Weekly Letter from the Pastor

Dear Fellow Parishioners of St. Benedict:

On Friday the Very Reverend Gabriel Zeis, T.O.R., Vicar for Education in the Diocese of Trenton, administered the Sacrament of Confirmation to 101 students of our parish community. While this is always a wonderful celebration and occasion, it is also a time for reflection on meaning. Many of the young men and women who are now fully initiated members of the Catholic Church, are not full and actively participating members. This is a sad reality, and one that we ardently need to address on many levels. They need our prayers; their families need our prayers. If we sincerely believe that the Holy Spirit does what we profess, then we know that our prayers are ultimately not in vain. Hopefully, through good young adult formation and service programs, we can continue to attract their attention in a world of endless noise.

This Sunday we are having our parish-wide penance service. We welcome again the Franciscan Friars of the Renewal (C.F.R.) to our parish to lead this service. There will also be many diocesan priests here to assist with the confessions. As with Advent, this is a progression of confessions, so if you are not here right at the start, it will be ok. Confessions continue until 6:00 p.m. We are all cognizant of our Easter Duty – to receive the Sacrament of Penance during the period between Ash Wednesday and Pentecost Sunday.

Besides our usual Saturday afternoon confessional schedule, we will also have opportunity for confession again on Wednesday evening April 10th as part of the Soup-and-Scripture series around 7:30 p.m. after the presentation. Confessions will also be available on Sunday, April 28th – Divine Mercy Sunday – as we will again have a speaker, confessions and an evening Mass to observe this newer, but very significant celebration. Also, on June 9th, as we again observe the Vigil of Pentecost, confession will be available around the talk and in preparation for Mass that evening.

With all of the Penance Services in the area, and the amount of time we have to make our Easter Duty, there is really no excuse for anyone not to be able to get to confession during this time of the year.

You are also noticing that Rachel DeMasi and Kim Reit are undergoing the Scrutinies at Mass on Sunday (usually 9:30 a.m.) They are preparing for Initiation at the Easter Vigil on April 20th. Let us all be mindful of praying for them and welcoming them into our parish community. In addition, there are other members of the community who are preparing for Confirmation. We have one man being confirmed this weekend as David McBride receives the Sacrament in preparation for his marriage on April 12th. Let us keep them, and their families, in our prayers.

There is not much Lent time remaining. If you have been remiss in exercising some discipline or penance, it is really not too late to take something on. If you started and then got slack, this is a good time to restart.

You will notice we are a bit more festive this weekend: we are wearing rose colored vestments and there are flowers on the altar. This Fourth Sunday of Lent – Laetare Sunday – reminds us that we are getting close to the end of Lent, but that the most difficult days lie ahead.

May the Lord bless you on your journey,
Fr. Garry