March 25, 2018 Page 1 Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord T h i s We e k ' s M a s s I n t e n t i o n s Palm Sunday, March 25, 2018 8:00AM Zeny Caparas (Loving Family) 9:30AM Angela Pisano (Loving Family) 11:00AM DeVore Family (Loving Daughter) 1:00PM Joshua Basin (Loving Mother, Zena) 5:00PM For The Parishioners Monday, March 26, 2018 9:00AM Theresa DiLorenzo (Angela Popolizio) Tuesday, March 27, 2018 9:00AM Phyllis Miranti (Loving Family) Wednesday, March 28, 2018 9:00AM Tanyag Family (Aida Jocson) HOLY THURSDAY, March 29, 2018 7:30PM Mass of the Lord s Supper For the Deceased Priests of the Diocese GOOD FRIDAY, March 30, 2018 3:00PM Celebration of the Passion of the Lord HOLY SATURDAY, March 31, 2018 8:00PM Easter Vigil John DeRiso (Michele Carollo) EASTER SUNDAY, April 1, 2018 6:00AM Thomas Barreca (Tom Taglienti) 8:00AM Lenny Altamura (Cabral Family) 9:30AM For The Parishioners 11:00AM Christine Salegna (Mom & Dad) 12:30PM Theresa Montelbano (Loving Children) The Altar Candles for this week are donated in memory of Angelina Villano, requested by Santa Catarelli. 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. W naszej parafii ks. Łukasz może również służyć pomocą w języku polskim. 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 2 nd and 4 th Sunday of the month (no Baptisms during Lent). Sacrament of Confession: Saturdays 12:30PM to 1:30PM. Weekdays: 15 minutes prior to the 9:00AM 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. Debbie Abbene, Sally Capoziello, Shang Cheng, Marge D Auria, Mary Ann D Angelo, Patrick Delaney, Domenica DeVito, Virginia DiGangi, Richard H. Dimler, Mary Divers, Jean Fochetta, Dennis Giammalvo, John Joseph Gleeson, John Pierce Gleeson, Christine Healy, Maria Hernandez, Elizabeth Isolano, Keri & Baby Tristan, James Leung, Thomas & Patricia Lipari, William J. Litt, Cindy Maione, Barbara Miller, Angela Ottomanelli- Hubbs, Michael Palermo, Sebastian Panasci, Santo Pantina, Joseph Questore, Ronald J. Reid, Frances Russo, Bill Sangirardi, John Secreti, Patrick Smith, Frank Spremulli, Remington Stafford, Michael Tamburo, Chrissie Tremblay, Paul Tremblay, Paul John Tremblay, Sr., Sr. Joanne Walters. Deceased: 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, April 27, 2018.
March 25, 2018 Page 2 H O LY W E E K 2 0 1 8 Palm Sunday Masses March 24 & 25: Saturday: 5:00PM Sunday: 8:00AM, 9:30AM, 11:00AM, 1:00PM & 5:00PM Reconciliation Monday, March 26: Throughout the N.Y. region, today is set aside for the Celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) in preparation for Easter. Here at St. Helen, the opportunity for the Sacrament will be offered from 3:00PM 8:00PM. Holy Thursday, March 29: Confessions: 8:45-9:00AM Solemn Morning Prayer at 9:00AM Evening Mass of the Lord s Supper at 7:30PM followed by Adoration Good Friday, March 30: Solemn Morning Prayer at 9:00AM Confessions: 12:00-2:30PM The Celebration of the Passion of the Lord at 3:00PM Stations of the Cross at 7:30PM (Indoors) Holy Saturday, March 31: Confessions: 8:45-9:00AM Solemn Morning Prayer at 9:00AM The Church will be closed after the Blessing of the Easter Food Baskets at 11:00AM, until the celebration of the Easter Vigil. There will be no 5:00PM Mass! Easter Vigil at 8:00PM Easter Sunday, April 1: Sunrise Mass: 6:00AM (Note that this Mass will be celebrated indoors) Easter Day Masses: 8:00AM, 9:30AM, 11:00AM & 12:30PM NO 5:00PM MASS EASTER SUNDAY! Easter Sunday The Rectory Office will be closed Good Friday, March 30 th, open Holy Saturday from 9AM-12:00 Noon, and closed Easter Sunday and Easter Monday, reopening on Tuesday, April 3 rd at 9:00AM.
March 25, 2018 Page 3 Altar Server Training will take place after the Easter Holiday (Springtime). Keep posted on dates for rehearsals in the bulletin and for letters that will be sent home to all children in the Academy and Religious Ed. All children of the parish are welcome to become Altar Servers. Requirements are simply a willingness to serve at the Altar, attendance at the rehearsals/training, and the child is well behaved. Keep posted! GOOD SHEPHERD STATUE We would like to thank Maryann Kellen, 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. 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. St. Helen will share in the profits! For each car, truck or van, running or not, The Society of St. Vincent de Paul will give back to our Church $50/$100 per vehicle. Call The Society today if you have a vehicle to donate! CRS Rice Bowls are being collected at all Masses this weekend. If you have forgotten to bring yours to Mass, you may drop it off at the Rectory this week. Graduates of Dominican Commercial High School (161-06 89th Avenue, Jamaica, NY) are welcomed to join us in a D.C. Tribute on Sunday, April 22nd from 11:00AM-2:00PM. The building is being sold, and we are gathering to enjoy one last day of memories and to thank the Dominican Sisters. Please call (516) 457-6923 for more information or to RSVP if you plan on attending. You may also email: cathleenquinn@optonline.net. Every once in a while it s good to make a plug for those who do favors! There is a young woman in the parish I have often called upon to professionally photograph major events at the parish. Some of her photos have been used on the parish website and are also part of the parish archives. Her pursuit of photography has led her to having her own professional photography business. I (Fr. Colamaria) highly recommend her expertise. Her contact information: Nicole Balbone, Nic Bal Photography (718-916-2983). Her website is: www.nicbalphotography.com, and her email is nicbalphotography@gmail.com. Come Join Us For A Tour Of The Cathedral of St. John The Divine Wednesday, April 18, 2018 Bus departs at 9:30AM Tour at 11:00AM Lunch at Carmine s Broadway From 1:00-3:00PM Bus returns to St. Helen after Lunch $45.00 Rosarians $50.00 Non-Rosarians Call Agnes Cummings (917) 716-5898 This trip is sponsored by St. Helen s Rosary Ministry
March 25, 2018 Page 4 Reconciliation Monday, March 26, 2018 Throughout the N.Y. region, this day is set aside for the Celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation (Confession) in preparation for Easter. Here at St. Helen, the opportunity for the Sacrament will be offered from 3:00PM thru 8:00PM. European Tradition of Blessing of the Easter Food Baskets Known As: Swieconka(sh-vee-en-soon-kah) In many European countries, it is a tradition to have a basket of food blessed on Holy Saturday. The Blessing of the Food is a festive occasion. The three-part prayers of blessing specifically address the various contents of the basket, with special prayers for the meats, eggs, cakes & breads. Basket Contents and Symbolism: Maslo (Butter) : This dairy product is often shaped into a lamb (Baranek Wielkanocny), reminding us of the goodness of Christ that we should have toward all things. Chleb (Easter Bread): A round rye loaf topped with a cross, symbolic of Jesus, the Bread of Life. Chrzan (Horseradish): Symbolic of the Passion of Christ still in our minds, but sweetened with some sugar because of the Resurrection. (May be white or pink [w/grated red beets].) Pisanki (Decorated Easter Eggs): Indicates new life and Christ's Resurrection from the Tomb. Kielbasa (Sausage): A spicy sausage of pork products, indicative of God's favor and generosity. Szynka (Ham): Symbolic of great joy and abundance. (In addition to the large ham cooked for the Easter Meal, often a special small ham, called the Szynka Wielkanocny) is purchased specially for Swieconka basket.) Slonina (Smoked Bacon): A symbol of the over abundance of God's mercy and generosity. Sol (Salt): So necessary an element in our physical life, that Jesus used its symbolism: "You are the salt of the earth." Ser (Cheese): Shaped into a ball, it is the symbol of the moderation Christians should have. Holy Water: Holy water is used to bless the home, animals, fields and used in religious rituals throughout the year. A candle, often marked like the Paschal Candle lit during the Easter Vigil, is inserted into the basket to represent Christ, Light of the World. A colorful ribbon and sometimes sprigs of greenery are attached. The linen cover is drawn over the top and is ready for the trek to the blessing. Everyone is welcome to join Fr. Lukasz in Church on Holy Saturday, March 31st at 11AM. Bring your basket filled with items of your Easter food to be blessed!
March 25, 2018 Page 5 CATHOLIC CHARITIES NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES HOWARD BEACH SENIOR CENTER The Center is located at 155-55 Cross Bay Blvd., across from Stop N Shop on Cross Bay Blvd. Seniors aged 60 and older are invited to become members. Activities and services are offered Monday-Friday from 9:00AM to 4:00PM. Every day delicious and nutritious full, hot lunches are catered by Russo s on the Bay ($2 donation requested). Mondays 9:30-10:30AM: Mondays 10:45-11:45AM: Tuesdays 9:30-10:30AM: Wednesdays 10:00-11:00AM: Thursdays 9:30-10:30AM: Fridays 9:30-10:30AM: Fridays 10:30-11:30AM: Tai Chi with Elaine Fleischman Chair Aerobics with Charlie Roemer Movement Exercise with Millie Zumba with Elaine Movement Exercise with Millie Cardio Exercise with Dwayne Yoga with Charlie Roemer On Tuesday, March 27th, at 10:30AM, the Center will be presenting Jokersize With Howie. There will be exercise combined with jokes. All seniors are invited for a good time. On Friday, April 13th, at 1:00PM, the Center will hold a Mah Jongg class for beginners. Seating is limited, so you must register beforehand by calling Rosalie at the number below. For further information, contact Rosalie at 718-738-8100. St. Helen Catholic Academy 200 to 1 Raffle $10,000 Prize Grand ($100 per Ticket) Friday, April 20, 2018 in Father Dooley Hall Wine and Cheese Drawing To purchase tickets or for additional information please call Maria Ford 718-344-1998 or Diane Joseph 917-697-5351. Tickets sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Only 200 tickets will be sold! Winner need not be present to win. 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. APRIL JUNE, 2018 Mornings of Preparation Required Before a Baptism: (All begin at the 11:00AM Mass and continue in the Msgr. McGinness Room) April 22 May 27 June 10 & 24 Schedule for Baptisms: (All begin at 2:00PM) April 22 May 27 June 10 & 24 Please call 718-738-1616 for more information and/or to schedule an appointment. Are you new to St. Helen Parish? If so please stop in at the Rectory to register your family!