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As I get out and speak to more and more of you, to other priests of our diocese and elsewhere, and with other friends and relatives I am becoming increasingly aware of the sense of anger and disappointment that many are feeling – and now able to express – as we have endured this pandemic quarantine for the past four months. Some of this anger is directed at the government – whether the president or the governor, or even both; much of the anger is directed at the “church” whether our diocese, the church as a whole in the USA and the world, and also at us here at St. Benedict’s. Read more.

So many moving pieces – such a challenging time to live in and especially in which to do pastoral ministry. Read more.

The role out of the opening of our state and our churches has been fast and furious, but trying to keep up is like aiming at a moving target. Just when we had a system working for the twenty-five person daily Mass attendance, the number doubled to fifty. We are working out those details for seating, cleaning, etc., and they will be announced probably before you read this letter making this a moot point. Nonetheless, we are doing our best here to plan and implement the directives, keeping in mind everyone’s needs, concerns, and desires. This has not been easy, and we are doing our best. Thank you to the team of Father JM, Lori Ulrich, Margaret Roddy, and Anita Magnan for their diligence in getting this all together. We have learned a great deal in the last three months! Read more.

The good news is that the church can open for Mass beginning Monday, June 8th; the bad news is that the required restrictions place a heavy burden on the church and the parishioners. So let me open by saying that I expect this to be a short-term solution as restrictions are eased gradually over the summer months. Read more.

Pentecost is upon us, the Easter Season is over as of Evening Prayer on Sunday. Fifty days since Easter – some considerable stretch of time, the entirety of which we have been on “social distancing” and limited movement. While things look like they are breaking forward, there is no news to report (as of this writing) regarding further opening of the churches or the celebration of the Sacraments. As soon as there is noteworthy news I will again issue a general phone call to the parish to inform you of the developments. Read more.

The past few weeks have been a whirlwind of activities, news, developments, and whatever else in the midst of a world-wide pandemic and social distancing. While it looks like we are beginning to emerge from some of this, there seems to be much yet undone. Let me discuss, briefly, some church developments. Read more.

There are signs of hope all around us. As you know by now we have been permitted to open the church for private prayer and devotion since this past Wednesday (May 13th – the Feast of Our Lady of Fatima). After careful deliberation we decided to open the Hall of Saints for private prayer. This space is large enough to accommodate the ten person maximum rule, it has a dedicated entrance/exit, it is a familiar place for prayer, offers a view of the church and the Blessed Sacrament in the Tabernacle, and enables the lighting of devotional candles.

Although it came as no real surprise, our students and teachers were saddened to learn that they would not be returning to school during this academic year. Through the arduous dedication of our faculty, the on-line learning here has been going very well. Our students have the opportunity to daily connect with their teachers and, just as importantly, with one another. This past week was Teacher Appreciation Week, and there are not enough ways that we can express how much we appreciate the teachers, the principal, and the entire support staff of SBS. Thank you!

May – the month when we generally think of Spring coming into its richness, and we anticipate the summer season ahead – is offering us some hope of regeneration and reemerging from our banishment and exile. Regardless of how the month unfolds for us here, we know that “hope springs eternal.” Read more.

Another week when I feel like I am writing from exile! We are doing our best to keep things going around here. Yes, there are a few challenges. We have been able to cut back on many things and several projects in order to be most judicious with our stewardship. Several projects were underway when all of this began, so we have been able to get those finished at least. It’s been a good time to get some painting done as well. While we have to be prudent with expenses, this is also no time to be idle and certainly we did not want to have to furlough regular staff thus adding to the burdens that this lockdown is placing on all of us. Read more.

Here we are, already our fifth Sunday of being away from the church. In some ways it doesn’t seem like it has been that long already and in other ways it feels like forever since we have been here. Read more.

ALLELUIA! He is Risen! ALLELUIA: Yes, it is Easter, but it really doesn’t feel like Easter does it. After three days in the tomb, Jesus is raised from the dead. Yet, here we are, still homebound, with no real end in sight. Instead of celebrating life and resurrection, we are surrounded with fear of death and the emptiness of despair. Read more.

This is going to be a most unusual Holy Week, and celebration of the Sacred Triduum. The sense of isolation and loss of the experience of the assembled faithful will only serve to highlight the sense of isolation, desolation, and emptiness felt by the disciples, and indeed by Jesus himself, during that fateful Passover almost 2000 years ago. Read more.

This is going to be a most unusual Holy Week, and celebration of the Sacred Triduum. The sense of isolation and loss of the experience of the assembled faithful will only serve to highlight the sense of isolation, desolation, and emptiness felt by the disciples, and indeed by Jesus himself, during that fateful Passover almost 2000 years ago. Read more.

I know many of you have been following us on social media, and even “attending” daily and weekend Masses on-line. I must say that at least for me this is a strange experience. While Masses without an Assembly have long been part of the tradition of the church, it is still unusual to not have the People of God present with us. It is especially strange preaching to an empty church. It reminds us of our preaching classes in the seminary, except that there is no critique at the end! Read more.

There is a deep sense of angst that grips our country, our state, and even our parish as we move through these dark days of uncertainty around the COVID-19 outbreak. It is essential that as men and women of faith that we continue to place our trust in the Lord and to be best prepared for all eventualities. Read more.

Lent seems to be passing by too fast, as it always does; somehow forty days sounds like a long time, but isn’t. Read more.

Parishioners relieved of Mass obligation, churches to remain open; schools, religious education programs and Chancery to close. Bishop David M. O’Connell, C.M., announced a series of measures March 12 and 13 aimed at mitigating the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19) in the parishes and schools of the four-county Diocese of Trenton. Read more.

I wish to extend sincere “thank you” to the Knights of Columbus for sponsoring the Fish Fry last week. These type of events are good both for community building and have the added benefit of bringing some revenue to the school. Thanks for all who attended and made the evening a success. Read more.

The starkness of the church and the haunting chant of the Liturgy remind us of the somber and important tone of the Lenten Season. The violet vestments remind us of the penitential nature of the season, and point us ever forward to the death of Jesus on the cross. While this annual cycle of readings and liturgy may become routine in our lives, it should always be a reminder to us to take things deeper in our relationship with the Lord, and to take assessment of where we need conversion and growth in our lives. Read more.