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Registration is NOW open for Religious Education Instruction for children in grades 1-8. You can register your child either at the Rectory or on the weekends at a special table in the back of the church. Classes are held on Wednesdays from 3:45-5PM, with all children gathering in the church. If you need an early dismissal card to present to the public school, they will be available at the registration table. Registration is $60 for one child, $110 for two children, and $160 for three or more children. Classes will begin on Wednesday, September 12. If you are registering a child who was NOT Baptized here at St. Helena, you must bring a copy of the child's baptism certificate. Children are expected to attend Mass every Sunday and to use the special children's envelopes that will be given to them. In addition to the weekly Wednesday class, ALL PARENTS and STUDENTS must attend EITHER the Family Session in English, which is held on the third Sunday of every month at 11:30AM in the cafeteria or the Family Session in Spanish, which is held on the second Sunday of every month at 1:30PM in the cafeteria. For those children in their second year of preparing for First Communion, there is an additional First Communion Class for parents and children every First Sunday of the month at 11:30AM in the cafeteria. Along with preparing for Holy Communion, preparing for Confirmation is a two-year program which consists of levels one and two. Confirmation is normally given to children in grades 7 or 8, with levels seven and eight being the levels preparing a child for Confirmation. Our High School Youth program for students in grades 9-12 meets every Friday at 7PM in the gymnasium. You can register for it on any Friday at 7PM in the gym. Teenagers and adults who are lacking Sacraments will register for special Adult Sacramental Preparation classes. You will register either by meeting with Fr. Richard in the rectory or at the registration table at the back of the church during weekend Masses. If you are not a Catholic, and you are looking for more information about the Catholic Faith, you are invited to register for special RCIA classes that normally meet on Sundays. They are available in both English and Spanish. You will also register for them at the table in the back of the Church. If you were NOT married in the Church, and you wish to have your marriage convalidated, which means Blessed by the Catholic Church, we will be offering special preparation classes in both English and Spanish to prepare you for that Sacrament. You can also register for those classes either in the rectory or at the table in the back of the church We will register people for ALL of these classes at the table in the back of the Church every weekend until September 16. Otherwise, you can register in the rectory or by contacting Fr. Richard at 718-892-3232.

On the evening of August 21, 1879, Mary McLoughlin, the housekeeper to the parish priest of Knock, County Mayo, Ireland, was astonished to see the outside south wall of the church bathed in a mysterious light; there were three figures standing in front of the wall, which she mistook for replacements of the stone figures destroyed in a storm. She rushed through the rain to her friend Margaret Byrne's house. After a half hour, Mary decided to leave and Margaret's sister Mary agreed to walk home with her. As they passed the church they saw an amazing vision very clearly: Standing out from the gable and to the west of it appeared the Blessed Virgin, St. Joseph and St. John. The figure of the Blessed Virgin was life-size, while the others seemed to be neither as large nor as tall. They stood a little away from the gable wall about two feet from the ground. The Virgin was erect with her eyes toward Heaven, and she was wearing a large white cloak hanging in full folds; on her head was a large crown. Mary Byrne ran to tell her family while Mary McLoughlin gazed at the apparition.  Soon a crowd gathered and all saw the apparition. The parish priest, Archdeacon Cavanaugh, did not come out, however, and his absence was a disappointment to the devout villagers. Among the witnesses were Patrick Hill and John Curry. As Patrick later described the scene: 'The figures were fully rounded, as if they had a body and life. They did not speak but, as we drew near, they retreated a little towards the wall.' Patrick reported that he got close enough to make out the words in the book held by the figure of St. John. An old woman named Bridget Trench drew closer to embrace the feet of the Virgin, but the figure seemed always beyond reach. Others out in the fields and some distance away saw a strange light around the church. The vision lasted for about three hours and then faded.

Piarist Father Matias Cardona, Sch.P. had just been ordained as a priest on April 11, 1936, in Calahora, which is located in the Rioja Province of Spain. He was staying for a short time in Barcelona when the Spanish Civil War began. He has just finished his theological studies and was ready to begin his teaching apostolate at St. Anthony’s School. It was not safe living at the school, so on Sunday, July 19, he went to his aunt’s house. He stayed there for a few days and then went to a friend’s house, Mr. Jose Godes. Thinking that Vallibona, his naive town, would be a safer place, on July 30, he returned home and was welcomed by his sister Dolores. He stayed there until August 17, when he was arrested. According to the testimony of his sister, Fr. Matias spent those days reading and praying. She said that she asked him to go out from time to time and go to the coffee shop and talk with the people, but he refused to do so saying, “No, I am a priest, and i will follow my own conscience.” Friends advised him to go to France, promising him the necessary documents. He thanked them but never accepted their offer, telling them that he was in the hands of God. On August 11, in Vallibona, the sacred images in the parish church were burned. The local major had advised his sister to look for a safer place to hide Fr. Matias. On August 17, they took him to his uncle’s farm, Casa Cardona, which was located just outside the town. Just after he had left, some militiamen arrived at his sister’s house to arrest him. They searched the house but could not find him. A few hours later, they returned and threatened to kill her and her brother unless they told them where Fr. Matias was hiding, She was frightened and gave them the information. The militiamen ordered two men to go to Casa Cardona to arrest Fr. Matias. One witness, Jose Codino, testified: “I was there when at the first hours of the afternoon. I believe it was August 17, 1936, I saw two armed men arriving there. One of them winked at the other as if to say that they had found what they were looking for. They entered and asked for Fr. Matias. When he heard his name, he came out and presented himself. ‘Are you carrying ordinary arms or bombs?’ one of them asked him. ‘Nothing of the sort,’ answered Fr. Matias. ‘The mayor has ordered us to take you to the People’s Committee,’ said one of the men who then added, ‘Leave here what you have in your pockets.’ Fr. Matias took out his breviary and kissed it. The more furious of the two men snatched it and threw it into the fireplace saying, ‘It is much better to burn it.’ Fr. Matias was arrested and taken to the Vallibona Committee.” One of the two men who arrested him later recalled what happened following his arrest. “We were near his sister’s home, and I asked him if he wanted to stop and see his family. ‘Go, we will wait for you.’ ‘No, no, I do not need to,’ he answered. But my companion insisted. Fr. Matias went as far as 10 meters from his house and called out in a loud voice. His father was not there. His sister came to the window. The Religious said to her: ‘It seems that they are taking me as a prisoner.” He took off his wide straw hat and threw it through the air toward his sister on the window and said to her, ‘Keep it as a remembrance.” They arrived at the Committee where Fr. Matias met Mr. Jose Querol and another priest, Fr. Manuel Meseguer. During the absence of the militiamen, Mr. Querol later recalled that “He greeted me and said in a quiet voice,’Mr. Jose, if we don’t meet again… until heaven.” Later that evening, the two priests were locked in the jail and given a mattress on which to sleep. They were allowed to receive food and visits from relatives. His sister remembered, “ I use to visit my brother and take food to him. Other relatives did the same. He told me one day that he was happy and at peace. I am happily ready to give my life for God. We never had to face difficult times. Our faith will have more merit.” August 20, 1936, was the day the two priests were sacrificed. Fr. Matias’ sister who had visited him during the early hours of the day, affirmed that she saw him in his habitual, peaceful spirit and with confidence in God. Around seven o’clock, three men with red handkerchiefs around their collars took him out of the jail, together with Fr. Manuel, to a place called Pigro del Coll, where, after taking them out of the car and walking with them a few meters away, they shot them. After a short time, the militiamen were seen coming back into town in the same car. During the evening, the news of the execution spread throughout the town.

Vaik, son of Geza, Duke of Hungary, was baptized about 985 by St. Adalbert of Prague who gave him the name of Stephen. He was chosen by God to bring his people to the Christian faith. With the assistance of monks from Burgundy, he established bishoprics, founded several monasteries and re-organized the whole life of the country. Pope Silvester II offered him the privilege of being crowned king and the ceremony took place on December 25, 1000. His great zeal for the spread of the Catholic faith earned him the title of apostolic king and apostle of Hungary. He died on August 15, 1038, the feast of the Assumption of our Lady, to whom he had consecrated his kingdom.