Pastor’s Message – Church of Saint Benedict

June 27, 2025

Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

O God, who on the Solemnity of the Apostles of Peter and Paul give us the noble and holy joy of this day, grant, we pray, that your Church may in all things follow the teaching of those through whom she received the beginnings of right religion. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.

Collect for the Mass on the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul

Brothers and Sisters,

Today we celebrate the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. This devotion, to which the entire month of June is dedicated, is a renewed invitation for us to enter the heart of our Savior. His heart radiates with divine love and mercy, revealing to us the infinite compassion of God the Father for each of us.

The more we seek, with God’s grace, for our hearts to be in harmony with the Sacred Heart, the more our lives will be set on fire with divine love, radiating out from us. Through us, other hearts will be invited into the heart of Jesus.

This Sunday, we celebrate the two great pillars of the apostolic Church, St. Peter and St. Paul. Their encounter with the Risen Christ set their hearts on fire to share the Good News that Jesus is Lord.

Through the intercession of these faithful witnesses of the Gospel, may the continual renewal of the Church in our own time deepen and spread through us.

Our Parish

Congratulations to Deacon Robert Williams of St. Anne Parish. He will be ordained a priest for our Diocese today at 6:00pm, at Holy Family Cathedral. His First Mass is tomorrow at 10:00am, also at Holy Family. All are welcome to attend.

Congratulations to Jenna Swain. Formerly a parishioner at St. Benedict, she has been accepted as a postulant for the Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo. Jenna begins her formation later this summer.

The Annual Peter’s Pence Collection will be taken at all Masses the weekend of June 28-29, the Solemnity of St. Peter and St. Paul. This worldwide collection will be used to support the charitable work of Pope Leo XIV.

A blessing for June birthdays and wedding anniversaries will be offered at all Masses this weekend.

Fr. Archie Fernandez, our new associate pastor, begins his assignment on July 1. Please pray for him and all priests starting new ministry positions next week.

Becoming Catholic

Our next two Becoming Catholic Inquiry Meetings will be on July 1 and July 15 at 7:00pm in Room 101. All are welcome.

Summer Children & Youth Activities

Thank you for the overwhelming response to Totus Tuus, Home Heart Camp, and Vacation Bible School, which took place this month. Registration for the Steubenville Conference of July 18-20 is full.

There are still places open for the 4 X 4 event from June 30 to July 3, and Life Camp the week of July 21-25. Inquire with Deb Malcom in the parish office for more information.

Young Adults

On Sundays in June, July, and August all young adults in the parish are invited to participate in the Noon Mass and then gather at Los Vaqueros Restaurant at 2412 West New Orleans Street for lunch. Guests are welcome.

Parish Survey

The Parish Council has prepared a survey concerning the use of the four-acre lot located south of the main parking lot. There are several suggestions as to its possible future use. This survey is available online at https://saintbenba.flocknote.com/signup/214731. Please complete the survey by Friday, July 18.

First Friday/Fourth of July

We will have First Friday Mass on July 4 at 10:00am. There will be no 6:30am or 8:30am Mass that day. Both the St. Scholastica Chapel and the Parish Office will be closed.

First Saturday

We will have the First Saturday Mass on July 5 at 8:30am with a Rosary afterwards.

Jubilee Year of Hope First Saturday Pilgrimage

Bishop Konderla will offer the First Saturday Jubilee Year of Hope Mass on July 5 at 10:00am at St. Anne Parish. All are welcome.

God bless you and keep you safe.

Fr. Bryan