Pastor’s Message – Church of Saint Benedict

September 18, 2026

Friday of the Twenty-Fourth Week in Ordinary Time

O God, who founded all the commands of your sacred Law upon love of you and of our neighbor, grant that, by keeping your precepts, we may merit to attain eternal life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

Collect for the Mass on the Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Brothers & Sisters,

As a parish we have now begun the four-month Adoratio (Adoration) Campaign to promote Eucharistic Adoration in our St. Scholastica Chapel.

Eucharistic Adoration is the practice of praying before our Lord Jesus Christ present in the Blessed Sacrament. Sometimes this practice is referred to as a “Holy Hour”. It is a centuries-old part of Catholic spiritually. It is a simple act that has strengthened the faith and changed the lives of countless men, women and even children.

Many of God’s holy ones were shaped by this devotion. Among them were St. Teresa of Calcutta, the soon-to-be beatified Fulton Sheen and Servant of God Dorothy Day.

The Adoratio Campaign is an invitation for you to step away from the noise and distractions of daily life to spend intentional time with Christ in Eucharist Adoration. For many the issue is not the desire to do so. The challenge is what to do during a Holy Hour.

Part of the campaign will be teaching people ways to pray during Adoration. This will be the subject of preaching at Sunday Mass, personal witness walks by parishioners, and resources that will be made available to you.  

Currently, the St. Scholastica Chapel is open on weekdays from 6:00am to Midnight and from 8:00am to 1:00pm on Saturday. If you are not yet participating in weekly Adoration, I invite you to come by the chapel for a brief visit, no more than 15 minutes. Be there in silence before the Lord who loves you. Whatever prayer intention you have, whatever issue that you are facing, offer it to Him.

Our goal for the Adoratio Campaign is to offer a place of prayer that is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. To make this happen we will need to increase those presently participating in weekly Adoration from 230 to 500.

During the Adoratio Campaign I ask that each parish family pray for the success of this effort. I also encourage you to devote your Friday fast and penance for the intention of the campaign.

Our Parish

Condolences to the family of Michael Fagan, who died on Sunday, September 13. His funeral service took place this week at Hayhurst Funeral Home.

Congratulations to the Curtin, Hayes, and Ruvalcava families who are presenting children for baptism on Saturday.

A travelling exhibit on Eucharistic Miracles will be on display in McGuire Hall this weekend after all Masses.

The youth of the parish are holding a Bake Sale in the church commons after all Masses this weekend. Donations will support future mission trips.

Members of our parish’s Peace, Justice & Charity Committee will be in the church commons offering information on the Box of Joy initiative to support children in other countries.

Becoming Catholic

Our parish is blessed with a growing number of people who are seeking to be received into the Catholic Church, or who are Catholic and desire to return the active living of the faith. We need parishioners to become sponsors for these candidates, to accompany them in their walk of faith. We also need volunteers who will pray for them. Information on how you can help in this effort will be in the church commons this weekend.

Beatification of Venerable Fulton Sheen Watch Party

On Thursday, September 24, the late Archbishop Fulton Sheen (1895 – 1979) will be beatified, the first U.S. born bishop to be so honored. As with Blessed Stanley Rother, he can then be revered as a saint in his native country. Fr. Williams and several of our parishioners will be participating in the Beatification Mass in St. Louis, Missouri.

For those not able to attend in person, our parish is hosting a Watch Party that same day. We will begin with daily Mass at 8:30am followed by a Rosary, and coffee and donuts in the Commons. From 10:00am to 2:00pm there will be presentations about Fulton Sheen in Room 101. The Beatification Mass will begin at 2:00pm, which will also be shown on the TV in Room 101. All are welcome!

Guardian Angels Mass

Friday, October 2, is the Memorial of the Guardian Angels. In addition to the regular Masses that morning, there will be a Mass offered at 6:30pm. All families who have lost a child at any point during pregnancy, or at any time afterwards, are invited to this evening Mass. Prayers will be offered for the souls of these children.

Banns of Marriage

Bryan Jimenez and Victoria Zambrano are to enter the Sacrament of Marriage at the Church of Saint Benedict on Saturday, September 26, 2026.

Robert Murguia and Gladis Olazo are to enter the Sacrament of Marriage at the Church of Saint Benedict on Saturday, October 24, 2026.

Please keep them in your prayers.

God bless and keep safe.

Fr. Bryan