WEEKLY NEWS
December 19, 2017
Christmas Wishes
From all of us at Saint Benedict Catholic School, we wish you a Christmas filled with joy, peace, and love, and and we wish all of our families and a Happy New Year!

Thanks from Santa's Shop
Thank you to all who donated to make Santa's Shop a huge success. We raised nearly $700 for scholarships and the 8th grade class trip. Our helpers did a great job of helping the lower school students to shop and then wrapped the gifts like pros! Merry Christmas!  
Noteworthy
  • The school office will be CLOSED from December 20 through January 2 for our Christmas break. Normal office hours will resume on January 3. 
  • There will be NO weekly newsletter on Tuesday, December 26.
  • January and February lunch orders opened on Monday and will close on Friday, December 22 at 12pm. 
Yearbook Photos
We need your school photos! If you have taken pictures while at the school, Friday Mass, or attending any other events or sporting activities, and would be willing to share, we are building a library of pictures to be used in this year's school year book.  For more information or to send photos by email, contact Linda Houghton at  ms.lkh@me.co . Thank you in advance!
Substitute Teachers Needed
Saint Benedict School is looking for Substitute Teachers for grades JK to 8th. If you are interested, please contact the School Secretary, Pam Autry, at 804-254-8850, or pautry@saintbenedictschool.org for more information.  
Ticket Lottery for Bishop Installation Mass on January 12
The students and faculty of Saint Benedict Catholic School would like to welcome Bishop Knestout to Richmond. Parishioners, students and educators hoping to participate in the joy and excitement of the Mass of Installation for the Catholic Diocese of Richmond’s new Bishop Barry C. Knestout now have a chance to secure admission to the special Mass by entering a lottery. Seating for the 2 pm. event at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart will be extremely limited so the faithful are encouraged to enter the drawing for admission tickets by completing the online form here: http://richmonddiocese.org/installation-mass-details/  The last day to enter the drawing is Friday, December 29, 2017. The drawing will be held in early January with two tickets awarded to each selected registrant. Those selected will have 48 hours to respond before the tickets are released to alternates. Tickets are not transferrable and may not be sold. Questions? Contact newbishop@richmonddiocese.org or (804) 622-5294
Saint Benedict School in Pictures:
Last week, the Kindergarten class welcomed parents, siblings, and friends who helped decorate the most beautiful and creative graham cracker houses you could imagine. Mr. Cruess joined in and supervised alongside Mrs. Menzies and took a minute to pose with Mrs. Donohoe.  
PTO News
Lunch service is in need of a few volunteers to serve lunch in January. If you can volunteer your time please sign up here:   January Lunch Service

Now is the time to bring in your gently used uniforms so that we can prepare for the uniform swap. Donated uniforms should be in good condition. All uniforms must be in a bag labeled with your name and number of items donated so that you can get credit.  The uniform swap will take place January 4th; from 4-5:30pm in the cafeteria.

Remember that a $40 fee will be assessed on January 1, 2018 for any unfulfilled service hours.  Each family is required to fulfill 20 support hours per year, 8 of which must be completed in the first semester. If you have completed these hours but have not yet entered them, please take the time to do so now.
Christmas Weekend Mass Info
On December 23, the 5:30pm vigil Mass (for the Fourth Sunday of Advent) will be celebrated as normal. On December 25, the Fourth Sunday of Advent coincides with Christmas Eve. Therefore, rather than celebrate both the 8:30am and 11:00am Masses on December 24, there will be a single 10:00 am Mass for the Fourth Sunday of Advent.

The schedule for St. Benedict Christmas Masses will be as follows:
December 24: 5:30pm (vigil), 12:00 Midnight (Ordinary Mass in Latin; Christmas music 30 minutes before Mass begins); December 25: 10:00 am.

Catholics must attend two separate Masses to fulfill the obligation for the Fourth Sunday of Advent and for Christmas. The obligation for the Fourth Sunday of Advent can be fulfilled on either December 23 at 5:30pm OR on December 24 at 10:00am or 5:30pm. (Thus, one need not attend a Fourth Sunday of Advent Mass to fulfill the Sunday obligation; the Christmas vigil Mass would suffice). The obligation for Christmas can be fulfilled on either December 24 at 5:30 pm or on December 25 at 12:00 Midnight or at 10:00am. Attending a single Mass on December 24 does NOT fulfill both obligations simultaneously.

Confession before Christmas: We are encouraged to receive the Sacrament of Penance in preparation for Christmas. Confessions will be heard on Saturday, December 23, at 10:00am and 4:30pm.
Upcoming Dates
Dec. 20-Jan. 2 - Christmas Break
Jan. 3 - Classes Resume
Jan. 4 - Used Uniform Swap at 4:00pm in the cafeteria