My Dear Parish Family:

Thank you to all our parishioners for making Christmas so beautiful here at St. Benedict’s! The Christmas Concert a couple of weeks ago was fantastic! The decorations in the Church are always done so well and this year was no exception - thank you to the Liturgy Committee!

Thank you for all the cards and baked goods sent to the rectory. Fr. Dan and I are very grateful for all your love and support throughout the year but especially during this holy season of Christmas. Thank you!

The Church throughout the world celebrates Holy Family Sunday when we remember Joseph, Mary and Jesus were a family. Jesus, the Son of God, was obedient to Joseph and Mary. We need to pray for our children to learn to respect the gift of their parents and honor them always. We remember Joseph and Mary as parents. We pray for parents to be holy and watchful over their children, meeting not just their children’s physical needs but more importantly their spiritual needs.

Parents are called to raise their children to God by bringing them to Church each Sunday and Holy Days and to teach them to pray at home before meals and in the morning, as well as before bed. Children learn by example and for parents there is no better model than Joseph and Mary. Joseph and Mary were a married couple and so they are a perfect model for all husbands and wives to learn to love and respect one another all the days of their married life.

I know that marriage is not always easy, but if we
ask Joseph, Mary and Jesus to help and intercede for
our marriages and our families we will have a greater peace and stronger lives together as a family. Let us pray that all the families of our parish will strive to be like the Holy Family.

On a more earthly note, we continue to work on paying down our parish debt through the generosity of all of you to Renew & Rebuild. Please continue to remember to send in your donation to the Renew & Rebuild Campaign because it remains important for us as a parish commu- nity. Icontinueto“work”withtheArchdioceseregarding our boiler which is not functioning to capacity, but I will not release money towards paying off the boiler project until I am satisfied. I have instructed the parish account- ant to prepare an end of year report for the parish and we will have that available to you soon into the new year.

Be assured that Fr. Dan, Deacon Michael, Deacon John Scott as well as myself, will hold you in our prayers as we begin the Year of Our Lord 2020. May God con- tinue to bless His Church throughout the world, and in particular, our parish community.

Until next week, Happy New Year! St. Benedict and Cardinal Cooke, Servant of God, pray for us!

Fr. Stephen P. Norton