FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

READINGS FOR DECEMBER 10

Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11

1 Peter 3:8-14

Mark 1:1-8

With heartfelt thanks for your

STEWARDSHIP OF TREASURE

November 18 & 19

Adults $15,282.59

November 25 & 26

Adults $14,667.95

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.”

PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL

GUIDELINES If you are interested in sitting in

on a Parish Pastoral Council meeting,

please know that you are welcome to

come as an observer. If you have an item you would

like to discuss, please submit that to Mel McWilliams

and she will pass this information on to the Parish

Council Chair. The agenda is set at least a month in

advance and we will do our best to have your item

added as soon as possible.

YOUNG PEOPLE IN GRADES 6-8! Young people in grades 6-8 are invited to sing

with the choir for the 5pm mass on Christmas Eve.

There will be three rehearsals, and attendance at a

minimum of two rehearsals is required.

Wednesday, December 6 from 3:15-4:15pm (SH

students may stay after school and bring a snack)

Wednesday, December 13 from 3:15—4:15 pm

Tuesday December 19 from 7:00—8:00 pm

The arrival time on Christmas Eve will be 4:00

pm

For additional information or to confirm participation,

please contact Ellen Garmann at 937-254-6233 ext

316 or via e-mail ellen.garmann@sthelenparish.org

Many thanks for your generous response to

our Thanksgiving food collection! We will use

your donations in support of the Feed the Spir-

it ministry and to provide emergency food assistance

to families in the local area through the St Helen, St

Vincent De Paul conference. If you were not able to

drop off your donation you can still do so at the

church office or by contacting Tom Lewis at 238-

0986 to arrange for pick-up.

WORLD DAY OF PEACE There will be a mass in celebration of the 51st

World Day of Peace on the Solemnity of Mary the

Holy Mother of God, celebrated by Bishop Joseph

Binzer, on Monday, January 1, 2018 at 10:00 am at

Ascension Parish, 2025 Woodman Drive in Kettering.

The Holy Father designates each New Year’s Day as

a special opportunity for the universal Church to pray

for a year of greater peace, respect for life and social

justice. Join us as we pray for nonviolence and heal-

ing in our communities, nation and world.

ST. HELEN CHURCH

RIVERSIDE, OHIO December 3, 2017

EUCHARISTIC CELEBRATIONS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 3

8:00 am Louis Ciambro (Tarlano Family)

10:30 am Nicoletta Hary (Cathy & Dennis

Stewart)

MONDAY, DECEMBER 4

8:15 am Bill Hovey (Jane Potts)

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6

8:15 am Ernest Sprta (JoAnn Sprta)

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7

8:15 am Matt Garrison (Carroll Football Family)

7:00 pm

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8

8:15 am Elaine Santana (Helen O’Brien)

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9

5:00 pm Eugene Manuszak (Dolores Manuszak)

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10

8:00 am Jean Knapke (Family)

10:30 am Ed Morrisey (Jim & Marilyn

Thomeczek)

CALENDAR OF EVENTS MONDAY, DECEMBER 4

Novena—9:00 am

Festival Committee—HR 7:00 pm

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5

Rosary—BSC 9:00 am

Bible Study—SJ1 9:00 am

Leisure Club—SB 11:00 am

Small Faith Sharing Community—SJ1 7:00 pm

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6

Centering Prayer—SJ1 3:15 pm

CtBS Meeting—SJA 7:00 pm

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7

7:00 pm Vigil Mass Solemnity of the

Immaculate Conception

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 8

8:15 am Mass Solemnity of the Immaculate

Conception

Hour of Grace—BSC 12:00

SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9

5:00 pm Mass—Fr. Geraci

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 10

8:00 am Mass— Fr. Geraci

10:30 am Mass with Infant Jesus Shower bless-

ing— Fr. Geraci LEISURE CLUB

Due to the Infant Jesus Shower, the Leisure

Club will not meet on the regular meeting day. Lei-

sure Club will meet on December 5 in the St. Julie

Center at 11:00 am. Please note meeting location

change. We will be celebrating our December birth-

days.

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

CH-Church HR-Helen Room

SB-Smith Building

POB-Parish Office Bsmt.

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

on Friday, December 8, the Feast of the Immaculate

Conception. We will start at 12:00 noon sharp in the

Blessed Sacrament 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 blessings will be received

by those who pray undisturbed during this hour.

Please join us for the hour consisting of rosary, 51st

Psalm, prayers and private meditation. For further

information call Phyllis at 426-9954 or Helen at 253-

2565.

INFANT JESUS SHOWER Please remember all gifts must be turned in by

the 10:30 mass on December 10th. If you do not

attend the 10:30 mass you are welcome to bring

your gift and place it on the altar at any mass that

weekend.

All gifts must be wrapped. Please wrap each

gift individually and do NOT use bows or rib-

bons. The ribbons and bows will fall off and get

crushed during delivery.

Please clearly print the child’s name and fami-

ly number on each gift.

If you have misplaced your child’s information or

have any additional questions please call Amy Comer

at 231-9226 or email sthelen.ijs@gmail.com.

SURVIVING THE HOLIDAYS Join us for “Help for those grieving during the Holidays” on December 11, 7-9 pm at Immaculate Concep-

tion Parish. Contact Spencer Hargadon at 937-252-9919 with questions. There is no cost for this gathering.

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

NEW MISSALS AND

THE SEASON OF ADVENT With the arrival of the new liturgical year, we

begin to use the RitualSong, 2nd edition hymnal. We

are happy to see more than a year's worth of consul-

tation and research come to a fine conclusion through

the addition of this resource to our parish. You may

want to arrive a few minutes early over the next few

weeks in order to look through the new hymnals and

get to know the major sections of the book. It is orga-

nized in the same way that the former RitualSong

hymnals were, with the addition of biblical citations

and responsorial psalms from the Lectionary in the

back of the book.

Today we also introduce our Mass Compan-

ion Cards, which will be available at all of the doors

before Masses. Please take a card to use as a refer-

ence for hymn and response page numbers during

Mass. The cards will serve as a means of hospitality

and as a means of helping us to reflect and pray. In

addition to the hymn numbers, you will find “What

to Watch for Today” and “What to Listen For To-

day.” After Mass, turn to your bulletin for “What to

Reflect on and Discuss This Week” to help you enter

into the Scriptures and the Season of Advent more

deeply!

WHAT TO REFLECT ON AND DISCUSS

THIS WEEK: What has been your most difficult experience of

waiting? Did “hope” play a role in your ability to

persevere?

How can this Advent season be a time of restora-

tion, of re-creation for you?

How can you and your family members be more

fully present to one another this week?

What might your “righteous deeds” look like?

ST. HELEN CHURCH

RIVERSIDE, OHIO December 3, 2017

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT

Fourth Sunday of Advent

December 24

One Mass at 9:00 a.m.

THE BLESSING OF

PARENTS BEFORE

CHILDBIRTH

Please feel welcome to

invite friends who are ex-

pecting a child

The First Sunday of Advent

December 3

Lighting of the

Advent Wreath

Advent by Candlelight

for Women

Sunday, December 3,

3:00 p.m.

Reservations required

Second Sunday of Advent

December 10

Infant Jesus Shower, 10:30 Mass

Third Sunday of Advent

December 17

“Bambinelli Sunday”

Children will be invited

to bring the figurine of

the Infant Jesus from

their home crèche

for a special

blessing at all Masses

Solemnity of the

Immaculate

Conception of Mary

Vigil Mass

Thursday,

December 7, 7 p.m.

and

Friday, December 8,

at 8:15 a.m.

This book would make

a lovely Christmas gift

for a young child!

Advent Communal Reconciliation Service at Immaculate Conception

Thursday, December 14, 7 p.m.

ST. HELEN CHURCH

RIVERSIDE, OHIO December 3, 2017

WOMEN'S MORNING OF REFLECTION Please join us on Tuesday, December 5, 2017, at

St. Peter's Church, for an Advent Morning of Reflection.

The theme will be "The Power of Humility,” especially in

the life of Saint Teresa of Calcutta. We will begin in the

church with Mass at 9:30 AM, followed by a spiritual re-

flection, meditation, and a social in the Reis Center, ending

at noon. Reconciliation will be available. To reserve

Babysitting for your children please contact Heather at 867

-7332 or for further information, Connie at 620-

2207. Regnum Christi women are hostessing this wonder-

ful opportunity for all women.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

DRUG-FREE COALITION You’re invited to “Town Hall” by Montgomery

Country Drug Free Coalition Monday, December 4, 6pm,

in Kramer Hall of St Luke Catholic Church, Beavercreek.

Get the latest stats, learn what drugs are problematic and

why, and how you can help. For more info, call Glenda

Canfield at 937-654-2559 or glenda.canfield@gmail.com.

Join Choosing Hope, the coalition of area Catholics ad-

dressing the varied needs brought about by the drug crisis.

Next meeting: December 6, Kramer Hall, 7-8:15pm.

CHRISTMAS DINNER AND CONCERT Join us at Carroll High School for a concert and

spaghetti dinner on December 7, 5:00-6:30. Concert at

7:00. Concert admission is free and the dinner is $10 for

adults and $6.00 for 12 and under. For more information,

please call Karen Eckhart at 937-241-5063. Proceeds ben-

efit the CHS music department!

HARPIN’ HOLIDAYS CONCERT Join us at St. Leonard Campus at the chapel for a

festive holiday concert performance by Dayton Area Harp

Ensemble. Get in the Christmas spirit! Tuesday, Decem-

ber 5 at 7:00 pm. No charge to attend. For more infor-

mation, contact Dawn Arrowood at 937-439-7145.

ST HELEN CREDIT UNION 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 on our Second Semester

Special, Debt Consolidation, and other loans, please con-

tact the Credit Union at 252-7477.

LIVE NATIVITY Live Nativity December 10th at Holy Trinity

Church (Fifth & Bainbridge Sts) from 12:30-3:00. Open to

the public and all are welcome! There will be donkeys,

sheep, goats, etc and the children of the parishes will be

portraying the Holy Family, angels, shepherds, and wise

men. Refreshments, crafts, and music throughout the after-

noon. Sponsored by Emmanuel, Holy Trinity, and St. Jo-

seph. Questions or info please call Jan Reed @ Holy Trini-

ty Parish office, 228-1223.

ADVENT LUNCH WITH THE LORD Join St. Peter in Chains Cathedral for their Advent

Lunch with the Lord on Mondays, December 4, and 11,

and 18, from 12Noon-1:00pm in the Synod Hall. The

speakers will guide you on an Advent meditation of the

Joyful Mysteries of the Holy Rosary. Monsignor Frank

Lane will provide the historical and theological back-

ground of these Mysteries, while Dr. Ceil Dorger will take

you on a journey through the Mysteries as depicted in sa-

cred art. The sessions are free and open to the public. Bring

a friend and a lunch and enjoy this lovely meditation as a

way to prepare your heart for the coming of our Lord. PROJECT RACHEL MINISTRY

Since 1994 Project Rachel has ministered to wom-

en and men who have lost a child through abortion. Know-

ing what we do know now, there are relatives, friends,

partners and others involved in the experience that are also

suffering the loss of an unborn child, and need to honor the

child and have an opportunity to heal while grieving and

mourning their loss. Project Rachel comprises several

components to help women and men to find hope and heal-

ing: One-on-one peer mentoring, One-on-one spiritual

direction with a priest, One-on-one spiritual direction with

a deacon or religious sister, brother or trained lay person,

Information about counseling, Support Groups, A Day of

Reflection, A weekend retreat for women. See our web-

site: http://www.catholiccincinnati.org/project-rachel/

or call (513)784-0531.

CRECHE DISPLAYS The Transfiguration Center on Calumet Rd will

again be hosting the Creche Displays (Nativity Scenes)

from the University of Dayton. They will be on display

from November 27th to January 5th from 9-

5 Monday through Friday, Tuesday and Thursdays un-

til 7pmand Saturdays from 10-2 starting on December 9th.

There will be an Open House for the Creche Displays

on Sunday, December 17th from 5-8 pm. Fr. Michael will

be giving a talk at 6 pm that evening regarding Christmas

and Christianity in India. Come join us for refreshments,

holiday lights and decorations, and a wonderful talk by Fr.

Michael.