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The Baptism of the Lord

Debbie Abbene, Ann Ahern, Rosa Anselmo, Amado Araneta, Daniel Campion, Baby Canzoneri, Sally Capoziello, Shang Cheng, Marge D’Auria, Mary Ann D’Angelo, Patrick Delaney, Domenica DeVito, Virginia DiGangi, Richard H. Dimler, Mary Divers, Jean Fochetta, Clementine Gagliardi, Dennis Giam-

malvo, John Joseph Gleeson, John Pierce Gleeson, Christine Healy, Maria Hernandez, Elizabeth Isolano, Marilyn Krajcik, Keri & Baby Tristan, Susan Leone, James Leung, Thomas & Patricia Lipari, William J. Litt, Tom Mercatante, Barbara Miller, Angela Ottomanelli-Hubbs, Michael Palermo, Sebastian Panasci, Santo Pantina, Vivian Doris Pecchillo, Phillip Pecchil-lo, Puglissi, Joseph Questore, Mary Ann Quinn, Frances Rus-so, Bill Sangirardi, John Secreti, Patrick Smith, Remington Stafford, Michael Tamburo, Rubie Lynn Torres, Chrissie Trem-blay, Paul Tremblay, Paul John Tremblay, Sr., Sr. Joanne Walters.

Deceased: Emilia Licato, Rocco John Morabito Christine Sullivan

T h i s We e k ' s M a s s I n t e n t i o n s

Sunday, January 13, 2019 8:00AM George & Claire Cox 9:30AM Loretta Marino (Barbara Coleman) 11:00AM Joseph Vivinetto (Jakie) 12:30PM John Viviano (Loving Wife & Family) 5:00PM For The Parishioners

Monday, January 14, 2019 9:00AM Christine Piotrowski (Loving Family) Tuesday, January 15, 2019 9:00AM Charles Monastero (Vita & Paul)

Wednesday, January 16, 2019

9:00AM Maria Lucia Savoca (Anne Barron) Thursday, January 17, 2019 St. Anthony, Abbot 9:00AM Antoinette Tomasello (Linda Tomasello) Friday, January 18, 2019 9:00AM Eta Tierney (Gillespie Family)

Saturday, January 19, 2019 9:00AM Thomas P. Butler (Mary Jo & Will Vendittelli) Grace Ladone (Jack Raia) Julio Pelicano (William & Stephanie Marra) Domenica Sommo (Jack Raia) Fred Spagnuolo (Rachele Sannino) 5:00PM Jim Conlon (Margaret Butler) John Falbo (Fran & Sybil Diamond) Eugene McDonough (Joseph Naccarelli) Constance Maltese (Norma Roldan) Carmela Zinerco (Maria & Felice Pugliese) Sunday, January 20, 2019 8:00AM Anna Steinman (Fred Steinman) 9:30AM Roseanne DiBuono (Marilyn Chrust) 11:00AM Fred Spagnuolo (Steve & Josephine Marrone) 12:30PM In Honor of St. Jude (Mary Pocorobba) 5:00PM For The Parishioners

St. Helen’s Purgatorial Society Mass All parishioners have the opportunity to enroll the names of loved ones in the Purgatorial Society. The Purgatorial Society Mass will be held on the last Fri-day of each month. The offering to be enrolled in the Purgatorial Society is $120 per name (a total of 12 Masses for one year will be said for your loved one). Aside from listing one name, a husband and wife to-gether, or a family name is also acceptable. Having a Purgatorial Society is wonderful way of living out the Scriptures and will be a relief for those who desire to have their loved ones remembered with prayers all year long at God’s Altar. Please stop in at the Rectory if you are interested in having a loved one enrolled in the Purgatorial Society. The next Purgatorial Socie-ty Mass will be held Friday, January 25, 2019.

New Families: All are welcome to St. Helen Parish, and are asked to please register at the Rectory dur-ing office hours.

Sacrament of Baptism: Please call the Rectory to register for the baptism of your child. Baptisms will be held on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of the month.

Sacrament of Confession: Saturdays 12:30PM to 1:30PM. Weekdays: 15 minutes prior to the 9:00AM Mass.

Sacrament of Marriage: Couples should contact the Rectory at least one year in advance of the desired date. Please call for an appointment for the initial interview.

Communion Calls: Please call the Rectory to arrange for one of the priests to bring Holy Communion to a sick person who is confined to home due to a serious illness.

Sacrament of Anointing of the Sick: Anyone who expects to be hospitalized (or in an emergency) and wishes the Anointing of the Sick, should call the Recto-ry.

The Order of Franciscans Secular meet on the 3rd Saturday of every month in St. Helen’s Rectory after the 9AM Mass. Come and learn more about the Fran-ciscan way of life.

The Altar Bread for this week is donated in memory of

Nicholas Louis Napolitano requested by his loving wife, Maria.

You are invited to Pray the Family Rosary

THURSDAY EVENINGS IN CHURCH 7:00-7:30PM

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Please Help Us!

We appreciate and thank all parishioners who use their family envelopes each week at Mass!

The envelope has key information for our office use, such as name, address and envelope number. Prominently displayed below your envelope number is a bar code, which is used for scanning purposes when entering weekly donations.

We have noticed that there are an increasing number of families who like to embellish their envelopes with address stickers, seals and decals. We are asking that you kindly refrain from using any of these embellishments on your envelope. Unfortunately, many of these cover the envelope number and/or bar code and/or name and address, which can make it impossible to identify a family.

Also, please do not scratch any information out or make pen or pencil marks over the I.D. number or bar code.

The seal on the flap of the envelope works perfectly. Please do not use anything to glue or tape the envelope closed (such as scotch tape, masking, surgical or duct tapes or sta-ples), which most times, when opening the envelope, rips off the pertinent information we need to properly credit you for your donations!

Finally, if you misplace or forget your printed envelope please use a temporary enve-lope which can be found in Church, making sure you put your first and last name, ad-dress, and most importantly your I.D. # on the envelope. As there are multiple families with the same last name, putting just your last name will not help us in crediting your family with your donation!

We are asking for your help! Please, please, adhere to these guidelines, as we wish to give you proper credit for your generous donations.

Again, thank you from the Rectory Office.

Bar code cannot be scanned!

Bar code & ID # cut off!

Please do not scratch out info!

Please do not staples or any tape! ➔

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6th Annual Bishop Ignatius Catanello Memorial Dinner

Mass at 6:00PM in the Chapel Dinner and dancing at 7:00PM

in the Reception Hall. All are welcome!

Tickets are $75 per person (open bar includ-

ed) and must be purchased by March 25th. Checks are to be made payable to “Holy Family/Bishop Ignatius Catanello Knights of Columbus” (please note “Bishop’s Dinner” on memo line) and should be mailed to Holy Family Parish, 175-20 74th Ave., Fresh Meadows, NY 11366. For more information please call Peter Petrino at (347) 267-7614.

Saturday, March 30, 2019

Immaculate Conception Center 7200 Douglaston Parkway, Douglaston, NY

46th Annual March for Life Washington, DC

Friday, January 18, 2019

Theme: Unique From Day One

A bus will depart from Rockaway, leaving from Saint Francis de Sales Church (Beach 129th Street and Rock-away Beach Boulevard) at 7:00AM (immediately after the 6:30AM Mass). Cost is $25 per adult (no charge for children under 13). Reserve your Seat by Wednesday, January 16th! Contact: Rita Hayden at 718-570-7908. Young people and families are espe-cially encouraged to take part in the March for Life! Interested in helping defray the cost of the bus? Contact Rita Hayden. Checks payable to: Saint Francis de Sales Church.

March for Life Website: http://marchforlife.org/mfl-2019/

Memorials Available

Many times people come to the Rectory inquiring about me-morials they can give to a family who has lost a loved one. The following are available:

• Altar Bread, Altar Wine, Altar Candles or the Sanc-tuary Candle in memory of a loved one for one week ($50.00 each).

• Votive Candles for one year ($100.00).

• A leaf permanently placed on the Tree of Life ($350.00).

• A plaque permanently placed on the Anniversary Wall ($350.00).

For further information, call or visit the Rectory.

GOOD SHEPHERD STATUE We would like to thank Mary Ruane, who kept the statue this past week. Anyone inter-ested in keeping the statue in their home and praying for vocations for one week should con-tact the Rectory.

CATHOLIC CHARITIES NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES HOWARD BEACH SENIOR CENTER

The Center is located at 155-55 Cross Bay Blvd., across from Stop N Shop on Cross Bay Blvd. Sen-iors aged 60 and older are invited to become members. Activities and services are offered Monday-Friday from 9:00AM to 4:00PM. Every day delicious and nutritious full, hot lunches are catered by Russo’s on the Bay ($2 donation requested).

Mondays 9:30-10:30AM: Tai Chi with Elaine Fleischman Mondays 10:45-11:45AM: Chair Aerobics with Charlie Roemer Tuesdays 9:30-10:30AM: Movement Exercise with Millie Wednesdays 10:00-11:00AM: Zumba with Elaine Thursdays 9:30-10:30AM: Movement Exercise with Millie Fridays 9:30-10:30AM: Cardio Exercise with Dwayne Fridays 10:30-11:30AM: Yoga with Charlie Roemer

For further information please call 718-738-8100.

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Parents seeking Baptism for their children who live within the territory of St. Helen Parish are asked to register as members of the parish before requesting an initial interview for Baptism. Registration is easily done at the parish office anytime during business hours. Parents seeking Baptism for their children who live outside the territory of St. Helen Parish are asked to obtain a letter from the parish in which they live authorizing the Baptism to take place at St. Helen. Initial meetings with parents seeking Baptism for their children who have already been born will normally take place on the second Wednesday of each month from 7:00–9:00PM and on the fourth Saturday of each month from 10:00AM–12:00PM.

Upcoming Mornings of Preparation Required Before a Baptism (All begin at the 11:00AM Mass and continue in the Msgr. McGinness Room): January 27—February 10 & 24.

Upcoming Schedule for Baptisms (All begin at 2:00PM): January 27—February 10 & 24.

Please call 718-738-1616 for more information and/or to schedule an appointment.

St. Helen’s Support Group for the Physically Challenged meets the first and third Wednesday of every month at 1:30PM in the Rectory meeting room. All are invited. For further information please call Joan at (718) 848-9173.

Rosary for Peace…New Place, New Time

The Rosary for Peace, sponsored by the Saint Helen Sec-ular Franciscan Fraternity, takes place in the Church at 6:30PM every Wednesday. The group prays for our Blessed Mother’s intercession to end violence (both do-mestic and civil) and the persecution of Christians throughout the world. All parishioners are invited to join us. We welcome anyone willing to lead a decade of the Rosary in a language other than English.

Are you new to St. Helen Parish?

If so, please remember to stop in at the Rectory to register your family!

The Witnesses of Mercy

The Wit- nesses of Mercy

program is comprised of a group of trained volunteers who can provide personal contact with parish-

ioners of St. Helen’s Church who are unable to leave their homes due to illness or age related issues.

They can offer home visits or be in contact with you by telephone. These dedicated volunteers will be

your link to the Parish so that you can keep up to date on information,

events and news.

If you are sick, homebound or unable to visit the church and would

like to have a Witnesses of Mercy volunteer from Saint Helen’s parish visit

or be in contact with you, please contact Patricia Rizzo at (917) 312-7072,

or email her at goodrecords1@verizon.net.

WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY 2019 Our Lady of Grace Parish (100-05 159th Ave.) will be hosting the Howard Beach Community on Wednesday, January 23, 2019 at 7:00PM for Prayer and Song in celebration of Christian Unity. Justice, only justice, You shall pursue (Deuteronomy 16:20).

January 13, 2019 ___ ______Page 5

Monday, January 14, 2019 Heb 1:1-6; Mk 1:14-20 They didn’t ask any questions. That is what always surprises – and frightens – me about this story: They didn’t ask any questions. Jesus shows up like the pied piper, and before you know it, all the young men of the village drop every-thing and go. There is no curiosity about why Jesus is calling them. There are no

questions about what it means to “fish for people.” There are no long-range plans about what they are going to do with the people they “catch.” And we are not told if any of them weigh the pros and cons of the offer. Maybe they thought it was a lark – like running away to join the circus – but it wouldn’t be long before they realized where Jesus was leading them. He was taking them to places and situa-tions they probably wanted to avoid. They had to recom-mit+F16 every day. We are called to do the same. For the courage and trust to respond to your call, we pray.

Tuesday, January 15, 2019 Heb 2:5-12; Mk 1:21-28 Jesus has just called his disciples and a few days later they are off to Capernaum. There Jesus’ teaching is interrupted by a man with an unclean spirit who will not shut up. The unclean spirit (sometimes translated as “evil spirit” or “demon”) not only knows who Jesus is but is threatened by Jesus’ teaching of the Gospel – the good news of God’s unconditional love for all God’s children. This good news is still threatening to some of us, because we too want to limit God’s love. The drug addicts, the homeless, the im-migrants, the people no one notices, the forgotten, the ones we would like to ignore, and the afflicted (in mind, body or spirit) – God, do you love them? But that is precisely who Jesus spent much of his time with, reminding and reassur-ing them that yes, God does love you, no matter what. Your good news is for all people, O God, but especially for the vulnerable and forgotten.

Wednesday, January 16, 2019 Heb 2:14-18; Mk 1:29-39 My best friend’s daughter loves to swing dance. She occa-sionally posts videos of the new steps she and her partner have learned – dips and twirls, lifts and holds. It’s exhaust-ing just to watch her in action! Sometimes our days are like that: life coming at us nonstop, every moment spent in the fast lane. Jesus has had that kind of week, too: He called his disciples and preached in a Temple where a man with an evil spirit challenged him. Now in Capernaum, he heals Pe-ter’s mother-in-law – and then everyone shows up. It makes me tired just reading it! I wonder: Did he ever think (or say), “Enough, God! I’m only one person!” If he did, it was-n’t recorded. What is recorded is that Jesus got up early and went outside where he could be alone to pray. As difficult as it was, Jesus tried to balance time in ministry with time with God. Sometimes life is too much, holy God. May our time with you equip us to respond to the cries of the world.

Thursday, January 17, 2019 Heb 3:7-14; Mk 1:40-45

Jesus and the disci-

ples are now on the way to villages in Galilee and a leper meets him on the road. Mark says Jesus was “moved with pity” and healed the man, but some translations say that Jesus was angry. Angry? Why would Jesus be angry? May-be he is beginning to understand that people will always be crowding around him, following him, demanding the heal-ing he offers. Is his life going to be one interruption after another? I can understand why Jesus might have been an-gry and overwhelmed, but even if he were, he doesn’t say, “Come back later; I’m on my way to Capernaum.” He doesn’t say, “You’ll have to wait because I have to go preach now.” He stretches out his hand, touches the leper, and heals him. Divine Love, grant that we might see inter-ruptions as opportunities. Friday, January 18, 2019 Heb 4:1-5, 11; Mk 2:1-12 Most of us would do just about anything for our friends. We provide meals when there is a new baby or a death in the family. We pick up each other’s kids. We organize fundraisers when a friend is injured or facing mounting medical bills. As the Beatles’ song says, we all get by with a little help from our friends. But these friends in the Gos-pel deserve the Academy Award for friendship! First, they’ve carried their paralyzed friend (how far?) just to get where Jesus is. But there is such a crowd they can’t get anywhere close. Somehow they are able to climb up on the roof, break through the roof, and lower their friend inside the room. What faith and determination! They were not willing to give up when they saw the crowd. Jesus sees and commends their faith before he heals the paralyzed man. For the opportunity to serve our friends, we give thanks. Saturday, January 19, 2019 Heb 4:12-16; Mk 2:13-17 The Pharisees had definite ideas about who was accepted in God’s kingdom – and who was not. Those who kept the law and observed the purity codes and stayed away from contact with sinners were in. Lepers, Samaritans, prosti-tutes, the blind and lame, and tax collectors were not. But here, Jesus not only calls Levi, a tax collector, he goes to his house and eats with him. Jesus recognizes no law that should keep him from sharing a meal with people labeled as outcast and unclean. Over and over again throughout his life, Jesus tried to show the Pharisees that God is a God who includes all people. We read and tell these stories to remind ourselves that we are followers of this Jesus, who broke the rules and ignored the barriers and reached out to those who were considered unclean – not with judgment or ridicule, but with respect and compassion. For the cour-age to live your extravagant love, we pray.

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First Week in Ordinary Time

Homiletic starters and scriptural

reflection points for each day of the month