Pentecost Sunday. Mass Intentions GOOD SHEPHERD STATUE. Sunday, May 15, Pentecost. Monday, May 16, 2016 Dominic Caporusso (Mary O Grady)

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1 May 15, 2016 Page 1 Pentecost Sunday T h i s We e k ' s Mass Intentions Pentecost 8:00AM 9:30AM 11:00AM 12:30PM Sunday, May 15, 2016 George & Claire Cox Angela Flesché (Loving Family) James Scagnelli (Heedles Family) Al Antino (Zaromatidis & Antino Family) For The Parishioners Monday, May 16, 2016 Dominic Caporusso (Mary O Grady) Tuesday, May 17, 2016 Joseph Albergo, Karl Albrecht, Lisa B., Baby Alexandra Bachert, Caroline Bachert, Frances Baio, Helen Banas, Dolores Barbieri, Catherine Capato, Sally Capoziello, Antoinette & Catherine Chiarelli, Marge D Auria, Mary Ann D Angelo, Baby Christopher Brian Demmerle, Domenica DeVito, Virginia DiGangi, Francesca Gaudino, Ian Genovese-Williams, Joseph Gentile, Anthony Giampietro, John Joseph Gleeson, John Pierce Gleeson, Christine Healy, Aurea Hernandez, Maria Hernandez, Rosemary Hogan, Michael Hegel, Elizabeth Isolano, Keri & Baby Tristan, Amelia Kalb, Pam Karwan, John Killcommons, Baby T.J. Krieg, Kathleen Krieg, Klavdia Krieg, Anthony Lamantia, James Leung, Thomas & Patricia Lipari, William J. Litt, Ralph Maresco, Mary Mastrangelo, Camillo Mazella, Rosemary Menechella, John Myers, Salvatore Noto, Angela OttomanelliHubbs, Michael Palermo, Santo Pantina, Doris & Carlo Pecchillo, Joseph Questore, Mary Romano, Jake Rothman, Louise Ruggiero, Anthony Russo, Felice Scimeca, Rosemarie Secreti, Fred Sepulveda, Rosalia Sindone, Dolores Stone, Michael Tamburo, Chrissie Tremblay, Paul Tremblay, Paul John Tremblay, Ann Marie Vayda, Sr. Joanne Walters, Elizabeth Weimer, Brittany Zaita. Deceased: Nicholas Sena, Rudolph J. Iannotta Frank Tortora Nancy Pantina (M/M Taravella) Wednesday, May 18, 2016 St. John I Veronica & Eric McCormack (Mary Palermo) Thursday, May 19, 2016 Mary Toto (Denise DeRiso) Friday, May 20, 2016 St. Bernardine of Siena Adriano Bello (Lorenzo Bello & Children) Saturday, May 21, 2016 St. Christopher Magallanes Maria Ciccione (Ann Marie Lynch) Christine Piotrowski (Secular Franciscans) Edward Weltick (Loving Family) Roberto Giangregorio, Joseph Kellen, Clara Mendolia, Theresa Moccia, Mary Rella Sunday, May 22, :00AM 9:30AM 11:00AM 12:30PM George & Ann Papandrea Christine Piotrowski (Rachele Sannino) Rose LaMantia (Secular Franciscans) Jack Lombardo (Neal & Stephanie Tortorelli) For The Parishioners GOOD SHEPHERD STATUE We would like to thank Joan McCue, who kept the statue this past week. Anyone interested in keeping the statue in their home and praying for vocations for one week should contact the Rectory. If you are new to St. Helen Parish, please remember to stop in at the Rectory to register your family! Envelope Problems...As of late a number of parishioners have inquired about not receiving their monthly envelopes. The envelopes are not mailed through the rectory. Envelopes are mailed through a Church envelope company. I have used this envelope company in previous parishes and found it extremely reliable. The difficulty I have found in the past, has been with the U.S. Postal service; the current issue that parishioners are experiencing I still need to get to the bottom of. Please realize there are envelopes provided inside the Church for situations such as this. I am sorry for the inconvenience, but the situation is very much beyond my control so I thank you in advance for your patience, understanding, and continuing support. As for those who have complained that if they do not receive envelopes they will stop donating to the parish... this is tantamount to saying to a loved one that the card store has run out of birthday cards... so no gift this year! St. Helen s Religious Education Program is seeking volunteer s to teach Catechism to children for grades 1 thru 7. If you are interested, please contact Ms. Vizoso at the Religious Ed. office at Do you have a family member that is 60+ years old and needs a hot meal each day? The Southwest Queens Home Delivered Meals Program can assist you! Eligibility requirements for home delivered meals: Must be 60 years of age or older; is unable to attend a senior center for a meal; is unable to prepare meals; does not have anyone else to rely on to prepare meals; can live safely at home if services are provided. For more information please contact the Program at

2 May 15, 2016 Page 2 Policies Regarding Infant Baptism at St. Helen Parish Parents seeking Baptism for their children who live within the territory of St. Helen Parish are asked to register as members of the parish before requesting an initial interview for Baptism. Registration is easily done at the parish office anytime during business hours. Parents seeking Baptism for their children who live outside the territory of St. Helen Parish are asked to obtain a letter from the parish in which they live authorizing the Baptism to take place at St. Helen. Initial meetings with parents seeking Baptism for their children will normally take place on the second Wednesday of each month from 7:00 9:00PM and on the fourth Saturday of each month from 10:30AM 12:30PM. MAY JUNE 2016 Mornings of Preparation Required Before a Baptism: (All begin at the 11:00AM Mass and continue in the Msgr. McGinness Room) May 29 June 12 & June 26 Schedule for Baptisms: (All begin at 2:00PM) May 29 June 12 & June 26 Please call for more information and/or to schedule an appointment. The 8th Annual South Queens Juvenile Diabetes Walk-a-thon to Cure Diabetes, sponsored by the International Society of S.S. Cosma and Damiano, will be held on Saturday, June 4th at the Ave Maria Catholic Academy School grounds (formerly Our Lady of Grace School, located at 101st St. & 159th Ave.) Registration will begin at, and Walk begins at 10:00AM. This is a family-oriented event and a fun day for all. Food and beverages will be provided for participants. Donations greatly appreciated! For more information call , or visit HowardBeach. Catholic Charities Senior Center Upcoming Events On Thursday, May 19th, at 10:30AM, the Center will have a representative from the NYC Department of Health and Mental Health Hygiene to discuss what you need to know about West Nile Virus, and how to protect yourself. All seniors are invited. On Tuesday, May 24th, at 10:30AM, the Center will have a seminar on How To Have A Healthy Heart. This seminar will be given by Metro Plus Health Agency. All seniors are invited. On Wednesday, May 26th, at 10:30AM, the Center will host a Sunscreen and Skin Care seminar given by Denise Labody, RN. Please plan to attend this informative session. The Catholic Charities neighborhood Services Howard Beach Senior Center is located at Crossbay Blvd., across from Stop N Shop. For further information please contact Rosalie at SAINT HELEN RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM Christian of the Month March 2016 These students regularly attended and actively participated in religion classes seeking knowledge of God. In addition, these students gave witness by treating others with the kindness and compassion of Jesus. Kindergarten Martina Bugo First Grade Chloe Behan James Como Gia Piccirillo Justin Testa Second Grade Justin Grimes Sophia Kearney Isabella Russo Jack Tomeo Third Grade Christos Andrinopoluos Lucas Russo Amanda Schieren Fourth Grade Daniel Fuggeta Ava Maldari Marco Sabbatino Fifth Grade Gianna Belleman Anthony Corda Isabella Piazza Sixth Grade Giovanna Ariola Robert Klub Richard Perez Seventh Grade Caitlin Markevitch Rosalia Peluso Natalie Rodriguez

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4 May 15, 2016 Page 4 Congratulations to the following children who are receiving the Sacrament of First Holy Communion this weekend: Adam Arnold Logan Asik Nicholas Bachour Mia Birardi Gianna Cammarota Vito Camporese Nicholas DeChiara Carmine DeSimone Joseph Dorane Nicholas Fernandez Sebastian Giallanzo Mia Gulinazzo Sophia Hoffman Sophia Kearney John Keogh Christopher Magliulo Kevin Martinez Giacomo Melisi Pasquale Melisi Deborah Murphy Meaghan Murphy Vincent Nicoletta Izabella Peña Justyn Pomarico Julianne Quinn Kenneth Reisig Isabella Russo Jeremy Salcedo Peter Shala Brian Simonelli Donald Spallone William Spallone Rosalie Terman Alexander Turner Derek Turner On Saturday, May 7, Fr. Colamaria installed 17 new altar servers for our parish. We thank them for their generosity and wish them many years of faithful service at God's altar. Roxanne Adragna, Gianna Bintas, Vito Camporese, Michael Frank Casillo, Gerardo DiBenedetto, Jacqulinn Fragale, Christopher Hearn, Nicholas Leone, Christopher Magliulo, Aeres Moran, Tagan Moran, Christopher Queijo, Gabrielle Queijo, Melanie Snyder, Joseph R. Tesoriero, Leonardo Trovato, Michael Verni.

5 May 15, 2016 Page 5 Homiletic starters and scriptural reflection points for each day of the month Mon., May 16: James 3:13-18; Mark 9:14-29 I do believe, help my unbelief! After three months of Lent, Holy Week and Easter, we return to Ordinary Time. And what a welcome! The Letter of James pulls no punches; Luther called it straw because it mocks faith alone ; modern scholars demote it as old-fashioned. But when James asks which side you are on, demonic or mercy, you d better answer. No one responds more memorably than the fraught father of a possessed boy in today s Gospel. Jesus puts him on the spot: Everything is possible to one who has faith. (Suddenly, Jesus sounds like Luther!) The father strips himself bare: I do believe, help my unbelief! Oh, to have that honesty, that humility and that desperate parental love! Let the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my heart find favor before you, O Lord. Tues., May 17: James 4:1-10; Mark 9:30-37 If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all. James calls his readers warmongers, adulterers, enemies of God, sinners you name it. But there is a way out: Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will exalt you. Jesus makes the same point, complete with a child on his lap. If you think you deserve the best of everything, your confidence is probably misplaced. I count on Jesus kindness and forgiveness, but I m pretty sure I underestimate how much mercy I actually need. I cast my care upon you, Lord, and you will support me. Wed., May 18: James 4:13-17; Mark 9:38-40 Whoever is not against us is for us. The Letter of James is like an edgier version of Poor Richard s Almanack ; it s chock full of practical advice. Jesus is practical, too. He calms his apostles zeal for exclusion ( Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us ) with a simple rule of thumb: Whoever is not against us is for us. Why do I circle the wagons and take my brave stand against everyone else who doesn t get it when the truth is, most of the time, my biggest enemy is myself? Lord, I shall not fear in evil days when my wicked ensnarers ring me round. Come now, you rich, weep and wail. More and more, we seem to find ourselves divided by controversy. Protesters are hailed as heroes by some; others are offended because their demands are so unreasonable. The Letter of James jumps in with both feet. There s no calm comparing of legitimate points of view here. The rich are so rotten, even their gold has corroded. They don t just cheat their workers, they starve them. They live in such luxury, even their hearts are fat, suitable for slaughter. Jesus takes some choice cuts, too: Cut off your hand, cut off your foot, pluck out your eye! You know what? I really have to rethink the excuses I keep making up for my sins. Lord, redeem me from the power of the nether world. SEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME Fri., May 20: James 5:9-12; Mark 10:1-12 You have seen the purpose of the Lord, because the Lord is compassionate and merciful. James is tired of the whip. Now it s time for the carrot. The Judge will be looking at our sympathies, not our sins. The prophets, including Job, will sustain our patience. Yes and No say all we need to say. Jesus teaching on divorce is compassionate, too, since it voids the hardness of heart that Moses law allowed. Remarriage is adultery because, in Jesus law, the sexes are equal. Some guy can t just toss his wife onto the ash heap. As Pope Francis has said over and over, mercy is the ultimate equalizer, lest anyone be lost, especially the children. My sweet Lord, you redeem our life from destruction; you crown us with kindness and compassion. Sat., May 21: James 5:13-20; Mark 10:13-16 Whoever does not accept the Kingdom of God like a child will not enter it. The Letter of James that began in flames now ends in warmth. Are you suffering? Pray! Are you rejoicing? Sing! Are you sick? Call the church for an anointing. Confess your sins to one another. Some say there s not enough Jesus in James (Jesus appears only in the title). But maybe there s not enough Jesus in me. Speaking for myself, I really need James take-noprisoners approach, as well as his heartfelt encouragement. It s the original 12-step program. And if Jesus teaching seems too strict on divorce, he follows it immediately with Let the children come to me. We are his babies. He wants all of us, even misfits, in his kingdom. O Lord, to you I call; hasten to help me. Thurs., May 19: James 5:1-6; Mark 9:41-50