My Dear Parish Family:

The following information was in my Pastor’s Column, dated August 25, 2019. I am repeating it for those who may not have seen it:

“Schedules that we have become accustomed to here at the parish will no longer be in effect beginning Tuesday, Sept. 3rd (the day after Labor Day.) Due to necessary budget cuts a number of realities will take place beginning this September. Our maintenance people will both be part-time meaning one of them will be around the property Monday through Thursday; no maintenance personnel will be available on Fridays. A young man, Jason, will remain here for a few hours on Saturday mornings to clean inside and outside of the Church in preparation for Sunday Masses.

The rectory hours will also change beginning Sept. 3rd. The rectory will be open from 9 A.M. until 5 P.M. Monday through Friday with an hour break for lunch which will be from 12 Noon until 1 P.M. Saturdays will remain open continuously from 9 A.M. until 4 P.M. (in other words there will be no clos- ing of the rectory for a lunch hour on Saturdays.)

Obviously, the rectory will not be open on Sundays because I strongly believe that Sundays are a special day and, therefore, the “business” aspects of the rectory need to be done Monday through Saturday and not on a Sunday. Sundays are for us to attend Mass and to spend time with our family.

Deacon Michael will be in the rectory on certain days during the week and on Saturdays to assist with Marriage and Baptism registrations, as well as being available to help with all the many people who come to the rectory for advice, prayers and blessings. Deacon Michael’s hours have yet to be fully determined. As soon as they are confirmed we will post them so that everyone will know who is on duty in the rectory.

The bookkeeper of the parish, Carl Triano, is now also part-time. If any financial concerns arise, you may call Carl and leave a message or speak directly to me.

There is a new Director of Religious Education since Sr. Joan retired in June. This school year we welcome our new Coordinator of Religious Education, Ms. Joann LaDisa.

She will work part-time and her office will be located in the school building. Ms. LaDisa’s hours will be posted in the bulletin and webpage for the convenience of all. She comes to us with a great background as a teacher, as well as leader of religious education.

Ms. LaDisa also brings us new ideas to help better our program for our students, catechists and parents. The religious education office now has an email address as follows: StBenedictRELedu@gmail.com so you may contact her at anytime or you can call her at 718-829-1200.

Welcome Ms. Joann LaDisa

The parish is financially struggling to pay all the bills and one of the ways to assist is by reducing staff. Parishes throughout the Archdiocese that cannot pay all the bills must then go to the Archdiocese for support and then the people in the Financial Office of the Archdiocese dictate the spending, and personnel matters of that parish, and we do not want that to become reality. We are not in danger of that happening to us yet and we will continue to pay all our bills, but it is impor- tant that we take these necessary measures now. There is no easy or “quick fix” but I believe that if we “tighten our belts” at the rectory a little bit it will help us greatly.

In the fall, I will be announcing an Increase Giving Campaign to ask the members of the parish who may be able to give a little more in the weekly collection to begin to do so. The members of this parish are very generous as was evident in the Renew & Rebuild Campaign and the Cardinal’s Campaign. The money from Renew & Rebuild is slowly coming in and we will begin shortly paying off the debts we owe, but in the meantime we must reduce staff and work harder at saving money.

As always, I am willing to discuss this matter with any member of the parish in detail. I have never tried to hide any- thing from you especially financial matters. We will remain strong and solvent with these few changes. Thank you for your love and support of St. Benedict’s Parish.

Until next week, blessings on the remaining days of sum- mer! St. Benedict, pray for us! Terence Cardinal Cooke, Servant of God, pray for us.”

Fr. Stephen P. Norton