| 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, at the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark: March 23, 2003 Silver Anniversary Mass - 3:00 pm March 30, 2003 Golden Anniversary Mass - 3:00 pm If you are a parishioner and wish to register, please call Sally at 908-232-1214, ext. 21. The deadline for reservations is Wednesday, March 12th. |
| Movie Night Grades 2-5 Come to the Parish Center on Friday, March 21 at 7:00 PM and enjoy a fun night at the movies. Please bring your sleeping bag, pillow and friends! There will be popcorn, soda and snacks. Cost is $2.00. Please make reservations with Debbie Abbattista (654-9247) OR Kathy Rivera (789-3234). |
| Stations of the Cross Please join us for Stations of the Cross Through the Life of A Family from 7:30-8:15: P.M. on Friday, March 14th, presented by the Christian Family Movement |
|
Adult Faith Development
LAST CHANCE! to register for Union County gatherings for parish staffs and members involved in adult faith programming sponsored by the Archdiocese. Meetings are at St. Helen's, Sat. 3/15 or Wed. 3/19 from 9:30 to 11:30. For info or registration, please contact Sr. Joanna by this Wednesday at 233-8757, ext. 15. |
| Lenten Day of Renewal for
Senior Citizens There will be a Lenten Day of Renewal for Senior Citizens on Tuesday, March 18th. Pre-registration is required. Bring your rosary. Call 232-1214 for information. |
| Separated and Divorced Support
Group We will be starting our Support Group again on Monday evenings in the Annex beginning March 24th at 7:00 PM. This is for recently separated or divorced people. We are going to try to have a group for longer divorced individuals and we will have the initial meeting on Thursday evening, March 27th at 7:00 PM as well. If you are interested in either group, please call the Parish Center at 232-1214 and leave your name and phone number. We anticipate meeting until the middle of June. |
| “...BAPTIZED IN WATER AND THE
HOLY SPIRIT” Welcome to our newly baptized and congratulations to the proud parents of: Ryan Joseph Billings Kelly Daly Cushing Colin Christopher Dickscheid Timothy Gerard McHugh Heather Marie O'Hern Christopher Joseph Rizzi Nicholas Michael Sentivan Tara Grace Telesco John Samuel Thorburn You will soon be receiving our Families Beyond Baptism mailings. |
| RCIA News This weekend four wonderful celebrations for the Archdiocese will fill the cathedral with excited and faithful Catholics and soon-to-be Catholics. With almost four hundred catechumens (including children who were not baptized as infants), and about eight hundred adults who have been baptized in another Christian faith community, these celebrations mark another transition in their faith journeys. The Archbishop, acting on the approval of their sponsors, RCIA directors and team members and pastors and parish communities, will officially approve their request to receive the sacraments at Easter. The celebrations also bring together parish priests, RCIA directors and team members, sponsors and family and friends of these candidates and catechumens (who will be known as Elect once they have received permission to be baptized). The Holy Spirit has been active in our local Archdiocese – and in churches around the world! It is quite evident when we reflect that in every diocese and Archdiocese in our country – and in many other countries – the same celebrations mark the lives of those who participate in them. Please continue to keep all of us in our RCIA in your prayers! |
| AARP Income Tax Assistance St. Helen's is one of the sites offering help with income tax forms to those who qualify through AARP - Wednesdays from 9:00 to noon. Appointments are necessary. Please call Marilyn Ryan at (908) 232-1867 or (908) 233-8757 Ext. 20. |
|
Can You Help Us?
We are looking for donations of all those small bottles of shampoo, body lotion, mouthwash, bars of soap, etc., that we all bring home from our various hotel stays. If you have such items we are asking that you place them in the box in the Church lobby or the Parish Center lobby. The items will be used by our high school youth in performing a service project. |
|
Reminder About St. Pat's Parade
and Party
Saturday, March 15: Parade begins at 1:00, party at Molly Maguire's at 4:00 - good fun all around! There are a few spots left so hurry and get your tickets. Special guest appearance by Marilyn Ryan!! There will be a bus from Molly's to the parade (at noon) and back. Can't beat this deal!! For more information call Dennis Cogan at 732-382-7515. |
| Prayers For Peace A "Peace Book" has been placed on the podium next to the Tabernacle in the Church. You are invited to place the names of loved ones, friends who are serving in our military, as well as others who may be assigned to service during these difficult times. They and their families will be remembered during the Masses each day. Also, petitions for peace may be included in this book. |
|
Men's Lenten Prayer Breakfast
All men of the parish are invited to share in a Saint Helen's faith tradition - The Men's Lenten Prayer Breakfasts. We gather in the Parish Center each Wednesday of Lent through April 16th at 6 AM. Come and start your day with 45 minutes of faith sharing and camaraderie (not to mention the free coffee and donuts!) as we focus on this holy season. A special invitation is extended to those who have never been and to those who haven't been in a while. It's an open experience - make one or make them all -whatever your schedule will allow! Any questions, please feel free to call Ed Frey at (908) 925-8771 or Brian Salisbury at (908) 789-3098. Look forward to seeing you there! |
| Women's Prayer Breakfast Every Wednesday of Lent through April 16th, the women of the Parish will gather together for a time of spiritual renewal through prayer and reflection. We will meet from 9:30 to 11:00 AM in the Parish Center Blue Room. Light refreshments will be served. Please consider taking this time for yourself...you deserve it! All women are welcome to join this group for the entire seven weeks or any part of it. Please feel free to bring a friend or friends who may not have this opportunity at their own parishes. |
| Attention All Cornerstone Women! Women's Cornerstone Day of Renewal "Called to be a Living Stone" will be held Saturday, March 29th in the Parish Center from 8:00 am to 1:30 pm with lunch immediately following. The cost is $15.00 for the retreat and $10.00 for lunch. Registration forms are in the back of church and in the Parish Center or call Ellen Walsh-Sobel 518-1909 or Jane Fietkiewicz 233-7851. Come experience the peace and nurture your soul! |
| Dennis Cogan Honored Dennis Cogan is being honored by the Friendly Sons of St. Patrick of Union County with the 2003 DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD. The award will be presented at a gentlemen's dinner at L'Affaire Restaurant on Wed., March 12, starting at 6:30. For more information call Jerry Barton 908-233-7525. |
| Rosary Society Meeting There will be a Rosary Society meeting at Saint Helen's Parish Center on Thursday, March 13 at 12 noon. Bring a "bag lunch". Refreshments will be served. |
| HIV/AIDS Compassion Prayer Service Holy Trinity Parish invites you to gather as a community of faith on Monday, March 10, at 7:30 PM to prayerfully and thoughtfully address the tragedy of HIV/AIDS. For information, please call Anita Dazzo at 908-233-8710. |
| Area Offerings *Bereavement Group - 8 sessions on Wednesdays, begins 4/2 at Holy Spirit Church in Union. Call Joan 908-687-2174 *Weekly Eucharistic Hour of Prayer any Thursday 8:00 to 9:00 PM at Saint Mary's House of Prayer 908-753-2091. Also many other programs offered. Check Parish Center bulletin board.* |
| 2003 Lenten Regulations 1. The days of both Fast and Abstinence
during Lent are Ash Wednesday and Good Friday. The other Fridays in
Lent are days of Abstinence. On a day of Fast, only one (1) full meal
is permitted. Those between the ages of 18 and 59 are obliged to fast.
On a day of Abstinence, no meat may be eaten. Those who have reached
the age of 14 are obliged by the law of abstinence.
2. The obligation to observe the laws of Fast and Abstinence "substantially", or as a whole, is a serious obligation. 3. The Fridays of the year, outside Lent, are designated as days of penance, but each individual may substitute for the traditional abstinence from meat some other practice of voluntary self-denial as penance. 4. The time for fulfilling the Paschal Precept (Easter Duty*) extends from the first Sunday of Lent (March 9) to the Solemnity of the Holy Trinity (June 15). *Canon 920, §1. All the faithful, after they have been initiated into the Most Holy Eucharist, are bound by the obligation of receiving Communion at least once a year. |
| Prayer Vigil For Healing On Friday, March 14th we will again be hosting a prayer vigil for all the men and women attending the Rachel's Vineyard Retreat which begins the same night. "Project Rachel" is a healing ministry for men & women who are suffering the aftermath of having had an abortion or participated in abortions. "Rachel's Vineyard" is the name of the weekend retreat which brings spiritual healing through prayer and counseling. The vigil begins at 8:30 pm (following Stations of the Cross) with exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and an hour of directed prayer and reflection. From 9:30 pm till 8:45 am the church will be open for private prayer which will end with Benediction before 9:00 am Mass. If you can devote an hour please contact Cindy Petruccelli @ 233-5586. |
| G.K. Chesterton, The Joyful Prophet On Thurs., March 13, at 7:30 PM at the Knights of Columbus Hall on North Ave. in Westfield, Ian Boyd, C.S.B., Editor of the lively literary journal, the Chesterton Review, will explore the prophetic nature of the many novels, poems, essays and biographies written by the remarkable genius, G.K. Chesterton. His writings, filled with great humor and insight, have special relevance for us today. To compliment the spiritual nourishment received from Father Boyd's presentation, we ask those attending to bring canned goods to feed the less fortunate. |
| Pilgrimage Tour to Poland Fr. Krzysztof Maslowski of St. Michael's in Cranford, is planning a trip to Poland, "In the Footsteps of John Paul II", leaving Newark May 23 and returning June 1. The cost is $2279. For information call Fr. Kris at 908-276-0360. |
|
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.
|