I will be presenting the Parish Annual Finance and Pastoral Reports for the fiscal year 2020-21 on the weekend on October 30/31. This will include reports on finance, pastoral ministries, sacraments, parish charitable outreach and St. John Bosco School. Please note! Our fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30. The Annual Report will be presented by the Presidents of the Parish Pastoral and Finance Councils, Frank Polimene and Debbie Smith, at the end of all the Masses. A digital copy of the report will be posted on the parish website. A few copies will be printed and available at the Church vestibule for those who prefer hard copies.
I invite you and your family and friends to come join us for our Annual Trunk-or-Treat and the SJB Harvest Fest this Saturday, Oct 23rd from 5-9pm on the St. John Bosco campus. This is going to be an exciting, fun night featuring music, food trucks, beer & wine garden, pumpkin patch, bounce houses, games, treats, and lots of fun for all ages! Sign up for a spot to have your decorated vehicle (nothing scary or evil) ready for those trick-or-treaters by clicking here. (Sign up is required.). Visit our parish website for information.
Here are some quick updates on our Church building project:
Again, I thank everyone for your prayers and financial support that has made it possible for us to come to this historical moment in our parish community. Let us continue to pray that God will continue to provide for us and guide us through every step of the building process.
This weekend, we will celebrate World Mission Sunday. It is our yearly opportunity to honor our life as Catholics through the special call we received at Baptism to be missionaries. It also reminds us of the service offered by the Church’s missionaries in bearing Christ’s message of salvation to all people in all lands. This year’s theme for World Mission Sunday is “We cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). Every parish in the world can participate, united in this special Eucharistic celebration. Every parishioner is a missionary, sharing our love for Christ’s Gospel with one another, supporting the Church most in need. Find out more information here (Link: https://www.usccb.org/committees/national-collections/world-mission-sunday-collection-resources )
What is the Synod on Synodality? In May 2021, Pope Francis invited the global Catholic Church to gather and reflect on communion, participation, and mission within the Church. The two-year process of listening and dialogue is themed, For a Synodal Church: Communion, Participation, & Mission being referred to as the “synod on synodality,” which the Holy Father officially opened with Mass at Saint Peter’s Basilica on October 10.
This past weekend, dioceses throughout the world began the next phase of the synod which includes consultation and dialogue at the diocesan level. Parishes throughout the world are expected to participate in the synod. Our Bishop, Thomas Olmsted, invites our parish and all parishioners to participate in the synod. Find attached the message from the Bishop:
Here at St. Benedict parish, I will be meeting with our Parish Pastoral Council, the staff and ministry leaders to determine how to introduce the synod in our parish community. All our parishioners and everyone in our SJB school community will be invited to participate in the synod. We will be using the preparatory document and questionnaire from the Holy See’s synod office to guide the discussion. The following diocesan timeline has been established in accordance with the recommendations of the USCCB:
Have a wonderful weekend and remain blessed!
Fr James Aboyi, VC
Pastor