Author: Dawn Leach

Guatemala Mission Trip 2025

Join Father Flood on a week-long mission trip to Guatemala with Porch de Salomon. Porch de Salomon is a unique and progressive non-profit which, since 2005, has loved, served, and encouraged “the lost, the least and the last” of Guatemala’s Lake Atitlan basin. This mission is open to high school and college students (must be 15 by June 1, 2025). Teens will actively contribute to improving the lives of Guatemalan families by working on a variety of service projects alongside local community members.

We are accepting applications and conducting interviews through October 31st. The mission team will be announced by November 8th. Fundraising for the mission (partnering with the Knights) will take place in November. See below for details, application, and reference forms.

 
COST FOR THE MISSION TRIP
Flight $1085.80
Fee to Porch de Salomon $800
Insurance (approximate) $15
Tips for Porch de Salomon $40

Total for mission trip is approximately $1940.85 ($2000 for ease of calculating unless airfare drop).

St. Benedict’s Annual Halloween Hoe Down and Trunk-or-Treat

Attention all St. Benedict families: Put on your costume and join us for a spooktacular night of fun, food, face painting, games, and safe trick-or-treating at St. Benedict’s Annual Hoe Down and Trunk-or-Treat. The event will be held on Friday, October 25, 2024 from 6:00pm-8:00pm in the Parish Life Center (PLC). This event is sponsored by our St. Benedict Life Teen. We will have lots of surprises in our trunk to enjoy! There will be s’mores, hot cocoa, and hot apple cider. For kids of all ages (even the ones with a few wrinkles).

We are cooking up some wonderful yummy food for your tummy: $5 per meal ($25 max per family). The meal includes a hot dog or chili dog, chips, and a drink (lemonade). Bottled water is $1 extra. Proceeds support our teens on their 2025 Mission Trip to Guatemala.

Trunk-or-Treat Participants Needed

Come join our Trunk-or-Treat gathering at the Halloween Hoe Down. This event is sponsored by our St. Benedict Life Teen and supports our teens on their 2025 Mission Trip to Guatemala.

If you would like to bring your own decorated car to hand out treats at this event, contact the Youth Ministry office at randerson@stbenedit.net.

Bakers Wanted for the 2024 Holiday Bake Sale

Calling all Bakers of all ages! The WINGS Ministry Annual Bake Sale will take place as part of the Holiday Market, November 8-9 and we need a wide variety of sweet and savory homemade baked items. All proceeds support the philanthropic activities and special events hosted by WINGS. Put your baking skills and passion to work and make a difference in our Parish and the greater community.
 

To learn more, contact womensguild.stbenedict@gmail.com

Respect Life Month 2024

Please join Catholics across the country in observing Respect Life Month. At St. Benedict, there will be many ways to participate.

October 6: Respect Life Sunday
While respect for life is an ongoing need, we are asked to increase our efforts during October, which has been designated as Respect Life Month. Members of our Respect Life Ministry will be distributing pro-life Prayer cards at all Masses the weekend of October 5-6. It is our hope that all parishioners will pray daily for an increase in respect for all life from conception to natural death.

October 19-20: Baby Item Collection
Please continue to observe Respect Life Month by participating in our Baby Item Collection to benefit mothers and their babies. All items donated will be given to the Pregnancy Aid Clinic (PAC), whose mission, based on their Catholic belief in the sanctity of life, is to provide direct services and programs for women, men and families. (Watch for further details.)

October 20: Life Chain Sunday*
Join us for our Seventh Annual Life Chain from 2:00-3:30 p.m. on Oct. 20. We will meet at Taylor Lodge, where the Knights of Columbus will provide snacks and water beginning at 1:30 p.m., after which we will proceed to Abbotts Bridge (GA-120) and Parsons Roads for a public prayer and witness for Life. Open to all. (*PLEASE NOTE THE DATE!)

october 22-30: Respect Life Novena
Please join in nine days of prayer for the protection of human life. Each day has a different intention, reflection and suggested actions to help build a culture of life. We will not meet, but each person will choose the time and place to join the Novena. To receive each day’s Novena the evening before, please send your Email address to respectlife@stbenedict.net.

ONGOING SATURDAYS: RESPECT LIFE ROSARY
All are welcome to pray the Rosary for Respect Life intentions on Saturdays after the 9:00 a.m. Mass. We meet in Room 12 of the Education Building. (Unless the building is closed for a Holy Day or holiday.)

For further information on any of these items, or to sign up to receive news and updates from the Respect Life Ministry, please contact respectlife@stbenedict.net.

Thank you for participating in the 2024 Respect Life Month!

Life Chain Sunday

Join us for our Seventh Annual Life Chain from 2:00-3:30 p.m. on Oct. 20. We will meet at Taylor Lodge, where the Knights of Columbus will provide snacks and water beginning at 1:30 p.m., after which we will proceed to Abbotts Bridge (GA-120) and Parsons Roads for a public prayer and witness for Life. Open to all. (*PLEASE NOTE THE DATE!)
 

Baby Item Collection
October 19-20

For Respect Life month, the Respect Life Ministry is sponsoring a baby item collection to benefit the Pregnancy Aid Clinic.

Please no gift cards or monetary donations – baby items only

Baby wipes
Diaper bags
Sleep and play
Blanket sleepers
Baby washcloths
Hooded towels
Receiving blankets
Manual breast pumps (NEW Only)
Diapers (Sizes newborn to 6)
Thermometers
Diaper cream
Outfits (Sizes newborn to 18 months)
Onesies (long or short sleeves)
Nightgowns/buntings (elastic bottom)
Elastic top sock-like booties
Infant hair brushes and combs

Place your items in the bin outside the Parish Life Center (PLC) October 19-20.

Food Drive

Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s 11th Annual Food Drive is being held the weekend of October 5-6. Donation drop-off times are listed below. Click on the button to download the PDF Food Pantry Donation Wish List. Please note, this is a list of the most commonly distributed products and is just a guide. All donations are appreciated.

Collection Times
Donation Truck Located at the Cell Phone Tower Side of the Parking Lot
Saturday | October 5 from 4:30 – 6:30pm

Sunday |  October 6 from 7:00am – 2:00pm
and again from 4:30 -7:00pm

International Heritage Festival

This celebration features live multi-national entertainment, cultural exchanges, native garb, and samples of cuisine from the represented countries. It is one of our parish’s favorite events! Please volunteer to host a table and proudly represent your country today!

This event is scheduled to take place Saturday, October 12 after the 5:00 PM Mass.

Volunteers are needed for the following:

• Volunteers for hosting countries
  Tables for each country: We can have more than one person sign up for each country to provide additional food for this event. Ask a fellow countryman to help!
• Operations volunteers
  Many hands make light work! There are many different positions available: planning, set-up, and clean-up. Lots of volunteers are needed to help make this event a success!

Please contract Joe Dawidowicz to sign up today!
joedawidowicz@gmail.com
770-380-5678

Young Adults Carvings and Cravings
Saturday | October 19

Join us for the 5:00 PM Mass followed by “Carvings and Cravings”
chili cookoff and pumpkin carving in the Parish Life Center at St. Benedict!
Your culinary delights will be judged by clergy.

WHAT TO BRING: Your special chili in a large crockpot with a serving spoon and a pumpkin to carve! We will provide drinks, s’mores, utensils, and our judges.
Questions? Contact Rita at randerson@stbenedict.net

This FREE event is open to young adults ages 18-39. Sign up below.