The Week of February 16, 2003
Guys, when was the last time you had 26 hours to yourself?
MEN’S CORNERSTONE
An In-Parish Retreat

February 28 & March 1

For details or to register call:
Jay Post at (908) 233-6169

Registration forms are in the Church and Parish Center.
Confirmation Prayer Partners Needed
Some parishioners are directly involved in preparing Candidates for the Sacrament of Confirmation - teaching, service projects, communal celebrations and retreats.  But every parishioner is asked to share this responsibility for our candidates.  As members of this spiritual family, we ask parishioners to choose a name from the list of candidates and become a prayer partner.  A packet of 5 prayer cards will be mailed to you with instructions on how to use them.  Please sign up next to the name on the scroll in the Church vestibule.  Please try to pick a candidate that you do not already know. Questions?  Call Linda Attanasio at 233-8757,ext. 19.
Attention 9th and 10th Grade Confirmation Facilitators
On Monday, Feb. 24 at 8 PM an Adult Enrichment program on Lent, Easter and Pentecost will be presented in the Parish Center.  I ask that you try to attend this session and bring the information from the meeting back to your small groups.  Any questions, call Linda Attanasio at 233-8757, ext. 19..
“...BAPTIZED IN WATER AND THE HOLY SPIRIT”
Welcome to our newly baptized and congratulations
    to the proud parents of: 
Alexander Joseph DiMaria
          Ryan Dominic Flynn
    Matthew Thomas Melao
    Anthony Matthew Migliaro
    John Brian Niemsyk
    Anthony John Pavese

You will soon be receiving our Families Beyond Baptism mailings.

Blood Drive  March 2
Our annual Blood Drive will be held on Sunday, March 2 from 8 AM to 1 PM.  Sign-up sheets will be in the vestibule next weekend for bakers, helpers and donors.  Please consider helping out.  For more information, call the Parish Center  at 233-8757.
Lenten Day of Renewal For Seniors
Msgr. Edward Kevin will be the guest speaker at a special Lenten Day of Renewal for our Senior Citizens on Tuesday, March 18th.  The day will begin with Liturgy at 9 AM and end with lunch.  Space is limited so don't delay....register now by sending $10 to the Parish Center with your name, phone number and an indication of whether or not you require transportation.   Please bring your rosary.
RCIA News
Today’s liturgy offers us the familiar imagery of leprosy as pointing to the ravages of sin and sinfulness in our personal and social lives. Alienation (distancing from others, refusing to love and be loved, inability to feel and evidence care for others) is only one aspect of sin, but it affects the life of societies and of individuals.  Jesus stretches out his hand, speaks words of love and healing and brings about the transformation that frees the sinner to begin life anew, grateful for the gift that has been given.  In reflecting on God’s covenant with us, we realize that God’s commandments are intended to maintain our spiritual freedom and integrity. Even as we see their original intent, we cannot fail to see where human failure to observe them leads. There is, of course, a remedy – God’s merciful forgiveness and our determination to observe them more carefully.
AARP Income Tax Assistance
St. Helen's will be one of the sites offering help with income tax forms to those who qualify through AARP.  It will be on Wednesdays from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM starting Feb. 5th.  Appointments are necessary.  Please call Marilyn at (908) 232-1867 or (908) 233-8757 Ext. 20.
A Lenten Journey of Guided Prayer
“As a deer longs for the running water, so my soul longs for you, O God.”  (Psalm 42:1)  If the words of the psalmist have ever resonated deep within you, then consider this a personal invitation to respond to them.  Of all the “holy” times and seasons included in our liturgical year, Lent is best suited through its scripture readings, special liturgies, and its length, to prepare us to become better aware of and receive more fully the gift of God’s love, His very self. The primary response to the longing deep within us is to examine our prayer life and be open to experiences – especially new ones – that may enrich it.

To that end, St. Helen’s will sponsor a six week Guided Prayer Retreat Experience led by trained Spiritual Directors.  Each person participating in this Lenten Journey will be asked to make a commitment to pray daily for about 30 minutes, and all retreatants will meet for a personal session once each week with his or her own director during the day or evening for approximately 45 minutes. Your Spiritual Director will discuss prayer with you and any particular insights or invitations that may arise from the Lenten Prayer materials provided each participant.

An Information Meeting will be held in the Parish Center on Sunday, February 23 at 3:00pm.  We hope to see you there!. 
25th and 50th Wedding Anniversary Celebrations
The Archdiocese of Newark will honor those couples in our Archdiocese who will be celebrating twenty-five or fifty  years of Christian marriage in the year 2003.  These liturgies will be held at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark as follows:

March 23, 2003
Silver Wedding Anniversary Mass   -  3:00pm

March 30, 2003
Golden Wedding Anniversary Mass  -  3:00pm

If you are a parishioner and wish to register, please pick up a form from the table in the church vestibule, and return it to Sally at the Parish Center, or call her at 908-232-1214, ext.  21.   Deadline for reservations is Wednesday, March 12th.

St. Patrick’s Day  at Molly Maguires
The deadline is February 21 for advance ticket sales for the St. Patrick’s Day Party at Molly Maguires  after the Union County parade on Saturday, March 15.  Tickets are on sale in the Parish Center at $25 per person.  If there are any questions please call Dennis Cogan at (732) 382-7515. 

Library Lifelines
The Parish Library provides suggested reading lists for  events in the parish, including Women's and Men's Cornerstone retreats, Adult Education programs such as the Lent, Easter, Pentecost seminar.  Stop in and select a book, video or audio cassette to enhance your participation.  New additions to our collection include "Of God and Pelicans" by McDaniel, "Shaken Faith" by Bosco, "Fire in the Soul" by Borysenko, "Do They Hear You When You Cry" by Kassindja and the video "Faith and Doubt at Ground Zero", produced by PBS.  We ask all those who have overdue books to please return them as soon as possible.
Hospitality Sunday
Next Sunday, February 23rd, is Hospitality Sunday.  All are invited to join your fellow parishioners for refreshments and fellowship in the Parish Center after the 8:00 a.m., 9:15 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. Masses.

THE ADULT ENRICHMENT COMMITTEE
invites you to…

Explore the underlying dynamics of these 13 weeks…
Reflect on the liturgical celebrations – their styles and meaning…
Discover how to appreciate and enjoy more deeply the celebration of our greatest feasts!

LENT....EASTER....PENTECOST
Don’t miss this evening if you are
-a catechist [kindergarten through adult]
-a member of a faith-sharing group
-a liturgical minister [lector, EM, music minister, liturgical planner]
-a parishioner who values your Sunday liturgical experience and wants to grow spiritually. 

Presenters: 
Fr. Larry Fama, MaryEllen Mueller, Sr. Joanna Kerwin

When?  -  Monday, February 24 at 8 PM
Where?  -  St. Helen’s Parish Center – limited space!

For further information, please call 908-233-8757.
Centering Prayer Seminar With Bishop Marconi
Besides vocal prayer and meditation, Centering (Contemplative) prayer can allow one to seek God in a more open, quiet and loving way.  In five sessions, Bishop Marconi will discuss this method of prayer and offer participants the opportunity to experience it.

Dates: March 11, March 18, March 25, April 1, April 8
Time: 8:00 to 9:30 PM
Place: St. Elizabeth's Rectory Meeting Room
              179 Hussa Street, Linden

Registration is limited.
If interested, please call the Bishop's office (973) 635-8777 Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Registration deadline: March 4.
America Magazine Article
The 2/10/03 issue of America magazine, has an article by Andrew M. Greeley on pp. 16-17. I suggest those concerned with the sexual abuse scandal and the NY Times handling of the issue read the article for another point of view.
Bulletin Submissions
If you have a submission for the bulletin, please either fax it to the Parish Center, (908) 317-5459, care of Rick Schmidt, or e-mail it to rschmidt@sainthelen.org the Friday a week prior to when you would like it to be printed.  Please keep in mind that space is limited every week so notifications should be limited to a short paragraph to allow more individuals, staff and parishioners alike, to have their events viewed by the community in this publication.  Please include your name and phone number.  Thank you.  

To view last week's bulletin click on the link below:
Bulletin for the Week of  February 9, 2003


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