√.

This weekend we will be giving out blessed chalk and instructions so you can bless your homes! Each year around the feast of the Epiphany, many parishes throughout the world participate in an annual blessing of chalk. It is an ancient tradition that not only places God at the entrance of your home, it places your entire family under his protection.

A traditional way of blessing your home for Epiphany is to use chalk to write above the home’s entrance, for instance, “20 + C + M + B + 22.” The numbers, combined, should be the current year. The letters C, M, and B have two meanings. They are the initials of the traditional names of the three magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar. They are also the first letters of the Latin words Christus mansionem benedicat, “May Christ bless this house.” The “+” signs represent the cross. 

There are several different blessings you can use such as this one:

LEADER: Our help is the name of the Lord:
ALL: The maker of heaven and earth.
LEADER: The Lord shall watch over your going out and your coming in:
ALL: From this time forth for evermore.
LEADER: Let us pray.
ALL: Loving God, bless this chalk which you have created, that it may be helpful to your people; and grant that through the invocation of your most Holy Name that we who use it in faith to write upon the door of our home the names of your holy ones Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, may receive health of body and protection of soul for all who dwell in or visit our home; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Using the blessed chalk, you then mark the lintel of your front door (or front porch step) as follows:

20 + C + M + B + 22

while saying:

ALL: The three Wise Men, Caspar, Melchior, and Balthasar followed the star of God’s Son who became human two thousand and twenty-two years ago. May Christ bless our home and remain with us throughout the new year. Amen.

Then offer the following prayer:

LEADER: Visit, O blessed Lord, this home with the gladness of your presence. Bless all who live or visit here with the gift of your love; and grant that we may manifest your love to each other and to all whose lives we touch. May we grow in grace and in the knowledge and love of you; guide, comfort, and strengthen us in peace, O Jesus Christ, now and forever.
ALL: Amen.

Because the chalk is blessed, it shouldn’t be kept with all the other chalk. You can put it away to use again next year (I keep mine in an envelope with all of our Christmas decor, so it’s ready next Epiphany!) or bury it in the yard. 

These two paintings of Our Lady of Guadalupe and St. Juan Diego, which came from the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe in Mexico City, will be here at St. Helena Parish on Friday, December 10 from 8AM-10AM ONLY. We will live-stream a special bilingual Mass at 8:30AM. Everyone is welcome.


Beginning November 30,  the following beautiful prayer is traditionally recited fifteen times a day until Christmas. This is a very meditative prayer that helps us increase our awareness of the real focus of Christmas and helps us prepare ourselves spiritually for His coming.

+Hail and blessed be the hour and moment in which the Son of God was born of the most pure Virgin Mary, at midnight, in Bethlehem, in piercing cold. In that hour vouchsafe, O my God! to hear my prayer and grant my desires, [here mention your request]  through the merits of Our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of His blessed Mother. Amen.

Mass Intentions – S=Mass will be live-streamed     +=Deceased        *Not a Public Mass

January 2 – Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord

8:00       +Mabel Schoenthaler

10:00 S  David and Sandra Savino’s Utmost Ability to be Welcomed by God at the End of Their Earthly Lives

12:00 (Sp)     +Asia Morales;    +Blanca, Marina, Martha, Evelio and Jorge Mejia;

+Jacqueline French;

5:00   +Genevieve Cerbone

6:30 (Fr)  +Jean–Guy Bosquet;

  +Margaret Bongyii and Raphael Mbinkar

January 3 – Monday — The Most Holy Name of Jesus

6:30*      In Thanksgiving for Favors Granted to the Savinos

8:30 S  Vincent McDonnell-Intentions

12:15   +David Sheehan

7:00 (Sp)  +Blanca, Marina, Martha, Evelio and Jorge Mejia;

Arleny and Henry Familiar-Intentions for Unity and Peace

January 4 – Tuesday – St. Elizabeth Ann Seton

6:30*      Alessandra Mia Savino’s Utmost Facility to Achieve Salvation and for a Close and Loving Relationship with her Paternal Grandmother

8:30 S    Betty McCabe-Intentions

12:15      +Florence Churchill

7:00 (Sp)  +Blanca, Marina, Martha, Evelio and Jorge Mejia;

Arleny and Henry Familiar-Intentions for Unity and Peace

January 5– Wednesday — Sts. John Neumann & Telesphorus

6:30       In Thanksgiving for Favors Granted to Alessandra and Her Grandmother

8:30 S    Yvonne Montalvo-Healing Intention

12:15     +Eduardo, Paulina, Rafael, Gladys and Felix Bruno

7:00 (Sp)  +Blanca, Marina, Martha, Evelio and Jorge Mejia;

Arleny and Henry Familiar-Intentions for Unity and Peace

January 6 – Thursday – St. André Bessette

6:30*    Gabriel Lantigua-In Thanksgiving

8:30 S   +Alberto Brinz   

12:15     +Valentine Wnek

7:00 (Sp)  +Francisco Czhavier and Norma Cruz;

+Blanca, Marina, Martha, Evelio and Jorge Mejia;

Arleny and Henry Familiar-Intentions for Unity and Peace

January 7 – Friday — St. Raymond of Penafort

6:30*      +Jose Davila, Jr.

8:30 S    +Jose Davila, Jr.

12:15 Deceased Members of Retutas and Corceiga Families;

Prayer of the Faithful:  +Sergio Alejandro Ocasio

7:00 (Sp) +Angelica Davila;

   +Blanca, Marina, Martha, Evelio and Jorge Mejia;

Arleny and Henry Familiar-Intentions for Unity and Peace

January 8 – Saturday— Our Lady of Prompt Succor

6:30 David Savino’s Health Improvement

8:30 +Severia Verlezza

12:15      +William I. Canzoniero

5:30        +Terence Lorino, NYFD

January 9 – The Baptism of the Lord

8:00       +Robert Benz

10:00 S  +Ana Rosa Castillo and Margaret Cullen;

Prayer of the Faithful: Faith and Francisca Houssou-Birthday Intention

12:00 (Sp)  +Blanca, Marina, Martha, Evelio and Jorge Mejia;

+Barbara De La Cruz Martines;  Arleny and Henry Familiar-Intentions for Unity and Peace

+Melchora Tello Delgado, Emelina Baca, Teodomiro Baca and Alejandro Chaves

5:00  +Terence Lorino, NYPD              

6:30 (Fr) +Margaret Bongyii and Raphael Mbinkar

Mass Intentions – S=Mass will be live-streamed     +=Deceased        *Not a Public Mass

The Spanish Ecuadorian Mass on December 31 at St. Helena

The relics of Padre Pio were here at St. Helena on November 27.

Parish Trip to Sight and Sound Threatre to see Queen Esther.

Public Square Rosary Rally on October 16.

Blessing of Animals for the Feast of St. Francis

Castle Hill Avenue Street Fair on Sat., Oct. 2 from 10AM-6PM on Castle Hill Ave.

FEMA ASSISTANCE
Apply for FEMA financial assistance: New Yorkers may be able to receive funds for other uninsured or under-insured disaster-caused expenses and serious needs, such as repair or replacement of personal property or funds for moving and storage, or medical, dental, and child care.
The link to apply for FEMA financial assistance can be found here: www.disasterassistance.gov
The phone numbers to apply are 1-800-621-3362 and TTY 1-800-462-7585.
You will need the following to complete your FEMA claim:
Social Security Number (SSN) OR the SSN of a minor child in the household who is a U.S. Citizen, Non-Citizen National or Qualified Alien
Annual Household Income
Contact Information (phone number, mailing address, email address*, and damaged home address)
Insurance Information if you have (coverage, insurance company name, etc.)
Bank Account Information (if you are eligible to receive financial assistance, the money can be deposited in your account)
*Note: You must provide an email address if you want to review your registration status online. If you do not provide an email address, you will be required to contact FEMA for any updates to your registration.
✦✦✦
Apply for a US Small Business Administration loan: Businesses may borrow up to $2 million for any combination of property damage or working capital. Homeowners may borrow up to $200,000 from SBA to repair or replace their primary residence. Homeowners and renters may borrow up to $40,000 to repair or replace personal property.
Applicants may apply online using SBA’s secure website at DisasterLoanAssistance.sba.gov or they may email DisasterCustomerService@SBA.gov for more information on SBA’s disaster assistance program.
Applicants may also call SBA’s Customer Service Center at 800-659-2955 or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov for more information on SBA disaster assistance. Individuals who are deaf or hard‑of‑hearing may call 800-877-8339.
✦✦✦
The US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Disaster Distress helpline: This toll-free, multilingual, crisis support service is available 24/7 via telephone at 800-985-5990 for disaster survivors who are experiencing emotional distress. ASL users can contact the DDH through videophone at 800-985-5990, or by selecting the “ASL Now” option on the DDH website at disasterdistress.samhsa.gov.
✦✦✦
The American Red Cross in Greater New York offers general assistance including sheltering and immediate needs. Call 1-877-733-2767.
✦✦✦
NYC residents in need of assistance due to storm recovery are urged to call 311.

UPDATED ARCHDIOCESAN GUIDELINES

With the delta variant so much in the news, we must continue to be attentive to some safeguards while inside churches throughout the five boroughs. Whereas unvaccinated individuals are required to wearing masks in accordance with Federal Centers for Disease Control guidance, we recommend that everyone wear masks in church to help protect themselves and others.

• Churches should continue to maintain a “physical distance section” for those individuals who desire to utilize such accommodations regardless of their vaccination status.
• Church buildings can benefit from periodic sanitizing several times each week.

• It remains highly recommended and appreciated if the faithful would receive communion only in the extended hand and not on the tongue.

• There will continue to be no physical exchange of the sign of peace.
• Communion from the chalice should not resume right now;
• Baptismal fonts and holy water stoups will remain empty.

• Pastors should encourage those who have not been vaccinated to take advantage of this service.

We hope and pray that our folks will feel safe within the church as we all work toward the life we knew before these unfortunate circumstances befell us. Let’s be safe and keep praying for an end to this pandemic.

IMPORTANT FEMA FUNERAL PROGRAM UPDATE

FEMA is currently covering COVID and COVID-related deaths between January 20-May 16, 2020.

One requirement is that the Death Certificate must have the word COVID on it as being a cause or a contributing cause of death.  IF your death certificate does not have the word COVID on it, the certificate does NOT have to be formally changed.  INSTEAD, you can submit a letter from either the death certificate certifier or the local medical examiner or the New York City coroner, ON OFFICIAL LETTERHEAD stating that either the cause of death was COVID or that COVID was at least a CONTRIBUTING CAUSE of the death.  There must also be a statement that links this letter to the original death certificate.

Brief Corpus Christi Procession

 

Next St. Helena Food Pantry on Tuesday, August 10 at 12PM.

*******************************************************************************************

A PRAYER FOR THE MOST DESTITUTE SOUL IN PURGATORY
The plenary indulgence to be applied only for the departed by praying for them in a cemetery has been EXTENDED for the entire month of November. Now, some souls in purgatory don't have anyone to pray for them, and for Catholics, the concept of purgatory is a consoling thought, knowing that anyone who reaches this final stage of purification can only go “up.”
However, it is also a belief that those souls in purgatory benefit from our prayers, which somehow shorten the time they spend in purgatory. This stage of the afterlife is still a mystery to us, but we try to understand it from various passages in the Bible as well as the teaching of the Church. Whatever the case may be, in our charity, we can also direct our prayers to souls most forgotten by those on earth, asking God’s mercy to be showered upon them.
Here is a prayer from the Raccolta that directs our prayers to that soul in most need of our prayers.
Pray this prayer when you piously visit a cemetery anytime in November.

O Lord God Almighty, I pray Thee, by the Precious Blood which Thy Divine Son Jesus shed in the garden, deliver the souls in purgatory, and especially that soul amongst them all who is most destitute of spiritual aid; and vouchsafe to bring it to Thy glory, there to praise and bless Thee forever. Amen.


INDULGENCES FOR THE YEAR OF ST. JOSEPH

The Apostolic Penitentiary has issued a decree granting special indulgences for the duration of the special year of St. Joseph. The plenary indulgence is granted to the faithful under the usual conditions (sacramental confession, Eucharistic Communion, and prayer for the Pope’s intentions) to Christians who, with a spirit detached from any sin, participate in the Year of St. Joseph on these occasions and manners indicated by the Apostolic Penitentiary:

A. The plenary indulgence is granted to those who will meditate for at least 30 minutes on the Lord’s Prayer, or take part in a Spiritual Retreat of at least one day that includes a meditation on St. Joseph. B. The indulgence can also be obtained by those who, by following St. Joseph's example will perform a spiritual or corporal work of mercy.  C. Everyone who entrusts their daily activity to the protection of St. Joseph, and every faithful who invokes the intercession of St. Joseph so that those seeking work can find dignifying work can also obtain the plenary indulgence. D. The plenary indulgence is also granted to the faithful who will recite the Litany to St. Joseph or any other prayer to St. Joseph proper to the other liturgical traditions, for the persecuted Church and for the relief of all Christians suffering all forms of persecution. E. The recitation of the Holy Rosary in families and among engaged couples is another way of obtaining indulgences

In addition to these, the Apostolic Penitentiary grants a plenary indulgence to the faithful who will recite any legitimately approved prayer or act of piety in honor of St. Joseph including the one in our church under the relief of St. Joseph, especially on March 19, May 1, the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, on the 19th of each month, and on every Wednesday, which is a day dedicated to the memory of the saint.

Amid the ongoing Covid-19 health crisis, the gift of the plenary indulgence is also extended to the sick, the elderly, the dying, and all those who for legitimate reasons are unable to leave their homes. They too can obtain the plenary indulgences if they are detached from any sin and have the intention of fulfilling, as soon as possible, the three usual conditions and recite an act of piety in honor of St. Joseph, offering to God the pains and hardships of their lives.

******************************************************************************************
It took just 45 minutes for St. Helena to give away over 200 bags of food on Tuesday, November 24, in front of the Green Building. Thank you to the many volunteers who helped pack the canned goods into bags and who gave out the produce.


Our Lady of the Cloud Mass on November 1 at St. Helena


All Souls Day Food Pantry at St. Helena on November 2


Cardinal Dolan celebrates the 10AM Family Mass at St. Helena


I came to Adoration today to visit God. I didn’t stay long, but He knew I was there. Thank you, St. Helena, for that. Adoration every Thursday from 9AM-12PM.

No, our boiler was not invaded by a huge swarm of African Killer Bees. In preparation for the upcoming heating season, we are replacing and repairing the glass rods that help produce the steam that will keep our church nice and warm.


The church is open for weekday and weekend Masses.  Daily Mass is at 8:30AM and 12:15PM and weekend Masses are now on Sat. at 5:30PM and Sunday at 8AM, 10AM, 12PM in Spanish, 5PM, and 6:30PM in French. 


August 18 is the Feast of St. Helena, and we have a relic of St. Helena and a coin minted in AD 325 that commemorates her being crowned as Augusta (Empress).


THE BLESSING OF PARKCHESTER during the pandemic.

Confessions by Appointment, 718-892-3232. or on Saturdays from 4-5:15PM. 

CUSTOMERS SHOP, AMAZON GIVES AmazonSmile is a website operated by Amazon that lets customers enjoy the same wide selection of products, low prices, and convenient shopping features as on Amazon.com. The difference is that when customers shop on AmazonSmile (smile.amazon.com), the AmazonSmile Foundation will donate 0.5% of the price  of eligible purchases to St. Helena when selected by customers. So, SMILE and shop at smile.amazon.com/ch/13-1740343  and AmazonSmile will donate to St. Helena Parish.

St. Helena is now live-streaming our Daily Mass every weekday at 8:30 am in English and on Sundays at 10 am. 

The Spanish Masses will be live-streamed on Sundays at NOON and on Wednesdays at 7 pm as well as every First Monday at 7 pm.

To access the Mass on your computer or smartphone either at the time of live-teaming or at any time of the day go to:  www.facebook.com/St.HelenaBronx and click on the VIDEO tab.

HOLY DAY MASSES:
Vigil:  7:00 PM (Spanish)
Holy Day:  8:30 AM, 12:15 PM,  7:30 PM
STATIONS OF THE CROSS:  
Every Friday during Lent:  following the 12:15 PM Mass (English), 6:00 PM (French), 7:00 PM (Spanish), 8:00 PM (English)
CONFESSION TIMES:
Every Saturday from 4 PM to 5:15 PM , or by appointment in the rectory.
ROSARY:
Every Wednesday, following the 12:15PM Mass.
Legion of Mary Rosary in Spanish every Saturday at 1:00PM in the Peralta Rectory Meeting Room.
Every last Sunday of the month at 6PM in French at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
DIVINE MERCY CHAPLET:
Every Wednesday at 7PM in Spanish in the church.
Every Saturday at 1PM in the Green Bldg.
BAPTISMS:
English: Every Sunday after 1:30 PM Mass
Español: 2 y 4 Sábados en 2:30 PM
BAPTISM PREPARATION CLASS:
Usually meets every second and fourth Thursday of the month at 7 PM in the Church.  Register for the class at the rectory. You MUST bring BOTH a copy of the child's birth certificate as well as a copy of the Confirmation certificate of the godparents or a copy of the godparent's Catholic marriage certificate if a godparent is married.  A letter of suitability from the godparent's Catholic pastor will also be accepted.
SICK AND DECEASED members of the parish are remembered in the Offertory Prayers.  If you know of any current or former parishioners who are seriously ill or have passed, or you know of any sick parishioners who need Holy Communion brought to them, please contact the rectory at 718-892-3232 and let us know about their condition.
Announced and Unannounced Masses as well as Perpetual Mass Enrollment may be arranged at the rectory Mon.-Fri. from 8:30AM - 4:30PM.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CLASSES
Every Wednesday from September - June from 3:45 - 5PM, gathering in the Church. Some Sunday classes are also available.
RCIA CLASSES:
  English classes meet every Sunday from 3-4PM or on Monday from 7-8PM in the Rectory Meeting Room from September - April.
  Spanish classes meet every Sunday from 10-11:15AM in the Peralta Retory Meeting Room from September - June.
BIBLE STUDY CLASS meets every Tuesday at either 1PM or 7:30PM and every Sunday at 11:30AM in the Green Building.
BOY SCOUTS meet every Wednesday from 6:30-8:00PM in the cafeteria, while the. CUB SCOUTS meet every Saturday at 9:30AM in the Calasanz Room.
Al-Anon meets every Saturday at 11AM in the Green Building.
AA Big Book Study meets every Saturday at 7PM in the Green Builting. 
CoDA meets every Monday at 7PM in the Peralta Rectory Meeting Room.
English Prayer Group meets every Saturday at 1PM in the Miguez Rectory Meeting Room.
Spanish Prayer Group meets every Monday at 7PM in the church.
St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta Group visits the Rebekah Nursing Home every Wednesday at 10AM, leaving from the church.
Calasanz Movement Youth Group meets every Friday at 7PM in the gym.
The Religious Goods Room is open every Sunday from 8:30AM-1:30PM.

Transportation:  Take #6 Train to either Parkchester or Castle Hill or take the following buses: Bx22, Bx39, Bx4, Bx4A, or Q44.
Parish E-mail:  sthelenarc@yahoo.com
Parish Youtube Channel: St. Helena Film Ministries

 
 https://cardinalsappeal.org/

Born in Bithynia, Asia Minor (present-day Turkey), circa 248, St. Helena was married to Roman Emperor Constantius and had a son who would become Constantine I, also known as Constantine the Great, the first Roman emperor to become a Christian. St. Helena, who converted as well, oversaw the construction of churches on Holy Land sites. She would later be credited with discovering the cross upon which Jesus Christ is believed to have been crucified. St. Helena died circa 328 in Nicomedia (present-day Turkey).  Shown below, the door to the St. Helena Chapel in Bethlehem.