Pastor’s Message – Church of Saint Benedict

June 5, 2026

Memorial of St. Boniface

O God, who in this wonderful Sacrament have left us a memorial of your Passion, grant us, we pray, so to revere the sacred mysteries of your Body and Blood that we may always experience in ourselves the fruits of your redemption. Who live and reign with God the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

Collect for the Mass the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi)

Brothers and Sisters,

This coming Sunday we continue with a series of wonderful celebrations in the Church’s liturgy that reveal the depth of God’s love for us in Jesus Christ. Previously, on Pentecost Sunday we rejoiced in the gift of the Holy Spirit which guides us to God through all that is Good, Beautiful and True. On Trinity Sunday, we acknowledge that God is revealed to us as a community of Persons, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Through Jesus we are invited into the Divine Life of God.

This Sunday’s celebration is the Solemnity of the Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ, also known as Corpus Christi (Latin for the Body of Christ). As I have said at Mass on recent Sundays, Jesus has not abandoned us. We are not orphans left to fend for ourselves. The Life of God is offered to us in the Eucharist to enter us so that our lives will be complete.

The Real Presence of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist is counter to the common belief that God is distant and somewhat disinterested in us, as if watching us from a distance. Corpus Christi reveals just the opposite. God the Son is present to us. He offers Himself to us in the Sacrament of the Altar to shape us to be the disciples God needs us to be.

We should seek to share this good news of the Eucharist with others. Invite people to come to Mass with you. Invite them to spend time in prayer in adoration. Invite them to participate in Eucharistic Processions.

Our parish Corpus Christi Procession will be after the 9am Mass this Sunday. Weather permitting, our Eucharistic Procession will take us around the church building and conclude with Benediction on the steps of the St. Scholastica Chapel. All are welcome to participate in the Procession. All the other Masses this weekend will conclude with Exposition and Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.

First Friday & First Saturday Devotions

First Saturday Mass will be at 8:30am followed by a Rosary, both in the parish church.

The St. Scholastica Adoration Chapel is open for continual prayer and adoration from 9:00am today through 1:00pm on Saturday.

Our Parish

Condolences to the Berry and Seiler families of our parish who have experienced the death of a loved one in recent days.

The funeral Mass for Doug Berry will be on Monday, June 8, at 11:00am in the parish church. Our condolences to his wife Lisa, their children Nick and Josh, and the extended family.

The funeral Mass for Stephen Seiler will be on Wednesday, June 10, at 10:00am in the parish church. Our condolences to his wife Gayle and their family.

Congratulations to the Bell, Denton, and Maston families who will be presenting children for First Holy Communion at Mass this Sunday.

Fr. Archie is scheduled to return this weekend from visiting family in the Philippines. His final day with us as associate pastor will be on June 30. He will begin is new assignment as chaplain at St. Francis South Hospital on July 1. Fr. Robert Williams, our new associate pastor, will arrive on July 10.

Vacation Bible School will be held Monday, June 8 through Friday, June 12 for children in grades pre-K (4-year-old) to 4^th grade from 9:00am to Noon.

Consecration of the United States to the Sacred Heart of Jesus

To mark the 250^th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, the Catholic bishops of the United States are dedicating our nation to the protection of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Our parish is providing the following opportunities to prepare and participate in the dedication.

June 1^st to July 4^th – 250 Hours of Adoration: You are invited to make a commitment to pray in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament in the St. Scholastica Chapel. The chapel is open Monday through Friday from 6:00am to Midnight and Saturday from 8:00am to 1:00pm. You are welcome to scan the QR code in the parish bulletin or sign up in the church commons to commit to an hour.

June 3^rd to June 11^th – Sacred Heart Novena: You are invited to join others in praying the Sacred Heart Novena in preparation for the consecration. You are welcome to scan the QR code in the parish bulletin for the Novena Prayer.

June 10^th – Parish Rosary: You are invited to join others to pray the Rosary at 6:00pm in the church commons.

June 11^th – Mass for the Consecration to the Sacred Heart: You are invited to a special offering of the Mass in the parish church at 6:00pm. Guests are welcome.

Future Projects

There are two projects that are set to begin soon concerning the maintenance and repair of our facilities. The first is the replacement of the carpet in the parish church. The second is the replacement and repair of the sidewalks on the west side of the building near the main entrance. This will include the addition of more ramps for the handicap parking areas. This will reduce the need to step over the curb from the parking lot on the sidewalk.

We do have funds available for this work. My thanks to the Parish Council, Parish Finance Committee, and Tony Johannesen, the parish Facilities Manager, for their assistance.

The work on the sidewalk could begin as early as next week. No date has been set for replacing the carpet. Both projects will require patience for the temporary inconvenience that will be involved.

Banns of Marriage

Gary O’Mealey and Kesley Deal will enter the Sacrament of Marriage on Saturday, June 13 at the Church of Saint Benedict.

John Paul Sartorius and Audrey Marie Daniels will enter the Sacrament of Marriage on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at Holy Family Cathedral.

Please keep these couples in your prayers.

God bless and keep you safe.

Fr. Bryan