ST. HELEN CHURCH RIVERSIDE, OHIO MARCH 22, 2015 OUR HOLIEST WEEK BEGINS NEXT SUNDAY As hard as it may be to believe, next Sunday is Palm Sunday and the start of holy week where, through our liturgies we remember our Lord s giving of himself in every way emptying himself for us! Weather permitting, all Masses will begin outside in the front of church. As such, the circle drive will be blocked off, so no one will be able to pull up in front of the front doors. We ask everyone who is able to stand for a longer period and all who are in good health to participate in the entrance procession from outside as one unified group of believers. When you arrive please take both a palm from one of the baskets on the table outside and a program. Father will bless the palms as part of the liturgy before Mass, and whether they are in your hands or in the basket, they will indeed be blessed! If you are physically unable to participate in the Solemn Procession, programs will be available at the doors and Eucharistic Ministers will bring palms into church to you immediately after they have been blessed. CHURCH CLEANING Please join us!!! THIS Monday, March 23rd at 6:00 pm in the church to help make our parish home clean and beautiful for the upcoming season of Easter. A great way to meet new people! Bring a bucket and a friend. Please, no children. On the job training provided! Call Melissa Heil 937-287-6851 with any questions. Many hands make light work! READINGS FOR MARCH 29 Isaiah 50:4-7 Philippians 2:6-11 Mark 11:1-10 With heartfelt thanks for your STEWARDSHIP OF TREASURE MARCH 15 Adults $24,099.86 Children $12.75 IN THE MILITARY Our thoughts and prayers remain with those serving our country at this time. We continue to pray for the safe homecoming of all of our loved ones and for peace. ANNIVERSARY COUPLES If you are celebrating your 25th, 50th, 60th, 65th, or your 70th wedding anniversary this year please call the rectory and let us know. We are planning something special for you! Let next week be markedly different for you and your family. It is a time to break our stride and make these days like no other days of the year. This week, CRS Rice Bowl invites us to enter into solidarity with the people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, where community members work together to keep their harvests healthy. We are encouraged to reflect on the Catholic social teaching principle, Call to Family, Community and Participation, and reminded that, as social beings, we are called to work together. Let us pray this week for our brothers and sisters in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and all around the world, that our families and communities may be strengthened and blessed. RICE BOWL COUNT = $31.10... SO FAR! How is your Rice Bowl calendarbased offering coming? One family has almost $32 so far because of their blessings!
FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATIONS SUNDAY, MARCH 22 8:00 a.m. Gene Deis (Quilters) 10:30 a.m. Dennis Hilgeford (Family) MONDAY, MARCH 23 8:15 a.m. Red West (Edward Stefanko) TUESDAY, MARCH 24 8:15 a.m. Brandon Bacher-Anniversary Remembrance (Mom & Dad) WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25 8:15 a.m. Melvin Seibel (St. Helen Book Club) THURSDAY, MARCH 26 8:15 a.m. Casmir, MaryAnn & Joseph Tomaszewski (Family) FRIDAY, MARCH 27 8:15 a.m. Regional Mass at Immaculate Conception SATURDAY, MARCH 28 5:00 p.m. Estelle Cooper Dixon (Mark & Shema Bryan) SUNDAY, MARCH 29 8:00 a.m. Matthew Stotts (Pam & Dale Dorsten) 10:30 a.m. Marta Garcia (Ampi & Ed Arnold) LITURGICAL MUSICIANS We would like to thank the following musicians for playing and singing during our Reconciliation Services during Lent. Tom Gooch and his wife, Teri, have been members of St. Helen Parish for a number of years and Tom has contributed many dedicated hours to helping provide beautiful guitar music to our services. Our newest member is Keri Edwards. Keri and her family joined St. Helen when her husband, Eric, was transferred to WPAFB. In her words: As a former Evangelical Protestant, I grew up singing, playing, and writing music about life, love, heartache, and faith as I experienced it throughout my young life. Although I was baptized Roman Catholic, I did not receive much instruction in my Christian faith until my mother had a born again experience at a non-denominational, charismatic church service. I will be forever grateful for the years of spiritual growth and formation that followed! Keri s first album is entitled, Me and Jesus and says, Now that I ve pieced together my debut album, Me and Jesus, it is my hope that it can be used to not only reach across the aisle to my brothers and sisters in Christ, but also to reach right outside the doors of the Church to find the seekers who are on their own journeys, but haven t quite found their way home yet. I was deliberate in choosing the songs for this album. I strove to give something to everyone the believer, the doubter, and the seeker alike. For more information on Keri, please contact her by email at keric2000@gmail.com CALENDAR OF EVENTS SUNDAY, MARCH 22 8:00 a.m. Mass with the Third Scrutiny (Rosary at 7:30 a.m.) Coffee and Conversation- HR 9:00-10:15 a.m. 10:30 a.m. Mass Baptism II-Keep the Flame-SJN 12: 00 p.m. Generation Change-SJB 2:00 p.m. Financial Peace University-SJN 2:00 p.m. Zumba-GYM 4:00 p.m. MONDAY, MARCH 23 Novena-9:00 a.m. TUESDAY, MARCH 24 Bible Study-HR 9:00 a.m. Leisure Club Luncheon-SB 12:00 p.m. Lenten Reconciliation Service @ Ascension 7:00p.m. WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18 Book Club-SB 9:00 a.m. Legion of Mary-SJA 1:00 p.m. Centering Prayer-SJN 3:15 p.m. THURSDAY, MARCH 19 Prayer Shawl Ministry-SJN 1:00 p.m. FRIDAY, MARCH 20 Regional Mass at Immaculate Conception-8:15 a.m. Stations of the Cross-CH 7:00 p.m. SATURDAY, MARCH 21 Men s Group-SJN 7:30 a.m. Palm Sunday Mass 5:00 p.m. (Mass begins outside) BEREAVEMENT MINISTRY Our funeral choir would like to add more volunteers to sing at our parish funerals. A perfect voice is not needed; often times, knowing there are parishioners there to support the grieving families is enough. This is an opportunity to become more personally involved with the grieving people in our community. The time commitment is minimal; we meet 30 minutes before the funeral to go over the music. Most of our funerals are in the morning, usually starting 10:30. If you would like to join this ministry, please contact Paula Price at 937-254-6233 or at paula.price@sthelenparish.org. CALLING ALL GARDENERS Spring is here! The parish has free leaf mulch for the taking! Please call Mike in the maintenance department at 256-0711.
THE LITURGICAL MINISTERS SCHEDULE Sat., 3/28 5:00 p.m. Sun., 3/29 8:00 a.m. Sun., 3/29 10:30 a.m. Altar Servers Reuber, Rachel R MacLeod, Donald Friel, Erin Reuber, Shannon R Schmid, Mark Friel, William Reuber, Stephen Steeber, Sheri Hilgeford, Eric Wourms, Kaleb Eucharistic Minister Benjamin, Clive Bryan, Sam Coons, Robert Decker, Judy Dillon, Bill Engle, Landon Heil, Jacob Dillon, Linda Engle, Lexis Heil, Matthew Hatcher, Arlene Engle, Lyndon Hennessey, Tami Heckman, Linda Friel, Jan Kronenberger, Eddie Whitney, Jim Holmes, Joe Kronenberger, Katie Whitney, Phyllis Kruso, Lisa Monell, Allie Madden, Diana Monell, Ray Madden, Kari Walling, Marty Madden, Tim Notestine, Greg Wourms, Ben Lector Danner, Deb Howell, Lynn Havens, Mary Hammaker, Kristen Bourgeois, Dave Merz, Margot ST. HELEN GREEN TEAM Caring For Creation : A Franciscan Approach to Climate Change Franciscans have had a centuries-old tradition of explicitly integrating science, and using science as a means of exploring and coming to know our created world. Knowing the science of ecology helps us to read the Book of Creation, and to know the Creator. Franciscans also emphasize haeccitas or thisness, the unique specialness of each particular living and nonliving thing, loved individually and particularly by God. Every person, every tree, every pond, and every member of every species is uniquely special, is uniquely known and loved by God, and is uniquely imbued with the presence of God. Integrating Climate Change science into our considerations is essential for Franciscans, as is an understanding of the impacts of Climate Change on every individual creature that is part of the ecosocial system. excerpt from Franciscan Action Network website by Ríobart É. Breen, SFO Ph.D., FAN Research Analyst on STATIONS OF THE CROSS FRIDAYS AT 7:00 P.M. IN CHURCH Lent is coming to a close and Holy Week is almost upon us. How have you been fed this Lenten Season? Do you need some spice to get ready for Easter? Please join us for Fajitas and Faith on Sunday, March 29 th from 6-8pm In the St. Julie Center All St. Helen Youth grades 9-12 are invited to join us for dinner in the St. Julie Center dining room. We will be discussing Lent, Easter and God s saving grace. Call the Rectory (256-8815) or check out our website! sthelenparish.org
SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT CREDIT UNION NEWS St. Helen Federal Credit Union is continually looking for ways to serve our members better and we are excited to announce our new partnership with Augustine Financial Services! Partnering with Augustine gives us the opportunity to offer a variety of mortgage lending options designed to save you money and fit your family s unique needs. Augustine caters to the Catholic community and their mission is guided by our shared values. We trust them to provide you with the same extraordinary member service you have come to expect from the St. Helen Federal Credit Union. Contact us at 937-252-7477 to see how much you may be able to save on your first or forever home! HUMAN TRAFFICKING: THE REALITY AND RESPONSE Dayton, Ohio is famous for many things, but did you know that Dayton is also famous as a hub for human trafficking? Rather than pretend that it does not happen here, the Respect Life Committee and Social Outreach Commission of Incarnation Parish and the Social Justice Committee of Immaculate Conception Parish will host a panel discussion, entitled Human Trafficking: the Reality and Response. Hear representatives from UD s Abolition Ohio, Oasis House, Be Free Dayton, the Dayton Police Dept. Street Crimes Unit, and clergy discuss the issue and our response as a faith community. This event is for parents, grandparents, educators and anyone who wants to educate themselves about this epidemic in our city, state, country and the world. Join us on March 24 at 7pm in the Incarnation Church Parish Center at 55 Williamsburg Lane, Dayton, OH 45459. (This program is not intended for young children.) SOLEMNITY MASS OF THE ANNUNCIATION AND INCARNATION OF JESUS All are invited to participate in this special Mass celebrating the Word taking human nature in Mary s womb Wednesday, March 25, 7:00 pm, Holy Angels Church (Brown and L St) with a Special Blessing for expectant mothers. Father Greg Konerman will be the celebrant. Following Mass he will give a presentation on How To: Strengthen Our Domestic Church, Evangelize Our Children, and Persevere as a Catholic Family in a Pagan Culture. Light refreshments will be available. Information: steve@omsoul.com, or 626-0027, and www.onemoresoul.com. Prior to his ordination to the priesthood, Fr. Greg worked for many years as a therapist and family counselor. He holds Masters Degrees in Divinity, Psychology and Social Work. THE GOOD NEWS IS THE ST. HELEN WORLD FAMOUS FESTIVAL IS LESS THAN 4 MONTHS AWAY! THE BAD NEWS IS Some of our World Famous Booths are in danger of disappearing! Imagine what a sad festival it would be if you couldn t get a delicious Funnel cake with powdered sugar or strawberry topping? How disappointing will it be if there s no Spin-Til-Somebody Wins a fabulous St. Helen homemade cake? We are in desperate need of a Funnel Cake Chair/Co-Chair Doll Booth Co-Chair Don t let our Festival lose these booths! Call Karla at 426-8705 to stake your claim in securing our Festival Future! THE FESTIVAL BASKET BOOTH NEEDS YOUR HELP! We are currently creating baskets and would greatly appreciate any donations you are willing to give. You can create your own basket or let us do it for you. Although each basket is supposed to be worth at least $200 we will combine any size donation with others, so no donation is too small. Or maybe you are part of a group that would like to join together to make a basket. If you d like to create your own basket, we have information regarding what baskets have done well in the past. Please contact Elizabeth Gosser (937-231-1298) or Kim Braun (937-470-8220) if you have any questions. Donations can be dropped off at the Rectory, the School Office, or the Credit Union. Thank you! THE FESTIVAL FLEA MARKET WILL BE HERE BEFORE YOU KNOW IT! Spring is finally right around the corner and spring brings the festival! My name is Shirley Nelson and for those of you who don t know me, I am the administrative assistant at St. Helen School AND this year s chair of the Flea Market. We are looking for quality items for the Flea Market. Please, no torn or stained items. All items sold are pure profit for the school and parish!! If you have electronics, please make sure they are in working condition and less than 5 years old. If you have any questions about anything, feel free to contact me at the school, 256-1761. Keep saving!!
HOLY WEEK: A WEEK OF PROCESSIONS In our Catholic tradition, processions allow us to walk together with God on the pilgrimage of life. The Dictionary of the Liturgy by Rev. Jovian P. Lang, OFM (Catholic Book Publishing Co., New York, 1989) states that processional rites have their foundation in the religious instincts of human beings. Processions translate marvelously the ordered, calm, trusting, and joyous life, the need of collective prayer, and the joy in the triumph of our Savior. Liturgy employs all the arts for the glory of God and so could not leave out the art of movement, dignified and measured choreography, which appeals to all parts of the human body. Funeral Procession by artist Ellis Wilson On Palm Sunday, we will gather outside the church, and, in memory of Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem, we will all process up the center aisle with our palms, reverence the altar with a bow, cross the front of the church, and move down the side aisles to our seats. As we begin our journey, a beautiful red cloth will billow before us and be draped over the crucifix. All of these movements and gestures are part of our dignified and measured choreography in praise of our Lord! Please join us in this procession. How significant it is when we can do things together as the One Body of Christ!