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The annual All Souls Day Mass at St. Raymond's Cemetery will take place at 11AM on Mon., Nov. 2 at Our Lady of Hope Crypts on Lafayette Ave. Seats are limited so come early and wear a mask.

A new statewide app alerts you if you were within six feet of a person who tested positive. The app is called “COVID Alert NY”and can be downloaded from the APP Store, and this is how it works. Once a person tests positive, they are given a code by the Health Department to punch into the app, providing an anonymous alert to other devices that have been within six feet of the person’s own smartphone for over ten minutes. To activate, go to the Linux Foundation and get the code.

Due to the COVID-19, this will be our largest fundraiser of 2020. Eight cash prizes. $1,000 grand prize. Tickets are available in the rectory at $3 each, 2 for $5, 5 for $10, and 10 for $20.

Fr. Andrew is looking for computers to send to a Piarist School in the Cameroon. If you have a computer that you are no longer using, or you know of a place with a surplus inventory, please call Fr. Andrew at 718-892-3232.

Mental Health, Equity and Resilience is a 60-minute informational virtual presentation on potential mental health impacts, relevant coping skills, and available resources. This session will cover topics such as grief, trauma, coping, and resilience in addition to mental health tips. To register, go to: https://bronx_covidconvo.timetap.com

New York City provides FREE Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) etching. Etching the VIN onto your vehicle's glass deters theft and makes it easier to trace the vehicle if it is stolen. To request VIN etching, contact Officer Yessell Medina at 917-536-6972 or email: [email protected].

WHAT ARE YOUR SAFETY CONCERNS? One of our St. Helena Eagle Scout candidates, Pedroy Proctor, is asking for your help for his Eagle Scout Project on safety. He would like to know: “What are your greatest safety concerns where you live?” Please write down your concerns and either Email them to [email protected] or bring them to the St. Helena rectory. Or, you may telephone the rectory at 718-892-3232. Pedroy will collect the data and present a report at the August 31 43rd Poiice Precinct Sector E Build a Block Meeting, which will take place in front of the St. Helena Green Building at 7PM. Pedroy will also have a safety table there with information about various types and aspects of safety. Please let your friends and neighbors know about the community meeting. They can listen to information from the police on topics such as COVID 19 and the status of the men’s homeless shelter scheduled to open on Westchester Avenue and can inform them of issues of concern to themselves or the community. Everyone is invited to attend this important meeting. Refreshments will be served.

Catholic churches across the country have been open for up to four months since shelter-in-place orders were lifted. With approximately 17,000 parishes in America typically holding three or more weekend masses - and a greater number of daily masses - for the last 14 or more weeks - over one million public masses have been celebrated following guidelines to prevent the spread of the virus: in sum, follow the three W’s - watch your distance, wear your mask, and wash your hands.  The Good News: for Catholic churches following these guidelines, no outbreaks of COVID-19 have been linked to church attendance, even though we have examples - some described below - of asymptomatic, unknowingly infected individuals attending mass and other parish functions. Their attendance could have led to an outbreak if appropriate precautions were not followed, yet in each case, we found no evidence of viral transmission.

Confession and Adoration at St. Helena While the Archdiocese has canceled all Masses for this weekend, the churches will remain open for prayer. Here at St. Helena, we will have Confession from 4-5:30PM on Saturday, March 14. Confessions will be followed by Adoration from 5:30PM - 6:30PM. The church will then be closed. On Sunday, March 15, we will open the church at 7:30AM. We will have Adoration from 8AM - 4PM. The church will be closed at 4:30PM. We will keep you updated as the Archdiocese sends us new information and instructions. We thank you for your cooperation. During these very difficult times, prayer is our most important spiritual tool.

MASSES CANCELED IN ARCHDIOCESE OF NEW YORK In light of the continued concern surrounding the coronavirus, and taking into consideration the advice of medical experts, all Masses in the Archdiocese of New York, including here at St. Helena, will be canceled beginning this weekend, March 14-15, 2020. This development follows upon today’s decision of Dutchess County to prohibit gatherings of more than 20 people. It is also intended to provide clarity and consistency throughout the ten counties that comprise the Archdiocese of New York (Manhattan, the Bronx, Staten Island, Westchester, Putnam, Orange, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Dutchess). Churches will, however, remain open for private prayer. Timothy Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York, urged the faithful to remember in their prayers all those whose lives have been impacted by the coronavirus outbreak. “Let us pray for all who are sick, as well as doctors, nurses, caregivers, and all those working hard to combat the disease. We should also remember those whose lives have been otherwise disrupted, especially anyone who has lost income from a loss of work during this difficult time.” A private Mass will be celebrated in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral and will be available on many cable systems via the Catholic Faith Network: www.catholicfaithnetwork.org, live-streamed on the Saint Patrick’s Cathedral website: saintpatrickcathedral.org, and radio broadcast on The Catholic Channel of Sirius XM (Channel 129).

In light of the serious health risks to vulnerable populations, and mindful of the instructions of medical professionals, the Archdiocese of New York has urged the faithful to use their prudential judgment on whether or not to attend Mass on Sundays and Holy Days during the coronavirus outbreak. This is in keeping with the teaching of the Church, which has always exempted those with serious medical issues which would prohibit them from attending Mass, as well as for all people in times of general emergencies. This is especially true during this coronavirus outbreak, particularly for adults over the age of 60, people with underlying medical conditions, and family members of such individuals, who should take special care in discerning the best course of action. At this time, while Mass will continue to be offered publicly in most cases, contingent on emergency restrictions regarding large gatherings. Those who do attend Mass are reminded that they should follow the guidelines in place, such as receiving Holy Communion reverently in the hand, not receiving the Precious Blood, being sure to wash hands/use sanitizer before and after Mass, and avoiding physical contact with or close proximity to other persons. Those who are unable to attend Mass can follow the Mass on radio, television, or online where possible. Mass from Saint Patrick’s Cathedral will be broadcast and available on many cable systems via the Catholic Faith Network and its website, livestreamed on the Saint Patrick’s Cathedral website, and broadcast on radio on The Catholic Channel of Sirius XM (Channel 129). All are urged to keep in prayer those who are suffering from the coronavirus, as well as for doctors, nurses, caregivers, and all those who are working to combat the disease. The following prayer will be shared with the parishes and people of the archdiocese. Prayer to the Virgin Mary for Protection O Mary, you shine continuously on our journey as a sign of salvation and hope. We entrust ourselves to you, Health of the Sick. At the foot of the Cross you participated in Jesus’ pain, with steadfast faith. You, Our Lady of New York, know what we need. We are certain that you will provide, so that, as you did at Cana of Galilee, joy and feasting might return after this moment of trial. Help us, Mother of Divine Love, to conform ourselves to the Father’s will and to do what Jesus tells us: He who took our sufferings upon Himself, and bore our sorrows to bring us, through the Cross, to the joy of the Resurrection. Amen. We seek refuge under your protection, O Holy Mother of God. Do not despise our pleas – we who are put to the test – and deliver us from every danger, O glorious and blessed Virgin.

Superintendent of Catholic Schools Mr. Michael J. Deegan has announced Catholic Schools within the Archdiocese of New York will close all elementary schools in our system effective Monday, March 16, 2020, until Friday, March 20th, 2020, with the possibility of a lengthier closure. Informed by expert health officials and the Health and Safety Task Force of the Office of the Superintendent of Schools, this decision was made out of an abundance of caution. The health and safety of our students, staff, and families is of the utmost importance. Additionally, after consultation with the leadership of the Catholic Youth Organizations and the Catholic High School Athletic Associations, all activities and all sporting events and practices have been canceled indefinitely.

Coronavirus Directives from the Archdiocese The Archdiocese has just issued the following liturgical directives concerning the Coronavirus: *The Sign of Peace is to be exchanged without physical contact. *The Distribution of the Precious Blood of Christ from the chalice is suspended at this time. *Every consideration should be made by each individual to receive the host reverently in open hands for now for the protection of all. *Ministers are to use anti-bacterial solution before and after the distribution of Holy Communion. *Hand sanitizers and wipes will be placed at all entrances to the church for your use. *The use of the communal collection basket is suspended. We will have a stationary collection basket near the sanctuary in which you can place your offertory gifts, either before or after Mass. Please note that washing your hands frequently with regular soap and water is important to help prevent the spread of germs. But while antibacterial products may seem like a stronger cleaning option, they are no more effective in cleaning your hands than regular soap and water--and THEY DO NOT KILL VIRUSES LIKE THE CORONAVIRUS. In fact, the routine use of antibacterial cleaning products has been seriously questioned by scientists and studies have shown that triclosan, the active ingredient in many antibacterial products, may make matters worse by creating harmful drug-resistant bacteria. Stick with simple soap and water and if you can't wash your hands, use an alcohol-based sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol content.

Mental Health Awareness Event on Fri., March 27 from 5-8PM at the Fordham School of Arts, 500 E. Fordham Rd, Room 372 in the Library. Learn about local community resources and signs and symptoms of teen mental health issues. For more info, call 718-590-6431.

We here at St. Helena have enhanced the methods and procedures used in the daily cleaning and sanitizing of our church and school, with more frequent use of disinfectants. In the vent that St. Helena School has a student, teacher, or staff member who tests positive for the Corona Virus, we will close the school for a minimum of 48 hours in order to fully assess the situation and to ensure that a full sanitization is carried out by qualified licensed cleaning professionals as outlined by CDC disinfection guidelines. Remember that anyone returning from international travel (U.S. Territories excluded) must receive medical clearance to return to school, religious education classes, or youth ministry programs . Additionally, as per CDC requirements, students and school personnel returning from Italy, China, South Korea, and Iran are required to remain home for 14 days from the date you return to New York City AND provide a letter of medical clearance from a licensed medical professional before you will be allowed to return to school, religious education classes, or youth ministry. For updated travel information from the CDC, visit: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/index.html

The dinner will take place on March 27 at 8PM at Neerob Restaurant, 2096 Starling Ave., Bronx. Keynote Address by Dr. Diego Ponieman, CMO of SOMOS Community Care. Please RSVP by March 25 at [email protected]. Dr. Ponieman will speak about the Oasis Jumpstart Programs.

Divided Supreme Court hears abortion case; Schumer remarks draw rebuke from Chief Justice Roberts (NPR) Editor's Note: As the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case involving Louisiana’s regulation of abortion clinics, the pro-abortion New York senator said of the two newest justices, “You have unleashed the whirlwind and you will pay the price. You won’t know what hit you if you go forward with these awful decisions.” Chief Justice John Roberts responded, “Justices know that criticism comes with the territory, but threatening statements of this sort from the highest levels of government are not only inappropriate, but they are also dangerous.”

The Rite of Election was held last Sunday, March 1 at 2PM in St. Patrick's Cathedral, and two catechumens from St. Helena's were there along with catechumens from throughout the diocese. Miguel Reyes and Kenneth Adams inscribed their names in the Book of the Elect. They were accompanied by Rev. Richard Wyzykiewicz, Sch.P. and Tamara Adams. The Rite of Election closes the Period of the Catechumenate. This rite normally takes place on the First Sunday in Lent. At this rite, upon the testimony of sponsors and catechists and the catechumens' affirmation of their intention to join the Church, the Church makes its "election" of these catechumens to receive the Sacraments of Initiation. In the presence of the bishop (or his delegate), they inscribe their names in the Book of the Elect at the cathedral as a pledge of fidelity. Now the catechumens are called "the elect' or "the illuminandi" ("those who will be enlightened"). They now begin a Period of Purification and Enlightenment — the final, intense preparation for the reception of the Sacraments of Initiation. On the next five Sundays of Lent, three scrutinies (rites for self-searching and repentance) and the presentations of the Creed and Lord's Prayer take place. This period concludes with the celebration of the Sacraments of Initiation at the Easter Vigil.

The Beauty of Ballet, a free family program, on Sun., March 15 at 2PM at Hostos Center for the Arts & Culture, 450 Grand Concourse at 149th Street. Free Admission.

22nd Annual Throggs Neck St. Patrick's Day Parade on Sun., March 15. Line of March Assembly at 11AM at the corner of East Tremont and Lafayette. Parade starts at NOON and continues down East Tremont to Harding.