St.

Helen Church
4106 Mountain St.
Beamsville, ON L0R 1B7
Ph: 905-562-7427
Fax: 905-563-0003
Email: office@sthelenscatholic.ca
Opened - October 2, 1938 Est. as a Parish - January 1, 1986
Pastor: Rev. Krzysztof Szczepanik Sunday Masses:
Office Administration: Aggie Agnino Saturday: 5:00pm
Sunday: 9:00am, 11:00am *
*(Children’s Liturgy of the Word)
Office hours:
Tuesday to Friday 9:00am - 3:00pm Weekday Masses:
Closed on Mondays and all Statutory holidays Tuesday: 6:30pm
Wednesday to Friday: 9:00am
Website: www.sthelenscatholic.ca 2nd Friday at Albright: 10:00am
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/sthelenscatholic 3rd Friday at Mennonite: 10:00am

Sacraments Contacts
Catholic Funeral Rites:
Baptism: When a death occurs in your family, Music Ministry:
1st & 3rd Sunday at 1:00 pm. please call the Parish Office and we Anthony van Engelen
Call parish office. will assist you in making the adve1@yahoo.com
necessary liturgical arrangements.
1st Communion & Confirmation Ministry Scheduling & RFM:
Contact the Parish Office. Chronic Care Facilities: Rachel Reid ~ ministryschedul-
Pastoral visits are made monthly. ing@sthelenscatholic.ca
Reconciliation: Reception of Holy Communion is
Every Saturday 4:00pm - 4:30pm or by available to residents. Fundraising Events:
appointment with the priest. office@sthelenscatholic.ca
Homebound:
Marriage: Notify the Parish Office when serious Facility & Grounds Maintenance:
Arrangements six months in advance. illness occurs. When the sick, aged or Craig Luey
Marriage preparation is required. incapacitated are confined to home for craig.luey@gmail.com
an extended time, pastoral visit can be
RCIA & RCIC: arranged. Catholic Women's League:
Contact the Parish Office. Piera Palmieri ~ contact parish office

Anointing of the Sick: Schools Knights of Columbus:

Please let us know when someone has St. Mark School Marcel VanRuyven
a serious or prolonged illness or is to Principal: Steven Ward mgvanruijven@gmail.com
have surgery. This sacrament
celebrates the healing of mind and St. Edward School SVDP:
body and the forgiveness of sins. Principal: Carla Bianco Lorraine Martin ~ contact parish office

Kindly complete the following and place in the collection basket.

Envelopes will be on the round table in the foyer the following weekend.
☐ New Parishioner* ☐ Change of address ☐ Moving
Name________________________ Phone_________________ E-mail___________________
Address______________________________________________ City_____________________
☐ I would like to use offertory envelopes* Postal Code______________
 Third Sunday of Lent - Year A
Sunday March 15, 2020
Mass Intentions
 March 17 - March 22, 2020
As we gather, let us remember and pray for . . .
th
Tues. ~ ………………………………………. Mar. 17
11:00 am Funeral Mass Vito Di Iorio
……………………………………… Mar. 18th
+ Dora Geczy, + Elizabeth Barna
Wed. ~
(by Alex Geczy)
9:00 am
+ Margaret Molnar
(by Sharon Driscoll)
…………...St. Joseph…..………….. Mar. 19th
Thurs. ~
+ Maria & Giuseppe Guerriero
9:00 am
(by Michelle Leva)
Fri. ~ ……………………………………….. Mar. 20th
9:00 am Stations of the Cross
10:00 am + Sheila Jenkinson
Menno Hm (by Steve & Kate D’Onofrio)
Sat. ~ ……………………………………… Mar. 21st
5:00 pm For the People of St. Helen Parish
Sun. ~ ……………………………………… Mar. 22nd
9:00 am + John & Betty Henderson
(by the Henderson Family)
11:00 am + Machado & Matos Family
(by Edward & Lucy Matos)
MINISTRY FOR THE SICK AND HOMEBOUND
We are grateful to those who give of their time and care
to bring Holy Communion to our parishioners who
cannot make it to church due to sickness or infirmity. If
you know of anyone who would like to
receive communion in their home or while
hospitalized at West Lincoln Hospital,
please contact the parish office.
A PRAYER WITH SONG OF TAIZE
March 21th, June 20th ~ 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.
Monastery of Mount Carmel, 7020 Stanley Avenue,
Niagara Falls, 905-356-4113 or Contact Eunji Kim -
eunji@fountaintree.ca All are welcome!
We continue to collect your Canadian Tire
money. It can be brought to the office or
placed in the collection basket.
FLU SEASON
As a cautionary measure to alleviate
concerns, during the flu season, you
are requested not to shake hands
during Sign of Peace. You are also
asked to refrain from shaking
hands with the celebrant as you
leave the church. We hope that
these measures will help to keep all
of us healthy.
This week, the Sanctuary Lamp burns in
memory of:
+ CLAYTON JARVIS
The Sanctuary Lamp burns to remind us of Christ’s
presence in the Blessed Sacrament of the altar.
If you wish to sponsor the sanctuary lamp for one
week, the stipend is $35.00
our parish prayer
Jesus, open our hearts, enabling us to embrace
your teachings and to love one another. Holy
Spirit, lift us and lead us, deepening our desire to
serve God through serving each other. Amen.
THE THIRD WEEK OF LENT
With this week, we conclude the
first part of Lent. We continue
our lessons in the faith, as our
practices of Lent become deeper
and more full of grace.
We enter into this week
reflecting upon the Scrutiny that
makes up our intense prayer for
those Elect, preparing for Baptism. And, as we beg, as
Church, that they be freed from sin and from all
anxiety, we ask those same desires for ourselves.
The simple and powerful words of the Opening
Prayer guides our daily prayer. We continue to wake
each morning, pausing to ask for the graces we desire
for the day. Throughout each day, the background of
our thoughts and feelings is more and more taken up
with what this journey means for our personal change
of heart, the renewal of our Baptismal commitment to
be placed with Jesus, and our growing desire to act in
solidarity with the poor. We go to bed each evening,
after pausing to give thanks for the gifts of the day.
CATHEDRAL APPEAL UPDATE
As of March 4, 2020, just 10 months into the 18 months
Cathedral appeal, we, as a diocese have raised
$1,010,360.54 in cash donations and $86,247.32 in
outstanding pledges. This brings our total raised to
$1,096,607.86 or 91% of our $1,200,000 goal. Thank
you for the generosity of so many! Still thinking about
making a donation? Visit us on the web at
www.saintcd.com/appeal or pick up a brochure and
pledge form from your parish office to play your part.
 3rd Sunday of Lent
Give us water to drink. (Exodus 17)
God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the
Holy Spirit that has been given to us. (Romans 5)
The water that I will give will become a spring of water
gushing up to eternal life. (John 4)
Water is the predominant
symbol in today’s readings: As
water sustains life and cleans
away the grime and filth that can
diminish and destroy life, in the
waters of baptism, the sins that
alienate us from God are washed
away and we are reborn in the
Spirit of compassion and
community.
All of us who have encountered Jesus are called to be
reconcilers, not judges; we are called to lift people up,
not drive them to their knees. In so many ordinary
ways we can help one another realize new life and hope
in Christ if we are willing to tear down the walls that
divide us, to reach over the distances between us, to
build bridges over chasms of mistrust and prejudice.
Easter transformation begins with a recognition of our
sins and failings. As Jesus confronts the woman at the
well with the reality of her own sinfulness and
brokenness, we must confront our own sinfulness and,
in doing so, realize our need for God. Sin is a reality in
the lives of each one of us; but through Christ,
forgiveness, reconciliation and rebirth, are just as real
and possible.
THE MURA: BESET BY BUFFALOS, PLAGUED
BY POTASH
For several years now, the Mura people
of Brazil’s Amazonas state have sought to
assert their claim to their ancestral lands.
To their frustration however, it has been
much easier for cattle herders and a
potash mine to occupy and control those
lands than it has been for them to have
their rights respected. Development and
Peace’s partner, the Indigenous Missionary Council
(CIMI), helps them advocate for, defend and publicize
their cause more effectively.
“On behalf of the Mura in my region, I want to thank
Canadians. We are very happy to have your support. It
helps us in our struggle to have our rights and our land
respected.” — Jeremias Oliveira, representative of the
Mura community, Brazil Watch the Mura’s testimony
at devp.org/campaign/mura.
DIOCESAN SEPARATED & DIVORCED
HEALING MINISTRY SUPPORT GROUP
We meet every second and fourth Monday (7:00-9:00
p.m.) at Mt. Carmel Spiritual Centre. For more info,
call 905-356-4113, or e-mail:
separatedanddivorced@saintcd.com.
March 23rd ~ Have Faith
St. Helen’s Annual
Ham & Turkey Roll
Saturday March 28th, 2020
Doors open @ 6:00 p.m. ~ Event begins @ 7:00 p.m.
Lottery Tickets can be purchased at the office ~ $5.00
• Food Lottery Draws:
• Wine 1st prize $1500
• Beer 2nd prize $500
• Raffles 3rd prize $200
• Prizes 4th 3 prizes of $100 ea.
UNPLANNED - THE STORY
SHOWING ON WEDNESDAY MARCH 25TH
12 NOON IN THE PARISH HALL
Unplanned is the inspiring true story of one woman’s
journey of transformation. It is the most important
movie you’ll ever see on one of the most controversial
issues of our time. No matter which side of the fence
you’re on, no one will leave this film unmoved by
Abby’s journey. Bring your own lunch.
"40 DAYS FOR LIFE"
Be part of this peaceful campaign by prayer and fasting
throughout Lent. Each church is adopting one day with
two or more people to give public witness for one or
two hours, standing on Portage Rd. at the Niagara Falls
General Hospital and holding a sign “Pray to End
Abortion.” Our parish's day is Monday, March 23
(8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.); anyone, however, can take
part at any time by picking up a sign at the Knights of
Columbus Hall (6101 North St.). Please register for
your hour vigil time slot at the back of the church after
Masses. If you wish to attend and need a ride, please
contact Piera Palmieri or Nancy Winslow.
CALL FOR SPANISH MINISTRY
VOLUNTEER DRIVERS
If you’re interested in helping out with this
important outreach for our migrant workers,
please contact Frances at 905-562-5475 or
you may call or email the parish office. Even if you can
only drive one way once a month, your time and
commitment will be much appreciated.
"FOUR HOURS OF MERCY
AND PEACE" -- DAY OF
RECONCILIATION
On Saturday, March 28, 2020
in every parish church across the
diocese, a priest will be
available from 10:00am –
2:00pm to hear individual
confessions. No matter how long it has been, you are
welcome to celebrate the Sacrament of Penance, which
assists us in spiritual discipline as we turn away from
sin and open our hearts to reconciliation and healing; or
you can also simply come to pray before the Lord.