Weekly Letter from the Pastor

Dear Fellow Parishioners of St. Benedict:

Happy Pentecost. This weekend we celebrate this feast, the commemoration of the descent of the Holy Spirit upon the Apostles. We see the work of the Holy Spirit at work in the life of the Church, guiding and directing us along the path of both evangelizing the world and in renewing and invigorating the faithful. The church exercises ministry in each and every age and place under the power of the Holy Spirit. As we try to both proclaim our faith in Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, and now seated at the Right Hand of the Father as Lord of Heaven and Earth, we do so with great peril. The world has never wanted to hear the Gospel. In many parts of the old world, the Faith has grown stagnant, and in many places in Latin America, Africa, and Asia, the church suffers from a lack of vocations and insufficient support. Yet, the church grows -- the number of people baptized increases, and the faith is passed on to the next generation.

Let us continue our prayers for the church throughout the world, that the Holy Spirit will continue to inspire and enrich the church -- and that we will respond with charity, mercy, and peace, as we carry out the work of the Holy Spirit in the world.

This past week we celebrated the graduation of 53 students from St. Benedict School. Their accomplishments are impressive, and we are proud to send them forth to the many schools that they will be attending. Our students are enrolled in: St. John Vianney HS (Holmdel); Christian Brothers Academy (Lincroft); Red Bank Catholic HS (Red Bank); St. Joseph HS (Metuchen); St. John Neumann HS (Naples, FL); Trinity Hall (Tinton Falls); High-Technology HS (Lincroft); Bio-Technology HS (Freehold); Marine Academy of Science and Technology (Highlands); Marlboro HS (Marlboro); Matawan Regional HS (Matawan); Middletown HS South (Middletown); Old Bridge HS (Old Bridge). Congratulations and thank you to the teachers, administrators, and staff of SBS who worked tirelessly to form and educate these students over the past nine years.

This past week Diana Saverino began her role here as Coordinator of Religious Education, assisting Nancy Arkin (Director of Faith Formation). Mrs. Saverino has extensive experience in religious education, adult faith formation, and OCIA and we are happy to have her on our team. This is especially helpful as the Summer Religious Education Academy begins in just about a month from now. (If you still need to register, please do so ASAP!).

As we enter the last week of school for this year, please keep our students, faculty, and administrators in your prayers.

Don’t forget to enjoy the Bayshore Greek Festival this weekend at Kimisis Tis Theotokou Greek Orthodox Church, 20 Hillcrest Rd.

Have a blessed week!
Fr. Garry