News - December 2015 RSS Feed

January 1 first became New Years Day in 46 BC in the Julian calendar. The date was changed by Christians until Pope Gregory XIII issued the Gregorian Calendar in 1582, once again establishing January 1 as New Years Day. The popular New Year’s song “Auld Lang Syne” is at least 220 years old. The tune was originally penned in 1788 by the Scottish poet Robert Burns, who claimed he had assembled it from a variety of older sources. Despite its long history, “Auld Lang Syne” didn’t become popularly associated with the holiday season until 1929, when Canadian bandleader Guy Lombardo began using it as part of his New Year’s Eve broadcasts.

Registration is now underway for Bronx River Art Center, 2064 Boston Road, Winter 2016 Art classes, which will take place from January 5-March 19. Visit their website at www.bronxriverart.org for course descriptions and site locations, and you can register online. Partial-tuition scholarships are available based on financial need and portfolio review. Classes are available for everyone ages 7 and older. BRAC also offers various Arts & Education workshops as well as the TEEN PROJECT STUDIO, which is a FREE 10-week interdisciplinary art design program offered Tuesdays from 4-6 pm. Students participate in art and digital workshops and attend monthly field trips to museums, galleries, and artist studios. For more information on all of these programs, call 718-589-5819.

Does your child have or do you know a child between the ages of 6-17 who has hemiplegic Cerebral Palsy? Columbia University is conducting a study examining the effects of extensive functional practice on affected hand and arm use and brain plasticity. The study is performed in a three-week day camp setting with other children at Teacher’s College, Columbia University, located in New York City. The camp will take place from June 25 - July 15. Participation is FREE and scholarships are available to assist with TRANSPORTATION and logistics. Participation will include fun camp activities for the children, Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the brain, and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation. For more information from the Center for Cerebral Palsy Research visit: http://www.tc.edu/centers/cit or call 914-368-3165 or 212-678-3332 or Email: [email protected]

A forensic expert has drawn what he believes is a realistic image of what the face of a Jewish male about thirty years of age and living in Galilee would have looked liked. He based his drawing, in part, on the Shroud of Turin, which many believe was the burial shroud of Jesus. (See the full article for photos)

This is a three-day cultural festival which will take place January 15-17 at the Metropolitan Pavilion on 125 West 18th Street in NYC and will offer to the general public conferences, artistic performances, and exhibits. The 2016 edition, titled "Longing for the Sea and yet (NOT) Afraid," will explore the topic of human longing and what contribution our Catholic faith can offer to overcome that fear which, nowadays, is so often associated with pursuing one's desire. The goal of the Encounter is to foster dialogue between faith and the public sphere. The event begins at 6:30 pm on January 15 with poetry and music. At 10 am on January 16, speakers will address the issue of The Quest to reduce Extreme Poverty, which will be followed by talks on Doing Business in Unchartered Waters, stories of desire, sorrow, and forgiveness, space exploration, Pope Francis' encyclical on the environment, and original musical reflection on the Psalms. On January 17, the day will begin with Mass at 9 am, followed by immigration stories, stories about Christians facing terror, and original music. Featured exhibits include: An Encounter with Christians in the Middle East, The Life and Works of juniper Serra, A Journey to the Edge of the Solar System, and Stories of Extraordinary Ordinary People. For more information, call 212-253-5777.

Saturday, December 5 at 9 am, 148 E. Main Street, New Rochelle. Scoring over 80% guarantees scholarship money.

A host, when put in water to dissolve it, has been bleeding in Utah for three days at St. Francis Xavier Church in Kearns.

Attention High School Seniors! The Venerable Pierre Toussaint Scholarship Programs provides a renewable $2,000 college scholarship for Catholic students who have demonstrated scholarship, character, and leadership characteristics. Applications are available at the rectory. Application deadline Friday, February 19.

CHRISTMAS MASSES FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF CHRISTMAS, THE BIRTH OF OUR LORD Friday, December 25 is the Solemnity of Christmas, The Birth of Jesus. It is a HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION. Please invite family members and friends to celebrate Christmas with us here at St. Helena. Our Mass schedule is as follows: Thursday, December 24: 5:00 pm Christmas readings and Music, 5:30 pm (Our Main English Mass) 7:30 pm (Spanish) Friday, December 25: 7:30 am, 9:00 am, 10:30 am (Family), NOON (Spanish), 1:30 pm, 5:00 pm. NEW YEARS MASSES FOR THE SOLEMNITY OF MARY, THE MOTHER OF GOD Friday, January 1 is the Solemnity of Mary, The Mother of God. It is a HOLY DAY OF OBLIGATION. Please invite family members and friends to celebrate the New Year with us here at St. Helena. Our Mass schedule is as follows: Thursday, December 31: 5:00 pm Readings and Holiday Music, 5:30 pm (Our Main English Mass) 7:30 pm (Spanish) Friday, January 1, 2016: 9:00 am, 10:30 am (Family), NOON (Spanish), 1:00 pm (French Mass in the cafeteria) followed by a reception, 1:30 pm, and 5:00 pm