Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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1 October 15, 2017 Page 1 Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time T h i s We e k ' s Mass Intentions 8:00AM 9:30AM 11:00AM 12:30PM 5:00PM Sunday, October 15, 2017 Anthony & Christine Giovine (Anthony Giovine, Jr.) Frances Farino (JoAnne Raffaele) Jean Bacotti (Jo-Ann & Mike Cesario) Jean Bacotti (Carmen Pagan) For The Parishioners Monday, October 16, 2017 Sts. Hedwig & Margaret Mary Gennady Basin (Loving Wife) Tuesday, October 17, 2017 St. Ignatius of Antioch Louise Richardson (Jo-Ann & Phyllis Leccese) Wednesday, October 18, 2017 St. Luke Catherine Petrilli (Peter & Grace Belmonte) Thursday, October 19, 2017 New Families: All are welcome to St. Helen Parish, and are asked to please register at the Rectory during office hours. Sacrament of Baptism: Please call the Rectory to register for the baptism of your child. Baptisms will be held on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month (no Baptisms during Lent). Sacrament of Confession: Saturdays 12:30PM to 1:30PM. Weekdays: 15 minutes prior to the Mass. Sacrament of Marriage: Couples should contact the Rectory at least one year in advance of the desired date. Please call for an appointment for the initial interview. Communion Calls: Please call the Rectory to arrange for one of the priests to bring Holy Communion to a sick person who is confined to home due to a serious illness. Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick: Anyone who expects to be hospitalized (or in an emergency) and wishes the Anointing of the Sick, should call the Rectory. Sts. John de Brebeuf & Isaac Jogues Carmen Campisi (Margaret Butler) Friday, October 20, 2017 St. Paul of the Cross Patsy & Beau (Betty & Virginia) Saturday, October 21, 2017 Mary Corrigan (Caterina) Anthony Fiore (Loving Family) Charles Sangirardi (Andrew & Linda Mastrangelo) 5:00PM Salvatore Fasulo, Jean Maniscalco, William Pazienza, Angelina Villano, Jessie Wesnofske Sunday, October 22, :00AM 9:30AM 11:00AM 12:30PM 5:00PM George & Claire Cox Thomas Lavelle (Longo Family) Miriam Americo (Vita & Paul) Vincent Laudicina (Theresa Laudicina) For The Parishioners GOOD SHEPHERD STATUE We would like to thank Patricia McCabe, 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. Sally Capoziello, Shang Cheng, Marge D Auria, Mary Ann D Angelo, Baby Christopher Brian Demmerle, Domenica DeVito, Virginia DiGangi, Richard H. Dimler, Mary Divers, Jean Fochetta, John Joseph Gleeson, John Pierce Gleeson, Christine Healy, Thomas Healy, Maria Hernandez, Elizabeth Isolano, Keri & Baby Tristan, James Leung, Thomas & Patricia Lipari, William J. Litt, Cindy Maione, Angela Ottomanelli-Hubbs, Michael Palermo, Sebastian Panasci, Santo Pantina, Joseph Questore, Mary Romano, Bill Sangirardi, John Secreti, Patrick Smith, Michael Tamburo, Chrissie Tremblay, Paul Tremblay, Paul John Tremblay, Sr. Mariet Varban, Sr. Joanne Walters. Deceased: Frank Caputo The Altar Bread for this week is donated in memory of Luigi Scotto, requested by Liz & Richie DeFrank. Rosary for Peace New Place, New Time The Rosary for Peace, sponsored by the Saint Helen Secular Franciscan Fraternity, takes place in the Church at 6:30PM every Wednesday. The group prays for our Blessed Mother s intercession to end violence (both domestic and civil) and the persecution of Christians throughout the world. All parishioners are invited to join us. We welcome anyone willing to lead a decade of the Rosary in a language other than English. The Order of Franciscans Secular meet on the 3rd Saturday of every month in St. Helen s Rectory after the 9AM Mass. Come and learn more about the Franciscan way of life. St. Helen s Purgatorial Society Mass All parishioners have the opportunity to enroll the names of loved ones in the Purgatorial Society. The Purgatorial Society Mass will be held on the last Friday of each month. The offering to be enrolled in the Purgatorial Society is $120 per name (a total of 12 Masses for one year will be said for your loved one). Aside from listing one name, a husband and wife together, or a family name is also acceptable. Having a Purgatorial Society is wonderful way of living out the Scriptures and will be a relief for those who desire to have their loved ones remembered with prayers all year long at God s Altar. Please stop in at the Rectory if you are interested in having a loved one enrolled in the Purgatorial Society. The next Purgatorial Society Mass will be held Friday, October 27, 2017.

2 October 15, 2017 Page 2 I Confess... There Is Mass Confusion Included in the Church renovation was the relocation and streamlining of the confessionals. The reason for the placement of the confessionals had to do with the floor plan of the building, containing a large alcove in the new seating area. There are two new confessionals designed in a more traditional style. Their location offers privacy and their simple and user friendly design occupies considerably less space than the previous confession rooms. The two new confessionals occupy the equivalent square feet of one of the previous "confessionals". Go ahead and take a peek! Unfortunately, there has been some confusion about the new design, which I believe is just part of the learning curve of using something new. First you will note there are 4 entrances to the confessionals covered by heavy sound deadening velvet drapes. Over each door is a sign clearly designating which entrance is for the priest and which entrance is for the penitent (the person going to confession). The doorway marked "priest" is for the priest! The doorway marked "penitent" is the entrance to be used for the one going to confession. There is a light over the entrance indicating the availability of confession. When the light is ON the confessional is available. When the light is OFF the confessional is occupied. The door next to the confessionals is a closet... in the words of Bugs Bunny I advise: "Don't go in there... it s dark!" There is no need to knock, or pull the drape open where the priest is sitting, or exclaim in a loud voice, "Is the priest hearing confessions!!!!?????" When the light is ON the confessional is available, when the light is OFF... it s either occupied or the priest is not in the confessional. I believe this an uncomplicated process that has worked in many parishes around the world. It is also advisable whilst waiting to go to confession, maintaining an appropriate distance from the confessional for propriety sake is both polite and necessary. As New Yorkers, we understand that we stand clear of subway doors as a train arrives in the station... so as to let people exit. There is no need to cram around the confessional, it s not going anywhere... just watch for the light to go on and you may enter! Upon entering the confessional, you will note there is a screen that has been designed so that one may go to the sacrament of confession anonymously. The screen is made of a very thin material that creates a visual barrier, not a sound barrier; you can whisper to the priest and still be heard! There is no need to yell at the priest... we can hear you loud and clear when you speak in normal and even hushed speaking tones! The screen is built on a track and therefore can be opened by the priest. If you so desire to confess face to face, please request so, and the priest will move the screen! Located between both confessionals is a shrine dedicated to the image of Divine Mercy surrounded by candles. This location was chosen because the confessional is a Tribunal of Mercy where sin is forgiven and God's Mercy flows. The image of the Divine Mercy and the devotion of the Divine Mercy is one that reminds us to take advantage of the this great Sacrament of Healing. Confessions are heard Monday thru Friday at 8:45 AM and on Saturday from 12:30-1:30, and you may request a confession at any time. Fr. Colamaria Can You Spare A Pair? Socktober is once again here! Please consider contributing some socks (and underwear) for the men at the St. Anthony Shelter in the Bronx. You may leave them in the box in the vestibule of the Church. Thank you.

3 October 15, 2017 Page 3 Did You Know Every ten minutes, someone is added to the national transplant waiting list. On average, 20 people die each day while waiting for a transplant. One organ donor can save eight lives. The success rate for organ transplants is between 80 and 90 percent. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10 percent of American adults about 20 million people have chronic kidney disease. 600,000 are on Dialysis. 100,000 are on the waiting list for a kidney transplant. Yet only 16,000 transplants are done each year. In New York less than 13 percent of adults are organ donors (national average is 45%). Did You Know There are various ways of Kidney Donation: A kidney can be donated by a living donor. Only one kidney is all that is needed to live a normal and healthy life. The Good Lord gave use two as a backup. A kidney can be donated, like other organs, when the donor has passed away, by registering with the national listing called UNOS. OR, should you find yourself in the unfortunate situation having a loved one who is about to pass and is being removed from life support, you can donate their organs directly to someone of your choice. This could save the life of a relative, friend or neighbor. My wife and I have been active members of St. Helen Parish for more than 38 years. We have been Ministers of Holy Communion for more than 25 years. Our sons received all their Sacraments at St. Helen, were Altar Servers, and attended St. Helen School. I have been on dialysis for over 5 years. I am in desperate need of a kidney transplant. I appeal to you to pray for me and everyone who is waiting for an organ transplant. If you are considering a donation of a kidney, I ask you to please consider my need. Thank You, Frank Palmenteri Medical Donation of Organs The parish has been engaged in an information campaign on the importance of organ donation and transplant recipients. This topic of organ donation, although not the most comfortable to have, is a life saving discussion that everyone should have! Many Saint Helen parishioners are either donors or on a list awaiting a transplant. Mr. Frank Palmenteri, parishioner for more than 3 decades, has shared his personal plight as being one of those who await a transplant. His story is but one of the many who suffer the anguish of waiting. In his own words, he said he wanted to make his plight public... because, "I am becoming tired". His plight has been dialysis while awaiting a transplant. Dialysis for five years! On Sunday, October 22nd, Father Jim Cunningham will celebrate the 9:30 and 11:00 Masses. Father Jim Cunningham was assigned to Saint Helen Parish as a seminarian (while he was studying for priesthood). He will celebrate these two masses and share his own personal experience of being the recipient of organ donation. We welcome Father Cunningham's return to the parish and look forward to hearing his own story on this important matter. Father Colamaria 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. OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER, 2017 Mornings of Preparation Required Before a Baptism: (All begin at the 11:00AM Mass and continue in the Msgr. McGinness Room) November 12 & 26 December 10 Schedule for Baptisms: (All begin at 2:00PM) October 22 November 12 & 26 December 10 Please call for more information and/or to schedule an appointment.

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5 October 15, 2017 Page 5 Homiletic starters and scriptural reflection points for each day of the month TWENTY-EIGHTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME Mon., Oct. 16 Rom 1:1-7; Lk 11:29-32 Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. Some scholars think the Book of Jonah is a fairy tale. But Jesus thought it was real enough to hammer an evil generation with its message. So let s not ignore its sign. With his message of repentance, Jonah shook the city of Nineveh to its foundations before he even got downtown! Social media never moved so fast. The city s conversion, to what Paul calls in Romans the obedience of faith, was instantaneous and universal. I would love to hear that preaching, and no doubt I already have, and I probably slept through it. But I dare not miss the call. O Lord, you have made your salvation known; you remembered your kindness and your faithfulness. Tues., Oct. 17 Rom 1:16-25; Lk 11:37-41 Brothers and sisters: I am not ashamed of the Gospel. In our antiseptic culture, we might be as amazed as the Pharisee that Jesus did not wash his hands before the meal. We might be unprepared, too, for the tonguelashing that ensued. Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You fools! Well, bon appétit! But this fiery talk probably inspired the saint celebrated today, Ignatius of Antioch, who also accepted an invitation to a meal, in the Roman Coliseum, where he would be the main course! I am the wheat of God to be ground by the teeth of beasts, that I may be found to be pure bread of Christ. Through all the earth your voice resounds, O Lord, and to the ends of the world, your message! Wed., Oct Tm 4:10-17b; Lk 10:1-9 Luke is the only one with me. We are reading from Luke every day this time of year, so his feast day is just icing on the cake. I hope no one is complaining. It used to be a common judgment that the Gospel of Luke is the most beautiful book ever written. Paul s affection helps us to remember that Luke was a real person, a Gentile raised in ignorance of the Scriptures but, no doubt, thrilled to be baptized into a real faith, instead of adhering to alternative myths about Jupiter and Juno, et al. No wonder he developed such a taste for history! O Lord, you are near to all who call upon you in truth. swirls over common-sense gun control. Jesus is just as frustrated by a pattern of deadly violence throughout history. This generation might be charged with the blood of all the prophets shed since the foundation of the world, from the blood of Abel to the blood of Zechariah! What could possibly provoke such fury? Paul sums up the fighting words in the quotation above. So, what s the answer? Jesus bent the arc of history toward mercy with his death and resurrection. My own resistance to mercy must not blind me to the love I owe to God and neighbor. If you, O Lord, mark iniquities, Lord, who can stand? Fri., Oct. 20 Rom 4:1-8; Lk 12:1-7 Beware of the leaven that is, the hypocrisy of the Pharisees! The leaven of hypocrisy abounds today! I push it away every time it puffs itself up unless of course it s my own deceit. Often I rebuke in others the same arrogance I display. On Facebook I expose the inconsistencies of friends while papering over my own contradictions. Could I just be as honest with myself and with others as Jesus is with me? He says, There s nothing concealed that will not be revealed. Could that include God s mercy? God has such care for me, like a little sparrow. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. So, let me count my blessings and be a blessing for others. Dear Lord, I said, I will confess my faults, and you took away the guilt of my sin. Sat., Oct. 21 Rom 4:13, 16-18; Lk 12:8-12 Everyone who acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will acknowledge before the angels of God. You know, I like to think that I acknowledge Jesus in public. But I need to be sure I m not just making Jesus a conservative or a liberal, heavily influenced by my own prejudices. When you ve got a possible charge of blasphemy against the Holy Spirit hanging over your head, as Jesus warns, you better not mess up. Maybe we need to acknowledge a collective blasphemy in wars, abortion, poverty and guns, also political corruption, drugs, consumerism. Paul holds up Abraham as our example: He believed, hoping against hope. I want to be faith-full! O Lord, you remembered your holy word to your servant Abraham, who led forth your people with joy, your chosen ones. Thurs., Oct. 19 Rom 3:21-30; Lk 11:47-54 [We] are justified freely by God s grace. Controversy