and the election of a successor. This is a very prayerful time for the church, and wherever we are in the process as you read this letter, let us continue our prayers for the church during these interesting historical times. While there are some of the cardinals whom I find intriguing, I have no personal favorite. Like all old pros at papal elections, I am well aware that the pope who comes out onto the loggia to be introduced to the world is seldom one who was a front-runner in the press.

This weekend we celebrate Mother’s Day! Please allow me this opportunity to grant the blessings of the Day to all of the Mothers in our parish community, and to the matriarchs of the many families in our parish. I am still blessed to have my Mother -- 92 and going strong -- though I will not make it to PA to see her this weekend. Don’t forget to call your Mother! We are also all mindful of those who have lost their Mother, especially those who are observing their first Mother’s Day without their Mother. We pray for them, and remember them in a special way at our Masses this weekend.

Things are moving along around our parish. We have some summer projects we need to get underway, and we still have to complete the heating and air conditioning project on the school side of the building. This will happen once school is out of session.

The celebration of First Holy Communion continues over the next few weeks. We continue our prayers for the many families who are bringing forth their children to receive the Sacrament.

A few days of steady rain have made spring come into full bloom, though those who suffer allergies are less pleased than the rest, however, the property looks beautiful!

Happy Mother’s Day -- blessings to all!

Fr. Garry