St. Benedict Parish is about to turn 100 years old. The Eggertsville  landmark will begin a yearlong celebration this October.

The parish was founded on Oct. 16, 1920, by Msgr. William F. Tobin. He guided the growing parish through its first 53 years. Msgr. Tobin built three different churches, with the last being its current structure on the corner of Main Street and Eggert Road. An advocate of Catholic education, Msgr. Tobin founded the school which has educated tens of thousands of children in the Western New York area.  

The kickoff event to a yearlong celebration will begin with an anniversary Mass on Oct. 20 at 11:30 a.m. at St. Benedict Church. The annual Msgr. William F. Tobin Legacy Dinner will take place on Oct. 24 where members of the parish and graduates of the school will be honored. These celebrated guests are Barbara Gravelle, Mary and Alan Long, and Father Robert Mock, who will be retiring this October. 

Gravelle is both a member of the parish and a graduate of St. Benedict School. She has been involved in the school for the past 20 years, serving as a teacher's assistant for preschool and kindergarten.

Mary Long has been a member of St. Benedict's for the past 46 years. She is a lector, eucharistic minister and is currently co-president of the Rosary Altar Society. Mary is also a member of Ladies of Charity and a former mathematics teacher at St. Benedict's. Alan Long is a past president of the Holy Name Society and an active member of the parish. 

Both Alan and Mary Long are members of the St. Vincent de Paul Conference, where Alan serves as their treasurer.

 Father Mock has served as pastor of St. Benedict Parish since 2013. Under his pastorate the parish has significantly increased the enrollment of the school. With his support and encouragement a vibrant youth and young adult ministry, and multiple outreach ministries have grown. One such ministry assists legal refugees being resettled in Western New York. Another new ministry, Steven Ministry, involves accompaniment and is led in total by lay people. 

The Monsignor William F. Tobin Legacy Dinner will take place on Oct. 24, at Salvatore's Italian Gardens Restaurant. The cocktail reception will begin at 5:30 p.m.  followed by a seated dinner.

Sponsorships are available and tickets for the dinner can be purchased online for $75 at saintbenedicts.com/year100; registration forms can be picked up at the rectory or at the school.

Other events will be scheduled throughout the year with a concluding celebration of the 100th Anniversary Gala on Oct. 17, 2020. The money raised will help to underwrite the celebratory year and ensure the legacy continues.
For more information call Marylis McGrath at 716-835-2518x205 or email year100@saintbenedicts.com.