St. Benedict

Parish History

The history of Saint Benedict Parish begins in 1913 when Fr. Odilo Alt, O.S.B., a monk of Saint Joseph Abbey, was on an excursion on horseback from the Abbey and found himself lost. He stopped at a local farm, explained who he was, and asked for directions back to the Abbey. Before giving him directions, the farmer said he was Catholic but had never been baptized nor instructed in the faith. He also told Fr. Odilo that there were others like him “to the North.” Fr. Odilo asked the farmer to get the word out that he would be coming back. Upon returning to the monastery, he reported his adventure to the abbot of the monastery, Abbot Paul Schaeble, O.S.B., and said: “I think there are Catholics out there.” The abbot’s response was: “go and see.” Thus began Fr. Odilo’s missionary activity, aided by other monks in the Abbey. In mid-November 1914 the first Mass in the area then known as Liberty Settlement was celebrated at the home of Mrs. Point by Fr. Lawrence Scheidle, O.S.B. In 1917 a small chapel was built for $750 along a small dirt road known as Smith Road on land donated by Mrs. Mary Conway. St. Benedict Chapel was blessed on November 12, 1917, as a mission station of St. Joseph Abbey. During the 1920s and ’30s Mass was celebrated only every other Sunday with the priest alternating between the St. Benedict Mission and the St. John the Baptist Mission in Folsom. The average attendance at this time was between ten to twenty people but, as time went on the attendance grew. In 1970 St. Benedict Mission had grown sufficiently to be raised to the status of a full parish. On June 6, 1970, Archbishop Phillip Hannan erected St. Benedict Parish, entrusted the pastoral care of the parish to the monks of St. Joseph Abbey, and appointed Fr. Bernard Gorman, O.S.B. as the parish’s first pastor. The present pastor is Fr. Charles Benoit, O.S.B.

Our Staff

The parish is led by Rev. Bartholomew Chukwuma, Pastor, and includes Deacons Rev. Mr. Daniel (Danny) Musso and Rev. Mr. Ellis Iverson. Office Assistant Mrs. Joy Guidry and Religious Education Coordinator Mrs. Corina Montreuil support parish operations and faith formation. The parish office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Ministries & Organizations

The parish offers a wide range of ministries including Lunch Ministry, Blanket Ministry, KC Choir, KC 4th Degree, and Faith Formation. Volunteers are needed for Confirmation teaching, lectoring, and other roles. The parish also hosts weekly Adoration, Rosary for Peace, and Sacrament of Reconciliation.

• Lunch Ministry
• Blanket Ministry
• KC Choir
• KC 4th Degree
• Confirmation Teaching
• Lectors
• Adoration
• Rosary for Peace
• Sacrament of Reconciliation

Faith Formation & Sacraments

The parish offers Family Faith Formation, Confirmation classes, and sacramental preparation. Sacraments celebrated include Reconciliation and Marriage. The parish also provides a Mass intention book for the upcoming year, with requests accepted in person or by mail.

• Family Faith Formation
• Confirmation Classes
• Sacrament of Reconciliation
• Blessing of Marriages
• Mass Intention Book