The first day of religious education classes will be Tuesday, August 27th. We will begin with an opening prayer at 6PM and end with a closing prayer at 8PM. Parents are reminded that they must enter the building to sign their children in, and to sign them out.
If you have any questions please contact our CRE Gloria Rodriguez (717) 813-1708.
Job Description: St. Benedict the Abbot Parish is seeking a mature, Bilingual (English/Spanish), detail-oriented individual to fill the position as Parish Secretary. This individual should possess above average keyboard skills, excellent organizational and strong interpersonal skills with the ability to follow instructions as well as work independently. This person should be proficient in Microsoft applications, especially Publisher, Word, Outlook, and Excel.
Duties: Responsible for the daily operation of the parish office, including supervising logistical aspects of all on and off-site events. Maximizing event efficiency by interfacing with various committee personnel. Effectively handling confidential correspondence. Managing active church contact list of over 400 members and serving as primary contact for all church related inquiries, while reporting directly to the pastor or his designate.
Resumes can be submitted in the Parish Office 1300 Lehman St. Lebanon, PA or by email.
Of you have any questions you can contact the Parish Office at (717) 450-4506 or email.
In the ancient world, “household” was a wide-reaching concept. When Joshua today speaks of his household serving the Lord, he meant not just those people who lived inside his walls or those related to him by blood or marriage; he meant slaves or servants and their families, and anyone indebted to him in any way. Even his livestock and other possessions would be consecrated to service of God. In our world, we value allowing individuals their freedom to choose how they live, and wouldn’t think of offering our pets to the service of God. But, as we discern our vocation as disciples baptized into Christ, we can come to realize how farranging the “households” of our lives still are: how we act toward our spouses, children, roommates or anyone we live with; our behavior with neighbors; or in public as we encounter many “strangers” every day in stores or traffic who suddenly are “next door” to us. How can we use our time, our resources, or gifts for selfless reasons rather than personal gain? No matter what life our witness to the Good News calls us to, we all have a “household” that must be consecrated to the service of the Lord our God.
Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co., Inc
Dear Parishioners,
In Today Gospel according to John, says Many of Jesus’ followers turned away from him when they heard him preaching on the Eucharist, the preaching of Jesus we have listened to during recent Sundays. Hearing Jesus speak about his body and blood as nourishment was too much for them. Jesus told them their ancestors ate bread in the desert and died but the bread Jesus would offer would allow them to live forever. When many were contemplating not following Jesus any more, he practically made an appeal to them to reconsider when he said to them that the spirit gives life while the flesh has nothing to offer. The words Jesus told them are spirit and life. In other words, if they turn from Jesus they are turning from life to death. If they turn from Jesus they are turning from light to darkness. If they turn from Jesus they are turning from the One who gave them the new commandment to love one another and going back again to the custom of an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. If they turn from Jesus they are turning from the One who showed them the correct understanding of the Law of Moses to go back again to try but never succeed in fulfilling all the 613 laws of Moses. If they turn from Jesus they turn from freedom to slavery. But Peter understood correctly and responded to Jesus, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” (John 6:68) Indeed, to whom else shall we go? Going to anyone or anything else would be a mistake as we would have to double back in our tracks once again.“Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” Only in Jesus have we the freedom we seek. Only when we live with Jesus in our life do all the parts of our life fit together. Whenever as individuals or as a country we have decisions to make, we can say to Jesus, “Master, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”God’s generosity reflects on each one of us that we support his Church by giving our time and helping to take care our buildings, also with our prayers praying for each other as brothers and sisters in Christ and financially supporting the Church helping to pay the employees and pay the bills of light, water and some repairs that the buildings need to make. Helping the church is our responsibility. Giving our time, prayers and financial help are the three fundamental pillars for the Church to carry out the mission of Jesus Christ on earth . Thank you very much for all your kindness and generosity with your Church in so many ways.
God bless you all
Father Jose Elias
Today we resume the “Bread of Life” discourse from John’s Gospel that began two weeks ago. He makes reference to the Jews’ ancestors who ate manna in the desert. These days we would think primarily of Israel wandering in the desert, but faithful Jews would also have known the story of Elijah that we hear today. Strengthened by food and drink in the desert, the angel of the Lord sends him on his forty-day and forty-night journey (the biblical number for a preparation time). Like the food given to Elijah in the desert, Jesus tells his listeners that he is bread for the life of the world. It is very important that we not stop listening to Jesus after his promise of eternal life—a marvelous promise, but this “reward” is not the only reason we feast on the Bread of Life. We also come to the table to be made strong for the journey of mission, that the whole world might have life in the fullness of Christ. We are compelled, if we have eaten of the bread of life, to go forth in service to all
