Weekly Letter from the Pastor

Dear Fellow Parishioners of St. Benedict:

Today is the formal inaugural Mass of Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican City. We join our prayers with the church throughout the world for his health, his wisdom, his courage, his safety, and for the guidance and consolation of the Holy Spirit upon him and those whom he chooses to serve as his collaborators in the Petrine ministry. Yes, all of us were a bit surprised that the Cardinals would elect a White Sox fan and Villanova graduate to the papacy, but the Holy Spirit does does seem to have a sense of humor. The few people I know who have known the now Pope Leo during their seminary days with the Augustinians are universally effusive in their praise for his intelligence, personal integrity, commitment to justice, and his sense of humor. Pope Leo said that he chose the name to reflect the significance of the last Pope, Leo (XIII) who issued the monumental encyclical Rerum Novarum, in 1891. In that seminal document, Pope Leo began the development of Catholic social teaching reflecting the challenges of the late industrial revolution. This was the time in history when concerns for the rights of workers to decent working conditions, hourly wages, and days of vacation and rest sparked the labor union movement. The pope then spoke out courageously demanding that workers received just compensation and had the right to form unions. He also gavea clear condemnation of child labor and their exploitation in the industrial age.

Pope Leo XIV sees the period in which we live, with the rapid development of AI, and the challenges posed by social media and technology, in need of a moral compass.I am very hopeful and excited about the movement and direction of the church during this new pontificate.

I appreciated the pastoral approach and option for the poor as manifest so well during the papacy of Francis, and now with a pope who has worked in the trenches with the poor in his diocese in Peru, we have a pope who, “Smells like his sheep.”Ad Multos Annos.

This coming Thursday evening Father Bashobora will be with us again for a healing Mass. Hailing from Uganda, Father is internationally renowned for his spiritual gifts and we are happy to have him here again. Mass will be at 7:00 pm.

Next weekend is Memorial Day weekend and the traditional beginning of the shore summer. I hope everyone has a relaxing and enjoyable weekend. Prayers for the safety of all who are traveling.

Have a blessed and enjoyable week ahead,
Fr. Garry