March 13/14 is the annual second collection for Catholic Relief Services (CRS). For more than 75 years, CRS has been providing expertise and compassion to the very poorest of our brothers and sisters in more than 100 countries.

Father Charles will celebrate his Annual 39th Birthday on March 12th . Please keep Father in your thoughts and prayers on his special day.

There has been much discussion of late over the COVID-19 vaccines becoming available to the public as a means of bringing the pandemic under control. For Catholics in particular there has been much discussion and debate about moral and ethical questions around the development of the vaccines in regards to their use of morally compromised cell lines created from two abortions that occurred, one in the 1970s and one in the 1980s. The Archdiocese of New Orleans, in light of guidance from the Vatican, the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, and The National Catholic Bioethics Center affirm that though there was some lab testing that utilized the abortion-derived cell line, the two vaccines currently available from Pfizer and Moderna do not rely on cell lines from abortions in the manufacturing process and therefore can be morally acceptable for Catholics as the connection to abortion is extremely remote. It is under the same guidance that the archdiocese must instruct Catholics that the latest vaccine from Janssen/Johnson & Johnson is morally compromised as it uses the abortion- derived cell line in development and production of the vaccine as well as the testing. We maintain that the decision to receive the COVID-19 vaccine remains one of individual conscience in consultation with one’s healthcare provider. We also maintain that in no way does the Church’s position diminish the wrongdoing of those who decided to use cell lines from abortions to make vaccines. In doing so, we advise that if the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine is available, Catholics should choose to receive either of those vaccines rather than to receive the new Johnson & Johnson vaccine because of its extensive use of abortion-derived cell lines.

Each year the Archdiocese of New Orleans honors Catholics who will be celebrating their 50th , 60th, and 70th Anniversary in 2021. The Archdiocesan Golden Anniversary celebration, which is a Prayer Service will take place on Sunday, June 27th at 3 p.m. at St. Philip Neri in Metairie. To register, please call the parish office at 985-892-5202 before Friday, March 12th .

Please join us in congratulating John Karpa and Tom & Earline Murray for being selected to receive the Order of St. Louis IX Medallion this year. Archbishop Hannan established the award in 1975 to honor those members of the laity who have made significant contributions of their time and talents to the local church. Archbishop Aymond will confer the award this year on Sunday, March 21st. Congratulations John, Tom, and Earline, and THANK YOU for all you do for St. Benedict Parish!

Join our St. Benedict Faith Community—and more than 12,000 Catholic parishes across the United States—in a life-changing Lenten journey with CRS Rice Bowls. Pick up your family’s CRS Rice Bowl from the back of Church beginning this week. During the 40 days of Lent, let’s reflect on how hunger and malnutrition affect our human family, and how our generosity can make a difference. 25% of monies raised stays in the Archdiocese; 75% is aid to our global family. Visit crsricebowl.org to learn more.

Mass with the distribution of ashes will be at 8 am and 7 pm on Ash Wednesday. On Ash Wednesday, we will have a collection for our Social Assistance account. These funds are used to assist people who are in need to cover utility and food bills. During Lent we will pray the Way of the Cross each Friday evening at 7 pm. Immediately after the Way of the Cross, there will be Adoration of the Most Blessed Sacrament and an opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation until 8 pm (except on Friday, February 19th). The sacrament of Reconciliation is also available every Wednesday from 5 pm to 6 pm, and on Saturday evenings from 4:30 pm to 5 pm.

We are pleased to announce that the Archdiocese of New Orleans will host an annual wedding anniversary celebration for those couples who have been married for 50 years or more. The 2021 Golden Anniversary celebration will take place on Sunday, June 27, 2021 at 3:00 p.m. at St. Philip Neri Church in Metairie. This event is only for couples married in the year 1970 in celebration of their 50th Wedding Anniversary. Please Note: This celebration will not be a Mass, but a prayer service. Attendance of Mass for Sunday obligation will have to be met within one’s respective parish. To register, please contact the parish rectory before Friday, March 12, 2021.

The Archdiocese of New Orleans has scheduled a second collection to help support Catholic Schools. The collection will take place on January 30/31, the kickoff of Catholic Schools Week. This collection supports the Champions of Catholic Education fund, which is dedicated to helping more families afford the cost of a Catholic Education.

Beginning on the Feast of the Baptism Our Lord, January 10, 2021, the local Catholic Church has entered into the Year of the Eucharist, a time of renewal, healing, and communion. This year is dedicated to helping all of us, clergy, religious, and laity, grow in our relationship with Christ. We begin this important year on the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord because baptism marks the beginning of our initiation into Jesus Christ, a lifelong journey toward union with Christ and one another. The Eucharist is communion with God. Christ nourishes us with his very Body and Blood so that we can be joined more closely to him and to all humanity. Throughout this year, we will join with Catholics around the world to call upon the prayers and patronage of St. Joseph to help us more fully understand the meaning of the parts of the Mass, the theology of the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist, and the obligation we have as Catholics to participate in Mass on Sunday. As the universal church observes a special Year of St. Joseph as proclaimed by the Holy Father, we in the Archdiocese of New Orleans call upon St. Joseph’s powerful intercession to bring us closer to Jesus in the Eucharist.

Envelopes and Calendars are available before and after all Masses in the Catechetical Center. We encourage all parishioners to make use of the offering envelopes in support of the parish. If you have not asked for envelopes in the past and wish to receive them. Please sign the clipboard in the Catechetical Center or contact Channon in the parish office at 985-892-5202.

We are pleased to announce that the Archdiocese of New Orleans will host an annual wedding anniversary celebration for those couples who have been married for 25 years. The 2021 Silver Anniversary celebration will take place on Sunday, March 14, 2021, at 3:00 p.m. at St Joseph Church in New Orleans. This event is only for couples married in the year 1996 in celebration of their 25th Wedding Anniversary. Please Note: This celebration will not be a Mass, but a prayer service. Attendance of Mass for Sunday obligation will have to be met within one’s respective parish. (To register, please contact the parish office before January 15, 2021)

Contribution statements will be mailed this week to anyone who made a financial contribution during 2020. THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS SUPPORT! If you should see any discrepancies with your statement, please call the parish office at 985- 892-5202.

Thank you to everyone who made our Christmas liturgies beautiful and inspiring. From the music ministry to the ushers, deacons to the lectors, and everyone else who assisted, your commitment to the liturgy and the liturgical environment is very much appreciated. Thanks also to the members of the Altar Society and Men’s Club who helped decorate the Church. In a special way, we would like to thank Betty Lemoine who coordinated the poinsettias and who coordinates the flowers on the altar every week of the year. THANK YOU!

Envelopes and Calendars are available before and after all Masses in the Catechetical Center. We encourage all parishioners to make use of the offering envelopes in support of the parish. If you have not asked for envelopes in the past and wish to receive them. Please sign the clipboard in the Catechetical Center or contact Channon in the parish office at 985-892-5202.

THANK YOU to all the parishioners who gave so generously to the families on our angel tree. This year we brought joy to 150 angels. St. Benedict Church has helped families through St. Tammany Project Christmas, Fairhaven Orphanage, our own St. Benedict’s parish, and Home-bound individuals through our Lunch Ministry. Thank you again for making Christmas so wonderful for those in need.

Bring the infant Jesus (bambinelli as they are called in Rome) from your family's nativity scene for a special blessing on December 12th and 13th. Please place your bambinelli in front of the altar before Mass. Buon Natale!

Mail bins have been placed at the entrance of the Church to begin collecting Christmas Cards for those in our community who are in long term care, nursing, and rehabilitation homes. Please include the "thoughts and prayers from the Parishioners of St. Benedict's Parish" in your Christmas greeting or signature. The outside of the envelope can be left blank, or please write "Merry Christmas." Please place your Christmas cards in the mail bins no later than Wednesday, December 16th. Cards will be distributed on Friday, December 18th, and Saturday, December 19th by Deacon Danny and Deacon Ellis. Thank You!

December 8th is the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Mass will be held at 8 a.m.

A collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious Appeal will be held on December 12/13. Elderly religious need your help. More than 32,000 senior Catholic sisters, brothers, and religious order priests live in the United States. Through prayer, love, and sacrifice, they established Catholic schools, hospitals, and more. Yet, years of serving for little or no pay have left a shortage in retirement funding. Your gift helps their religious communities furnish necessities such as medications and nursing care. It also helps ensure younger members can continue the good works of their elders. Please be generous. Thank you!