My Dear Parish Family:

Happy and Holy Advent! During this season of preparation for Christmas let us pray for one another that we do not forget to spiritually prepare for the birth of our Savior. Advent is a special season for the Church. The music and prayers of the Church are very beautiful, but can easily get lost in the necessary shopping and planning for Christmas Day.

So, let us remember the importance of coming to Church each Sunday with our families, not just on Christmas, but every week throughout the year. Let us pray for one another and those who feel lonely and forgotten during this holy season. Let us pray for our world and our parish community that we keep our hearts truly focused on the birth of Jesus which is the true meaning of Christmas.

Now that the holiday shopping and decorating has begun it is important for us, as Catholics, to keep our hearts focused on the true reason for this holy season - Jesus Christ! Jesus is the Savior of the whole world. He is the one who brings peace to our lives and, therefore, we must keep our hearts focused on praying to Jesus for peace and salvation for the whole world.

Each day, especially during Advent, is an opportunity to pray. One way to pray during Advent in preparation for Christmas, is to plan to be part of the Rosary Rally to be held on the corners of E. Tremont and Lafayette Avenues on Saturday, December 7th at 12 Noon. The rosary will be prayed that all Christians throughout the world will keep Christ in Christmas and not lose hope in the gift of the newborn Savior. Please keep watching for future issues of the bulletin and/or our webpage for details.

I recently received a telephone call from St. Joseph’s Seminary in Yonkers requesting St. Benedict’s assistance in a new program. You know that we have had seminarians stay with us over the years, but what you may not know is that seminarians are not allowed to work while studying for the priesthood.

Therefore, a new program is being started on behalf of the seminarians for Christmas. The program invited people to purchase gift cards to be given to seminarians. I said “yes” to St. Joseph’s Seminary’s request to support and help our seminarians. Fr. Bill Cleary, whom many of you know, is sponsoring a gift card program for the seminarians.

The seminary has sent me some names of seminarians who can use our help this Christmas. The program encourages people in various parishes to buy gift cards of any kind to give to a seminarian. The gift card can be a card to buy gas or a card for a store and for any amount you can afford. If you are willing to help, I will give you a name of a seminarian and you may purchase a gift card and perhaps a Christmas card to be sent to the seminarians.

I have some names at the rectory. If any of you are willing and able to support this program, kindly contact me at your earliest convenience. I will show you the official letter from the seminary and then if you are willing, I can give you the name of a seminarian.

I am willing to collect the Christmas cards and gift cards and bring them to the seminary or you can send the cards directly to the seminarian. Please always pray for our seminarians. Thank you.

Until next week, Happy Advent. St. Benedict, pray for us. Servant of God, Terence Cardinal Cooke. Pray for us.