| Parish Basketball
Coach’s Meeting Anyone interested in coaching or helping with the Parish Basketball League come to the Parish Center on Monday, November 24 at 9:00 PM. Any questions, contact Richie Hughes at 908-232-1886 or email hwestfd@aol.com. |
| Children's Christmas
Choir The Children's Christmas Choir will begin rehearsals for the Christmas Eve liturgies on Friday, December 5th from 4:00 to 4:45 pm in the Church. If you are in grades 2 through 5, you are invited to join us to learn new Christmas carols, sing traditional carols and prepare for singing on Christmas Eve. Rehearsals will be December 5th, 12th and 19th. For more information, please contact either MaryEllen Mueller- 908-232-1214 x. 24 or Colleen Kraft 908-232-4256. |
| Advent Wreath Making The annual CFM Advent Wreath Making is planned for Sat., Nov. 29th from 4:00 to 5:30 PM in the Parish Center. We'll make Advent wreaths with fresh greens and you'll receive a set of candles and daily Advent prayers. All parish families are invited to join us for refreshments and fun. To be sure we have all supplies needed, we ask you to respond by calling Jim & Donna McCabe at 233-3457 by Nov. 23rd. Hope you'll join us for this meaningful way to begin the Christmas Season. Note correct phone number 233-3457. If you responded last week, please call again to be sure to be included. |
| Attention Grades K-12
Parents In September over 800 boxes of Children's and Teen's donation envelopes were distributed through CCD classes and Confirmation Small Groups. To date, very few of those envelopes have been coming back through the Sunday collections. Please remember to have your child or teen use his/her envelopes each week. Use of envelopes is a wonderful tool in teaching our young about giving to those in need. Every penny collected from these envelopes goes to charities that are chosen by the kids. Last year we were able to donate $4500 to charities mostly involved with assisting children in need. Thank you for your continued generosity. |
| Suggestions Needed Every school year, the children’s Sunday donation envelopes are collected, counted, and a running tally is kept. Each year we ask the children of our parish to submit ideas of charitable organizations they would like to see their generosity benefit. If an individual child or class wishes to submit the name of an organization to receive this money, please do so by email to Mrs. Attanasio at lattanasio@sainthelen.org. You must state the nature of the work the organization performs and why you believe they would be worthy of this money. All suggestions must be made by December 12. |
| Adult Chaperones Needed We are in need of chaperones for our Middle School Youth Night on Saturday, December 6th. If you can help please contact Kathy Rivera 908-789-3234 or Debbie Abbattista 908-654-9257. |
|
Thanksgiving Baskets
Each year Saint Helen’s provides over 200 baskets for families living in Westfield, Elizabeth, Plainfield, Jersey City and Newark. Thank you for all your support. Bring baskets to the Parish Center on Sunday, November 23 before 1:30, or as early as possible on Monday, November 24. Deliveries begin this day. Please keep the turkeys separate. Extra turkeys are always appreciated. Please, no frozen pies or vegetables - they are too difficult to keep frozen for delivery. |
| Christmas
Gifts Ornaments with suggested gifts will be at the entrances of the Church starting this weekend for anyone who would like to participate in our “gift giving project”. Please return all gifts by Dec. 15. If you are interested in “adopting” a family, please call Marilyn at 233-8757. These family gifts must be in my office by Dec. 10. I will provide you with the names and sizes of each family member and instructions. |
| Separated and Divorced
Group The next meeting of the Seasons Divorced, Separated, Widowed and Single group will be Tuesday, November 25 at 7:15 PM in the Annex of the Parish Center. Please call Grace Lane at 908-301-9114 or Father Don at 232-1214 for information. |
| "Living
the Word" Books Available There are still a few extra copies of the book "Living the Word" available for anyone who did not place an order but would like to purchase the book. Please call Maureen at 908-810-9746 to inquire about an extra copy or to make arrangements to pick up a copy you previously ordered and paid for. |
|
Gratitude: An
Attitude of the Heart
There are so many reasons to be grateful. And each time we say "thank you" or "I am grateful for . .", we are blessed with more abundance. Soon we will celebrate Thanksgiving, that day set aside to appreciate all that we have and are as Americans. Saint Helen's Thanksgiving Day liturgy will be celebrated on Thursday morning, November 27th at 9:00. We invite the parish family to join us and to bring with them a “Grateful List" to be placed in a basket and brought to the altar in the entrance procession. Your Grateful List might include -- I am grateful for the gift of my faith -- I am grateful for the gift of my children -- I am grateful for the gift of my good health -- and so on. Please join us as we sing our praise to God during the Eucharist (which means Thanksgiving) on November 27th. |
| Women’s Advent Prayer
Breakfast Beginning November 25, 9:30 to 11:00 AM, all women of the Parish are invited to take 90 minutes out of their busy holiday schedules to come together in prayer and reflection during the Advent season. We gather to reflect on the coming Sunday’s readings. The sharing is always rewarding and enjoyable. Light refreshments are served. Feel free to bring a friend who might not have this opportunity in her own house of worship. Additional gatherings will be Dec. 2, Dec. 9, and Dec. 16. Meetings are held in the Parish Center. Questions? Call Linda Attanasio at 233-8757, ext. 19. |
| Men's Advent Prayer
Breakfast The Men's Advent Prayer Breakfast will meet at 6 AM in the Parish Center on the following Wednesdays: November 26th, December 3rd, 10th and 17th. Come and start your day with 45 minutes of faith and camaraderie (not to mention free coffee and donuts) as we continue our shared faith journey. All men of the parish are more than welcome, especially those who have never been, or haven't been in a while. Volunteers for the reflections are welcomed. If you have any questions, please call Brian Salisbury at (908-789-3098) or Dan Flynn (908-317-9801). Look forward to seeing you there! |
| Service Auction a
SUCCESS! This year's Service Auction to benefit Saint Helen's Transitional House for the Homeless was a tremendous success! We raised over $65,500! We were especially moved as we listened to Luciana, one of our house's current residents, thank us for giving her family a second chance to work towards the "American Dream." She made us misty when she spoke about having a place to put a Christmas tree and humbled us with her courage and poise. How awesome that we at Saint Helen's can reach out to make such a difference in this family's life! The Committee is gratified by the tremendous support of Saint Helen's. Year after year our community has come through, giving freely with utter generosity of spirit. On behalf of the four families, including six children, that we housed this past year and the families who will live in our house in the coming year, thank you. If you would like to join our committee or find out more about our house, please call Denise Ricci (908) 233-1184. |
| Lectors: Mark Your
Calendars All Lectors are asked to attend one of the following meetings: Monday, January 5 or January 26. Both meetings will be held at 7:30 PM in the Church. The purpose of the meeting is to help enrich this ministry of the Lector and to explain fully the role of the Lector in the life of the liturgy. Any questions? Please call Father Larry at 232-1214. |
| Vestment Memorials There are a number of vestments available for memorials. If you are interested, please call Father Larry at the Parish Center, 232-1214, ext. 23. |
| BREAKFAST WITH SANTA Tickets will be on sale the next two weekends for our annual family fun morning with Santa Claus on December 14. The traditional full breakfast of pancakes, scrambles eggs, sausage, cereal, buns, juice, coffee, tea, etc. will be served by the parish elf brigade at 3 reserved time periods: 8:00 to 9:15, 9:15 to 10:15, and 10:15 to 11:30. Santa will talk to the children and their pictures will be taken with Santa after each breakfast to allow the elves to clean the tables for the next seating. Tickets will be priced at $8.00 for adults, $6.00 for children and seniors, with a maximum per family charge of $30.00. Tickets usually sell out quickly so get yours ASAP. We will sell only 225 tickets for each time slot. For info, please call Dennis Cogan at (732) 382-7515. |
| CYO Basketball
Shoot-a-Thon to Benefit Cancer Research On Sun., Dec. 7 from 1 to 5 PM at the WHS gym the CYO basketball program will hold a free throw shoot-a-thon. Part of the proceeds will go to the V Foundation for Cancer Research. All CYO players and coaches are seeking pledges. Interested in supporting our program? See any coach or player, contact Joanne Walsh (jwalsh6@comcast.net), or come on Dec. 7 to make a pledge. Volunteers are also needed to help with this event - good service hour opportunity. |
| Support Group For
Fathers Who Have Lost A Child The needs of fathers who have suffered the loss of a child are unique. Archdiocesan Family Life Ministries invites all grieving fathers to an evening of prayer, sharing and discussion to be held Friday, December 5 at 7:30 PM at Notre Dame Church, 358 Central Avenue, North Caldwell . Pre-registration is requested. For information call 973-497-4327. |
| Bereavement Workshop Coping with the holidays following the death of a loved one is a most difficult experience. "A Journey of Hope: Coping With the Holidays" workshop will be held at St. Bartholomew's in Scotch Plains Sunday, Nov. 30 from 2 to 4. Call Joanne if interested in attending at 908-889-4375. |
| Attention Parish Seniors All Senior members of our community are invited to a morning of reflection on Monday, December 1, 2003. The day will begin with 9 AM Mass in the Church, continue in the Parish Center and end with lunch. Our guest speaker, Sr. Mary Simon Robb, will share her thought on the themes of Advent, and help us to prepare our hearts to welcome Jesus on Christmas. Register by sending $10 a;pmg toh your name and phone number to the Parish Center. |
| Sesquicentennial Church
History Did you know.......Our first Bishop, James R. Bayley, had been an Episcopalian clergyman (ordained 1841) only to convert to Roman Catholicism in 1842. He was ordained a Catholic priest on March 2, 1844. He credited his move to Catholicism on his "respect for antiquity and the testimony of the Fathers, which I learned in the course of instructions...". |
| Theology on Tap A speaker Discussion Series for People in their Twenties and Thirties "From Charity To Justice", presented by Brian Reavey, Asst. Director of the Romero Center, will be held November 25 from 7 to 9 PM at the Westwood on North Avenue in Garwood. $15 with RSVP, $20 at door. Dynamic speaker, lively conversation, great fellowship and savory food. Includes Beer, wine, salad, Seafood Newburg, Garlic Roast Chicken, Beef Tips, vegetables and dessert. Call Patricia Martin at 908-233-6151. |
| Advent Retreat Day A day of prayer, quiet time and reflection will be held on Friday, December 5 from 9:45 AM to 2:00 PM at St. Joseph Social Service Center on Division Street in Elizabeth. The Retreat Day will be facilitated by Fr. Al Berner, Priest, University Chaplain and Social Justice Advocate. Call Maureen or Jim at 908-355-6885 to reserve your space. |
| Litany of Generosity To share whatever gift it is that
you have given to us . . .
R. Gracious God,
give us generous hearts.
To acknowledge you as the giver of all good gifts . . . R. Gracious God, give us generous hearts. To hold all of our treasures and values with open hands . . . R. Gracious God, give us generous hearts. To be gracious and unbegrudging in our giving . . . R. Gracious God, give us generous hearts. To recognize the abundance of blessings in each passing day . . . R. Gracious God, give us generous hearts. To fall more deeply in love with the God of all generosity so that our hearts are strong enough to give away freely whatever is asked . . . R. Gracious God, give us generous hearts. ALL: O Gracious God, who so generously lavishes our lives with goodness, create in our hearts a deep center of gratitude, a center that grows so strong in its thanksgiving that sharing freely of our treasures becomes the norm and the pattern of our existence. Remind us often of how much you cherish us, of how abundantly you have offered gifts to us, especially in the hours of our greatest need. May we always be grateful for your reaching into our lives with surprises of joy, growth and unearned love. Amen. |
|
If you have a submission for the bulletin,
please either e-mail it to usschmidts@comcast.net
the Friday a week prior to when you would like it to be printed or fax
it to the Parish Center, (908) 317-5459, care of Rick Schmidt.
Please keep in mind that space is limited every week so notifications
should be limited to a short paragraph to allow more individuals, staff
and parishioners alike, to have their events viewed by the community in
this publication. Please include your name and phone
number. Thank you.
|