66 E. Maplewood St. Oracle, AZ 85623-6148 Phone: (520) 896-2708

St. Helen Roman Catholic Parish - Oracle
66 E. Maplewood St.
Oracle, AZ 85623-6148
Phone: (520) 896-2708
FAX: (520) 896-2631
Visit our Website:
http://www.sthelenparishoracle.org
To add, change or contribute information for the
website please contact the Parish Office at
St. Helen’s e-mail address:
sthelensmission@msn.com
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2014
, 2013
THIRTY-THIRD SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Pastor: Rev. Msgr. Ambrose O. Nwohu.…………………………………………………………………………..520-896-2708
Parish Secretary& Compliance Representative: GloriaAcosta ……………………………………………………520-896-2708
Parish Office Hours: Tuesday – Friday……………………………………………..…..…………….…..………….9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Priest: Tuesday - Friday…………….…..………………………………………………….9:30 a.m. - 12 noon & 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Director of Religious Education: Mary Telles: Wednesday………………………………………………………..520-896-2708
MASS SCHEDULE
Saturday (Mass of Anticipation)……………………………………………………….……...…………………………….5 p.m.
Sunday………………………………………………………..…………………………………………………….8 a.m. & 10 a.m.
Monday thru Friday……...……………….…………………………………………..............................................................8 a.m.
First Friday of the Month Anointing of the Sick and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament…………………………......8 a.m.
All Holy Days of Obligation………………………………………..……………………........................................9 a.m. & 7 p.m.
Pray the Rosary…………………………………………………………………..…………………….1/2 hour before each Mass
Parish Board of Directors
Rev. Msgr. Ambrose O. Nwohu, President
Manuel Navarro, Treasurer
Teresa Kern, Secretary
Most Rev. Gerald F. Kicanas, D.D.
Rev. Msgr. Albert I. Schifano
********SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION*********
Marriage Preparation
Diocesan regulations require
that you see a priest at least
four months before your
wedding date.
Baptismal Preparation
Please call for arrangements at least two
months prior to the date of Baptism.
Baptisms are scheduled for the third
weekend of each month.
Reconciliation/Confession
Saturday from
4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Any other time by appointment.
Thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary Time
November 16, 2014
Blessed are you who fear the LORD.
— Psalm 128:1a
GET READY
The Letters of Paul to the Thessalonians are among his earliest writings, and are driven by
his belief and the belief of the entire early Christian community that the return of Christ was
imminent. Therefore, to devote time or attention to anything else was foolish.
As time progressed, this fervor receded a bit. Today we may wonder, when we hear these
readings about the coming end-times, if we should take them to heart. What should we do
when we hear that the day of the Lord will come upon us “like a thief at night”? (1
Thessalonians 5:2) Does this mean we are to stop our long-range goal-setting, get rid of our
yearly calendars and planners, or stop putting money in the college education fund? Of course
not. What it does mean is that we need to change our lives, living like children of the light and
illuminating the world around us with the light of the gospel. Then, on that day, when the
details of our daily living become unimportant, we will be ready to find our peace and security
in Christ Jesus.
Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co. Deadline for bulletin announcements is 2 p.m. on Tuesday.
MASS INTENTIONS
Offered for our beloved dead as well as our living ones.
May the souls of our faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.
Saturday, November 15 – 5 p.m. - +Felipa G. Felix by Family
Sunday, November 16 – 10 a.m. - +Sandoval & Self Family by Mary Castillo
VOCATIONS CRUCIFIX
At each Mass, the family taking the crucifix should designate
another family to carry the crucifix home the following week.
Please return the crucifix before the beginning of each Mass.
INFANT BAPTISMS
Instructions for infant Baptisms are on the first and third Thursday of
the month (after initial registration) at 7:00 p.m. in the Church Hall.
It is mandatory that parents and Godparents attend.
Sanctuary Lamp
11/8 &11/9, 2014
November 2014
Parish Offertory – $1,102.00
, 2014
Please stop by the parish office to reserve dates for the Sanctuary
Lamp. The Sanctuary Lamp may be reserved by more than one
person for the same dates.
Thank you and God bless you for your generosity.
PLEASE PRAY FOR
Ill and/or homebound: Rico Guerrero, James Davis, Fr. Blasé Meyers, Boots Stewart, Dora Chavez, Lynne Cunningham, Andrea Marie Smith,
Mary Maldonado, Tony T. Diaz, Leslie Scoville, Sammy Pacheco, Felix Marquez, Dorothy Hidalgo, Corina Diaz, Mollie Clark, Hailey (Candelaria)
Lugo, Madison Harper, Michael Hilimire, Bea Marquez
Our Service Men & Women:
Nathan Jackson, Manny Navarro, David Navarro
Faithful Departed: Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord and may perpetual light shine upon them
***Please help keep our prayer list current. To add someone to the prayer list, please call the parish office. Names will remain on
the list for 2 months. If you wish someone to remain on the list for an extended period, please contact the parish office.***
Bishop Kicanas’ Monday Morning Memo is an informative update on events taking place in the diocese and what the bishop’s busy schedule consists
of each week. You can read the weekly memo by visiting the diocesan website; www.diocesetucson.org or by requesting a copy from St. Helen
Parish Office. If you have something you want to publicize in the bishop’s memo, please e-mail it to bishop@diocesetucson.org or send it to his
attention c/o Monday Memo at the Pastoral Center, 111 S. Church Avenue, P.O. Box 31, Tucson, AZ 85702.
NOVEMBER 2014 CALENDAR
Every First Friday – 8 a.m.- Anointing of the Sick and Adoration of the
Blessed Sacrament
Holy Days of Obligation – Masses 9 a.m. & 7 p.m.
Adult Formation (Scripture) Classes with Msgr. Ambrose – Tuesdays, 7 p.m.
Choir Practice – Saturdays, 9 a.m.
Our Lady’s Prayer Group – Thursdays after 8 a.m. Mass
Finance Committee – Every 3rd Thursday – 6:30 p.m.
Parish Council – As announced
Liturgy Committee – As announced
Caregivers Support Group – Every 1st & 3rd Wed. – 10 a.m.
Second collection for Building Fund - Every first weekend of the
month . Parish Maintenance Second Collection six times/year.
St. Helen Offices & Ministries
Parish Council Chairman – Frank Pierson
Finance Council Chairman – Manny Navarro
Compliance Representative – Gloria Acosta
Liturgy/Bereavement - Mary Buzan
Choir Director – Ellie Brown
Religious Education
1st & 2nd Grades
3rd Grade (1st Communion)
4th & 5th Grades
`
6th Grade
7th, 8th Grades
Confirmation Class
Mary Buzan
Debbie Gutierrez
Janice Vigil
Margo Padilla
Allison Lapa
Mary & Tony Telles
896-2955
896-2469
896-2708
730-4701
896-3530
730-470
896-2711
896-2676
241-4793
896-2148
896-9031
Social Justice – Mary Ellen Kazda
896-2955
St. Helen’s Food Bank – Helen Alvarez
404-4817
Knights of Columbus – Johnnie Seballos
896-2589
Cursillo Movement Leaders – Mary & Tony Telles
896-9031
Adult Catechesis – Msgr. Ambrose O. Nwohu
896-2708
Carlos Ruiz – Maintenance
896-2629
Kitchen Angels
Church Cleaning/Furnishings/Environmental Design (Volunteers needed)
TOGETHER WE ARE SAVING CATHOLIC EDUCATION!
Arizona’s Catholic Tuition Support Organization (CTSO)
wants to “thank” all the parishioners that have
supported Catholic education, and ask you to renew
your support to the students in our Catholic Schools
through CTSO. Brochures are available or visit
www.ctso-tucson.org to make an online contribution.
Together we are saving Catholic education…and it
does not cost you a dime!
V0
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR
SUNDAY MORNING SOCIALS
2014 SECOND COLLECTIONS (*Diocesan)
November 15 & 16 – Priests’ Retirement*
December 6 & 7 – St. Helen Building Fund
December 27 & 28 – St. Helen Maintenance
Envelopes for
PARISH special
collections in the rack
back of the church.
Magnificat Periodicals Available in the Parish Office
November periodical is now available - $4. Call to reserve your copy
FOOD DRIVE SPONSORED BY
KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS
The Knights of Columbus will be collecting Food for the
Tri-Community Food Bank from now until November 23.
Look for bags in the back of the church, or bring your own. Last year,
you helped the Knights collect over a half ton of food, as well as make
cash donations to this local charity.
First Catholic Men’s Conference in Tucson
Entitled Men of Faith: Live. Learn. Lead. Saturday, November 22,
2014 from 8 am - 4 pm at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, 8650 N.
Shannon Road, Tucson. Catholic men will be inspired and renewed in
their Catholic faith. Featuring presentations by Bishop Emeritus
Ricardo Ramirez of Las Cruces, and Peter Herbeck of Renewal
Ministries. Musician & Composer Tom Booth as musical guest with
TV Sportscaster Damien Alameda as Master of Ceremonies. Also
challenging testimonials from local men, opportunities to receive the
Sacrament of Confession. Mass will be celebrated by M. Rev. Gerald
F. Kicanas, D.D., Bishop of Tucson. Cost is $30.00 and includes lunch.
More information posted on bulletin board.
FREE THANKSGIVING
DINNER
FOR ALL PARISHIONERS
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23
AFTER 10 A.M. MASS
A Missionary Group from the Holy Land will be here
Saturday & Sunday, November 29 & 30 after the masses
to sell their religious olive wood articles. There will be an
assortment of affordably priced gifts. Proceeds raised
from the sale of these articles will benefit Christians in the
Holy Land.
Holidays are approaching and there are families in our
community who need our help. Please do what you can.
Our Food Pantry needs supplies of non-perishable food
items. If you know of any family who needs help please call
896-2540. All information will be held strictly confidential.
Monetary donations are also gratefully accepted.
“St. Helen Saints” David Alvarado, Jonah Altamirano, Augustine
Westrope, Mia & Andrew Gutierrez, Lily German, Jasmine Goga,
Sebastian Pinedo, Sienna Sosa, Bricin Ramos, Giselle Goga.
Thanks to all who participated in the Saints Day Celebration.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION ANNOUNCEMENTS
Echoes of Faith Catechist Formation
Monday, November 17 – 6:30 p.m.
Classes open to all interested in learning & growing in faith.
“The Catechist is one who guards the memory of God and who knows
how to awaken it in others.” Pope Francis
TODAY’S READINGS
First Reading — The woman who fears the LORD is to be praised
(Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31).
Psalm — Blessed are those who fear the Lord
(Psalm 128).
Second Reading — Brothers and sisters, you are children of the
light (1 Thessalonians 5:1-6).
Gospel — Since you were faithful in small matters, I will give
you great responsibilities (Matthew 25:14-30 [14-15, 19-21]).
The English translation of the Psalm Responses from Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International Commission
on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.
READINGS
FOR
THEserpent,
WEEKthey lived (Numbers 21:4b-9).
ent
looked at the
bronze
Monday:
Rv
1:1-4;
2:1-5;
Ps 1:1-4,
Lk 18:35-43
Psalm — Do not forget the works
of the6;Lord!
(Psalm 78).
Tuesday:
Rv
3:1-6,
14-22;
Ps
15:2-5;
Lk
19:1-10,
Second Reading — Christ Jesus, though he was
in theor,form of
(for theequality
memorial
of God
the Dedication)
God, did not regard
with
something to be grasped
Acts
28:11-16,
30-31;
Ps
98:1-6;
Mt 14:22-33
(Philippians 2:6-11).
Wednesday:
Rv
4:1-11;
Ps
150:1b-6;
Lk
19:11-28
Gospel — God so loved the world that he gave his only Son so
Thursday:
5:1-10;might
Ps 149:1b-6a,
9b;life
Lk (John
19:41-44
that
those whoRvbelieve
have eternal
3:13-17).
Friday:
Rv 10:8-11; Ps 119:14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131;
Lk 19:45-48
Saturday: Rv 11:4-12; Ps 144:1b, 2, 9-10; Lk 20:27-40
Sunday:
Ez 34:11-12, 15-17; Ps 23:1-3, 5-6;
1 Cor 15:20-26, 28; Mt 25:31-46
SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES
Sunday:
Thirty-third
Sunday
in Ordinary Time
1 Thes 1:1-5b;
Mt 22:15-21
Monday: St. Elizabeth of Hungary, religious; died 1231 at age twenty-four; wife of Louis IV of Thuringia and mother
of three; as a widow, she became a Franciscan tertiary, dedicated to the needs of the poor and the sick;
canonized only four years after her death; patroness of the Franciscan Third Order and of Catholic charities.
Tuesday: Dedication of the Basilicas of Ss. Peter and Paul
St. Rose Philippine Duchesne, virgin, USA; died 1852 at age eighty-three at St. Charles, Missouri; from Grenoble;
founded the first American house of the Religious of the Sacred Heart; opened the first American free school west
of the Mississippi; known for her courage and desire to serve Native Americans, esp. the Patawatomi who called
her the “woman who prays always.”
Friday:
The Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Saturday: St. Cecilia, virgin, martyr; died 3 rd c.?; known from her legendary Passio, a poem which exalts Christian
song of God in her heart.
TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION
All Christians in both East and West embraced the care of the sick as essential to church life. In the West, the
importance of the visit of the priest is stressed, while in the East, the sick person is brought to the church for a full
Liturgy of the Word. Some, such as the Armenians, even call it the “Ritual of the Lamp,” since the oil is poured out of
the lamp by which the Word is read. This may be why Eastern Christians sometimes anoint the sick with this oil, since
the trip to church might kill them.
Our tradition in the West also unfolded in monasteries, where it was possible for infirm monks to be attended with
a full and beautifully consoling liturgy. In 950 the monks of St. Alban’s Abbey in Mainz produced a ceremonial book
that was instantly a pastoral hit everywhere. There were two lengthy rituals for the sick, one an extended vigil, and the
other a liturgy of anointing that included Communion under both species. While this ritual was a house formula for
monks, it is easy to see how monks who had the care of parishes desired to serve their parishioners in a similar way.
The first form included the chanting of penitential psalms, and the second form required a confession beforehand.
Both forms included a laying on of hands, which everyone understood as being an essential part of penance.
—Rev. James Field, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.
Diocese of Tucson
… happenings around the diocese
The following are employment opportunities currently available in the Diocese of
Tucson. To view the job descriptions and information on how to apply, persons interested should
refer to www.diocesetucson.org (Employment Opportunities).
Diocese of Tucson Pastoral Center:
 Bishop Moreno Pastoral Center, Tucson – Administrative Assistant (part-time)
 Bishop Moreno Pastoral Center, Tucson – Contract Advertising Sales Representative (New Vision diocesan
newspaper)
 Human Resources Department – Payroll Coordinator
 Human Resources Department – Secretary
 DOT Communications Department – Graphics Designer (Part-time)
 Catholic Tuition Support Organization (CTSO), Tucson – Administrative Assistant
 Catholic Foundation for Stewardship and Giving, Tucson – Executive Director
 Catholic Foundation for Stewardship and Giving, Tucson – Finance Manager
 Catholic Foundation for Stewardship and Giving, Tucson – Development Associate
Schools & Parishes:
 St. John the Evangelist School, Tucson – Intervention Teacher
 St. Cyril of Alexandria Parish, Tucson – Custodian (evening shift)
 St. John Catholic School, Tucson – Cafeteria Attendant
 St. John Catholic School, Tucson - Cafeteria Cook
 St. John Catholic School, Tucson - Bookkeeper
RETROUVAILLE & MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER RETREAT NOTICES
RETROUVAILLE – Retrouvaille is a program for married couples that feel bored, frustrated or angry in their marriage. Some experience coldness and
simply shut down. Others experience conflict and arguments in their relationship. Most don’t know how to change the situation or even communicate
with their spouse about it. This program has helped couples experiencing marital difficulty at all levels including disillusionment and deep misery.
For confidential information about or to register for the program beginning with a weekend on August 1-3, 2014 call 520-722-2931; or e-mail:
stogskk@mindspring.com or visit the website at www.HelpOurMarriage.com
“When one finds a worthy wife, her value is far beyond pearls. Her husband, entrusting his heart to her,
has an unfailing prize.” Do we value the prize we have in our spouse enough to take time to enjoy it? The
next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekends are Nov 14-16 or Feb 20-22, 2015. For more information
visit www.wwmearizona.com
GOD’S WORD TODAY
During the time of Jesus, a talent was an extremely large sum of money. Sixty minas made up one talent and a mina
equaled one hundred dinarii. Two thousand years ago, an average worker in Palestine earned one dinarius a day.
When Jesus told the parable we hear in today’s Gospel, he knew his listeners would realize that each of the servants
had been entrusted with a huge sum of money. This money, well invested, had the potential for earning a tremendous
amount more. The spiritual talents entrusted to us during our pilgrimage on earth also have the potential for yielding
extraordinary results. These spiritual gifts must be invested. In other words, they must be used. When used, they help
build up the kingdom of God. They bring peace and comfort to the despairing. They bring the good news to the
disenfranchised. They bring food and shelter to the hungry and homeless. As the liturgical year winds down, this
parable asks us to assess the extent to which we have invested our spiritual talents. Their potential is extraordinary.
How extraordinary are the results of our investment of them in the last year?
From Saint Margaret Sunday Missal, copyright © J. S. Paluch Company