ST HELEN CHURCH

RIVERSIDE, OHIO March 4, 2018

READINGS FOR MARCH 11

1 Samuel 16:1b, 6-7, 10-13a

Ephesians 5:8-14

John 9:1-41

With heartfelt thanks for your

STEWARDSHIP OF TREASURE

February 24 & 25

$13,083.98

(Of this, $4,564 via Faith Direct)

IN THE MILITARY Please pray for those serving in the military.

“Lord, protect our military as they sacrifice for us;

bless them and their families for their

continuing selflessness.”

ANNIVERSARY

COUPLES If you will be celebrating your

25th, 50th, 60th, 65th, 70th or

even 75th wedding anniversary in

2018 please call the parish office to let us know. We

are planning a wonderful Mass and brunch for you!

The date of this year’s celebration is Sunday, April

22nd.

WHAT’S THE SCOOP!

Want to hear more about what is going on at

St. Helen? Interested in being part of a group who

listens to upcoming plans and programs right here in

our Parish? If you are a registered and active member

of St. Helen Parish, Parish Pastoral Council is the

place for you! The Parish Council is currently look-

ing for volunteers to fill four openings this coming

May. If you are a registered member of the Parish and

are able to give your time to attend one meeting a

month for a three-year term, then please consider sub-

mitting your name to the Parish Office for a chance to

be part of this amazing group! All submitted names

will go into a drawing for a chance to fill one of four

lucky spots! Drawing to take place during Mass in the

month of April. Come get the scoop!

OFFICE OF THE DIACONATE

INFORMATIONAL MEETINGS Have you considered becoming a Permanent

Deacon in the Catholic Church, but don’t know where

to begin to explore the possibility? The Office of the

Diaconate of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati will hold

Informational Meetings concerning the Permanent

Diaconate on the following dates:

Dayton Region: Monday, March 19, 7:00

pm, St Helen Parish, Smith Building

North Region: Tuesday, March 20, 7:10 pm

(following optional 6:30 evening Mass), St Michael

Parish, 33 Elm Street Fort Loramie, Ohio 45845

Cincinnati Region: Thursday, March 22,

7:00 pm, St Ignatius Parish, 5222 North Bend Road,

Cincinnati, Ohio 45247, Bolet Room

For more information and to register, please

contact Deacon Mark Machuga, Director of the Office

of the Diaconate at (513) 421-3131, ext. 2641 or

deaconoffice@catholiccincinnati.org. SPRING FORWARD! Daylight savings time begins

Sunday, March 11. Don’t forget to set

your clocks forward 1 hour next week. @sthelenparish

Follow us!

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

CALENDAR OF EVENTS MONDAY, MARCH 5

Novena—9:00 am

Festival Ticket Turn-in—SB 7:00 pm

Liturgy of the Ordinary Book Study—SJA 7:30 pm

TUESDAY, MARCH 6

Rosary—BSC 9:00 am

Bible Study—SJ1 9:00 am

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7

Centering Prayer—SJ1 3:15 pm

Dinner & Lectio Divina—SJA 5:30 pm

SVDP Meeting—HR 7:00 pm

CtBS Meeting—SJA 7:00 pm

THURSDAY, MARCH 8

Prayer Shawl Ministry—SJ1 1:00 pm

FRIDAY, MARCH 9

Pizza, Pasta and Stations—SJA 5:30 pm

Stations of the Cross—CH 7:00 pm

SATURDAY, MARCH 10

Vespers—BSC 4:15 pm

5:00 pm—Fr. Tony

SUNDAY, MARCH 11

8:00 am Mass— Fr. Bob Jones

9:00 am Catechist Retreat Day—SB

10:30 am Mass—Fr. Satish

WEEKLY MASS INTENTIONS SUNDAY, MARCH 4

8:00 am Phyllis Seibel (Alice Griffin)

10:30 am Nicoletta Hary (Cathy & Dennis Stewart)

MONDAY, MARCH 5

8:15 am Jean Knapke (Family)

TUESDAY, MARCH 6

8:15 am Shaun Volz (Timbrook Family)

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7

8:15 am Michael Small (Rosie & Dave Dempsey)

THURSDAY, MARCH 8

8:15 am Joe Fecke (Family)

FRIDAY, MARCH 9

8:15 am Regional Mass at Immaculate Conception

SATURDAY, MARCH 10

5:00 pm Gene Graham (Family)

SUNDAY, MARCH 11

8:00 am

10:30 am Charles Maloney (Family)

CH-Church HR-Helen Room

SB-Smith Building

POB-Parish Office Bsmt.

SJ1-St Julie Meeting Rm-1st fl. SJ2-St Julie Meeting Rm-2nd fl.

SJA-St Julie Dining Rm-1st fl.

BSC-Blessed Sacrament Chapel

FAIR TRADE During Donut Sunday, stop

by the Fair Trade table to see all of

the delicious items ready for your

purchase! MANY varieties of

ground coffee, whole bean coffee,

single serve coffee, tea, hot

chocolate, baking chocolate, chocolate chips,

chocolate candy bars and olive oil are available. Not

only are all of the items delicious, but they are all

organically and sustainably produced, with small

farmers getting a fair price for their products. Stop by

and check us out!

DONUT SUNDAY Please join us March 4 for Donut

Sunday in the Smith Building after the

8:00 and 10:30 Masses!

FESTIVAL TICKET TURN-IN IT'S TIME! Can you believe it. . .it's time for

our FIRST 2018 FESTIVAL TICKET TURN-IN!

We hope you did not lay them aside and forget about

them. If you get at least one ticket in the barrel you

are eligible for the $50 EARLY BIRD drawing each

month! Everyone's participation is and has been the

key to our success. You may drop your tickets (in an

envelope) in the collection basket, mail them to the

parish office or bring them in person to the turn in:

MARCH 5th, 7:00-8:30 in the Smith Building.

If you have questions or you are in need of more tick-

ets please call your AREA COMMANDER listed on

the back of the letter enclosed with your tickets. Hap-

py selling! See you soon! Thanks for all you do!

DeDe Moran 254-4432 and Don Hilgeford 252-1963

FESTIVAL VOLUNTEERS! We are always looking for volunteers for our

parish festival the weekend of June 8-10, 2018.

Please email sthelenfestival@gmail.com!

ST HELEN CHURCH

RIVERSIDE, OHIO March 4, 2018

OUR ELECT AND CANDIDATES! For those coming into the Catholic Church at Easter, Lent is known as the period of Purification and Enlightenment. During the 3rd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of Lent, our Elect (those preparing to be baptized at Easter Vigil) will take part in the Scrutinies at the 10:30 am Masses. Each scrutiny has time dedicated to silent prayer, intercessions for the Elect, and an exorcism -- not of the Devil -- but of the evil, darkness, or weaknesses in their lives that weigh them down or hold them back from making that step of coming to the baptismal font and being reborn. The Scrutinies are meant to uncover and heal all that is weak, defective, or sinful, and to strengthen all that is good and strong.

Through the Rites, we, as parishioners, are called to be "our best selves" in caring for and supporting the people who will be joining our family. To help all of us do so, over the next few weeks, we will be offering a glimpse into the hearts and lives of those who will be coming into the Church at Easter. Please keep them in your prayers.

Over the next three weeks as we accompany and pray for our Elect with the scrutinies, we will share a bit of their story, some of their favorite things, and how each of us in the community can pray for them as they prepare to join our faith family!

Meet Melissa Hockenberry! Melissa is one of our Candidates seeking full communion with the Catholic Church! She is a stay at home mother of nine children (four boys and five girls). Most of her children are grown but three still attend St. Helen School.

What’s your favorite candy?

I don’t eat much candy but when I do, I love to grab a box of Esther Price

Chocolates!

What’s your favorite sports team?

I’m not really not much of a sport fan; but, I do like to watch some football

games, particularly the Bengals.

Why do you want to be Catholic?

Why I chose to become Catholic is because this is where I am supposed to be. I know this is right for

me because I feel it in my heart. There is so much that I have learned since I started my journey. The

more I learn, the more I know that this is exactly where I belong.

What was your favorite RCIA session?

I hold in my heart a Thomas Merton prayer (The Road Ahead) that was handed out to us. I started this

journey not knowing what was ahead or certain where I was going. The prayer helps me know he will

guide me and be with me every step of the way.

How can the parish pray for you?

I ask the community to pray for me as I continue on my journey to keep learning and growing stronger in

the Catholic faith, until he shows me what he has chosen me to do.

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

Join us March

CHANGE TO OUR GOOD FRIDAY SERVICE On Friday of the Passion of the Lord (Good Friday), we will offer a service at 1 p.m.

only this year. There will be no service at 7 p.m. Given the hour of Jesus’s death, the cele-

bration of the Lord’s Passion should take place in the afternoon. The Roman Missal indicates

that “if….[there is] pastoral need for an additional liturgical service, the Diocesan Bishop may

permit the service to be repeated later.” Unfortunately, over the last several years, our com-

bined attendance between the 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. services would barely have filled half of the

church. Last year, it was less than half. With the attendance and the challenge of finding avail-

able priests during the Triduum, we can no longer sustain two services. Let us pray together in

hope at the afternoon liturgy!

ST HELEN CHURCH

RIVERSIDE, OHIO March 4, 2018

THIRD SUNDAY OF LENT

DAYTON CATHOLIC WOMEN’S CLUB

LUNCHEON The Dayton Catholic Women’s Club will be spon-

soring its annual St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon and Card/

Game Party, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., on Saturday, March

10, 2018, at the Presidential Banquet Center, 4548 Presi-

dential Way, Kettering. The $25 lunch will be served at 12

p.m. Come early to shop vendors and to select your table.

Participate and register ($10 per person) in our 1st Annual

Euchre Tournament with proceeds benefiting our Scholar-

ship and Grant Programs. Please help us once again by

donating empty Easter baskets, candy, small toys, “grass,”

personal/dental hygiene products, etc. Assembled Easter

baskets will be distributed to children at the St. Vincent de

Paul Shelter. For reservations or questions, contact

Julianne McCain (937-694-2176) or go online and visit our

website at: http://www.daytoncatholicwomensclub.org.

Deadline for reservations is March 5, 2018.

WALK IN FREEDOM THIS LENT! LIVE

GOD’S PLAN FOR YOUR LIFE! Do you find yourself struggling with the same sin

time after time, stuck in spiritual growth, struggling with

forgiveness, or bound by negative patterns? The Unbound:

Freedom in Christ Seminar will present 5 keys to greater

freedom in your life - Repentance & Faith, Forgiveness,

Renunciation, Authority, and The Father’s Blessing. The

seminar is Saturday, March 10th from 8:00am - 4:30pm at

Our Lady of Good Hope, 6 S. Third St., Miamisburg. It is

presented by the Dayton Unbound Team with some live

and some DVD talks by Neal Lozano, the creator of the

Unbound Model. Prayer opportunities will be

provided. Breakfast snacks and lunch provided. The cost

is a donation. To register visit unbound-dayton-

mar10.eventbrite.com. For more information

contact unbounddayton@gmail.com or (937) 530-3151.

VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD

“The harvest is abundant but the laborers are

few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers

for his harvest.” Mt 9:37-38

We invite you to join us for a Holy Hour for voca-

tions to the priesthood at 5 p.m., Sunday, March 11 at

Mount St. Mary's Seminary. Research shows that prayer

plays a critical role in a man’s decision to become a priest.

And where you find growing seminaries – you also find

steadfast prayer by the faithful – and WE ARE GROW-

ING! The Holy Hour will take place in the Chapel of St.

Gregory the Great at Mount St. Mary’s Seminary,

6616 Beechmont Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45230.

SUNG SOLEMN VESPERS Solemn Vespers will be held on Sunday, March

18 at 7:00 PM in the Chapel of St. Gregory the Great at

Mount St. Mary’s Seminary, 6616 Beechmont Avenue,

Cincinnati, OH 45230. As we prepare for the Sacred Tridu-

um, come pray the psalms and canticles of Vespers for the

Fifth Sunday of Lent. In addition to the liturgical chants of

Vespers, the Mount St. Mary’s Latin Schola and the Athe-

naeum Chorale will perform selections from the Tenebrae

liturgy of Holy Week, including the chanted Lamentations

of Jeremiah and sacred motets by Ingegneri. There is no

admission charge. All are welcome.

ELIZABETH’S NEW LIFE CENTER Please join us for ENLC Partnership Banquet at

Mandalay Banquet Center on Thursday, April 19 or Fri-

day, April 20. Guest Speaker is Dr. Ray Guarendi. Sug-

gested Donation is $25 per person. To register or volun-

teer to be a table host, please contact Barb Garrison, (937)

226-7414, email bgarrison@elizabethnewlife.org, or our

website elizabethnewlife.org

DAYTON CATHOLIC WOMEN’S CLUB

SCHOLARSHIP Attention high school graduating young women -

there are only a few weeks left to apply for the Dayton

Catholic Women's Club Scholarship. The deadline

is March 9, 2018 at 4:30 p.m. The application can be

found at Daytonfoundation.org/Scholars. Go to Scholar-

shipConnect, search for DCWC Scholarship link for re-

quirements. If you need assistance, go to scholar-

ships@daytonfoundation.org or call (937)-225-9955.

WOMEN’S RETREAT Presentation Ministries, Our Lady of Guadalupe

Discipleship Center, 5701 Lawshe Rd. Peebles, OH 45660.

Saturday, March 17, 2018, 9:00 am—4:00 pm. Virginity

and motherhood . . .acquire their full meaning and value in

Mary, Virgin and Mother. All women, virgins and

mothers, are called in Christ to be spiritual mothers

(Mulieris Dignitatem, 17, St. John Paul II). Join us for this

very blessed day just for women! Questions? Call (937)

587-5464 or (513) 373-2397 or email

retreats@presentationMinistries.com to register.

ASCENSION PARISH RAFFLE Please support Ascension Parish! You can win

$$$ every day in April, with winners based on Ohio Lot-

tery Pick 3 numbers. Purchase tickets at the Ascension

Parish Office, 2025 Woodman Dr. or call 253-5171.

ST HELEN FEDERAL CREDIT UNION The St Helen Federal Credit Union’s Annual

Meeting and Dinner is April 7 at 6:15 pm. Join us for a

delicious catered meal, dessert, and drinks as we give an

update on the state of the Credit Union. The dinner is not

just open to members only; anyone may attend! So if

you’ve ever been interested in finding out about St. Helen

Federal Credit Union, April 7th is the perfect opportunity to

learn. Tickets are available at the Credit Union for just

$13. For more information, please contact our office at

252-7477.