Parish Staff
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The Piarist Fathers Pastor Rev. David Powers Sch.P. Parochial Vicars Rev. Andrew Berinyuy, Sch.P. Rev. Luis Alberto Cruz, Sch.P. Very Rev. Fernando Negro, Sch.P. Rev. Richard Wyzykiewicz Sch.P. Parish Staff Parish Secretary Mrs. Rosemarie Ortiz Business Manager Anne Kathy Rice Facilities Manager Lillian Nazario saint Music Director Mr. Daniel Ambe Musicians Mr. Jim Donaldson Helena Mr. Alex Henriquez parish October—November Bronx, NY 2019 Mass Schedule (Horario de Misas) St. Helena’s School (718) 892-3234 http://www.sthelenaelementary.org Early Childhood (Pre-K for All) Elementary School (Grades K-8) Principal: Mr. Richard Meller 2050 Benedict Avenue Bronx, New York 10462 High School: Monsignor Scanlan H.S. (718) 430-0100 Arrangements must be http://www.scanlanhs.edu/ made at the Rectory for Baptismal Principal: Mr. Kris Keelin Class. Bring a copy of the child’s Birth 915 Hutchinson River Parkway Certificate and Godparent documents. Bronx, New York 10465 Arrangements for weddings should be made as soon as St. Helena Rectory: possible at the Rectory. 1315 Olmstead Avenue Bronx, N.Y. 10462 All Catholics Phone: (718) 892-3232 who live within the parish boundaries should fill out a registration card at the Fax: (718) 892-7713 Rectory. www.churchofsthelena.com Email: [email protected] Alumni: [email protected] Alumni: [email protected] ST. L BRONX, Paul's Unique Rule The Great Jubilee of the Year 2000, a key event in John Paul’s One of the reasons St. Paul is called the Apostle to the Gentiles is ministry, was marked by special celebrations in Rome and because of the unique rule he instituted in all of his congregations, elsewhere for Catholics and other Christians. Relations with the a rule that would spread throughout the entire Church. In his short Orthodox Churches improved considerably during his papacy. response to a letter sent by the leaders of the young Corinthian “Christ is the center of the universe and of human history” was congregation, the Apostle Paul wrote: “… each one should retain the opening line of John Paul II’s 1979 encyclical, Redeemer of the Human Race. In 1995, he described himself to the United the place in life that the Lord assigned to him and to which God Nations General Assembly as “a witness to hope.” has called him. This is the rule I lay down in all the congregations. Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should His 1979 visit to Poland encouraged the growth of the Solidarity movement there and the collapse of communism in central and not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he eastern Europe 10 years later. John Paul II began World Youth was called? He should not be circumcised.” (1 Corinthians 7:17-18) Day and traveled to several countries for those celebrations. He The ancient world had no concept of conversion from one religion very much wanted to visit China and the Soviet Union, but the to another. This was largely because religion did not exist as a governments in those countries prevented that. One of the most separate category from “peoplehood” (i.e. belonging to a people). well-remembered photos of John Paul II’s pontificate was his one- When people “converted,” they did not convert from one religion to on-one conversation in 1983, with Mehmet Ali Agca, who had another, but from one people group to another. Individuals, from attempted to assassinate him two years earlier. In his 27 years of both Israel and the Nations, were sometimes willing to fully cut ties papal ministry, John Paul II wrote 14 encyclicals and five books, canonized 482 saints and beatified 1,338 people. In the last years with their communities and switch communal alliances. Some of his life, he suffered from Parkinson’s disease and was forced to Jews actually went through a surgery that removed the signs of cut back on some of his activities. Pope Benedict XVI beatified circumcision; while some non-Jews fully (not partially) adopted John Paul II in 2011, and Pope Francis canonized him in 2014. Jewish ancestral ways of life (the code word for which was “circumcision”). Saint John of Capistrano - Oct. 23 The great apostle believed that both Israel and the Nations while In the 14th century, one-third of the population and nearly 40 retaining their distinct identities, must offer joined worship to percent of the clergy were wiped out by the bubonic plague. The Israel’s God. In the New Covenant community of Israel, any Western Schism split the Church with two or three claimants to discrimination and preference between Jews and the Nations were the Holy See at one time. England and France were at war. The many city-states of Italy were constantly in conflict and gloom now strictly forbidden; while the functional distinction between dominated the spirit of the culture and the times. John Capistrano them was rightfully upheld. For example, even though men and was born in 1386. His education was thorough. His talents and women were ONE in Christ, women were still (in a very important success were great. When he was 26 he was made governor of sense) women and men were still men (Gal.3:28). Perugia. Imprisoned after a battle against the Malatestas, he Paul’s reasoning was simple: If Gentile Christ-followers became resolved to change his way of life completely. At the age of 30, he Jews, then the God they worship would be too small. He would be entered the Franciscan novitiate and was ordained a priest four years later. the God of the Jews only. However, if Gentile Christ-followers, as the Nations, would worship Israel's God alongside the Jews, then John’s preaching attracted great throngs at a time of religious the grandeur of this One God would become evident to everyone. apathy and confusion. He and 12 Franciscan brethren were (Romans 3:28-30). received in the countries of central Europe as angels of God. They were instrumental in reviving a dying faith and devotion. The Saint John Paul II - October 22 Franciscan Order itself was in turmoil over the interpretation and “Open wide the doors to Christ,” urged John observance of the Rule of St. Francis. Through John’s tireless Paul II during his homily at the Mass where efforts and his expertise in law, the heretical Fraticelli were he was installed as pope in 1978. Born in suppressed and the “Spirituals” were freed from interference in Wadowice, Poland, Karol Jozef Wojtyla had their stricter observance. lost his mother, father, and older brother John of Capistrano helped bring about a brief reunion with the before his 21st birthday. Both of his parents Greek and Armenian Churches. When the Turks captured the are now being considered for beatification. mighty city of Constantinople in 1453, John was commissioned to Karol’s promising academic career at Krakow’s preach a crusade for the defense of Europe. Gaining little response Jagiellonian University was cut short by the in Bavaria and Austria, he decided to concentrate his efforts in outbreak of World War II. While working in a Hungary. He led the army to Belgrade. Under the great General quarry and a chemical factory, he enrolled in John Hunyadi, they gained an overwhelming victory, and the siege an “underground” seminary in Kraków. of Belgrade was lifted. Worn out by his superhuman efforts, Ordained in 1946, he was immediately sent to Capistrano was an easy prey to an infection after the battle, and Rome where he earned a doctorate in theology. he died on October 23, 1456. Back in Poland, a short assignment as assistant pastor in a rural parish preceded his very fruitful chaplaincy for university students. Saint Anthony Mary Claret - Oct. 24 Soon Fr. Wojtyla earned a doctorate in philosophy and began The “spiritual father of Cuba” was a missionary, religious founder, teaching that subject at Poland’s University of Lublin. Communist social reformer, queen’s chaplain, writer and publisher, archbishop, officials allowed Wojtyla to be appointed as the auxiliary bishop of and refugee. He was a Spaniard whose work took him to the Kraków in 1958, considering him a relatively harmless intellectual. Canary Islands, Cuba, Madrid, Paris, and to the First Vatican They could not have been more wrong! Bishop Wojtyla attended Council. In his spare time as a weaver and designer in the textile all four sessions of Vatican II and contributed especially to mills of Barcelona, Anthony learned Latin and printing: The future its Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World. priest and publisher was preparing. Ordained at 28, he was Appointed as archbishop of Kraków in 1964, he was named a prevented by ill health from entering religious life as a Carthusian cardinal three years later. or as a Jesuit, but he went on to become one of Spain’s most popular preachers. Elected pope in October 1978, he took the name of his short- lived, immediate predecessor. Pope John Paul II was the first non- Anthony spent 10 years giving popular missions and retreats, Italian pope in 455 years. In time, he made pastoral visits to 124 always placing great emphasis on the Eucharist and devotion to countries, including several with small Christian populations. John the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It was said that his rosary was Paul II promoted ecumenical and interfaith initiatives, especially never out of his hand. At age 42, he founded a religious institute the 1986 Day of Prayer for World Peace in Assisi. He visited of missionaries beginning with five young priests, known today as Rome’s main synagogue and the Western Wall in Jerusalem; he the Claretians.