|
|
|
St. Benedict Catholic Church
|
|
|
|
| Parish E-Newsletter | February 2013 |
|
|
|
|
 Greetings!
Welcome to February 2013 Parish E-news. Lent comes early this year, with Ash Wednesday being Wednesday, February 13. In receiving ashes, we embrace Jesus' journey; the cross of suffering and the promise of Resurrection. Take this time to humbly reflect on your faith and offer sacrifices to Our Lord.
In the next few weeks, you will be hearing about our end of month All In Ministry Meeting, set for February 28th at 7:00pm in the church. Please look for more information in the weekly bulletins, website and Facebook about this important event and more Lenten activities.
Check out our survey in the right column of the newsletter! |
|
|
|
|
|
|
2013 Lenten Journey
The season of Lent was originally a time of intense prayer and study for those who w  ere to be baptized and to join the Church community at the Easter Vigil. Because these new members were to be received into the living Body of Christ, the whole community was called to the same preparation. Today, Lent is a time for fasting, almsgiving, and prayer in preparation for the Paschal Mystery (crucifixion, death and resurrection of Christ). During Lent, an emphasis should be placed on performing spiritual works, like attending the Stations of the Cross, attending Mass, making a weekly holy hour before the Blessed Sacrament, taking time for personal prayer and spiritual reading and most especially making a good confession and receiving sacramental absolution. During this Year of Faith, Catholics are encouraged to read the Catechism of the Catholic Church - Click Here - for the online version.
The deep purple color that fills the Church during Lent symbolizes Christ's suffering and death, but because purple is also the color of royalty,
it foreshadows Christ's kingship and resurrection.
Fasting and Abstinence
- Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are days of both abstinence (abstaining from meat) and fasting (eating one full meal and up to two smaller meals that do not equal a full meal).
- Fridays during Lent are days of abstinence.
- During lent, you are encouraged "to give up something" for Lent as a sacrifice.
- Ash Wednesday is forty-six days before Easter, but Lent is considered forty days long because Sundays are not counted as Days of Lent. The reason? Fasting is considered inappropriate on Sunday, the day commemorating the resurrection of Jesus.
|
 Stewardship In Action
Perpetual Eucharistic Adoration takes place Wednesday from 10 am until Saturday at 3 pm. Please consider spending some time with our Lord in the St. Joseph's Chapel. You may visit anytime during these hours. Regularly scheduled adorers are needed. If you feel called and are able to commit to an hour a week with our Lord please email adoration@stbenedictparish.org.
2nd Annual Chili Dinner sponsored by the Women's Club is Saturday, February 9th from 6:00 - 8:30 pm. Tickets are $7 each with children 6 and under free. Carry out will be available. For ticket information please contact Ann Guerra at 813-3808.
New Member Welcome Reception is open to all who are new to the parish to learn more about St. Benedict and how to get involved. Sunday, February 10th following the 11:15 am Mass in the Triple room. Information presentation and refreshments.
Mardi Gras Family Spaghetti Supper sponsored by Youth Ministry is Tuesday, February 12th from 4:30 -7:30 pm. Cost is $5 per person or $20 per family. Games, fun, and an auction will be available in addition to a fabulous meal. For more information please contact april@stbenedictparish.org.
All In Ministry Meeting to be held for ALL St. Benedict ministry volunteers on Thursday, February 28th at 7:00 pm in the Nave. If you are involved in a ministry at St. Benedict or would like to be, please come to this important meeting to learn about the exciting opportunities to come at St. Benedict.
|
GALA 2013 News
Save the date - June 14, 2013 - for the St. Benedict Gala 2013!  SILENT AUCTION One of the keys to the success of the Gala is the Silent Auction. We need your help to find items to be a part of this year's silent auction. Some examples might be: - Tickets to sporting or cultural events.
- Airline Tickets, miles or vouchers.
- Hotel or Vacation Condominium Stays
- Salon or Spa Packages
- Golf Packages
- Restaurant Gift Certificates
- Gift Baskets of wine, food or other goodies.
- Any other creative merchandise or your own time and talents.
Stephanie Sharib is the Gala Chairperson & Coordinator. Please contact Stephanie at 216-0039 or email her at stephanie@stbenedictparish.org. |
|
 RITE OF CHRISTIAN INITIATION (RCIA) NEWS
Non-baptized members (catechumens) and baptized members (candidates) will be visiting the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, in downtown Charleston, on Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 2:30PM. Their visit will be part of a diocesan wide celebration of the Rite of Enrollment for Catechumens and the Rite of Commitment to Continuing Conversion for all RCIA Candidates. Our Parish will be celebrating a "Rite of Sending" for the RCIA catechumens and candidates, recognizing their continued commitment and hard work in becoming members of the Catholic Church.
Since last September, catechumens have been discerning their faith to decide whether to enter the catholic church and preparing for their initiation through receiving the sacraments of initiation, including baptism, Holy Eucharist and confirmation. Meanwhile candidates have also been studying and preparing for coming into full communion with the Catholic Church by receiving the sacraments of Holy Eucharist and confirmation.
This past December the parish celebrated the Rite of Welcoming with the RCIA class to recognize and encourage them as they examine their faith and further study the bible to help them decide if they want to join the Catholic Church. For more information regarding RCIA at St. Benedict, please contact Andrea Maroun at 216-0039 or andrea@stbenedictparish.org. |
 YOUTH GROUP NEWS
Youth Ministry would like to invite everyone to celebrate Mardi Gras at their Spaghetti Supper Fundraiser on Tuesday, February 12th from 4:30pm to 7:30pm. This will be a family friendly event and include dinner, a cake walk and silent auction. Cost of this event is $5 per person or $20 per family. Come out and enjoy a family dinner and support Youth Ministry at the same time! All are welcome!
 | |
Take a look at the Youth of St. Benedict Standing up for Life!!. |
Both Jr. High and Sr. High youth have the opportunity to attend weekends put on by the Diocese of Charleston. Sr. High youth can attend a Conference Friday, March 8th through Sunday, March 10th at White Oak, SC. During this conference youth will hear national speakers Sean Forrest, Tammy Evevard and Cooper Ray, listen to music by Two or More, attend workshops on a variety of topics that they choose and spend time with peers that share their faith. Deadline to sign up is Sunday, February 10th. Jr. High youth can attend a retreat Friday, May 3rd through Sunday, May 5th at Camp Kinard. The weekend includes a variety of activities and discussions that call the youth to make some self-discoveries, to examine relationships beyond the superficial level, and to realize how faith in Jesus applies to everyday living. Deadline for registration is April 15th, but I encourage you to register early because space is limited. For more details on each of these weekends contact April Johnston at 216-0039 or april@stbenedictparish.org. |
|
|
|
Meet the Staff 
Beth Tuchfarber
Beth joined the parish and the staff in October of 2008. She and her family moved to Mt. Pleasant in 2006 for her husband's job relocation. After graduating from Xavier University in Cincinnati, she moved to Chicago with IBM. Missing Cincinnati, she moved back and began her career as a business systems consultant with Rippe & Kingston. After baby number two, she stayed home and kept busy by volunteering and earning her real estate license. She currently lives with her husband, Todd, and their two sons, Will & Chris in Rivertowne. She enjoys using her business knowledge to build the kingdom of God and enrich growth opportunities in the Church. |
|
Help Us Help You 
Help us to understand how we can better serve your faith by participating in our short four question survey. |
|
|
|
Upcoming Events - Mark Your Calendar! |
- February 9th - 2nd Annual Women's Club Chili Dinner, 6:00 - 8:30 pm, Triple Room
- February 10th - New Member Welcome & Information Reception, 12:30 pm, Triple Room
- February 12th - Mardi Gras Family Spaghetti Supper, 4:30 - 7:30 pm, Triple Room
- February 24th - Hospitality Sunday at 10:15 am in the Triple Room
- February 28th - All In Ministry Meeting, 7:00 pm, Church Nave
- Every Friday During Lent - Stations of the Cross followed by Soup Supper, 6:30 pm
|
|
Meditation - What Sign Do You Seek?
| |
The authentic sign is not some sensational miracle but the suffering, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. The great sign, which can be understood only by those who are willing to follow Jesus, is the sign of Jonah, who also wanted to run away from reality but was summoned back by God to fulfill his arduous task to the end. To look suffering and death straight in the face and to go through them oneself in the hope of a new God-given life: that is the sign of Jesus and of every human being who wishes to lead a spiritual life in imitation of him. It is the sign of the cross: the sign of suffering and death, but also of the hope for total renewal.
~Henri Nouwen,
Letters to Marc about Jesus
How can I embrace my crosses more fully this Lent?
|
|
|
|
|
