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

Office hours:
Tuesday to Friday 9:00am - 12:00pm Weekday Masses:
Closed on Mondays and all Statutory holidays Tuesday to Friday: 9:00am

Website: www.sthelenscatholic.ca 1st Friday of the Month:

Adoration after morning Mass
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/sthelenscatholic

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. Ministry Scheduling & RFM:
1st Communion & Confirmation
Contact the Parish Office. Rebecca Williams ~ ministryschedul-
Chronic Care Facilities: ing@sthelenscatholic.ca
Pastoral visits are made monthly.
Reconciliation: Reception of Holy Communion is Fundraising Events:
Every Saturday 4:00pm - 4:30pm or by available to residents. office@sthelenscatholic.ca
appointment with the priest.
Facility & Grounds Maintenance:
Homebound: Craig Luey
Marriage: Notify the Parish Office when serious craig.luey@gmail.com
Arrangements six months in advance. illness occurs. When the sick, aged or
Marriage preparation is required. incapacitated are confined to home for Catholic Women's League:
an extended time, pastoral visit can be Piera Palmieri ~ contact parish office
RCIA & RCIC: arranged. Knights of Columbus:
Contact the Parish Office. Marcel VanRuyven
Anointing of the Sick: Schools mgvanruijven@gmail.com
Please let us know when someone has St. Mark School SVDP:
a serious or prolonged illness or is to Principal: Jennifer DeCoff Lorraine Martin ~ contact parish office
have surgery. This sacrament Vice-Principal: Timothy Atkinson Prayer Warriors/Requests:
celebrates the healing of mind and Sandra Mactaggart ~
body and the forgiveness of sins. St. Edward School sandbmac@gmail.com
Principal: John Romano

Kindly complete the following and place in the collection box.

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______________
 First Sunday of Advent - Year C
Sunday November 28, 2021
Mass Intentions
November 30 - December 5, 2021
As we gather, let us remember and pray for . . .
Tues. ~ …………….St. Andrew……………. Nov. 30th
9:00 am + Juana Taylor (by the Family)
Wed. ~ ………………………………………. Dec. 1st
9:00 am + Patricia Bennett
(by Dolores & Clayton)
+ Anita Crevatin (by Hrvatin family)
nd
Thurs. ~ ………………………………………. Dec. 2
9:00 am + Manuel daSilva Jr.
(by Maria daSilva)
Fri. ~ …………St. Francis Xavier………. Dec. 3rd
9:00 am + Angelina & Alfredo Compagnone
(by Lina & Giuseppe Compagnone)
Sat. ~ ……………………….……...………. Dec. 4th
5:00 pm For the People of St. Helen Parish
Sun. ~ ……………………………………….. Dec. 5th
9:00 am Special Intn for Deacon
Daniel Corso
(by Caroline & Marcel VanRuyven)
11:00 am + Gaetano Pizzacalla
(by D’Onofrio Family)
+ Marc Cousineau
(by Lianne Boulard)
PRAYER TEAM / WARRIORS
To become a member of this
ministry or to submit your prayer
request, please contact sandbmac@gmail.com
MASS AT THE MENNO HOME
Looking for 6 to 8 volunteers to assist residents to the
Chapel to attend Mass and after Mass return them
to their room. For more information, please contact
Frances at 289-668-6602.
CWL CHRISTMAS GENERAL MEETING
After a long suspension of general meetings due to
pandemic restrictions, we can now proceed with a
Christmas get-together in the parish hall on Thursday,
December 9, 2021 @ 7:00 p.m. In keeping with its
mission to love God through good works, you are asked
to bring a non-perishable food item or toiletries to the
meeting to be given to the less fortunate in our
community. New members are most welcome to
attend.
POPE FRANCIS’ DECEMBER INTENTIONS
Evangelization: Catechists - Let us pray for the
catechists, summoned to announce the Word of God:
may they be its witnesses, with courage and creativity
and in the power of the Holy Spirit.
This week, the Sanctuary Lamp burns in
memory of:
JOHN HENDRIKS
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
Stewardship of Treasure
Nov. 21, 2021 ~ Offertory (71) $ 1,661.10
Loose 235.00
Building Fund (46) 1,831.00
Diocesan Collection (1) 10.00
“May God bless you for your faithful stewardship!”
To receive the weekly bulletin via email, make your
request by email: office@sthelenscatholic.ca
ST. HELEN’S ANNUAL MEMORIAL
CHRISTMAS ANGEL TREE
The Memorial Christmas Angel Tree
glows with lights in memory of deceased
loved ones and friends. To honour the
memory of a loved one with an angel,
complete a “Memorial Christmas Angel
Tree” envelope available at the entrance of
the church and place it in the collection
basket or simply stop in at the office
reception window during office hours.
FIRST FRIDAY ADORATION
FRIDAY DECEMBER 3RD
AFTER MORNING MASS
You are invited to come and spend a
holy hour with Jesus.
ANNUAL OFFENCE DECLARATIONS
All volunteers with a police clearance through St.
Helen must complete the annual offence declaration
form.
The form can be emailed to you or completed at the
church. It is very easy to complete – simply print the
form, complete the top section, sign and date it and
drop it in the collection basket or bring it to the
office. These forms are now due. By doing this, you
will maintain the validity of your current police check
clearance moving forward. This means we will be able
to seamlessly resume activities when the time is right.
Pray the Rosary daily after Mass
during the week.
 FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David.
(Jeremiah 33)
May the Lord strengthen your hearts when Christ
comes among us. (1 Thessalonians)
Your redemption is drawing near. (Luke 21)
Jesus calls us to pay
attention to the “signs” of
God’s Advent presence, to
“stand erect and raise our
heads” to realize God’s
presence in our midst.
The moments we are
given in this experience of
life are precious and few. God gives us these days in
order that we might come to discover him and know
him in the love of others and the goodness of this world
in anticipation of the next.
Our lives are a continuing Advent in which we make
our way to God by creating a road for that journey, a
road built of justice, forgiveness and love.
ADVENT TRADITIONS
The four weeks of Advent are popularly considered to
symbolize the four thousand years of darkness before
the coming of Christ. We set up Nativity scenes, light
Advent candles and decorate wreaths in our homes to
signify Christ’s presence coming in the darkness of sin
and suffering. Four candles adorn an Advent wreath,
one for each week. A fifth candles is sometimes placed
in the center for the beginning of the Christmas season.
Advent colors are worn by the priests and deacons
and decorate the church. They are represented in the
candles that surround the Advent wreath:
Violet: royalty, repentance, and fasting (First, Second,
and Fourth Week of Advent)
Rose: abundant joy (Third Week of Advent, known as
Gaudete Sunday, joy in Latin)
White: light and purity (Christ Candle, center candle
completes the season and begins Christmas)
CHRISTMAS MASS SCHEDULE
Christmas Eve - Friday, Dec. 24:
5:00 p.m. & 11:00 p.m.
Christmas Day - Saturday, Dec. 25:
9:00 & 11:00 a.m.
Sunday, Dec. 26: 9:00 & 11:00 a.m.
Friday, Dec. 31: 9:00 a.m.
Mary Mother of God (New Year’s Day) - Saturday, Jan. 1:
10:00 a.m.
Epiphany - Sunday, Jan 2nd: 9:00 & 11:00 a.m.
RECONCILIATION DURING ADVENT
Wednesday evenings 7:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Saturdays @ 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Advent is a wonderful time to celebrate the
reconciling love and the healing graces our Lord
offers us. Like all religious experiences, it takes
preparation.
DEC. 3rd – HAPPY BIRTHDAY
FR. CHRIS!!!
We are thankful for your continued
dedication to your vocation and to our
parish community, especially through
the past year which has been most
challenging. To go from a full parish
to so many empty pews during covid was difficult but
you continued to give us hope through the scriptures
and your homilies. May God’s blessings, grace, favor
and guidance continue to be with you. Have a
wonderful birthday!
WELCOME
Through the celebration of the Sacrament
of Holy Baptism, we welcome to our
parish family our newest members:
SCARLETT LILY ROSE SANTHA
MARCUS ALEXANDER FAJARDO
NOLAN PETER FAJARDO
May God bless you as you begin this beautiful spiritual
journey with our Lord and Saviour Jesus.
CAN YOU GIVE TWO HOURS A MONTH?
CHURCH CLEANING VOLUNTEERS
Thank you to those who have generously answered the
call for help and offer up your time. We truly
appreciate it! Our goal is to build this ministry so that
the work becomes easier with many to share the tasks.
If you can come even once or twice a month for a
couple of hours, please call the parish office or Nancy
@ 905-563-7096. Your help would be greatly
appreciated as many hands make the tasks lighter.
REGARDING MANDATORY USE
OF FACE COVERINGS
Proof of vaccination is not required however physical
distancing and face masks are required for the entire
time during a Mass except to receive Holy Communion.
Put your mask on when entering the building and keep
it on and please wear it properly. This applies to all;
your cooperation is appreciated by your fellow
parishioners.
-"Any individual...who does not comply with the
diocesan policy and the mandatory face covering law
will be solely responsible for any penalty or fine that
might be levied by the municipality or county for non-
compliance."
2022 OFFERTORY ENVELOPES/PARISH ID
If you don’t have an ID or 2021 box of envelopes,
please use a plain envelope and put your name and
address on it. 2022 envelopes are available in the
vestibule; please check the label for accuracy and
advise the office if there is an error. If you don’t have a
box or ID, contact the office. A 9000 series ID# can be
assigned if envelopes are not needed for those using
CAFT or e-transfer for donations.
 DONATIONS DURING COVID-19
1. Pre-Authorized giving (monthly automatic withdrawal): contact the office

2. E-transfer: use our business email address with your

bank: donations@sthelenscatholic.ca
If you would like to use this convenient method through your bank, please follow these
instructions (some banks charge a fee):
Go online and log into your bank account. Select Interac e-transfer and select a
recipient – the first time you will have to add recipient by putting in
donations@sthelenscatholic.ca (after the first time it will then stay on your list of
recipients). Input amount to send and complete the transaction. Note in the memo area
what your donation is for; Sunday Offertory (SO), Facility Maintenance (FM) and
Building Fund (BF). (Please include your ID# in the memo - contact the office if you
do not have a parish ID.)
Example - SO $20 One transaction can be made for all three if you wish. Such a
notation could look like this: SO $xx, FM $xx, BF $xx. If your transaction does not
work the first time, please try the next day as the Diocese can only receive a set amount
of donations in a 24-hour period. If you have any questions, please email or call the
office.

3. Regular mail: send your weekly offertory envelope or cheque payable to St. Helen
Church to:
St. Helen Church
4106 Mountain St.
Beamsville, ON L0R 1B7

4. Drop off: If preferable to you, you may drop off your envelope Tuesday to Friday
mornings at the office.

5. Credit card or Paypal (Canada Helps link): https://www.canadahelps.org/en/dn/49448

https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/119109791RR0006-st-helens-parish/
(tax receipt is issued by Canada Helps, they retain a nominal percentage as fee)

COVID 19 pandemic
Thank you for considering the financial needs of our parish during the COVID 19 pandemic. We
understand and appreciate that financial pressure on families is different today than it was even a
few months ago. We are also carefully managing the expenses at the parish and are deeply
grateful for any help you can provide. Thank you and be assured of our continued prayers and
best wishes.