News - January 2026 RSS Feed

Well that was a snowy weekend like we haven’t seen in a long time. Given my Lehigh Valley roots and college seminary days in Scranton, a good snow storm is always a relaxing and pleasant experience. I know not everyone feels that way.

As I write this letter it is looking like most of you will not be reading it as you will be home watching the snow piling up on your driveways. Nonetheless, there are some important things to address. As you know we are in Catholic Schools Week, and we are excited to celebrate the success of our school; to recognize the hard work and dedication of our faculty and staff, and to support and encourage our students. Certainly we are grateful to all of the families who entrust their children to our care for their formation and education. It is an awesome responsibility, and one that we take very seriously here. Thank you to all those who make this mission possible for our parish family.

The new year seems to be moving along rather quickly, and we are already looking forward to the beginning of the Lenten Season. Ash Wednesday is fairly early this year, coming in on February 18. It would seem that not much happens between now and then, though some of the events are worth noting.

I write this letter from the Paul VI Audience Hall at the Vatican awaiting the audience with Pope Leo XIV. I arrived in Rome on January 2 and by the time you read this letter I will be back at the parish. I have been in Rome with Bishop O’Connell and some fifteen priests. It has been fairly cold and the rain has been very heavy at times, so there were a few things that we intended to do but did not due to the weather. Nonetheless, it has been a nice break and a good experience.

I hope everyone had a safe and blessed New Year. Please be assured of our prayers here for blessings in the year ahead. This past Christmas Season was a good and productive one for us here at St. Benedict, and hopefully the same is true for your families as well.