President's Welcome

Dear Bishop Stang Friends & Families:

Anticipation - That’s what comes to mind when December 1st arrives. This is the month that experiences a countdown unlike any other. In no other month do we hear “how many more days until…” as much as December. Many of us have a sign or board counting the days to Christmas as we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. Certainly there is the anticipation towards gift giving/receiving and family time. With anticipation though comes the act of waiting, an act less and less appreciated in an ever growing impatient society. 

It is my prayer for all of us that we embrace the wait in such a way that we slow down. This time of year, I am reminded of a sign I once saw while driving along Route 6, “In the silence is where you find the answers”. What an appropriate quote to read at the very beginning of Advent. As the daylight gets shorter and the blanket of night descends upon us, let us make time to listen for God as we anticipate the coming of Christmas. We have lived through another year full of challenges, but also many blessings. Let us find peace in the silence of Advent and may our resolve lead us to be better in 2026.  

May you all have a Blessed Advent, a Merry Christmas, and a Most Happy New Year!

Jim Benson 

President