Weekly Letter from the Pastor

Dear Fellow Parishioners of St. Benedict:

To seek forgiveness of sins in preparation for the coming of the Lord was a key element of the proclamation of St. John the Baptist. Through the great gift of the Sacrament of Confession, we are able to realize that forgiveness through sacramental absolution. During this time of the year, then, we await the coming of the Lord: in celebration at Christmas and in hope at his Second Coming. Today, beginning at 4:00 p.m., we will celebrate Confession for all members of the parish. Some members of the parish, second grade students in the religious education programs, will receive First Penance, and all members of the parish – and certainly all Catholics – are invited to be here to receive the Sacrament. There will be an ample number of priests here to hear confessions. The afternoon is also progressive – while the service begins at 4:00 p.m., we expect to be here for over an hour, so you do not have to be here right at 4:00 p.m. to receive the Sacrament.

We are well underway with the Christmas preparations and decorations. This is an exciting time of the year, especially for families with young children, as the mystery of Christmas unfolds. Please take the time to remember, celebrate, and speak of the true mystery present here: that Jesus Christ – Son of God – is made manifest in our midst.

The children will be putting on the Christmas Pageant on Tuesday, December 18th and Wednesday, December 19th evenings at 7:00 p.m. This is not the occasion for students to just showcase their talent – the concert last week did that – but it is a reminder of the meaning of the Christmas season. Thank you to Mrs. Remick and the faculty, volunteers, and parents who commit so much of their time and talent to guide our students and prepare them for these events. They do wonderful work, and it really shows.

Monday night –December 17th – is the Mass and celebration for Simbang Gabi in our parish. The Monmouth County novena series began Friday night at the co-cathedral in Freehold celebrated by our bishop. Monday night we host the celebration here with Father JM as celebrant and homilist. The celebration transfers through nine different churches in the county. The culmination is at St. Ann in Keansburg on Saturday, December 22nd. Please check in the bulletin for more details.

Thank you to Father JM and his committee who work very hard to make sure the evening here is reverent and successful. They have been meeting and planning for the past several months. As always, they hope for a nice turn out.

Last weekend was so much fun around here. Not only did we have the lighting of the Christmas tree, but also the making of Gingerbread Houses and a special guest joined us for breakfast last Sunday.

The Knights of Columbus, SBS PTA, and the Faith Formation Office, deserve many kudos for the well-planned and executed events they have had during this advent season.
Thank you!

This weekend the priests are wearing rose colored vestments. This is a sign of hope in the midst of the more austere preparations for the season. While the rose chasuble is one that I purchased a few years ago, the dalmatic – the matching vestment worn by a deacon – is a recent gift from a parishioner. Though she remains anonymous, I wish to thank her for her generous donation.

May the joy of the Season grow in your hearts this week,
Fr. Garry