Join us for our Parish Bingo Raffle and Bake Sale!

07-27-2021Weekly Flocknote MessageFr. James Aboyi, V.C.

I invite you to come join us at our first In-Person Bingo Raffle and Bake Sale this Friday, July 30th from 5-7pm. This event is sponsored by the St. Benedict Events Committee and will be held at the St. John Bosco Multipurpose Room. The raffle tickets (bingo cards) will be 3 for $10, or $5 each and we will use Smartie candies as the bingo markers. Pizza and bake sale items (individually wrapped) will be available for purchase. Please mark your calendar to come to this fun event where you can win prizes playing Bingo with your friends! RSVP Today to hold your spot for this super fun event!  (RSVP HERE)

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No Offering is Too Small

07-24-2021Weekly ReflectionFr. James Aboyi, V.C.

The stories in our First Reading and the Gospel today are very similar: The people were very far away from their town and hungry. One person had a loaf of bread but there were too many people to feed. Then Jesus blessed the loaves and multiplied them for everybody to eat. These Scripture readings invite us to pay attention and do something about, the reality that many people, particularly children, are malnourished or die of hunger globally. In a world where we produce enough food to feed everyone, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that over 811 million people (10% of global population) were undernourished in 2020. This is an alarming increase of world hunger from previous years, much of it related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Welcome to Clare Gisla!

07-19-2021Weekly Flocknote MessageFr. James Aboyi, V.C.

I welcome Clare Gisla to our St. Benedict staff and community as the new Youth Ministry Coordinator. Along with her deep commitment to sharing the Catholic faith with others, Clare brings a wealth of experience in youth ministry, teaching and music. Her first day at work will be Monday, July 19. I assure Clare of my prayers and support in her new role and also ask for your prayers and support for her. Let us show her our St. Benedict welcoming spirit as she joins our community next week.

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Taking After the Good Shepherd

07-17-2021Weekly ReflectionFr. James Aboyi, V.C.

The theme of Liturgy over the past three weeks has been centered on different types of leadership and responsibilities in the Church. Two weekends ago, we reflected on the roles of prophets; last weekend we reflected on the roles of missionaries; and this weekend the theme of the Liturgy is centered on the roles of shepherd and religious leaders. It is not a coincidence that God chose most of the great leaders, the patriarchs in the Old Testament such as Abraham, Moses and David, from among the shepherds. In the New Testament, Jesus identifies himself as the Good Shepherd, “who is willing to lay down His life for His Sheep” (John 10:11). This explains why a priest in charge of a parish today is called Pastor, a Latin word for shepherd. Religious leaders as shepherds are called to model their lives after that of Jesus Christ, the Good Shepherd.

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Happy Feast Day!

07-12-2021Weekly Flocknote MessageFr. James Aboyi, V.C.

I wish you all a Happy Feast Day as we celebrate the feast of our patron saint, Benedict, on Sunday, July 11. We are blessed to have our parish named after St. Benedict, one of the greatest saints in the history of the Church. The personal life, holiness and vision of St. Benedict has had a great impact on the world order as it is today. His Monastic Rule became the norm for monastic living throughout Europe and a guide for the evangelization and civilization of many European countries in the Middle Ages.

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The Roles of Lay Missionaries

07-10-2021Weekly ReflectionFr. James Aboyi, V.C.

In our first reading today, Amos told Amaziah that he is not a prophet but an ordinary man sent by God to preach the truth to the people. In other words, he considered himself as a lay person sent to preach the word of God. We often think of missionaries as priests and religious sisters who are sent to faraway countries. In a way, that is true. However, the 2nd Vatican Council document on the Missionary Life of the Church (Ad Gentes) states that “the Church is missionary by nature.” This means that we are all missionaries by virtue of our Baptism.

In our first reading today, Amos told Amaziah that he is not a prophet but an ordinary man sent by God to preach the truth to the people. In other words, he considered himself as a lay person sent to preach the word of God. We often think of missionaries as priests and religious sisters who are sent to faraway countries. In a way, that is true. However, the 2nd Vatican Council document on the Missionary Life of the Church (Ad Gentes) states that “the Church is missionary by nature.” This means that we are all missionaries by virtue of our Baptism.

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Congratulations to Nikki Garza

07-06-2021Weekly Flocknote MessageFr. James Aboyi, V.C.

Congratulations to Nikki Garza for being hired as our new Liturgy Coordinator. Nikki is well-known to everyone in our parish as the “Lady with the Golden Voice” in our choir. Her first day at work is July 6th. Nikki will be responsible for planning our Liturgical services and coordinating the Sacristans, Extraordinary Ministers of the Eucharist, Lectors, Art and Environment Ministers, Hospitality Ministers and all ministries and individuals involved in Liturgy. I assure Nikki of my prayers and support in her new responsibility, and I ask for your prayers and support for her too.

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Speaking Truth Without Fear

07-04-2021Spiritual ReflectionsFr. James Aboyi, V.C.
>“Hard of face and obstinate of heart are they to whom I am sending you. But you shall say to them: Thus says the LORD GOD! And whether they heed or resist, for they are a rebellious house, they shall know that a prophet has been among them” (Ez 2:4-5). This closing statement in the First Reading today captures the central message that runs through our Scriptures readings today: the challenges of our roles as prophets belonging to a prophetic Church.

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