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Twenty-Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Debbie Abbene, Ann Ahern, Amado Araneta, Baby Canzoneri, Sally Capoziello, Shang Cheng, Marge D’Auria, Mary Ann D’Angelo, Patrick Delaney, Do-menica DeVito, Virginia DiGangi, Richard H. Dimler, Mary Divers, Jean Fochetta, Dennis Giammalvo,

John Joseph Gleeson, John Pierce Gleeson, Christine Healy, Maria Hernandez, Elizabeth Isolano, Marilyn Krajcik, Keri & Baby Tristan, James Leung, Thomas & Patricia Lipari, William J. Litt, Cindy Maione, Barbara Miller, Jane Orban, Angela Ottomanelli-Hubbs, Michael Palermo, Sebastian Panasci, Santo Pantina, Joseph Questore, Frances Russo, Bill Sangi-rardi, John Secreti, Patrick Smith, Remington Stafford, Mi-chael Tamburo, Rubie Lynn Torres, Chrissie Tremblay, Paul Tremblay, Paul John Tremblay, Sr., Sr. Joanne Walters.

Deceased: Madeline Lambert, JoAnn Marie Mustacchio, Jack Scotti

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

Sunday, September 23, 2018 8:00AM Antoinette & Charles Palmigiano (Loving Sister) 9:30AM Nicholas Carbonaro (Joe & Laura Russo) 11:00AM Francesca Gaudino (Rosalie LoCascio) 12:30PM Jean Aglialoro (Harold Family) 5:00PM For The Parishioners

Monday, September 24, 2018 9:00AM Maria D’Amico (Loving Family)

Tuesday, September 25, 2018 9:00AM Casimir Szatkowski (Loving Family)

Wednesday, September 26, 2018 Sts. Comas & Damian

9:00AM RoseMarie & Son Joseph G. Questore (Joseph J. & Steven Questore)

Thursday, September 27, 2018 St. Vincent de Paul

9:00AM Vincentians of St. John’s Univ. (Deidre McVey)

Friday, September 28, 2018 Sts. Wenceslaus & Lawrence Ruiz 9:00AM Purgatorial Society Mass

Saturday, September 29, 2018 Sts. Michael, Gabriel & Raph-ael

9:00AM Loretta Barnes (Rachele Sannino) Sts. Cosmas & Damian (Buquicchio Family) Nestor Rodriguez (Ruben Family) Margaret Tenzar (Patricia & Charles Bonanno) Lucille Thibault (Patricia & Charles Bonanno) 5:00PM Tillie Amari (Irene & Rochelle Franzese) John Ardito (Angela & Michael Hubbs) Carmela Magliulo (Intrabartolo Family) Paul Russo (Frank Ladone) Joseph Salegna (Pat & Angela Salegna)

Sunday, September 30, 2018 8:00AM Josephine & Dominick Calastro (Daughter, Marilyn) 9:30AM Andreina Colarullo (Delano Family) 11:00AM John DeRiso (Vita & Paul) 12:30PM Francesco Storti (Vallely & Mihaila Family) 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, September 28, 2018.

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 Altar Bread for this week is donated in memory of Josephine & Dominick Calastro, requested by Pat & An-gela Salegna.

The Altar Wine for this week is donated in memory of Mary Muolo, requested by The Quagliariello Family.

The Altar Candles for this week are donated in memory of Joseph & Mary Salegna, requested by Pat & Angela Salegna.

The Sanctuary Candle for this week are donated in memory of Jaime Pagan, requested by his loving wife, Carmen.

You are invited to Pray the Family Rosary

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

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St. Helen Parish Purgatorial Society Mass Intentions For Friday, September 28, 2018

Karl Albrecht (Florence Albrecht) All Souls in Purgatory (Kathleen Cocchiola) Amato & Sannino Family (Rachele Sannino) John Ardito (Monica & Frank Ottomanelli) Loretta Barnes (Vita, Paul, Lily & Tommy) Charles & Angela Barreca (Loving Son & Daughter) Thomas A. Barreca (Loving Brother & Sister) Mario & Angelina Barrella (Loving Family) Mary Camelo & Joshua Basin (Daughter/Mother, Francina) Adriano & Lorenza Bello (Bello Family) Gina Bender (Loving Aunt & Uncle) Frank W. Bitetto (Barbara Bitetto) Paul Anthony Bono (Bono Family) Gregory Bonura (Anne M. Vigliarolo) Azea Braganza (Rachele Sannino) Gerald Braganza (Loving Wife) Mary & Jim Cabral (Cabral Family) Nancy & Emanuel Camelliri (Constance & Joseph Camelliri) Zeny Caparas (Loving Family) Giuseppe & Maria Caputo (Loving Son, Rosario) Julianne Caputo (Loving Dad) Antoinette & Silvio Casazza (Maria Russo) C. Joseph & Laura Chiarello (Lois Chiarello) Vi & Joseph Cimo (Loving Niece) Jerry Codispoti (Loving Family) Claire Louise Colamaria (Fr. Colamaria) Corrigan-Vendittelli Family (Loving Family) Emilia Cuttone (Loving Sister & Niece) Vincent J. D'Amato (D'Amato Family) Deceased Brothers of Council #197 (Knights of Columbus) Frank DeRicco (St. Helen’s Support Group) John DeRiso (St. Helen’s Lectors) Concetta & Pasquale DeSantis (Linda DeSantis) William F. DiPietra (Helen & Frank DiPietra) Zygfryd Dubicki (Sophia Gadinis) John & Anna Falco (Loving Family) Louise & Vincent Festa (Annette & Martin Gould) William & Rose Fioto (Amelia Pepe) Frank Fogliano (Loving Family) John T. Gallagher (Loving Family) Father Gaughan, C.M. (Deidre McVey) Gidaro-Izzo Family (Loving Family) Giunta-Bernardo Family (Jean Bernardo) Anna Gonzalez (Will Espada) Gorycki Family (Helen Repstad) Elizabeth & George Gould (Annette & Marty Gould) Gwardjak & Kosinski Family (Daughter) Thomas Healy (St. Helen’s Lectors) Carole Hinchcliffe (Paul Hinchcliffe) Eddie Juba (Barbara Dorme) Giovanna LaPuma (Salvatore & Nancy Chiaramonte) Michael & Mary Leccese (Jo-Ann & Phyllis Leccese) Dominick & Angelina Librizzi (Rosalie Librizzi) Catherine & Joseph Lumetta (Pauline Mantineo) Macaluso Family (Loving Family) Justine Nigra Maguire (Constance Chwalek) Vincent & Vita Maltese (Loving Family) Jennie Maniscalco (Loving Children) Michael Mannarino (Loving Granddaughter) Joanna Mazurek (A Friend)

John Mendolia (Loving Family) Arthur T. Minor, Jr. (St. Helen’s Lectors) Rocco & Phyllis Miranti (Loving Family) Lillian & Charles Monastero (Vita Monastero) Mr. & Mrs. Joseph Mullalley (Jane Orban) Maggie O’Dee (Loving Friend) Richard Orban (Jane Orban) Joan Mary Orban-Jones (Orban Family) Antonio Paa (Loving Family) Dominick Pepe (Amelia Pepe) Joseph Pepe (Amelia Pepe) Pepe-Bitetto Family (Barbara Bitetto) Stephen Petroglia (Loving Wife & Children) Christine Piotrowski (Loving Family) Marie & Annie Putorti (Loving Friend) Joseph Quagliariello (Quagliariello Family) Questore Family (Joseph Questore) Kathleen Rammelkamp (Charles Rammelkamp) Joanne Rebecchi (Cynthia Ottomanelli) Felicita Reyes (Loving Family) Belinda Rocco (The Card Girls) Paul Russo (Anne M. Vigliarolo) Maria & Luciano Sannino (Rachele Sannino) Benito & Leonila Santiago (Loving Family) Linda & James Scagnelli (Heedles Family) Kay & Walter Schretzman (John Schretzman) Helen Sentome (Serpico Family) Frank T. Serpico (Serpico Family) Sica Family (Irene DeStefano) Teodoro & Carmela Sordillo (Loving Son Enzo & Family) Margaret Ann Stillman (Heedles Family) Zenon & Rozalia Szczesny (Daughter & Family) Scafata Taddeo (Jane Orban) Frank & Ann Tomitz (Patricia) Maryann E. Tomitz (Patricia) Turrigiano Family (Antoinette Turrigiano) Walter & Elizabeth Ujazdowski (Quagliariello Family) Albert F. Valenzuela (Loving Family) Ruben & Ana Vega (Gloria Martinez) Carl Vigliarolo (Anne M. Vigliarolo) Frank J. Vigliarolo (Anne M. Vigliarolo) Phyllis Zanghi (Loving Friends) Mary Zurick (Sophia Gadinis)

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Beginning Tuesday, September 25th, after the 9:ooAM Mass, we will be “experimenting” with a new concept here at the parish. Fr. Lukasz and I are calling it Faith Lab. The definition of a Laboratory is “a room or building equipped for scientific experiments, re-search, or teaching.” Now, we will not be creating anything like some mad scientists! Faith Lab is an invitation to all parishioners to bring their thoughts, research, and questions to the table in a setting that

will be led by one or both of the priests of the parish. We will not be solving the problems of the world but more like engaging each other with questions like… “Why we do that?” or “Does the Church teach this?” or “Father, what’s your opinion?” (including some of the more sticky questions). Father Lukasz and I are not theologians and so you may stump both of us! In fact, we will be open to anony-mous questions! There is no signup and no prerequisites or requirements, just a willingness to explore the Catholic faith in a re-spectful manner using Scripture, tradition, anecdotes and experiences. Faith Lab will begin on Tuesday, September 25th, after the 9:00 Mass, in the rectory, and will conclude on the Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving. Following Thanksgiving, the “Foul Weather Friends” (that’s my moniker) will begin to meet in the rectory for coffee and cake, continuing through winter months and concluding the Tuesday before Holy Week. If Faith Lab is a success, Fr. Lukasz and I will plan evening dates throughout the winter months. As I said, Faith Lab will be conducted by both priests of the parish (depending on our schedules). Come join us to explore and investigate the Catholic Faith!

Fr. Lukasz & Fr. Colamaria

St. Helen’s Order of Francis-can Seculars invites everyone to join us on Wednesday, October 3, 2018 at 7:30PM for a Prayer Service to commemorate the Transitus of St. Francis. The Transitus is a Franciscan

devotion remembering the passing of St. Francis from death unto life with God the Father. In attendance this year will be some of the Franciscan Brothers of Brooklyn.

“I glorified you on earth by accomplishing the work that you gave me to do.

Now glorify me, Father, with you.” John 17:4

Everyone is invited to a Paint Nite Fundraiser for St. Helen Catholic Academy on Friday, Sep-tember 28th at 6:30PM. Join us for an evening of creativity with artist Joseph Armao. Paint a priceless masterpiece! No experience needed! Tickets are $45.00 per person. You may sign up

now at www.paintnite.com/events/_1220331, or contact St. Helen Catholic Academy at (718) 835-4155.

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 Franciscan way of life.

Rosary for Peace…New Place, New Time The Rosary for Peace, sponsored by the Saint Helen Secular 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 domestic and civil) and the persecution of Christians throughout the world. All parishioners are invited to join us. We welcome anyone will-ing to lead a decade of the Rosary in a language other than English.

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 infor-mation please call Joan at (718) 848-9173.

Catholic Charities of Brooklyn & Queens, Witnesses of Mercy Program is sponsoring a special Readiness Workshop to help aid and assist seniors during hurricane season and other natural disasters. The Witness of Mercy

program is designed to assist the sick and homebound of our diocese when their families cannot. The Workshop will take place on Saturday, Septem-ber 29th from 10:00AM-1:00PM at the Immaculate Con-ception Center, Room E (7200 Douglaston Pkwy., Doug-laston, NY). A light breakfast and complimentary lunch will be served. If you are interested in attending and/or wish more information, please call Deacon Andrew Mastrangelo at (718) 722-6000, Ext. 6458, or email him at Andrew.Mastrangelo@ccbq.org.

The Kiwanis Club of Howard Beach Presents

The Fabulous Acchords!

A Doo Wop Extravaganza and a Night of Enter-tainment with Music From The 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s!

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2018 In Fr. Dooley Hall from 6:30-11:30PM

(Doors open at 6:00PM)

$60.00 Per Person (Table of 10: $50 Per Person) Ticket includes hot buffet, soft drinks, coffee & dessert

(to be served during intermission)—BYOB

For more information call Stephen at (917) 209-3336 or Dino at (646) 401-2805

Checks payable to: Kiwanis Club of Howard Beach, and should be mailed to:

Dino Bono, 16415 84th St., Howard Beach, NY 11414

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Monday, September 24, 2018 Prv 3:27-34; Lk 8:16-18 Poverty and hunger are not inevitable. They are the result of human sin and are supported by sinful social structures. Ade-quate resources exist. Corrupt systems can — and must — be challenged and changed. God has provided that all people will have their basic needs met if we share the Earth’s goods fairly. Adhering to the Cath-

olic social teaching principles of the universal destination of goods requires us to be diligent in ensuring that the Earth’s bounty is accessible to all. We must work together for just and lasting economic, political and social reforms. It is within our power to aid the poor and vulnerable and to promote and protect human dignity. It’s within our power — individually and col-lectively — to put love into practice by not only encouraging and practicing acts of charity but also demanding and building just social structures. Generous Lord, change us from selfish-ness to solidarity. Tuesday, September 25, 2018 Prv 21:1-6, 10-13; Lk 8:19-21 Justice requires us to recognize and respect the image of God in every person we see. Such acknowledgment is a fundamental and foundational social justice principle. We must make it a priority to ensure basic human dignity and rights and to serve the common good. St. Thomas More said, “It can only be dis-graceful for some Christians to snore while other Christians are in peril.” The Lord requires us, according to the prophet Micah, to do justice, love goodness and walk humbly with our God. This involves being moved by others’ suffering and responding to their needs as the Lord modeled for us — reaching out in compassion and gentleness, enduring injury with patience, for-giving others, not retaliating in violence, and dedicating our-selves to prayer, works of charity and works of justice. Com-passionate Creator, guide us to sacrifice our own comfort for the good of others. Wednesday, September 26, 2018 Prv 30:5-9; Lk 9:1-6 The word is our guide, but Scripture can at times be confusing. We may misunderstand and draw unsupportable conclusions. That’s an easy fix. We simply need to be educated. What’s not so easy are times when the message is particularly challenging or counter to our desires. We can conclude that the Lord isn’t asking us to do this or that. We base this interpretation not on the authority of the word but on our whims. In such situations, we certainly aren’t adding to “his words,” but subtracting — taking much less or none of the intended meaning. It is not that we don’t understand; we simply don’t want to listen. We think we know better and impose an explanation that fits our agenda. When we are arrogant or lazy in acknowledging and correcting our ignorance of the meaning of Scripture, we make dangerous assumptions and fool ourselves. Jesus, word made flesh, help us to continually seek your eternal truth.

Thursday, September 27, 2018

Eccl 1:2-11; Lk 9:7-9

There is value and dignity in work. When we work, we share in God’s own activity and are privileged to help God in the work of creation. Our labor allows us to attain earthly necessities and to provide for ourselves and others, but the benefit is fleeting. We can work nonstop, long hours, filled with sweat and tedium to achieve an abundance of material things, but their use and joy are short lived. Working merely to amass wealth and pos-sessions is futile. It will never make us truly content. We toil in vain if we expect profit to have any effect on our eternal soul. After death, nothing remains of our labor unless we use the blessings our work bestows to serve the Lord and his church. Anything else is vanity. May we rejoice in the glorious work you have done on earth, almighty Creator, and direct our work toward the joys of your heavenly kingdom. Friday, September 28, 2018 Eccl 3:1-11; Lk 9:18-22 As we go through the various seasons of the year and stages of life, we come to a better understanding of the need for patience and the importance of timing. Life can appear to be an unpre-dictable series of opposites and contrasts. The good and bad, highs and lows, twists and turns seem random or serendipitous. When we acknowledge that God guides us to the proper activity or place at the proper moment, we come to appreciate God’s wisdom, goodness and planning. There’s a divinely patterned timeline and purpose. When things aren’t going our way, we must trust that God designates a fitting time, an appointed time, for all things that fit within the design of his wise, bigger pic-ture. Our foiled plans simply don’t fit. We may get anxious as our earthly lives tick away, but the Lord’s work within us is timeless. Patient and all knowing Father, help us to humbly accept your plan for all the seasons of our lives. Saturday, September 29, 2018 Dn 7:9-10, 13-14; Jn 1:47-51 The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, “[T]he whole life of the Church benefits from the mysterious and powerful help of angels” (#334). In a General Audience Address, Aug. 6, 1986, as part of his Catechesis on the Angels, Pope John Paul II said, “According to revelation, the angels who participate in the life of the Trinity in the light of glory are also called to play their part in the history of human salvation, in the moments established by divine Providence.” God's messengers frequently aid us: Michael protects, Gabriel announces, and Raphael guides. In our everyday lives we encounter unexplainable pro-tection, communication and guidance that surely indicates the presence of “ministering spirits sent forth to serve, for the sake of those who are to possess salvation." (Heb 1:14). Thank you, loving and protecting Father, for the “solicitude of the angels for human beings and for their salvation.” (Pope John Paul II)

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TWENTY-FIFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

Homiletic starters and scriptural

reflection points for each day of the month