Pastoral Care:
The pastoral staff supports individuals and families through personal difficulty, transitions, loss and spiritual growth. We are willing to meet with you individually, with your family, or respond with a program for a group need. For more information please call the rectory.
Lenten Series: We will meet every Wednesday during Lent for a simple soup supper meal followed by Evening Prayer with a guest presider/homilist.
Baptism of Infants
Baptism is the first stage of initiation into Christ’s body, the Church. Therefore, baptism is an event which is celebrated by the whole community of faith. Baptisms are celebrated as part of the Sunday Mass. Immersion in flowing water most clearly signifies the immersion of the newly baptized into the death and life of Christ. Parents are required, and sponsors (godparents) are encouraged, to attend the preparation session and rehearsal before baptism. Parents must be registered members of the parish for at least three months, attending Mass each weekend. Expectant parents are asked to pre-register for the sessions by calling Sr. Eleanor, 793-0618.
Sacrament of Confirmation for Older Youth and Adults who have received first Eucharist
It is the normal practice at St. Helen for children to be confirmed at the same liturgy when they receive their First Eucharist We offer preparation for the Sacrament of Confirmation for families whose members have received the Sacrament of First Eucharist and who skipped the Sacrament of Confirmation. Mentoring process will be used for preparation. The person will meet with a parish sponsor several times before the day of the sacrament. Parish mentors/sponsors and candidates for Confirmation will set their own meeting times following the guidelines provided by the coordinator of the program.
Confirmation / 1st Eucharist
The ancient order of the sacraments of initiation is baptism, confirmation and Eucharist. This is the order in which unbaptized adults and school age children receive these sacraments today when they become Catholic. Therefore, children who are prepared to complete the Sacraments of Initiation will be confirmed and receive Eucharist at the same liturgy.
Expectations:
1. Families are registered members of St. Helen.
2. Families attend weekend Mass at St. Helen.
3. Children must be at least in 2nd grade and must have attended a religious education program or Catholic school for one full year prior to beginning this process.
4. Families must be committed to ongoing faith formation
First Reconciliation
Catechesis about reconciliation is a necessary part of formation. However, the parents have the primary responsibility of determining the readiness of their children for this sacrament. Parents who recognize their child’s desire and readiness to celebrate reconciliation are invited to participate in this family faith-centered process.
Anointing of the Sick
In the Sacred Constitution on the Liturgy, the Second Vatican Council makes the following declaration concerning the anointing of the sick: ‘Extreme unction,’ which may also and more fittingly be called ‘anointing of the sick,’ is not a sacrament for those only who are at the point of death. Therefore, as soon as any parishioner is ill from more than a minor ailment, the fitting time for that person to receive this sacrament has certainly already arrived .
Marriage
Catholics consider marriage between baptized persons to be a sacrament--a unique and visible sign in today’s world of Christ’s presence and of God’s love. This is a covenant of love, wherein the parties to the covenant (or promise) pledge lasting faithfulness, total permanence, and continuing fruitfulness. It should be clear, then, that no one may enter marriage in the Church without sufficient preparation, maturity and understanding. At St. Helen’s, no arrangements for a proposed wedding should be made before making an appointment with Fr. Emmett and discussing with him the decision to enter marriage. Emphasis is on preparation for marriage, with a smaller amount of emphasis on preparation for the wedding ceremony. Wedding guidelines are available at the rectory.
Policy on taking pictures at Liturgies
A spirit of prayerfulness is necessary and important at liturgical celebrations. To foster such a spirit and keep distractions to a minimum, the following policy applies for sacramental celebrations at Masses: that there be one designated photographer for all at any celebration, that no flash should be used, that the designated photographer will remain in the pew and that all video taping should be done from the balcony.