The weekday Mass schedule with be:
Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 12:05 p.m.
 
 The weekend Mass schedule will be:
Saturday evening (vigil Mass) at 5:30 p.m.
Sunday morning at 10:00 a.m.
 
This schedule will be in effect until further notice.

CONFESSIONS
Saturdays 4:00—5:00pm  Held inside the church vestible area in the Pieta Room, please enter the church through the  south handicapped door.  

The parish office will operate with limited office hours of M-F 10:00am-2:00pm.

Just a reminder about our new weekend Mass schedule. We will have one Mass on Sunday, at 10:00 a.m. The Saturday schedule is as usual: Confessions from 4:00 to 5:00 and Mass at 5:30.
Do not come to Mass is you are particularly vulnerable! There is only so much we can do to alleviate the risk. Please wear a mask if you are coming. You may be the one who is asymptomatic!

PUBLIC MASSES RETURN TO SAINT BENEDICT PARISH

The St. Benedict Soup Kitchen is in operation Monday through Friday 11:30am-12:30pm for To-Go Lunches, all are welcome!
 To inquire about voluteering in the Soup Kitchen please call            812-232-8421. 

Saturday of the Second Week of Lent,          March 6, 2021

(Mi. 7:14-15, 18-20; Lk. 15:1-3, 11-32)

If God literally begged you to do something, how would you respond?  I imagine that a consideration about whether I had the capacity to do it would figure into my decision for or against.  But suppose it’s clear that what God is begging lies well within our capacity.  It will not involve the shedding of our blood or taxing us beyond what we can reasonably accomplish.  Suppose God’s begging is not related to any impossible expectation.  What then?  Would we let ourselves be moved by the outpouring of God’s emotional appeal?  I would like to think I would.  When it’s put that way, I feel like I would recognize the need, and who is making the appeal, and would let myself be swayed.

That sort of arrangement lies at the base of the parable of the prodigal son.  Jesus tells this story in the context of an outcry from among the religious elite of Israel that he is associating with tax collectors and sinners.  The story is often presented to persons who are finding it difficult to believe in God’s mercy and forgiveness, but it has more meaning that even that, as important as it is.  God can forgive, but he cannot force reconciliation between the perpetrator and the “injured party.”  The older son takes offence at the “free ride” given to the younger son.  He’s not having any of the relief and rejoicing and celebration the father feels upon his return.  He’s withholding his assent to the reconciliation that is possible, much as the religious elite were withholding theirs. 

Where do we stand on the question?  If God is literally begging us to be reconciled with the one who has done us wrong, or even with the one who has not actually hurt us any more than seeming to have gotten away with something we would never think of doing, how would we respond?  Would the father’s request fall on deaf ears, or would we join in the celebration of the restoration of son to father and family?

Masses for St. Benedict Church are on the YouTube Channel (search St Benedict Catholic Church Terre Haute, IN OR click on the YouTube icon below.

Province of Indianapolis
Extension of Dispensation
19 October 2020
While commending our pastors and pastoral life coordinators who have gone to great lengths to assure safe worship spaces in our churches, given the continued increase of Covid-19 cases in our state, the Indiana bishops hereby extend the dispensation from the obligation to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days of obligation beyond 1 November 2020 until further notice.  The Indiana bishops will continue to monitor the situation to determine when it might be advisable to modify or lift the dispensation. 

Capital Prize 2021 Early Bird Raffle Form

Announcements for the Week of
February 28th - March 6th

Stations of the Cross During Lent

Stations of the Cross will be offered on the Fridays during Lent after the 12:05 Mass. To keep with social distancing, people will stay in their pews rather than walking the stations.

Additional Confession Times Scheduled

In addition to Saturdays at 4:00 pm, the sacrament of Reconciliation will also be available on Wednesday evenings during Lent from 7:00 to 8:00 pm in the pieta chapel. Please enter the church through the south handicapped door. The one exception to this schedule is March 24th, when a communal penance service will be held at St. Joe's.

Lenten Discussion Series - Week 2

Our discussion of the book Racial Justice and the Catholic Church, by Fr. Bryan Massingale continues this week with a discussion of chapter 2. You are welcome to join the discussion even if you missed the first week. We meet in person in the parish center and on Zoom. Please contact Rita if you'd like to join the conversation, rita@stbenedictth.org  or 812.232.8421, ext. 112.


Special Weekday Mass at 5:30p on Tuesday, March 9 - The Presentation of the Creed

On Tuesday, March 9 at a special 5:30p Mass our parish community will formally present the Nicene Creed to our elect - Christopher Jaeger and Helio Kuok - who are preparing for the Easter sacraments. We, the Catholic Christian community, hand on to the elect the summary of our most fundamental beliefs as contained in the Creed. Please, join us for this celebration and you will also hear an illuminating homily from Fr. Martin about the value and meaning of this ancient prayer and its connection to Baptism.

Religious Education Returns to in-Person Every Sunday

Beginning this Sunday, February 28, religious education will meet in-person in the parish center, 9:00-9:50a, every Sunday. Parents, please check your email for more details.

CRS Rice Bowl

Plenty of Catholic Relief Services(CRS) Rice Bowls are available at the doors of church. The CRS Rice Bowl is a faith in-action program that provides a way for you to collect your Lenten sacrifices and donate them to our sisters and brothers around the world. Our parish will collect the Rice Bowls at the end of Lent and send our donations to Catholic Relief Services. Find out more tt <https://">www.crsricebowl.org/>

Irish Dash Scheduled for March 13th

St. Patrick School of the Terre Haute Deanery is hosting the 18th annual Irish Dash on Saturday, March 13 and registration is now open. Get outside with your family at this 1-mile Fun Run and 5K for all ages, while supporting a great cause. The T-shirt and sponsorship deadline is March 1. Registration information is in the bulletin. We'll see you at the Shamrock!