The Lunch Ministry collected enough items for numerous Christmas Baskets. Baskets were delivered and greatly appreciated by all who received them. THANK YOU for your support.

As of January 1st, our 2023 offering envelopes will be mailed to your home every other month by Church Budget Envelope Co. If you are not currently receiving envelopes and would like to or if you have yet to receive your 2023 January envelopes, please contact Channon at the Parish Office (892-5202). We also ask you to consider utilizing our parish’s online give program, which is the safest and most convenient way to support the parish financially. The link and QR code can be found in the “Stewardship” post.

The Parish Office will be closed until Tuesday, January 3rd, in observance of New Year’s. We would like to wish everyone a very Blessed and Happy New Year, and for those who will be traveling a safe trip to and from their destinations.

Starting next weekend, December 3/4 mail bins will be placed at the entrance of the church to begin collecting your Christmas Cards for those in our community in Long Term Care, Nursing, and Rehabilitation Homes. Place as many Christmas Cards as you like... Please include the “thoughts and prayers from the Parishioners of St. Benedict Parish” in your Christmas greeting/signature. The outside of the envelope can be left blank or you may write, “Merry Christmas”. Please place your Christmas cards in the mail bins no later than Wednesday, December 14th. The Card will be distributed on Friday, December 16th and Saturday, December 17th by the Deacons.

The 2023 workbooks are available in the usher’s room for all Lectors.

We will celebrate Mass on Thanksgiving Day at 8:00 a.m. which will include the blessing of bread for use at meals that day—a gift from the Men’s Club to all who attend Mass. The parish office will be closed in observance of Thanksgiving, beginning Wednesday, November 23rd through Friday, November 25th. We would like to wish everyone a very Blessed Thanksgiving, and for those who are traveling a safe trip to and from their destinations.

Angels are available this weekend. This year, there are about 175 adults and children Angels from a number of sources. Please complete the light green tag(s) attached to the Angel(s) and deposit in designated baskets at the church. Unwrapped gift(s) with Angel(s) attached must be returned to church by noon on Sunday, December 4th. Please remember many families depend on your generosity. These may be the only gifts they receive. If for any reason you are unable to purchase gifts for the Angel you selected, please contact Claire Hayden at (504)- 799-5487 so other arrangements can be made in this case. As always, thank you for your continued support of this wonderful program

Come get a taste of what St. Benedict Men’s Club can do. Smoked turkey and sausage gumbo will be sold after all Masses the weekend of November 19/20 for just $12 a quart or $40 for 4 quarts with a little lagniappe (rice).

The Altar Society thanks everyone who made the Advent Wreath Fundraiser such a success. All the wreaths were sold in one weekend.

As of January 1st, your 2023 offering envelopes will be sent via mail every other month by Church Budget Envelope Co. If you are not currently receiving envelopes and would like to, please contact Channon at the Parish Office (892-5202).

The Lunch Ministry will be collecting canned vegetables, instant mashed potatoes, easy mac and cheese, and stuffing for them to put in the Annual Holiday Baskets for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. Please drop your non-perishables off at the Catechetical Center before November 22nd.

Our Annual Parish Picnic and Trunk or Treat was hugely successful! A big thank you to everyone who came out to enjoy the day! An ENORMOUS THANK YOU to our Men's Club and Volunteers for providing lunch and festivities!

November is the month that we, as a Church, remember and pray for all of the faithful departed. The Book of Remembrance has been placed in the back of the church for you to inscribe the names of your deceased family and friends to be prayed for throughout the month.

The Mass Intention Book will open on November 1st for all intentions to be accepted throughout 2023. Mass requests will be honored on a first-come, first-serve basis in the order in which the request is received at the parish office. No Mass request will be taken over the telephone. Mass request must be made in person in the parish office, or in writing and placed in the collection basket or mailed to the office. Forms for requesting a Mass can be obtained from the parish office, in the back of the church, or available online on the parish website.

As of January 1st, your 2023 offering envelopes will be sent via mail every other month by Church Budget Envelope Co. If you are not currently receiving envelopes and would like to, please contact Channon at the Parish Office (892-5202).

Next weekend (October 22/23) is designated World Mission Sunday. Through mission efforts, World Missions encounters various groups of people and communities in need of your help. Without the faith and generosity of donors, that help would not be possible. Please show your support and as always, we thank you for your generosity

One the biggest traditions of the Advent season is the Advent Wreath. The wreath and candles help us to anticipates and prepare for the birth of Jesus Christ! The Ladies Altar Society will be selling advent wreaths as a fundraiser on November 5/6 and November 12/13. Wreaths will be sold for $25.00 each, providing an excellent way to prepare your mind and heart for Christmas. Please show your support and Christmas spirit.

We will have our annual blessing of pets and animals on Sunday, October 16th at 2:00 pm. All pets and animals are welcome!

Sunday, October 30th will be our annual Parish Picnic after the 10:30 Mass. Food, Family, and Fun is guaranteed. The parish will supply lunch for everyone – we are asking each family to bring drinks for their own family. Our Youth Ministry will be coordinating games and other activities. As a special addition to the Parish Picnic we will also have Trunk or Treat - a family friendly Halloween event in which children and their families get to enjoy dressing up and receive candy from each of the family friendly themed vehicles that participate. All youth are invited to dress up as their favorite saint or biblical figure on Sunday, October 30th for the 10:30 a.m. Mass. During the picnic we will have our trunk or treat. Everyone is encouraged to decorate their trunks and to bring candy or other goodies to give to those who participate. All are welcome to join in the fun.

ARE YOU SOMEONE OR DO YOU KNOW SOMEONE WHO… • Has expressed an interest in becoming Catholic? • Was baptized Catholic as a child, but has not celebrated the Sacraments of Confirmation and Eucharist? • Has you been sitting in the pew next to your Catholic spouse for years wondering what you have to do to become Catholic? Father Charles will be leading those interested in becoming Catholic through a small group to learn more about our faith. Sessions focus on the teachings and experience of Church and prepare individuals to celebrate the Sacraments of Baptism, Confirmation, and Eucharist during the Easter season. There will be an inquiry session on Sunday, October 9th at 9:15 a.m. (between the morning Masses) for those who are interested.