READINGS FOR DECEMBER 22 & 23 Micah 5:1-4a Hebrews 10:5-10 Luke 1:39-45

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1 ST HELEN CHURCH RIVERSIDE, OHIO December 16, 2018 READINGS FOR DECEMBER 22 & 23 Micah 5:1-4a Hebrews 10:5-10 Luke 1:39-45 RELIGIOUS GIVE THANKS This money is pure gift, writes a religious sister of the support made possible by the Retirement Fund for Religious. It enables us to continue providing care for our elderly sisters. Your gift to last week s collection helps hundreds of religious communities meet pressing retirement needs while continuing to serve the People of God. Thank you for your generosity! YOUNG FAMILIES DINNER WITH THE STORY OF ST. NICHOLAS: With heartfelt thanks for your STEWARDSHIP OF TREASURE December 8 & 9 $10, Feast of the Immaculate Conception $ Retirement Fund for Religious $5, HOST FAMILIES NEEDED In 2019, 26 Saint Helen s 8 th graders will be going through Confirmation. To that end, we have scheduled a NET Ministries retreat to teach our 8 th graders about the Sacrament of Confirmation and this is where we need your help! You can assist us with our mission to teach our youth about this wonderful sacrament in one of two ways. Firstly, we need 3 host families to host the NET ministries team for one night March 1 st, Secondly, please take the time to pray for the 26 students who will be receiving their Confirmation in the upcoming year. If you have any questions, or if you can host a NET Ministries team member, please contact Sean Kelly at the parish office or by at sean.kelly@sthelenparish.org. Thank you and God Bless! Listening to the story and then receiving a tangerine and gold chocolate coins from the storyteller dressed as Bishop Nicholas, who gave food and money to the poor and performed many miracles.

2 THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT THE BEAUTY FOUND IN BROKEN GLASS Many years ago, Fr. Paul DeLuca commissioned a local artisan to create the vessels for our sacred oils. During a baptism a few years ago, the Sacred Chrism vessel was accidentally broken. After much research, I was unable to determine who had originally blown the glass. I visited a glass-blower by the name of James Michael, who was able to tell by the tiny initials engraved into the bottom of the vessel that it was made by a gentleman named Thomas Chapman. At that time, Thomas had been diagnosed with ALS and was no longer able to blow glass. James Michael graciously made a new vessel for us. Not long after the replacement was completed, I received a phone call from James informing me that Thomas had passed away. Recently, the same vessel was accidently knocked off of the stand before a baptism and broken. I again reached out to James, who has since closed his studio. He referred me to a skilled young artisan by the name of Abiona Pleasant, who had apprenticed with him. I met with Abiona this week and shared the story of how the vessel came to be. As I spoke, Abi s eyes filled with tears. She told me the equipment she will be using to make a new vessel belonged to Thomas Chapman. He had donated it to keep the art of glassblowing alive. What a truly graced-filled experience! Mel McWilliams Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand. Isaiah 64:8 The Musicians of St. Helen Parish cordially invite you to a special Christmas concert presented on January 2 at 7pm in the Church. We will feature music from the Christmas Masses' prelude selections, special solo presentations, readings, and Christmas carol requests. There will be light refreshments served afterwards. This is a great way to continue celebrating the Christmas season! Mark your calendars, and we hope to see you there!

3 ST HELEN CHURCH RIVERSIDE, OHIO December 16, 2018 Christmas Season Masses and Monday morning, December 24, at 8:30: (Note: There is NO 8:15 a.m. Mass on December 24.) We d love to have three people help us set up the poinsettia tree which makes our Christmas environment so beautiful! If climbing up on a 12 ladder does not intimidate you, we need someone to put up the Christmas banners OUR CHRISTMAS MASSES ARE AT 5:00 p.m., Monday, December 24, with special music & carols beginning at 4:20. Midnight, Tuesday, December 25, with special music & carols beginning at 11:25. 9:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 25, with special music & carols beginning at 8:40. VER We would love to have families or groups of friends at the Mass they attend: Carry in and place the Dedication Candles in the walls as part of the entrance procession. (A brief explanation and walk through beforehand is necessary.) Children old enough to carry a lit candle with a glass globe are welcome to participate; 4 people needed in total.) Dress the altar and carry in and place the altar candles. (5-6 people needed; very short practice ahead of time required.) Bring up the gifts (minimum of 3 people needed; more can participate) at the 5 p.m. or Midnight Masses PLEASE CALL MARY IN THE PARISH OFFICE IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR ARE ABLE TO HELP! The Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God, is a holy day of obligation. The Vigil Mass will be on Monday, December 31, at 5:00 p.m., and the Holy Day Mass will be on Tuesday, January 1, at 9 a.m.

4 THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 16 8:00 am Doris Issenmann (Linda Heckman) 10:30 am Elaine Cotherman (Mary Ellen Pfeil) MONDAY, DECEMBER 17 8:15 am Jean Knapke (Knapke Family) TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18 8:15 am Fr Dave (From a Friend) WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19 8:15 am Sean & Kendra Burkhardt (Peggy Burkhardt) THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20 8:15 am Dale Moore (Jan Stutz) FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21 8:15 am Regional Mass at Immaculate Conception SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22 5:00 pm Julia Keller (Helen Hischak) SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23 8:00 am Bill Potts Christmas Remembrance (Family) 10:30 am Al Berberich Birthday Remembrance (Stouder Family) CALENDAR OF EVENTS MONDAY, DECEMBER 17 Novena-BSC 9:00 am TUESDAY, DECEMBER 18 Rosary-CH 9:00 am WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19 Centering Prayer-HR 3:15 pm THURSDAY, DECEMBER 20 FRIDAY, DECEMBER 21 Regional Mass at Immaculate Conception 8:15 am SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22 5:00 pm Mass-Fr. Tony SUNDAY, DECEMBER 23 8:00 am Mass-Fr. Tony 10:30 am Mass-Fr. Jim Fitz A BEAUTIFUL SIGHT OF THE GOODNESS IN OUR PARISH: THE INFANT JESUS SHOWER 2018 Thank you to our Infant Jesus Shower Committee, our St. Vincent de Paul Society, and all of those who were able to bless families in need! Have you recently come back to the Catholic Church? Do you have questions about the what and why details of our faith? Want a refresher? Give Sue Sack, Pastoral Associate for Adult Formation, a call at She ll be glad to be of help! LADIES BREAKFAST Ladies of the parish, please join us for breakfast this Wednesday, Dec. 18 9:00 a.m. at the Bob Evans on Woodman and Linden. If you are new to the parish, we would love to meet you! Saturday, 5:00 PM December 22, 2018 WE STILL NEED HELP AT THE HOLIDAY MASSES. CALL MARY OR GO ONLINE TO SIGN UP! Eucharistic Minister Eucharistic Minister Altar Server Lector Joel LeFevre Armand Riel Alfonso Torres Kim Vesey Martin Walling Evie Moylan Caroleigh Moylan Thomas Otoski (1) Nora Marino (2) Sunday, 8:00 AM December 23, 2018 Bryon Betsinger Sheryl Betsinger Deborah Danner Allison Tayloe Phyllis Whitney David MacLeod Donald MacLeod James Whitney (1) Kathy Snyder (2) Sunday, 10:30 AM December 23, 2018 Linda Geisel Daniel Hebert Drew Hilgeford Mindy Hilgeford Diane Maus Cameron Neidhard Michelle Pratt Michael Pratt Taylor Montgomery Nicholas Saunders Adam Saunders Mary Havens (1) Lester Small (2)

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6 THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT DO YOU HAVE AN HOUR OR TWO A WEEK OR AS NEEDED TO HELP WITH OUR SACRISTAN MINISTRY? YOU CHOOSE WHAT WORKS WITH YOUR INTERESTS AND AVAILABILITY TRAINING AND SUPPORT WILL BE PROVIDED WE REALLY NEED HELP WITH THE FOLLOWING: General care of the church, sacred vessels, and devotional items working with other sacristans to do the following once a week: Light cleaning and dusting of the church on Friday mornings Cleaning and polishing vessels Replacing devotional candles when they have burned down Washing and ironing the communion cloths and hand towels (no ironing necessary for the towels!) Preparing for special liturgy needs Serving as a back-up sacristan to set up for the Mass you attend when regular sacristans are not available? Follow a simple check list; takes 20 to 30 minutes Serving as an additional sacristan for funerals (approximately 2 hours) Follow a simple check list to set up for the funeral Mass Push a button to ring the church toll bells Light the charcoal for the incense used Do a quick clean up afterward Serving as an additional sacristan for weddings Approximately 6-8 weddings per year Rehearse with the bridal party the night before the wedding Set up for the wedding Mass Be available during the Mass and do a quick clean up after Mass (Instruction binder with all details ) FOR MORE DETAILED INFORMATION, PLEASE CALL MARY FINNEGAN AT CREDIT UNION NEWS We are very excited to be able to serve you! The St. Helen Federal Credit Union and the Firefighters & Company Federal Credit Union merged and the Firefighters & Company Federal Credit Union is ready to assist you with all your financial needs. Our convenient St. Helen branch is still located on parish grounds, but now you have access to our downtown branch and over 5,000 branches throughout the United States! Firefighters & Company Federal Credit Union is able to offer free shared branching, first mortgages, vehicle loans, savings and checking accounts, money market share certificates, debit cards, online banking, mobile banking, a new low rate VISA, incredible personal service and so much more! Check us out and see what we can do to help you save money! Call us today at or visit ffcocu.org to find out more!

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