JOIN US FOR THE PUBLIC SQUARE ROSARY CRUSADE! We will pray the Holy Rosary asking our Blessed Mother to intercede with healing our country. Where: On Franklin St. in Denton in front of St. Elizabeth’s Cemetery. When: Saturday, October 14, 2023 Time: Noon For more information contact Cindy Draper, Rally Captain, (443) 239-4318. The intention for our Rosary Crusade is to beg God and Our Lady to save America from today’s chaos, immorality and social upheaval.

Regretfully, we have decided to cancel the Outdoor Mass on 9/25 due to the rain/chance of rain. We will try to reschedule for another time.

Our annual Parish Bazaar will be held on Friday, December 2 (5-9pm) and Saturday, December 3 (8am-2pm) in the Parish Hall. This year's theme is "Rockin' Round the Christmas Tree". The event will include a dinner and silent & live auction on Friday night and an array of vendors on both Friday and Saturday. There will also be great homemade food, kids' activities and much more. More information will be coming soon. Click the picture on the left for more details. If you know a vendor who might want to join us, please pass the word (Vendor Application available at www.beparish.com/upcoming-events).

Our third annual 40 Hours Devotion will take place on October 12, 13 & 14, 2023. This year's theme is, "Rediscovering the Eucharist". As we observe this year of parish revival during the National Eucharistic Revival, we hope you will join us for this sacred Eucharistic observance which will include adoration, prayer, Communal Anointing of the Sick, confessions and special presentations by guest speaker, Fr. James Spera. The devotion will close with Mass and a Eucharistic Procession on October 14th followed by a delicious free dinner in the Parish Hall (RSVP required).

Caroline Summerfest will be held in downtown Denton on Friday, August 18 & Saturday, August 19 (5:00-9:00p.m. each evening). Our parish will have representation at the fest with three booths - our parish booth, the Caroline Right to Life booth and the Knights of Columbus booth. Our parish booth will feature a kid's activity in keeping with this year's Summerfest theme, "Back to Bedrock", along with religious book giveaways. The Caroline Right to Life booth will provide vital information about the pro-life cause to the local community. And, the Knights of Columbus will be serving up their famous pit beef sandwiches and selling tickets for a raffle with a top cash prize of $5,000. Come out and see us!

The Parish & Family Life Committee will host a Dinner & A Movie Night, complete with popcorn and snacks, in the Parish Hall on Saturday, August 12th. We will offer dinner consisting of a grilled hot dog, chips & drink beginning at 5:30p.m. and the movie will start around 6:00. Join us for a nostalgic evening as we watch the original Mary Poppins movie – it’s a great movie for both kids and adults! There is no charge for this event. Attend both the dinner & the movie or just one or the other – your choice!

Tuesday, July 11th is the feast day of our parish patron, St. Benedict, AND the 25th Anniversary of the dedication and grand opening of our Parish Family Life Center in Ridgely! That evening, we invite all parishioners to come to St. Benedict Church to join our Young Adult Group for a half hour of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament beginning at 6:30p.m. After Adoration, we will gather in the Parish Hall for “mocktails” (non-alcoholic cocktails) and St. Benedict trivia. All who plan to attend are asked to bring a snack or dessert to share. The parish will provide mocktails and other beverages. Click the photo at left to see a flyer with all the details.

Our second annual Bluegrass Fest is set for Saturday, July 22nd from 2:00-7:00p.m. in the Parish Hall. Flatland Drive will be the featured band and the all-u-can-eat menu includes steamed shrimp, pulled pork BBQ, BBQ chicken, Italian sausage with peppers as well as many delicious side dishes & dessert. There will also be a Silent Auction, Raffles & Games of Chance, a Cake Wheel and Bake Sale, as well as activities for kid's (including a Bounce House). Click the link to access the QR code for purchasing tickets online or you may contact the Parish Office to purchase tickets.

Click here to see photos from our Annual Corpus Christi Procession which took place on Sunday, June 11th after the 8:00 AM Mass. We took the Most Blessed Sacrament outside after Mass and processed around the block of the Church to affirm our belief in the Real Presence of Jesus. We stopped at three beautifully decorated outdoor altars for various gospel readings and prayers. After the Mass and Procession, the Ladies Sodality and Knights provided a delicious breakfast in the Parish Hall. We had a great crowd for this festive parish tradition.

The Blessed Virgin Mother Ladies' Sodality is sponsoring a Father’s Day Raffle. The lucky winner will receive a brand new Z-Grill/Smoker complete with a cover and a bag of pellets. The drawing will take place on Saturday, June 17th and the grill is on display in the Parish Hall. Tickets are $5 each or 5 for $20 and will be available after all Masses starting next weekend (May 20/21) or at the Parish Office.

All parish volunteers are invited to an Appreciation Gathering on Wednesday, June 14th at 7pm in the Parish Hall. Hors D'Oeuvres, beverages, wine & desserts will be served. Please sign up via Flocknote or by contacting the Parish Office.

The Parish & Family Life Committee will be hosting a Paint Night on Friday, May 5th from 6:00-7:30p.m. in the Parish Hall. We will provide paints, brushes and design ideas. Bring your own wine glass, juice glass, flower vase, etc… to paint along with your friends and family. Small canvases will also be provided for kids. If you don’t want to paint your own item, come and paint a rock that we can share with a homebound parishioner or nursing home resident to brighten their day. Bring your favorite snack to share. The parish will provide beverages. Hope to see you there!

The Knights of Columbus will host a dinner & movie night on Friday, May 19th in the Parish Hall. The evening will begin with dinner at 6pm. The Knights will supply fried chicken for the main course and ask that all those who attend bring a side dish or dessert to share. RSVP via Flocknote (or by calling the parish office) is requested if you are planning to attend the dinner. The featured movie, No Greater Love, is a beautiful tribute to the life of St. Mother Teresa and it will begin at 7pm (even if you don’t come for dinner you are welcome to come for the movie without signing up).

The St. Joan of Arc Knights of Columbus will be selling Mother’s Day flowers after all Masses on the weekend of May 6 & 7. All proceeds will support Sr. Amanda Marie de Jesus (daughter of parishioner, Amy Krow) who is a novice with the Little Sisters of the Poor. It is the season to buy flowers so why not to support a great cause and get your mother or other special woman in your life a lovely gift.

The message of The Divine Mercy is simple. It is that God loves us – all of us. And, He wants us to recognize that His mercy is greater than our sins, so that we will call upon Him with trust, receive His mercy, and let it flow through us to others. In celebration of this sacred day, there will be Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and the singing of the Divine Mercy Chaplet beginning at 3:00p.m. in St. Benedict Church on Sunday, April 16th. Confessions will also be offered. Afterwards, light refreshments will be served in the Parish Hall.

Bishop Koenig invites the men of the Diocese to consider applying for the Deacon Formation Program, which will begin in June 2023, by attending an Information Night. The five-year program consists of human, spiritual, intellectual, and pastoral formation. Beginning in May 2024, academic instruction consists of three 12-week trimesters per year and offers two courses per trimester. Spiritual formation is held one Saturday per month during the initial ten months of discernment and then every six weeks during academic instruction. Applicants must be at least 30 years of age and no older than 62 years of age by March 2023. Applicants must demonstrate a zeal for service to God’s people. Volunteer experience in a parish or diocesan ministry is preferred.

Maryland Right to Life Mission recognizes the fundamental value of every human life. If you feel as we do that it is time for action, please join us. Our next meeting is on Tuesday, April 18 at 7pm in the Parish Hall behind St. Benedict Church in Ridgely. Community members of all faiths are welcome to attend.

The Fundraising Committee is sponsoring a Krispy Kreme Donut Fundraiser. Click the picture at the left for an order form. Through the fundraiser, you may order glazed or chocolate frosted donuts by the dozen ($12/dozen) as well as bagged coffee – regular or decaf ($14/bag). All orders must be received in the Parish Office no later than Friday, April 7th. Donuts and coffee will be available for pickup after the Mass of your choosing on the weekend of April 15th & 16th.

On Friday, March 24th, the Knights of Columbus will host their Friday Night Fellowship Dinner in the Parish Hall from 5:00-7:30p.m. The menu includes Shrimp Alfredo over Fettucini, garden salad, and garlic bread. Cost is $8 per person and kid's under 6 eat free. At 7:00p.m. our Youth Ministry will perform their Shadow Stations of the Cross in St. Benedict Church.

Pope Francis reminds us that, “Lent is a favorable season for deepening our spiritual life through the means of sanctification offered us by the Church: fasting, prayer and almsgiving. At the basis of everything is the word of God, which during this season we are invited to hear and ponder more deeply.” Looking for some ways to enrich your Lenten prayer journey and deepen your spirituality during this penitential season? Click the picture at the left to find offerings at the parish.