Our Lenten Mission is THIS WEEK Pilgrims of Hope March 24, 25, and 26 at 7 p.m. . Presented by Sr. Judy Gomilla, M.S.C

Mark your calendars for our Lenten Mission Pilgrims of Hope March 24, 25, and 26 7 p.m. Presented by Sr. Judy Gomilla, M.S.C.

Our parish and Catholic Communities throughout the United States do something amazing each Lent. We come together to pray, fast and give alms-and by doing so we help lift families and communities out of poverty and put them on a path toward resilience, prosperity and stability. That’s the CRS Rice Bowl effect. Rice Bowls will be available for pick-up in the back of church beginning this weekend. Inside the bowls are suggested prayers, readings and facts about the work of Catholic Relief Services.

Join us for Fr. Charles’s Birthday Celebration Sunday, March 9th after the 10:30 Mass in the Catechetical Center. Lunch will be provided.

Save the date for our St. Benedict Men's Club Fish Fry! March 14, March 28, April 11 from 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. More details to follow.

Want to have some good family fun while helping Saint Joseph Seminary College? Then come to the St. Ben’s Stampede Pro Rodeo March 14 and 15 at the St. Tammany Parish Fairgrounds. This thrilling event promises two nights of fast-paced rodeo action, exciting competitions, and familyfriendly fun that’s perfect for all ages. The rodeo is from 7:30-10 p.m. both nights. General admission tickets (per night) are $20 for adults and $15 for children 4-12. Children under 4 years old will be admitted free. Purchase tickets at the gate or online at https://rodeomedia.ticketleap.com/saintjoseph- abbey-stampede/

Please return your Baby-Bottles for our annual Baby Bottle Campaign for the Northlake Pregnancy Center and Thank you for your generous support

The parish office will be closed on Monday in observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday

Our annual Baby Bottle Campaign will be held on the weekend of January 18/19 to benefit the Northlake Crisis Pregnancy Center, a Christian ministry dedicated to helping moms and dads in crisis by: • sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ • upholding the sanctity of human life • providing material and emotional support beyond pregnancy • promoting sexual purity through education and self-worth • offering compassion to those who have abortion in their past. Please help us to support and promote human life from the moment of conception!

If you are grieving the loss of a spouse, child, parent, relative or friend, we are here to help YOU. GriefShare© is a program to help you navigate your loss and grief through a grief recovery support group. It is a 13-week cycle to help those grieving to discover what to expect in the days ahead and what is “normal” in grief. Since there are no neat, orderly stages of grief, you’ll also learn helpful ways of coping with grief, in all its unpredictability. The fee is $25 made payable to St. Benedict Catholic Church. This fee includes your GriefShare workbook. Sister Kateri Battaglia, MSC, will facilitate the GriefShare© recovery support group. Each session is self-contained so you can join us at any week, but registration is required. To register, go to griefshare.org and click “find a group” and register. For more information, you may call Sr. Kateri at 504-453-0618 or email Sister at srkaterimsc@yahoo.com. The GriefShare© support group will meet every TUESDAY, 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm starting on January 14th in the Catechetical Center.

The Archdiocesan Silver Wedding Anniversary Celebration will be held on Sunday, February 16, 2025, 3:00 p.m. at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church in New Orleans. To register, please contact the parish office by Friday, January 17, 2025.

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 is very much appreciated. Thanks also to the members of the Altar Society and Men’s Club who helped decorate the Church, and the Knights of Columbus who helped sponsor the books that were given out as gifts.

The Parish Office closed at noon on Friday, December 20th and will re-open Thursday, January 2nd, in observance of Christmas and New Year’s. We would like to wish everyone a very Blessed and Merry Christmas, and for those who will be traveling a safe trip to and from their destinations.

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.

There will be a second collection at Mass on Christmas to help cover the salaries and expenses of priests serving as Hospital and Hospice Chaplains, Chaplains at Nursing Homes and High Schools, and those involved in retreat ministries. We have already been assessed $11,395 for this. Please be generous.

The Lunch Ministry is collecting canned vegetables, instant mashed potatoes, easy mac and cheese, and stuffing to place in our Annual Christmas Baskets. Please drop your non-perishables off at the Catechetical Center before December 16th.

There will be a Deanery Penance Service this Wednesday, Dec. 18th at 6 p.m. at Most Holy Trinity Church in Covington.

Thank you to all parishioners who so generously gave gifts to families, seniors and children on our Angel Tree. This year we brought joy to approximately 200 Angels. St. Benedict’s helped families through the St. Tammany Project Christmas, Fairhaven Orphanage, Trace Senior Living Center, our own church parish and homebound individuals through our own Lunch Ministry. A special thank you to all our wonderful volunteers who make this program work so beautifully each year. Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year!

Angel Tree gifts are due back next weekend, Sunday, December 8th. Gifts need to be unwrapped and placed in gift bags. Please make sure the Angels are securely attached to the gift bags. The Angels are the only way we have of identifying the recipients of the gifts. Gifts will be sorted on Monday, December 9th and distributed on Tuesday, December 10th.

A collection for the Retirement Fund for Religious Appeal will be held next weekend, December 7/8. 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.