ST. HELEN CHURCH

RIVERSIDE, OHIO DECEMBER 7, 2014

READINGS FOR DECEMBER 14 Isaiah 61:1-2A, 10-11

I Thessalonians 5:16-24

John 1:6-8, 19-28

WEDDINGS Congratulations to Scott Bunker and Tara Bergman

who were united in the Sacrament of Marriage! May

your lives together be blessed? and strengthened by

the Lord!

WE REMEMBER OUR DECEASED In your prayers please remember Ray Roth who died

and whose funeral was held November 25th. Please

also remember his family, friends, and all who mourn

his death. Eternal rest grant unto him, O Lord, and

let perpetual light shine upon him.

With heartfelt thanks for your

STEWARDSHIP OF TREASURE

NOVEMBER 23 Adults $ 16,574.94 Children $24.00

NOVEMBER 30 Adults $ 9,608.85 Children $ 18.25

COLLECT FOR THE SECOND

SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Almighty and merciful God,

may no earthly undertaking hinder those

who set out in haste to meet your Son,

but may our learning of heavenly wisdom

gain us admittance to his company.

This is the season to be watchful and alert as we

“make haste” to meet the Son of God. As John

preached at the River Jordan, we must prepare the

way. This requires that we avoid distraction and stay

on course. As the Prayer after Communion today

suggests, we must “judge wisely things on earth” and

“hold firm to the things of heaven.” We need to focus

on what lies ahead, seeking “heavenly wisdom,” and

running toward the goal of the heavenly dwelling...If

we can transform this earthly kingdom to a place that

prepares the way of the Lord, we will be prepared for

the prize of meeting Christ in the heavenly kingdom.

Excerpt from The Roman Missal, Third Edition, © 2010, ICEL Reprint-

ed with the approval of the committee on Divine Worship, USCCB.

INFANT JESUS SHOWER Infant Jesus Shower gifts are due the weekend of December 14th. If you need your child’s information again

or have any additional questions please contact Kathy Brewster at 427-1224 or Joyce Wellmeier at 426-7018.

GIVE THANKS FOR RELIGIOUS A parishioner writes, “We thank God today

and every day for every religious sister who taught us

in school, not only our ABCs, but also to love God.”

Share your gratitude for the senior Catholic sisters,

brothers, and religious order priests who made a posi-

tive difference in so many lives. Please give gener-

ously to next week’s collection for the Retirement

Fund for Religious.

CHRISTMAS REQUEST BY

FATHER SATISH Last Christmas, I requested that in lieu of

gifts given to me personally, that the

amount be used to help with hurricane vic-

tims in the Philippines. Because of your

generosity, we were able to send over

$7,000.00 to the Philippines. May I please request once

again, that this year a donation be made to the Catholic

Relief Services’ Medical Relief for the Ebola victims in

West Africa, instead of gifts made to me. Donations can

be made online at https://secure.crs.org/site/Donation2?

7200.donation=form1&df_id=7200&s_src=emergencyp

age May Christ who came to give us life bless you

abundantly this Christmas. Father Satish Joseph

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IMMACULATE CONCEPTION MASSES Sun., Dec., 7, at 7:00 p.m.;

Mon., Dec., 8, at 6:30 and 8:15 a.m.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7

8:00 a.m. Mass (Rosary at 7:30 a.m.)

Coffee and Conversation- HR 9:00-10:15 a.m.

10:30 a.m. Mass

Zumba-GYM 4:00 p.m.

Vigil Mass of Immaculate Conception-7:00 p.m.

MONDAY, DECEMBER 8

Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception Mass-

6:30 a.m. and 8:15 a.m. Novena-9:00 a.m.

Hour of Grace-BSC 12:00 p.m.

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9 Bible Study-HR 9:00 a.m.

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10

Legion of Mary-SJA 1:00 p.m.

Centering Prayer-SJN 3:15 p.m.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11

Prayer Shawl Ministry-SJN 1:00 p.m.

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12

Regional Mass at Immaculate Conception-8:15 a.m.

Family Praise & Worship-SJN 6:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13

Men’s Group-SJN 7:30 a.m.

Mass 5:00 p.m.

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATIONS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7

8:00 a.m. Red West (Helen Hischak)

10:30 a.m. Michael McGarry Birthday Remembrance

(McGarry Family)

7:00 p.m. For All Service Members

MONDAY, DECEMBER 8

6:30 a.m. Anna Egan (Steven & Jessica Koehler)

8:15 a.m. Elaine Santana (Helen O’Brien)

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 9

8:15 a.m. Louis Hoelscher (Family)

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10

8:15 a.m. Red West (Don)

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11

8:15 a.m. Charles McCoy (McCoy Family)

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12

Regional Mass at Immaculate Conception

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 13

5:00 p.m. Mildred Nieberding (Lorraine Anderson)

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14

8:00 a.m. Deceased Members of the family of Helen

Hawkins (Helen Hawkins)

10:30 a.m. Maureen Reis (Bill & Libby Friel)

HOUR OF GRACE Please join us this year for one hour of prayer on Monday,

December 8th, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

We will start at 12:00 noon sharp in the Blessed Sacra-

ment Chapel. Our Lady requested this time and date when

she appeared as the Mystical Rose in 1947 to sister Pierina

of Montichiari, Italy. Many spiritual and physical bless-

ings will be received by those who pray undisturbed dur-

ing this hour. Please join us for the hour consisting of ro-

sary, 51st Psalm, prayers, and private meditation. For

more info call Helen at 253-2565 or Phyllis at 426-9954.

FAMILY PRAISE & WORSHIP Join us Friday, December 12th, 6:30-8:00 p.m., in the

St. Julie Center for a family evening of Praise and Wor-

ship! We will share songs, prayer, testimony, and fellow-

ship. All families are welcome! For more information

contact Mary Pacer, 937-499-4761. We will meet the sec-

ond Friday of each month!

WITH GRATITUDE FOR

“ADVENT BY CANDLELIGHT” Many, many thanks to those who helped make

Advent by Candlelight a meaningful event for 115 wom-

en. Over 250 hours of volunteer time was donated to make

this program a success. THANK YOU TO:

Our hostesses: Nancy Strathearn, Phyllis Whit-

ney, Paula Sabo, Dorothy Stein, Sadie Seward, Alice

Roth, Cheryl Powell, Lin Geisel, Alexis Paul, Linda Dale,

Cassie Schemmel, Therese Reed, Janet McGrath, Norma

Colussi, Fran O’Shaughnessy, Linda Kasten, Judy Deck-

er, Jenny Remy, Arlene Hatcher, Linda Bowman, Mary

Heider, Mel McWilliams, Deb Danner, Cheyanne Danner,

Maryellen Pfeil and Tina Paisley

Our facilities help: Rob Dunn, Jon Danner, Deb

Stewart

Our registration volunteers- Carol Evers, Helen

O’Brien, Emily Harvischak, Sarah Rivera

Our musicians- Paula Price, Deb Danner, Ann

Huber, Michelle Goodpaster, Jessica Abernathy, Joanie

Rauch, Holly Shields, Melissa Bennett, Doretta Donovan

Our readers- Lin Geisel, Nancy Strathearn, Cas-

sie Schemmel, Mary Heider, Judy Decker, Abby Schmid,

Michelle Goodpaster;

and finally, our program writers, Michelle

Goodpaster, Mary Heider, and Ellen Garmann.

Advent by Candlelight was a magnificent expres-

sion of the Body of Christ magnifying God’s grace during

this Advent Season!

NEW NURSERY HOURS The Nursery is now open for both the 8:00 a.m.

and 10:30 a.m. Mass. No need to sign up. This is a won-

derful opportunity for you to hear the Word of God while

our trained staff care for your children ages 6 months to 5

years old. This is offered at no charge to you each Sunday.

SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

THE LITURGICAL MINISTERS’ SCHEDULE FOR DECEMBER 13 AND 14

ST. HELEN CHURCH

RIVERSIDE, OHIO DECEMBER 7, 2014

GIFT CARDS AND CHRISTMAS SHOPPING! Christmas orders can be placed through Monday, December 15, at noon. We have a variety of cards in stock

and others can be ordered and will be ready for you to pick up the following Sunday!

Remember that St. Helen’s gets a percentage of the face value of all the cards purchased through our program.

Cards are sold after Sunday Masses in the Music Room just off the Holy Family Chapel, at the Credit Union, and at

the rectory during the week. Income from the Certificate program has helped us to cover both planned and unplanned

expenses in the parish and school!

Call Mary at 254-6233 if you have any questions or check out the information on the left column of our website’s

home page. www.sthelenparish.org.

POSITION AVAILABLE The St. Helen Extended Care Program, our before and after school program for students of St. Helen, is seeking

an individual to work in our morning program from 6:40 a.m. – 7:40 a.m., Monday through Friday. This position will

begin approximately January 5, 2015 and pays $10 per hour worked, requires a background check/fingerprinting, completion

of the Child Protection Class, and you must be at least age 18 with a high school diploma or GED. The right person for this

job will create a caring and safe environment for students, possess a love of children, and have the ability to care for students

in various grade levels (Preschool-8). Dependability is a must in this position. If you are interested, you may pick up an

application in the school office and return it to the attention of Julie Hunt (jhunt@sthelenschl.org). Qualified applicants

will be contacted when this posting is closed.

ST. HELEN FISH FRY The St Helen’s Booster Club has had a long and proud tradition of service to the St Helen Parish, School and its

families. The 2015 St. Helen Booster Club Fish Fry will be held in the school gym on Saturday January 24 from 6:00 to

11:00 pm. Please note the date as you plan your Holiday schedules. Tickets will go on sale in January. Many long-standing

boosters are still volunteering long after their own children have moved on and grown up. As our event grows, we are in

need of more volunteers and donations. If you can help make this another successful event, please contact Jack New-

ton via email at: jtn492@yahoo.com or on his cell: 937-532-3281.

Ministry Name Sat 12/6 5:00 PM Sun 12/7 8:00 AM Sun 12/710:30 AM Altar Servers Lawhorn, Donna Dillon, Linda* Neidhard, Cameron

Lawhorn, John MacLeod, Donald Perez, Dominic

Shindlebower, Cole Thomas, Ashlyn Perez, Joe

Wourms, Kaleb

Eucharistic Minister Benjamin, Clive Buechele, Jacob DiFrederico, Dorty

Berent, Anthony Buechele, Ryan Engle, Landon

Berent, David Heckman, Linda Engle, Lexis

Berent, Elizabeth Potts, Bill Engle, Lyndon

Butler, Jack Small, Sue Hicks, Judy

Peters, Tom Whitney, Jim Huber, Nate

Shindlebower, Carlee Whitney, Phyllis Ruef, Dan

Shindlebower, Laura Woods, Kathy Schmid, Jenny

Shindlebower, Wade Sheridan, Sylvia

Zebrowski, Connie Stewart, Debbie

Szydlik, Billie Jean

Wourms, Ben

Lector Hayes, David Howell, Lynn Huber, Dan*

Zeljak, Sharon Tourangeau, Melinda Ardema, Zach

SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT

POSITION AVAIL-

ABLE AT ST.

LEONARD The Spiritual Care As-

sociate assists in the

coordination of the reli-

gious and spiritual care

provided for all resi-

dents, families, and staff

members as needed.

P l e a s e v i s i t

www.st leonard.net /

employment for more

information. Applica-

tions may be submitted

online or to St.

Leonard's Human Re-

sources Department be-

tween the hours of 9a.m.

-4p.m. Monday through

Friday. Applications

must be received before

final consideration. Re-

sumes may be submitted

with the application.

CREDIT UNION NEWS Second Semester College expenses are fast ap-

proaching! Instead of using high-interest credit cards that

charge 20% APR or more to pay for tuition, books or other

expenses, consider getting a St. Helen Federal Credit Un-

ion loan first. We have a Second Semester School Loan

special of up to $7000 for 12 months at 4.99% APR (other

terms and rates available upon request). Not only will you

be saving on lower interest rates with us, you will also be

building your personal credit. Don’t wait for the semester

to start; get your financing in order now. If your credit

cards are in need of some relief from the high interest, then

ask about our Debt Consolidation loan: up to $15,000

available at 8.99%APR for 36-60 months. For a loan ap-

plication or more information, please contact the Credit

Union at 252-7477.

ARE YOU OR IS ANYONE IN YOUR FAMILY

DIVORCED? There’s NO SUCH THING AS CATHOLIC DI-

VORCE . . . but Catholics DO civilly divorce. Please give

someone a copy of this bulletin or invite them to The

Catholic’s DIVORCE SURVIVAL Guide 12-week group

which begins on Tuesdays Jan. 13th 2015 at 7:00pm –

8:30pm in the basement of Emmanuel Church in Down-

town Dayton at 149 Franklin St. in Downtown Day-

ton. Cost of ($25) per person includes a “Personal Surviv-

al Guide”, refreshments and all materials for 12 weeks.

Find comfort and counsel consistent with Catholic teach-

ings. Sorry, no child care available. To register go

to: http://www.catholiccincinnati.org/event/catholic-

divorce-survival-guide/ Questions: Call Noreen Wen-

deln at Family & Respect Life Office 937-222-0227.

POSITION AVAILABLE St. Patrick Church, Troy, Ohio has immediate job openings for a Business Manager, a Bookkeeper and a Parish Center Co-

ordinator. Please visit their website at www.stpattroy.org for details.

One Faith, One Hope, One Love

ONE FAITH, ONE HOPE, ONE LOVE

DEDICATION WEEKEND

The One Faith, One Hope, One Love Campaign is coming to an end. We want to invite all pa-

rishioners who have not yet made a decision to make one today! We ask you to consider a sacrificial gift

to the campaign – one that is right for you.

We are happy to report that we have now achieved more than 71% of our parish goal. Please join

us in our campaign. It is only through the participation and support of each one of our parishioners that

we can truly be successful.

Archbishop Dennis Schnurr has asked each of us to consider a small amount each month over a

five year period. This allows many of us to participate at a level we are comfortable with and, at the

same time, will allow the St. Helen to achieve our parish goal.

Suggested Gift Plans:

$200 per month given over 60 months equals $12,000!!!

$150 per month given over 60 months equals $9,000!!!

$100 per month given over 60 months equals $6,000!!!

$75 per month given over 60 months equals $4,500!!!

$50 per month given over 60 months equals $3,000!!!

$30 per month given over 60 months equals $1,800!!!

Thank you to all who have given to make our campaign a success. Your gift to the One Faith,

One Hope, One Love Campaign at any level is greatly appreciated.

Our Christmas Season Liturgy Wish List: Someone who is comfortable being up on a ladder in

order to put up the Christmas greenery inside the church on the morning of December 24

A few volunteers to help us water and place poinsettias in our “Poinsettia Christmas Tree” stand on the morning of December 24

For each Mass, a family, a group of friends, or a combination of both to “dress” the altar and carry the lighted altar candles to their stands (6-7 people) A lovely yet simple activity that adds beauty to our special celebrations

All you need is a very short practice (10 minutes!)

For each Mass, a family or group of friends to bring up the gifts (at least 3 people)

For each Mass, a family or group of friends to carry the wall candles in the entrance procession and place them in the holders (4 people)

Christmas Masses are at 5:00 p.m., on December 24, Midnight, and 9:00 a.m., on December 25 Please call or email Mary in the Rectory if you would like to help: 254-6233, mary.heider@sthelenparish.org

St. Helen Christmas Flowers

At Christmas and Easter many parishioners like to make a contribu-

tion to our flower and environment fund as a means of remembering or

honoring a loved one or special friend. If you wish to do so, gifts of any size

are appreciated.

Contributions received by Monday, December 29, will be acknowledged in

the bulletin at the end of the Christmas season. Names will be alphabetical

and dollar amounts will not be disclosed. You may also remain anonymous.

""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""

Please accept my / our contribution to the Flower and Environment Fund.

Name(s): __________________________________________ Your name(s) as you would like it/them to be acknowledged

OR Check: ___ I wish to remain anonymous.

Gift Amount: _____________

Please make check payable to St. Helen Church and indicate Flower/Environment Fund in the Memo.

My gift is made: In memory of In honor of

_____________________________________________________ Name(s) of your loved one(s)