Weekly Letter from the Pastor

Dear Fellow Parishioners of St. Benedict:

As you can see things are moving here at quite a quick pace this summer. You will notice that the trees along the road next to the baseball field were taken down this week. Each of them was more dead than alive, and the large dead sections of the trees were a matter of concern, especially during the periods of heavy wind. Better to take them down when we could than have to deal with the fallout should something happen.

Next weekend we begin the replacement of the sidewalk on the property. This is a significant undertaking as it involves much demolition and replacement. Due to the generosity of a school family, we are able to complete this project with a revolutionary recycled material which is beginning to take hold in the industry. This means that our parish will be a showcase for the product. One thing to look out for is that the access to the church next weekend might be limited, depending on how the progress of the work takes shape. I just ask that everyone remain flexible as we might have to direct everyone to the back lot for access to the church. We are hoping the work does not impact normal operations in too many ways, but it is a large project.

You might also note that we are installing rain gutters on the front of the school building, and on the back of wing 1 and the front of wing 2. The absence of such a rain removal system over the many decades destroyed the soffit and fascia to the building, and we have therefore had to replace all that now.

The church bell system which was compromised during one of the power outages this summer should be back and operational soon, if not already.

We will shortly be launching a soft pitch for the brick sale project for the walkways leading to the school entrance and the adoration chapel. We will undertake this project over the next year, and more information will be forthcoming.

This week we begin the final week of the Summer Religious Education Academy. The past two weeks have gone very well. Nancy Arkin has assembled a wonderful team of teachers and volunteers who work well together to make the program run smoothly and seamlessly. In other news from the Faith Formation Office, this past Friday we bid a farewell to Loretta Assini who has been the administrative assistant in the office for the past four years. We are grateful for her dedication during that time and wish her a wonderful retirement and we look forward to seeing her here on the weekends.

This weekend Sylvia Allen joins us to speak about Sylvia’s Children, based here in Holmdel yet working for the welfare of children in Uganda. Please be generous in supporting this program.

Have a blessed week,
Fr. Garry