Weekly Letter from the Pastor

Dear Fellow Parishioners of St. Benedict’s:
I first want to thank John DeMuria for his presentation to the parish community last weekend. He highlighted the importance of stewardship and the diverse nature of the ministries of the parish. We have much work to do together, and at this time our resources are more stretched than we are comfortable. We need to care for the present, but can never lose sight of the future. Thank you for your thoughtfulness and generosity in moving forward.

October begins this Wednesday. This is a month filled with feasts and celebrations, but at the core of the month is the Holy Rosary. There will be a family day with the Rosary on October 26. See the bulletin or check with the Faith Formation Office for more details.

This Friday we will celebrate the Sacrament of Confirmation for the members of our parish who are now in their first year of high school. Msgr. Joseph Rosie, V.E, pastor of St. James in Red Bank and the Vicar for Monmouth County will administer the Sacrament. This is the first year we have celebrated Confirmation in the fall for the ninth graders. This is a good opportunity for the students to check-in with each other as they begin their high school careers.

Speaking of high school, this past week the local Catholic high schools presented to our eighth grade students, inviting them to investigate their open houses and to look more into their programs. All of the high schools will have their open houses in October, as the admissions/placement tests all occur in the early weeks of
November.

I encourage anyone with a seventh or eighth grade student to look more deeply into the opportunities offered in the Catholic High Schools. Many of the Catholic Colleges are offering significant college scholarships to graduates from Catholic High Schools, so it can be an investment that pays off even more than the social, religious, and human formation that each of these schools allow. Here is a list of the local schools and their
open house dates.

• St. John Vianney HS - October 11, 9am; October 16, 7pm
• Red Bank Catholic HS - October 19, 2 - 4:30 pm
• St. Thomas Aquinas HS - October, 19 1-4 pm
• St. Rose High School - October 9, 6-8 pm
• Christian Brothers Academy - October 5, 12 - 3 pm; October 22, 4:30 - 6:30
• St. Joseph’s Prep - October 19, 11:30 - 2 pm
• Trinity Hall - October 4, 9-11 am; November 5, 6-8 pm

Each of the schools offers scholarships and financial assistance. A Catholic education can make a world of difference in the life of a student.

I hope everyone has a blessed week ahead!
Fr Garry