Fr. Alessandro Lovato's Letters to Parishioners
Pastor’s Easter Message 2024
The beautiful Easter Proclamation of the Easter Vigil liturgy exclaims:
Be glad, let earth be glad, as glory floods her,
ablaze with light from her eternal King,
let all corners of the earth be glad,
knowing an end to gloom and darkness.
Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God, by His suffering, death, and resurrection has brought us His salvation by which God’s glory floods the whole earth and each of our lives. Jesus’ victory over sin and death is cause for great rejoicing – it is the great mystery which stands at the very heart of our Faith. The entrance of the Son of God into human history and His Paschal Mystery is the epicenter of an explosion of grace that travels back in time and forward into the future. We live, in other words, in a new time of grace. Today, 2024 years after His birth we mark each year “AD” or “Anno Domini” – “The Year of the Lord”. We live today in a world that has been recreated by Christ and filled with His life-giving grace. The Lord is risen and He has lifted us all up with Him to new life, to the fullness of life as only He can give it. «This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it» (Psalm 118:24).
On behalf of all the staff of St. Helen’s Parish I wish you and your loved ones a Blessed Easter Season!
In the risen Lord,
Fr. Alessandro Lovato
Pastor’s Christmas Message 2023
«While they were [in Bethlehem], the time came for [Mary] to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn» (Luke 2:6-7).
Jesus Christ became man in a town whose name means «House of Bread» and for a cradle He was placed in a feeding trough for the animals. Later Jesus would declare «I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty» (John 6:35). Jesus came down to us as heavenly food. The deepest desires of our hearts, as divine as that star which marked the place of Christ’s birth, are not satiated by regular food, by the things that this world has to offer. When we try to satisfy these heart-felt longings with things which do not correspond we are only left frustrated. Our humble Lord descends to us as «the living bread come down from heaven» (John 6:51). When we allow our hearts and souls to be nourished by this living bread we no longer hunger or thirst and we discover the true meaning of Christmas!
May the Christ Child bestow abundant blessings upon you and all your loved ones this Christmas Season.
In Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
Fr. Alessandro
ST. HELEN’S PARISH 2023 PROJECT ADVANCE APPEAL
October 20, 2023
Dear Parishioners,
I hope that this letter finds you and your loved ones doing well. I write to ask for your help in supporting the St. Helen’s 2023 Project Advance Appeal and meeting our Archdiocesan goal of $65,000. I thank those who have given generously last year and in previous years to our parish campaign. We have a group of very dedicated and generous supporters who help us each year. I would like to invite those who are still considering making a contribution to help us reach our goal. At the current moment the total amount we have collected as a parish is $36,325. Monies collected over and above our designated goal return to the parish and will be set aside for the new office building fund.
It is certainly a real sacrifice to give to the greater charitable works done in the Archdiocese of Vancouver, especially as we have many pressing needs our selves, but these gifts make a real, sometimes life-changing, impact on the lives of many. Your donation will help to support many works of service, charity, and mercy including youth and young adults ministry in our parishes,
the construction of new Catholic schools, programs that support healthy families, feeding the homeless and vulnerable in the Downtown Eastside, and pastoral ministry and support for the hospitalized. Archbishop Miller’s message and further information on this year’s appeal can be found on the Project Advance website (link below).
Contributions can be made by filling out the enclosed from and dropping it off at the office or in the regular Sunday Mass collection or online on the Archdiocesan Project Advance website (at https://support.rcav.org/project-advance-2023/).
Thank you for your support of our parish and Archdiocese. May the God Lord continue to bless you and your loved ones abundantly!
In Christ, with gratitude,
Fr. Alessandro Lovato
Pastor of St. Helen’s Parish
EASTER MESSAGE 2023
St. John the Evangelist tells us that «Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb» and as she wept there Jesus appeared and called her by name, «Mary!». The day of Jesus’ resurrection is a first day, that is, a new day, a day unlike the others because Christ has changed things forever. By His passion, death, and glorious resurrection the Lord has enabled us to pass from the old day of our former lives and burdens to His new day of a life of holiness, joy, and rest in Him. May we rejoice in the great Easter proclamation of Alleluia for Jesus Christ has won for us a new beginning, a new day full of His life.
Fr. Alessandro, Deacon Mike, and all the staff of St. Helen’s Parish wish you and your loved ones a Blessed Easter!
2022 CHRISTMAS MESSAGE
Dear Parishioners,
I want to thank you for all of your support of and participation in the life of our parish over this past year. We have had our challenges this year especially with the closing of our old school building. However, we can rejoice that just as our Lord Jesus Christ came into the world under difficult circumstances some two thousand years ago so He comes to us today in our own imperfect situation, in the midst of our difficulties and challenges. Jesus is the perfect gift of the Father to us, given and received in an imperfect world.
While Christ found no home at His birth we can make a home for Him now in our hearts. Let us rejoice that “our Saviour has been born in the world. Today true peace has come down to us from heaven” (Entrance Antiphon, Mass during the Night).
On behalf of myself, Deacon Mike Boreham, and all the Staff of St. Helen’s I pray that this Christmas you and your loved ones may truly enjoy the gift of peace and joy the Christ Child brings and that our Blessed Mother may guard and bless you as we begin the New Year!
In Jesus, Mary, and Joseph,
Fr. Alessandro
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
August 28, 2022
ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING THE STATUS OF THE OLD SCHOOL BUILDING.
Dear Parishioners,
This summer we undertook some repair work to the exterior walls of the old school building. In the process of this work, it was uncovered that the east wall of the school was damaged. The Archdiocese was contacted, and a professional structural assessment of the building was made. This investigative work revealed that the east side of the building is in need of repair while the west side is structurally sound.
We hired a project manager to oversee this assessment, the shoring up of the building, and to present us with a proposal for moving forward. Two options were presented - 1) repair the old school building at an estimated price of $1.3 million or 2) demolish the building and set up portables at a cost of $2.5 million. The parish building committee and PEC unanimously decided to go with the first option of repairing the building and, at the same time, to incorporate some seismic upgrades (included in this cost) which will make the building safer for our students and staff. St. Helen’s Elementary School will provide the funds to cover this cost.
The parish has yet to receive the final permissions to proceed with the planned repair. In the first week of September, it must receive the permission of the Archdiocesan Building Commission and, the following week, that of the Archdiocesan Finance Council. Once the approvals are received the repair work will begin.
The classrooms of the old school building have already been relocated to the basement of the church. The school has done an excellent job in making the transition into this space. This is only a temporary set up until the repairs are completed. The Seniors Club will, in the meantime, be meeting on Saturdays in the gym (with more details to follow).
I thank our school principal and administrative staff for their tireless efforts and countless hours of work over the last two months to ensure the successful reopening of the school this September as well as the members of our PEC and building committee for their excellent work. I thank the entire parish community for their patience and understanding and we look forward to beginning the repairs soon.
In Christ,
Fr. Alessandro
Saint Helen’s Church
3871 Pandora Street, Burnaby, BC V5C 2A6
Phone: (604) 298-4144 Fax: (604) 298-1734
website: www.sthelen.ca email: [email protected]
May 09, 2022
Dear Parishioners,
I hope that you and your loved ones are in good health. We are now launching the Project Advance Campaign for 2022 which both supports the good work done by the Archdiocese of Vancouver as well as our own parish needs. Our Archdiocesan goal this year is $57,000. This money supports the various charitable efforts of the Archdiocese. Any money collected over and above this amount remains in the parish. Our parish goal is $100,000 and the money collected will be dedicated to the construction of our new parish office.
The construction of the new parish office was something that had been planned about eight years ago but the permitting process was never completed. The parish is currently working with the City of Burnaby to complete the necessary permits and we hope to have them done late this year or early next year. The total cost of the project is around two million dollars. The construction of the new parish office will allow us to better accommodate (with wheel chair accessibility) and serve our parishioners.
The parish’s master plan for the development of our property includes three steps: 1) the building of the new parish office, 2) the seismic upgrading of the old church which is now a permanent part of the school as its Learning Center, and 3) the construction of the final portion of the school. Steps one and two could be done concurrently. The construction of the new office will then pave the way for the construction of the new wing of the school where the current office stands. Next year we will be celebrating the hundredth anniversary of our parish school which was established in 1923. We look forward to the future with optimism and with plans to reinforce and develop our parish infrastructure to better serve our parish community in the years and decades to come.
I thank all those who have generously donated in the past – your support is truly appreciated. If you have not given in the past or have not given for some time please consider making a contribution. Every contribution helps us to reach our goal. There are several ways to donate to Project Advance. Those wishing to make a donation by credit card can go to our parish website sthelen.ca and click on the “Catholic Vancouver” button found on the top left corner of the homepage, and then on “Giving”. You can also use the enclosed form and return it to the parish office.
Thank you for your generous support of your parish.
In Christ,
Fr. Alessandro Lovato
Pastor
PASTOR’S EASTER MESSAGE
«Be glad, let earth be glad, as glory floods her,
ablaze with light from her eternal King,
let all corners of the earth be glad,
knowing an end to gloom and darkness».
These beautiful words of the ancient Easter Proclamation of the Church, the Exsultet, proclaim that Jesus Christ is the Light of the World that dispels all darkness.
By His glorious Passion, Death, and Resurrection Jesus overcomes the darkness, sin, and death that has blinded and separated us from God’s presence and that of our neighbor. Jesus Christ, the «Morning Star who never sets», has drawn us all from the darkness into His glorious light, from fear, sorrow, and separation into His loving presence, joy and holy communion. May this Blessed Easter Season be a time for us to accept anew the gift of life Jesus has won for us and to rejoice in His loving presence for the Lord is truly risen! May we find new life in the Risen Christ «who, coming back from death’s domain, has shed His peaceful light on humanity, and lives and reigns for ever and ever».
In Christ,
Fr. Alessandro
Pastor
PASTOR’S NOTE
April 10, 2022
Dear Parishioners,
We enter now into this holiest week of the year to celebrate the passion, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. I warmly invite you to participate in the special liturgies of the Triduum - on Holy Thursday the Mass of the Lord’s Supper, on Good Friday the Celebration of the Passion of the Lord, and on Holy Saturday the Easter Vigil. Each morning of the Triduum, for the first time at St. Helen’s, we will celebrate Tenebrae. This is a special celebration of the Liturgy of the Hours where Matins and Lauds are sung during the three days of the Triduum. The somber tone of these services marks the Church’s desolation at the passion and death of Christ. “Tenebrae” means “darkness” as these services were formerly sung in the evening hours of darkness. The Church encourages the communal praying of the Liturgy the Hours and this is a wonderful opportunity to do so.
I pray that you may have a prayerful Holy Week and a Blessed Easter.
In Christ,
Fr. Alessandro
Pastor’s Note - April 3, 2022
Dear Parishioners,
Some of you have been asking if there are any opportunities within the parish to give in support of the Ukrainian people. While there are many organizations now collecting funds for this purpose a local opportunity has recently presented itself. You may know that about 1.5 million Ukrainians have now taken refuge in Poland and that they are being taken care of by the local people. The Salvatorian Fathers, who pastor neighboring Holy Cross Parish, are working in Trzebnica, Poland and are expecting children from an orphanage in Ukraine. Since there are no adequate kitchen facilities an alternate arrangement is being made to feed these children. St. Helen's Parish is looking to raise some funds for this purpose. All the money collected will be forwarded to the Salvatorian Fathers at Holy Cross Parish in Burnaby who will then send it to their community in Poland. (No tax receipts can be issued for this donation since the Salvatorian Fathers do not have charitable status). The Salvatorian Fathers are missionary priests who have served in an outstanding way in the Archdiocese of Vancouver for about the last thirty years. The money entrusted to them will be entirely used to care for Ukrainian refugees in Poland.
You can donate by cash, cheque (payable to St. Helen’s Church) or by the credit card on the parish website https://sthelen.ca/giving and select Ukraine Assistance option. Envelopes will be available in the church lobby and in the church office. You can drop off your donations in collection basket or bring it to the parish office.
Thank you for your generosity.
In Christ,
Fr. Alessandro Lovato, Pastor
AUGUST 16 & 23, 2020
20TH AND 21ST SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Dear Parishioners,
The feast day of St. Helen (also known as St. Helena) is celebrated in the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church on August 18th (while in the Eastern Rite of the Roman Catholic Church it falls on May 21st). St. Helen, in the final years of her life, went to Syria Palaestina and Jerusalem in search of the True Cross of Jesus Christ, the cross on which our Lord was crucified. Having done an excavation and finding three crosses St. Helen did a test to see which of the three was the cross of Christ. She had a woman brought who was near death and had her touch each of the three crosses one by one. The woman touched the first and the second but when she touched the third she was suddenly made well and St. Helen established this to be the True Cross of Christ.
The students of St. Helen’s Elementary School are, for this reason, known as “the Searchers”. We are all searchers along our life’s journey. We search to know what talents God has given us and how we can use them best, we search for the right path to take in our life, the path that will bring us fulfillment and happiness. Above all, like St. Helen, we search for the presence of Jesus in our lives and if we search earnestly and with perseverance Jesus assures us that we will indeed find Him for He has promised “seek, and you will find” (Mt. 7:7).
I invite you to pray the Prayer to St. Helen which you can find below as we invoke the intercession of our holy patroness. St. Helen, pray for us!
In Christ,
Fr. Alessandro
PRAYER TO ST. HELEN
God, our Father, in Your divine plan you inspired St. Helen to search for the Holy Cross. Your grace made her capable of accepting the many difficulties in life. In order to follow Jesus Christ, your Son, I too must carry my cross daily with humility. With her prayers and protection, grant me the strength to carry this particular burden: (pause and name your intention) _________________________________________.
Through the intercession of St. Helen, allow me to find time to reach out to others in moments of their needs. With the Holy Spirit as my advocate, console me in moments of difficulties and grant me the joy and peace of mind so that I can glorify your Holy Name forever. Amen. St. Helen, pray for us.
August 2 & 9 , 2020
18th & 19th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Dear Parishioners,
We have been living through difficult times that have challenged us with isolation from our loved ones, threatened our livelihood, and disrupted the regular and ordinary routine of our lives. We could all use some encouragement and consolation. In his homily of Friday May 08, 2020, given at the Domus Sanctae Marthae, our Holy Father Pope Francis spoke about how Jesus comes to console us. Commenting on the Gospel of St. John (14:1-6) he stated:
‹‹But how does the Lord console? It is important to know this, because when we go through sad moments in our life, we too learn to perceive what is the true consolation of the Lord… the Lord always consoles with His closeness, through truth and hope. They are the three paths of the consolation of the Lord. It is not easy to allow ourselves to be comforted by the Lord. Very often, in bad moments, we get angry with the Lord and we do not allow Him to come to speak to us like this, with this tenderness, with this closeness, with this gentleness, with this truth and with this hope. Let us ask the grace to learn to let ourselves be comforted by the Lord. The consolation of the Lord is true, it does not deceive. It is not anaesthesia, no. But He is close, He is true, and He opens the doors to hope››.
The Lord then does not necessarily remove us from difficult situations but rather He comes next to us and places Himself in the midst of those sufferings and challenges. He lifts us up, he walks with us, he invites us to turn our gaze from that which troubles us and to fix it on Him. We know how much easier it is to get through difficult moments when our best friend is at our side. Jesus wants to be that friend by our side.
In Christ,
Fr. Alessandro
JUNE 7, 2020
THE MOST HOLY TRINITY
Dear Parishioners,
JUNE 7, 2020
THE MOST HOLY TRINITY
I share with you two updates as we approach the first celebrations of our Sunday Masses and as we enter into this last month of the school year.
1. Sunday Mass Celebrations
We will begin our first celebrations of the Sunday Mass with groups of fifty people the weekend of June 13/14. Masses will be celebrated Saturdays at 4:00PM and Sundays at 8:30AM, 10:00AM, and 11:30AM. There will be no Sunday evening Mass. Thank you for all those who have pre-registered to attend these Masses. We have currently formed two groups for each Mass and attendance will be on a bi-monthly basis.
The church has been prepared to ensure the safety of those participating in the Sunday Masses. Each Mass has been assigned its own set of pews so that the same pews are not used more than once on a Sunday. Places to sit have been measured and marked on the pews in order to ensure social distancing as well as markings on the floor down the center aisle for the reception of Holy Communion. We ask that parishioners attending Mass enter the church by the choir side entrance (east side entrance). At the door they will be asked to sanitize their hands. Masks and gloves will be available should anyone wish to have them. If one has their own mask, and would like to wear during Mass, we encourage you to bring it along with you. There will be a registration at the door of all those attending each Mass to verify that one has pre-registered to attend (in order to keep the total number of the faithful to fifty and so as to keep track of all persons attending). At the end of the Mass parishioners are asked to exit the opposite side door facing the parking lot (on the west side).
2. First Holy Communion and Confirmation
After much discussion with our school principal and PREP coordinator it was decided to delay the celebrations of First Holy Communion and Confirmation to the Fall. The following considerations formed the basis for this decision: Archbishop Miller clearly stated his preference that Confirmations be postponed to the Fall, the reality that some parents who have kept their children back from school would also keep them back from the sacraments, and finally the hope that by the Fall circumstances will allow us to have a more solemn celebration of these sacraments with a greater participation of family members, friends, and parishioners. Thus, the date for Confirmation is set for Thursday, September 24, 2020 and Sunday, October 04, 2020 for First Holy Communion. There will be more details to follow on these celebrations in the near future.
In Christ,
Fr. Alessandro
MAY 31, 2020
PENTECOST SUNDAY
Dear Parishioners,
I hope that this letter finds you and all your loved ones doing well. Archbishop Miller recently announced that we may partially re-open our parish church to public celebrations of the Sunday Mass with groups of no larger than fifty persons, in keeping with the regulations of the Provincial Health Officer. Archbishop Miller has asked that parishes proceed only once they have established the necessary protocols which will ensure the safety of those attending these Sunday celebrations. These safety measures include the hand sanitizing of each person who comes to Mass, the provision of masks for those who wish to use them, and designated seating in the church to ensure that the necessary social distancing and cleanliness is observed.
The Archbishop has made clear that those who desire to come to Mass do so on a voluntary basis and that the dispensation from the Sunday Mass obligation remains in place until further notice.
The Archdiocese has also set forth the following guidelines to establish who should NOT be attending Sunday Mass at this time:
-People with COVID-19 or who live with someone with COVID-19;
-People who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19;
-The sick, including those with even the slightest symptoms or feelings of sickness, especially if with upper respiratory or flu-like symptoms;
-Those who have recently traveled outside of Canada.
Furthermore, the following are ENCOURAGED to stay home for the sake of the wider community:
-People who live with someone with upper-respiratory or flu-like symptoms;
-People, especially the elderly, with underlying or compromised medical conditions;
-Family members who live with elderly people or those who are at risk.
In order to facilitate this transitional re-opening of our church we ask that those wishing to come to Mass pre-register for one Mass of their preference while also indicating a second preference. Four Masses will be offered: Saturday 4:00PM and Sunday 8:30AM, 10:00AM, and 11:30AM. Please call the parish office from Monday to Friday between the hours of 1:30PM and 3:30PM to register your spot. At registration you will be asked for your name, phone number, and email address, and your first and second choice of Mass times. The Archbishop has asked that the names of every person attending Mass be checked off (also so that we can keep a record of attendance). The cut-off for registration will be June 09, 2020 and the first public celebration of Masses Sunday June 14, 2020.
Once we have received all the pre-registrations we will place all the registrants into fixed groups and Sunday Mass attendance will be on a rotational basis. You will then be notified which Sundays you will be able to attend Sunday Mass.
This is currently the best that we are able to do under the given circumstances but we do look forward to the eventual complete opening of our church to the entire parish community. May God continue to bless you and your families with good health of body and soul.
In Christ,
Fr. Alessandro
MAY 24, 2020
ASCENSION OF THE LORD
Dear Parishioners,
Archbishop Miller has announced that all Catholic churches in the Archdiocese of Vancouver can now begin a partial re-opening for the celebration of Sunday Masses with a maximum of fifty people in attendance at a time. He has made clear that this is only permitted once churches have fulfilled the necessary requirements he has laid out which include the dispensation of sanitizer to every attendee and the provision of masks for those who would like them as well as a protocol for the cleaning of the church. Those wishing to attend must pre-register and each Mass celebration will be capped at fifty people. A letter will be sent out this week with information on how to pre-register for Mass. From the list of registrants received fixed groups will be formed for attendance at a particular Mass on a rotational basis. Archbishop Miller has stated that his dispensation from Sunday Mass attendance remains in place throughout this period of time.
The Archdiocese has set forth the following guidelines to establish who should NOT be attending at this time:
-People with COVID-19 or who live with someone with COVID-19;
-People who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19;
-The sick, including those with even the slightest symptoms or feelings of sickness, especially if with upper respiratory or flu-like symptoms;
-Those who have recently traveled outside of Canada.
The following are ENCOURAGED to stay home for the sake of the wider community:
-People who live with someone with upper-respiratory or flu-like symptoms;
-People, especially the elderly, with underlying or compromised medical conditions;
-Family members who live with elderly people or those who are at risk.
Once we have secured the necessary safety supplies and the pre-registration process is completed we will notify those who have registered of the Sunday Masses they have been assigned to attend. Only those who have registered will be permitted to attend the Sunday Masses both because we are limited to fifty people per Mass and also because the Archdiocese has asked us to keep records of all those who attend each Sunday Mass until things return to normalcy. Thus, we are currently only in a transitional phase that will work towards the full and complete re-opening of our church for Sunday Mass. I look forward to that day and thank you for your patience and understanding.
In Christ,
Fr. Alessandro
MAY 17, 2020
SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Dear Parishioners,
This past Friday the Archdiocese of Vancouver announced its new pastoral assignments for this year which included, sadly, the moving of Fr. Larry Lynn from our parish to Our Lady of the Assumption Parish, Port Coquitlam (effective August 13, 2020). This news caught me by surprise as it did Fr. Larry, who was just catching his stride here in the parish. Our parish has experienced many changes over the last decade and this certainly did not help. The question naturally arises, “Why?”. This year we ordained one priest and we lost six from active ministry in our diocese (one to retirement, one passed away, and four priests left to an assignment elsewhere). The answer in short is that we no longer have enough priests to go around. Since the Mass attendance at Our Lady of the Assumption is almost twice that of St. Helen’s Fr. Larry will be assigned to assist the pastor there. This news has been difficult for both Fr. Larry and I but we understand the underlying reality and have slowly come to accept it. This new reality will require a new response from our community.
We need to renew our efforts to promote vocations, especially to the priesthood. From the spiritual perspective God’s call to a religious vocation is always exciting and invigorating even if it is at the same time challenging. From the human perspective, however, it is very daunting for a young person who looks out to a world that seems to be godless in so many ways to make the radical choice to say “yes” to God. This “yes” cannot be made without the support of one’s family, friends, and community. In every age God never fails to call many to religious vocations. We need to help those who have been called to discern and to live out their special calling from God.
I will now need more of you to step up and assist me in the various ministries of St. Helen’s Parish. The sacramental ministry of a priest can often consume a large part of his day. The planning and celebration of a funeral, for example, can take between four to five hours. Thus, in order to be able to run the parish efficiently going forward I will need to delegate certain tasks to parishioners who are able to assist me. Your help will be needed and will be greatly appreciated. Even doing something small can be a huge help when you are dealing with a mountain of small things to do! We will be blessed to have for another while the assistance of Fr. Aloysius Anyichie, who is working at UBC and is in residence at the parish. We thank God for giving us Fr. Larry and appreciate the excellent work he has done for us here. May the Good Lord bless Fr. Larry as he makes this transition and for his new start at Our Lady of the Assumption. Thank you Fr. Larry!
In Christ,
Fr. Alessandro
MAY 10, 2020
FIFTH SUNDAY OF EASTER
Pastor’s Corner (In English & Italian)
Dear Parishioners,
I hope that you have all been keeping well during these trying times. I miss seeing you all and pray that we will soon be reunited in our communal celebration of the Holy Mass. It has been about seven weeks now of living this new experience and I wanted to update you on the current financial situation of the parish. Our Sunday collection used to average about $6,500.00 and in the past seven weeks these are the amounts that have been donated to the parish:
Sunday March 22, 2020 $ 617.00
Sunday March 29, 2020 $ 2,123.00
Sunday, April 05, 2020 $ 2,910.00
Sunday, April 12, 2020 $ 4,604.00
Sunday, April 19, 2020 $ 3,216.00
Sunday, April 26, 2020 $ 3,488.00
Sunday, May 03, 2020 $ 2,673.00
April on line donations in amount of $12,291.00
We strive always to be good stewards of our finances but especially so now. St. Helen’s Parish, as a non-profit organization, qualified for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) program. We applied, through the Archdiocese of Vancouver, and received confirmation that our application was accepted and that we will receive monies which will cover 75% of employee wages from March 15, 2020 to June 06, 2020.
I would like to thank from the very bottom of my heart the many parishioners who have been extremely generous in financially supporting the parish. Several parishioners have made one-time donations ranging between $200.00 and $1,000.00. I would also like to thank those who have dropped off their envelopes at the office and those who have enrolled themselves for online giving.
On more than one occasion I have heard people comment that they will give their regular donations when the celebration of Sunday Masses resume. While it is true that the regular parish activities and meetings aren’t taking place certain expenses remain such as the up keep and maintenance of the church and parish property and the payment of our utility bills. The current pandemic has affected the livelihood of some of our parishioners and I pray that you may not feel overwhelmed by this hardship. If one is still able to assist the parish financially I would encourage you to help us now and not to wait.
There are several ways in which you can make your offering to the parish. It can be dropped off at the office and, if the secretary is not present, can be placed through the office mail slot. If you do not feel comfortable dropping by you might consider mailing your offering to the parish office. An online donation can be made by visiting www.sthelen.ca and clicking on the “GIVING” link on the top far-right and then on “PARISH” or through the Archdiocese of Vancouver at https://rcav.org/sunday-offering and there choosing St. Helen’s Parish.
This Sunday the Lord reassures us, His disciples, “Do not let your hearts be troubled”. These are words of assurance which Jesus speaks to us now as we face new challenges and struggles. Jesus has not abandoned us. While we struggle to find our way let us look to Jesus who is Himself “the Way, and the Truth, and the Life” and He “will come again and will take [us] to [Himself]”.
In Christ,
Fr. Alessandro
NOTA DEL PARROCO
Cari parrocchiani,
Spero che stiate tutti bene nonostante questi tempi difficili. Mi mancate molto e prego che presto ci possiamo riunire nella celebrazione comune della Santa Messa. Sono trascorse circa sette settimane da quando abbiamo iniziato a vivere questa nuova esperienza e mi sento in dovere d'aggiornarvi sull'attuale situazione finanziaria della parrocchia. La nostra offerta domenicale era mediamente di circa $ 6.500,00 e queste sono le offerte raccolte nelle ultime sette settimane:
Domenica 22 marzo 2020 $ 617.00
Domenica 29 marzo 2020 $ 2,123.00
Domenica 05 aprile 2020 $ 2,910.00
Domenica 12 aprile 2020 $ 4,604.00
Domenica 19 aprile 2020 $ 3,216.00
Domenica 26 aprile 2020 $ 3,488.00
Domenica 03 maggio 2020 $ 2,673.00
Donazioni on line di aprile $12,291,00
Dobbiamo sempre essere capaci amministratori delle nostre finanze, e soprattutto in questo momento di crisi. La Parrocchia di Sant'Elena, in quanto organizzazione senza fini di lucro, si è qualificata per il programma di sussidio per salari in emergenza in Canada (CEWS). Abbiamo fatto domanda, attraverso l'arcidiocesi di Vancouver, e abbiamo ricevuto conferma che la nostra domanda è stata accettata e che riceveremo denaro che coprirà il 75% dei salari dei dipendenti dal 15 marzo al 6 giugno.
Vorrei ringraziare con cuore sincero i molti parrocchiani che in questo periodo sono stati estremamente generosi nel sostenere finanziariamente la parrocchia. Diversi parrocchiani hanno fatto donazioni una tantum comprese tra $ 200,00 e $ 1,000,00. Vorrei anche ringraziare coloro che hanno lasciato la loro offerta in ufficio e coloro che si sono iscritti per le donazioni online.
In più di un'occasione ho sentito persone commentare che daranno le loro donazioni regolari quando riprenderanno le celebrazioni per le messe domenicali. Vorrei ricordare che mentre è vero che le normali attività, sante messe, sacramenti e riunioni parrocchiali non hanno luogo, rimangono altre spese come la manutenzione della chiesa e dei locali della parrocchia e il pagamento delle bollette. L'attuale pandemia ha influito sul sostentamento di alcuni dei nostri parrocchiani e prego che possiate passare questo momento difficile. Invito d'altra parte tutti coloro che lo possono aiutare finanziariamente la parrocchia, di farlo e di farlo al piu' presto. Grazie!
Esistono diversi modi per fare la tua offerta alla parrocchia. Puoi lasciarla in ufficio e, se il segretaria non è presente, puoi inserirla nella fessura della posta dell'ufficio. Se non ti senti a tuo agio recarti all'ufficio, potresti considerare di inviare la tua offerta per posta. È possibile effettuare una donazione online visitando www.sthelen.ca e facendo clic sul collegamento "GIVE" in alto a destra e quindi su "PARISH" o attraverso l'arcidiocesi di Vancouver all'indirizzo https://rcav.org/sunday- offrendo e lì scegliendo St. Helen's Parish.
Questa domenica il Signore rassicura tutti noi, i suoi discepoli, "Non lasciare che i vostri cuori siano turbati". Queste sono parole di certezza e assicurazione che Gesù ci parla in questo momento particolare mentre stiamo affrontando nuove sfide e difficolta'. Gesù non ci abbandona! Mentre lottiamo per trovare la nostra strada, guardiamo a Gesù che è "la Via, la Verità e la Vita" ed Egli "verrà di nuovo e ci porterà con se."
In Cristo,
Padre Alessandro
Pastor’s Corner
Fourth Sunday of Easter
May 03, 2020
In the Gospel of St. John (10:1-10) for this Fourth Sunday of Easter Jesus presents Himself as the Good Shepherd who “calls His own sheep by name and leads them out… [and] goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow Him because they know His voice”. Jesus often used familiar images to help his hearers understand the saving truths He was communicating to them. In an agricultural context His hearers would have been well acquainted with the figure of the shepherd. This image is, perhaps, less striking to us who live in the city but it was an image that communicated very powerfully to Jesus’ first hearers the dedication that Jesus has to each of us.
The shepherd was clearly seen to be very dedicated to the protection and care of his sheep. He would sleep in the fields at night and bear the hardships of the cold and of the heat to be close to his flock. Since sheep have little means to protect themselves the shepherd was ever vigilant to keep them out of harm’s way and to repel any threat that would endanger them. Thus, when Jesus speaks of Himself as the Good Shepherd His hearers would have understood that Jesus has an undivided dedication to and attention for us, His flock. This image of Christ was cherished by the early Christian community and images depicting Christ as the Good Shepherd can be found dating back to the third century AD. One such example is the ceiling fresco found in the Catacomb of Calistus in Rome which portrays a remarkably youthful Christ carrying a lamb. Jesus not only leads us out of danger to green pastures but, at times, when we are incapable of moving forward, frozen by our fears and anxieties, crippled by our pain and sorrow, the Lord places us on His shoulders and carries us because He does not want us to be separated from Him. It is true that sheep recognize the voice of their shepherd but Jesus the Good Shepherd knows us so intimately that He calls each of us “by name”.
Let us rejoice that Jesus Christ is our Good Shepherd who leads us, and even carries us, along the paths of life and who has come so that “[we] may have life, and have it abundantly”.
In Christ,
Fr. Alessandro
Pastor’s Corner
Third Sunday of Easter 2020
Dear Parishioners,
The Church presents us on this Third Sunday of Easter with St. Luke’s account of the two disciples on the road to Emmaus after the death and resurrection of Jesus. If this particular account had been given a title it might read, “The Unrecognized Presence of Jesus”. Jesus is present to the two unnamed disciples; in fact, St. Luke tells us that “Jesus Himself came near and went with them”. Jesus is near to them and He walks with them. There is here a mysterious phrase penned by St. Luke: “their eyes were kept from recognizing Him”. It is hard to understand exactly what prevented them from recognizing Jesus. But later Jesus will upbraid them for being “slow of heart to believe”. Unbelief creates a narrowness of vision where the focus on Christ and the rest of reality is lost.
These disciples have just experienced the suffering and death of their beloved Lord and friend and their world has been shattered, turned upside down. We can imagine them walking with their heads down. The disciples, instead of remembering the words of Jesus that He would rise again, have resorted to their own resources to try to make sense of their world. Consequently, they have a tunnel vision view of their lives and feel trapped. Today, I believe, we can relate to these disciples as in many ways our own world has been turned upside down. We walk with heads hung low. But the good news of this Third Sunday of Easter is that Jesus walks with us. While we search for ways to adapt to and cope with the new realities we face we must not forget to search for He who is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life”. The loving presence of our Lord is the foundation that can not be shattered even if the rest of our world seems to be crumbling. Let us lift up our heads with confidence to see Jesus who is near to us and who walks with us.
Jesus also makes Himself present among us through each member of our community and especially in our generous service to our parish. Even in the desert of our current situation there are signs of life and encouragement to be found here. I would like to thank Mr. Sambor and all the teachers and staff of our school who have done a truly excellent job in making a quick and professional transition to teaching our students in virtual classrooms. I thank also our parish secretaries and staff and the members of our sacred music program who have continued to offer their generous service to our parish. Finally, I am extremely gratefully to all parishioners for their spiritual and financial support of our parish for without your help we could not carry on. May the Good Lord keep you all in good health of body and soul!
In Christ,
Fr. Alessandro
Pastor’s Message
Second Sunday of Easter
(Divine Mercy Sunday)
Dear Parishioners,
Greetings in the Risen Lord! I was very pleased that this past week, on Holy Thursday, we began the live-streaming of our liturgies at St. Helen’s Parish. We have now simplified the process to access our live-streaming by creating a YouTube channel for our parish (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCvoq5FZhOlNzDzvpX65ca7A/featured). One Sunday Mass will be live-streamed each week at 10:00AM at https://youtu.be/jniYByFDJrg until the resumption of the public celebration of our Masses. I encourage you to participate in the Sunday Mass at home by joining our live-streamed celebration and praying together as a family.
On the Second Sunday of Easter, which concludes the Octave of Easter, the Roman Catholic Church celebrates the Solemnity of the Divine Mercy of Jesus. In 1931 Jesus appeared to the Polish Sister (now saint) Maria Faustina and told her that she was going to prepare the world for His final coming, and that before He came He wanted a Feast of Mercy celebrated on the Second Sunday of Easter on which He would pour out an ocean of mercy on all who turned to Him. Pope Saint John Paul II established it as a universal feast of the Church on April 30, 2000.
It has been said by some of the greatest theologians of the Church that the greatest attribute of God is mercy and in such a great degree that “Mercy” is another name for God. Mercy and salvation go hand in hand and, thus, the mercy of God was the very reason for which God became man in the Incarnation of Christ. Jesus embodies the very mercy of God and His ministry on earth was one of sheer mercy by which He made man whole and holy again through the healing of his soul and body. In His revelations to Sister Faustina Jesus stated that: “On [the Feast of Divine Mercy] the very depths of My tender mercy are open. I pour out a whole ocean of graces upon those souls who approach the fount of My mercy. The soul that will go to Confession and receive Holy Communion shall obtain complete forgiveness of sins and punishment. On that day all the divine floodgates through which grace flow are opened. Let no soul fear to draw near to Me, even though its sins be as scarlet. My mercy is so great that no mind, be it of man or of angel, will be able to fathom it throughout all eternity."
The devotion to the Mercy of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is known as “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy” and can take the form of a novena where the chaplet is prayed for nine days. This prayer can be found at https://www.thedivinemercy.org/message/devotions/pray-the-chaplet and I encourage all to pray it. May the Easter blessings of Jesus Christ be with you all!
In Christ,
Fr. Alessandro
Fr. Alessandro’s Easter Message
Just a few short weeks ago we were going about our lives as we normally do when we were suddenly blindsided by a pandemic that turned our lives upside down. Two thousand years ago Jesus’ disciples were crushed and their lives upended by His passion, crucifixion, and death. But two of these disciples – Mary Magdalene and the other Mary – remembered the words of Jesus and with a glimmer of hope came to visit His tomb on the first day of the week. At this most sacred time of the Christian year we feel that we have been stripped of that which is most precious to us – our communal celebration of the Eucharist and the freedom to celebrate Easter with our families and friends. When the women came to the tomb it was also empty, stripped, and bare. Jesus seemed to be gone. But then came a surprise! God surprises the women with the proclamation of the Angel: “[Jesus] has been raised.. tell his disciples…and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him”.
In his 2018 Easter Homily Pope Francis exclaimed: “The women had gone to anoint the Lord’s body and instead found themselves standing before a surprise. When God announces something it is always a surprise because God is a God of surprises. It has been that way from the beginning of the story of salvation with Abraham: one surprise after another. God does not know how to make an announcement without surprising us. Surprise moves our hearts and touches us where we do not expect.” The way of Jesus’ cross seemed like a dead end to His disciples and in fact it was the end of the old way of life and the beginning of a much greater life lived in the Resurrection of Christ. It may seem today that we have also come to a dead end but let us never forget that Jesus always brings us through our way of the cross to His new life. Our God is indeed a God of surprises. Like the women who came to the Lord’s tomb that Easter morning let us lay a firm hold on our hope that Jesus has not in fact left us. Let us search Him out with the joyful expectation that we will certainly find Him and He will not fail to surprise us with His new life and a new beginning.
On behalf of Fr. Larry, Fr. Aloysius, Deacon Pat, and Deacon Mike, and all our parish staff I wish you and your loved ones a most blessed Easter!
Fr. Alessandro
Friday, April 03, 2020
Dear Parishioners,
The priest and deacons of the parish have been thinking about you and keeping you all in our prayers. We pray and hope that you are well.
Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter Schedule
The public celebrations of Holy Week and Easter Sunday, as mentioned in my last update, have been suspended. These liturgies, while not open to the participation of the general public, will be celebrated by the parish priests and deacons and a few ministers to assist in a simplified form. The schedule of the celebrations at St. Helen’s is as follows and parishioners are encouraged to prayerfully unite themselves with the celebrations as they are taking place:
Palm Sunday, April 05, 2020 10:00AM
Holy Thursday, April 09, 2020 7:00PM
Good Friday, April 10, 2020 3:00PM
Easter Vigil, April 11, 2020 9:00PM
Easter Sunday, April 12, 2020 10:00AM
Archbishop Miller has also encouraged the faithful of the Archdiocese of Vancouver to follow these liturgies as they are live streamed from Holy Rosary Cathedral. The schedule of liturgies and the live stream can be found at https://www.holyrosarycathedral.org/live-stream/.
Confessions
While there has been a suspension of the public celebration of Masses we have, here at St. Helen’s, maintained the regular offering of Confession times (Monday to Friday 7:25AM-7:40AM and Saturday 8:30AM-9:00AM; 3:00PM-4:00PM) and will continue to do so. It seems that some are not aware of this so please help to inform others.
In preparation for the holiest feast of Easter we would also like to give an additional opportunity to celebrate the sacrament. On Tuesday April 07th and Wednesday April 08th the sacrament of Reconciliation will be available from 10:00AM-12:00Noon and from 2:00PM-5:00PM. There will be two stations, one in front of the church and one in the chapel, and a third drive-through station between the church and the West Wing of the school. All are welcome!
FORMED.ORG
I am excited to announce that St. Helen’s Parish has initiated a one year subscription to formed.org for the benefit of all our parishioners. Formed can be likened to a Catholic Netflix with a lot of wonderful video content centered on our Roman Catholic Faith including movies, cartoons and special content for children, documentaries, and instructional classes and catechesis. This was something that we had been contemplating doing for a while and it now seemed an ideal time to begin. Formed will be also be available to our parish school and PREP program and will prove to be a valuable teaching tool for teachers and children will enjoy the lively content presented there. In addition the excellent presentations on the sacraments will be most helpful to our grade two and seven students as they continue their preparation for First Holy Communion and Confirmation.
Formed is available for your now and you can sign-up by following these simple steps:
1) Go to formed.org/signup;
2) In the search bar type in “St Helen, Burnaby” and select our parish;
3) Register with your name and email address;
4) Check that email account for a link to begin using FORMED
Once you have signed up to login in again you will simply enter your email and the link which is sent to your email account. Formed also has an app for smartphones and tablets. I hope that you will find enjoyment, encouragement, and spiritual nourishment through formed.org!
May the road rise to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.
In Christ,
Fr. Alessandro
March 29, 2020
Dear Parishioners,
I pray that this message finds you and your loved ones in good health. I have missed seeing the members of our parish family and you all remain daily in my prayers.
Update from Archbishop Miller
Last Friday Archbishop Miller, following the directives of our provincial health authorities, suspended the celebration of public Masses until further notice. Masses are still offered daily by the priests at St. Helen’s. All of the Mass intentions that have been booked are being celebrated and if one would like to have a Mass intention offered you can still do so by calling or emailing the parish office. Yesterday, we received word that the suspension of Masses would now include Holy Week and Easter Sunday. The Chrism Mass celebrated by the Archbishop and normally attended by all the priests serving in the Archdiocese of Vancouver will now be livestreamed with priests participating from their own parishes. Archbishop Miller has asked that all the Holy Week and Easter celebrations still be celebrated albeit just with the ministers necessary to do so. I would encourage you to participate in all these celebrations as they are being livestreamed from Holy Rosary Cathedral, Vancouver at their YouTube channel (Holy Rosary Cathedral).
https://www.holyrosarycathedral.org/live-stream
Parish and School Operations
While liturgical celebrations and the regular meetings of our parish have been suspended the priests and staff of the parish are still here and available to minister to your needs as best we can while observing all the directives established by the health authorities. The parish office will continue to operate but will be closed to public entry until further notice. We encourage you to contact the office by phone or email. That being said all necessary and urgent appointments with priests, such as family meetings for the celebrations of funerals, will certainly be accommodated while other appointments may be postponed to a later time.
Fr. Larry and I will always be available for the celebration of the Last Rites for the dying; please contact the office during office hours (604 298-4144) and our emergency number in the evenings and on weekends (604 298-6111). Confessions will be heard at the regular times (7:25AM Monday to Friday, and on Saturday at 8:30AM-9:00AM and 3:00-4:00PM in front of the church or by appointment. The Chapel will remain accessible at all times with the Blessed Sacrament present. Please check our parish website (www.sthelen.ca) for any new updates.
All schools in British Columbia have been closed to regular class attendance with classes to be taught online for the remainder of this school year. Similar to our parish office the school office will also be closed to public entry but will maintain its operations. Parents are asked to communicate with the school office and staff by email or phone. Regular updates from the principal Mr. Sambor and all contact information can be found in the St. Helen’s School App (a free download from the App store) or on the school website (www.sthelensschool.ca).
Both Mr. Sambor and I, understanding that some may be facing economic hardships during this difficult time, want to assure you that we will work with our school families to ensure the ongoing education of our students in this academic year.
The celebrations of First Holy Communion and Confirmation have been postponed and will, God willing, likely take place in the fall of this year. Given the constantly changing status of our current situation we are not able at this time to establish new dates but must wait until the health authorities allow regular gatherings to recommence. Rest assured that as soon as new dates are set you will be informed.
Supporting your Parish
The new reality we are living has meant the closer of many businesses, and lay-offs or the reduction of work hours. Many families have been affected and hurt economically and we keep them in our prayers. If one is still in a position to support the parish we truly appreciate anything that is offered to maintain its operation. One can physically give by dropping their envelopes or offering through the mail slot of the parish office door. An online donation can be made by visiting www.sthelen.ca and clicking on the “GIVING” link on the top far-right and then on “PARISH” or through the Archdiocese of Vancouver at https://rcav.org/sunday-offering and there choosing St. Helen’s Parish. We are truly appreciative of your sacrificial offering in these trying times.
We will be keeping you and all your loved ones in prayer at our daily celebrations of the Mass that God may grant you good health of body and spirit. Please also keep us in your prayers. We look forward to the time when we can be reunited as a community of faith around God’s holy altar.
In Christ,
Fr. Alessandro
March 22, 2020
Dear Parishioners,
I hope that this message finds you and your families well as we go through this difficult period in the life of our community and of the world at large.
The Lenten Journey
As we journey through Lent the Sunday gospel accounts present us with the spiritual and physical healings of Jesus (last Sunday, the Samaritan woman at the well, today, the healing of the man born blind, and next Sunday, the raising of Lazarus from the dead) through which He increasingly reveals His divinity. Jesus’ public ministry always involves Him in both the preaching of the good news and the healing ministry. God’s word is a word of salvation for the whole of man, for both his body and soul. We are always in need of this salvation and Lent is a time that reminds us of our need for Jesus, of our dependence on Him. In this time where many are suffering from physical illness we implore the Lord’s healing for our community and the world. In this Sunday’s gospel account the disciples conclude that the man was born blind because either he or his parents had sinned. Instead Jesus asserted, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him”. Today many are asking questions as to why we are in our current predicament and there may be no satisfactory answers. However, from these words of Jesus we can learn that, while God never desires the suffering of man and much of the suffering we experience in this world is the result of humanity’s actions, the Lord can manifest His works to heal our pain and bring some good out of what is evil.
Parish Update
This past Saturday Archbishop Michael Miller dispensed all Roman Catholics in the Archdiocese of Vancouver from the Sunday obligation and in response to the growing seriousness of the COVID-19 situation I have decided to cancel the celebration of all Masses with the public and parish activities effective Friday March 20, 2020 until further notice. This response is in keeping with that of many dioceses across Canada and within our province as well as the recommendations of our government leaders and provincial health officer to avoid gatherings of people. This has proven to be the most effective means of combating the spread of the virus and since this is the most critical time with regards to curtailing its spread the decision was made to act now rather than to wait until the situation worsens.
The parish office will continue to operate (perhaps with some reduced hours) but will be closed to public entry at least until April 06, 2020. We encourage you to contact the office by phone or email. Masses will continue to be celebrated daily and you can still have Masses offered each day but the time for the offering of these Masses will not be set according to the regular schedule but will be at the discretion of each priest celebrant. Necessary and urgent appointments with priests, such as family meetings for the celebrations of funerals, will certainly be accommodated while other appointments may be post-poned to a later time. We will always be available for the celebration of the Last Rites for the dying; please contact the office during office hours (604 298-4144) and our emergency number in the evenings and on weekends (604 298-6111).
Confessions
The Chapel will remain accessible at all times with the Blessed Sacrament present.
The new reality we are living has meant the closure of many businesses, and lay-offs or the reduction of work hours. Many families have been affected and hurt economically and we keep them in our prayers. If one is still in a position to support the parish we truly appreciate anything that is offered to maintain its operation. One can physically give by dropping their envelopes or offering through the mail slot of the parish office door. An online donation can be made by visiting www.sthelen.ca and clicking on the “GIVING” link on the top far-right and then on “PARISH” or through the Archdiocese of Vancouver at https://rcav.org/sunday-offering and there choosing St. Helen’s Parish. Thank you for your ongoing support and cooperation as we navigate through these unchartered waters.
Cathedral`s Sunday Mass can be seen at https://www.holyrosarycathedral.org/live-stream
We will be keeping you and all your loved ones in prayer at our daily celebrations of the Mass that God may grant you good health of body and spirit. Please also keep us in your prayers. We look forward to the time when we can be reunited as a community of faith around God’s holy altar.
In Christ,
Fr. Alessandro
November 05, 2020
Dear Parishioners,
I hope this letter finds you and your loved ones in good health. The purpose of this letter is to reach out to all parishioners to inform and update you on some important matters in the life of the parish as well as to ask your financial support.
Here is an update on some important aspects of parish life:
1) Mass Attendance
We are currently still limited to fifty people per service and therefore, for the time being, one must register to attend Sunday Mass. There are two set groups that have been formed for attendance at each respective Mass (Sat. 4:00PM; Sun. 8:30AM, 10:00AM, and 11:30AM). To attend Sunday Mass please register by calling the parish office. Additionally, one can participate online in the Sunday celebration of Mass on our parish website by clicking “11:30AM Live Stream Mass”. Those not able to come on Sunday can also attend a weekday Mass as the numbers are generally low (Mon.-Fri. 7:45AM; Sat. 9:00AM). No registration is required for this.
2) Sacraments
The celebration of all the Church’s sacraments has continued uninterrupted while respecting the new norms for safety in the church building. To arrange for the celebration of the sacraments please call the office; for weddings contact Fr. Alessandro and for baptisms contact Deacon Mike Boreham. The opportunity for confession continues to remain available: Mon.- Fri. 7:25AM-7:40AM; Sat. 8:30AM-8:55AM and 3:00PM-3:50PM.
3) Chapel
The parish adoration chapel is open from Monday to Friday from 7:00AM to 9:00PM. In order to enter the chapel press the numbers 5-4-2 on the keypad and turn the door handle to the right.
4) Flocknote
The current situation has highlighted the need to be able to better communicate with our parishioners. Thus, we are implementing a system called Flocknote specifically designed to help parishes to do this. If you would like to join our mailing list to receive the latest bulletin, news, and updates please register your name and email address using this link:
https://StHelensChurch.flocknote.com/JOINEMAILLIST
We need your financial support to sustain the day to day operation of St. Helen’s Parish. Since the beginning of the current health crisis the weekly contributions made to the parish have fallen by about 40%. The Archdiocese of Vancouver has deferred our mortgage payments as we are currently not able to fully service them. Furthermore, while there has been a reduction in Sunday Mass attendance the costs of operating the parish have largely not changed. We have also incurred the additional expense of professionally sanitizing our church each week for the safety of our parishioners. We really do need your financial support at this time. The current health crisis has affected many financially and it is understood that some may no longer be in a position where they can donate as they had in the past. However, whatever one may be able to give does make a real difference in the life of our parish. I wholeheartedly thank those who have already given generously and invite those who may have been waiting to give to do so.
There are several ways you can give to the parish. The tab on the left hand side of our parish website sthelen.ca enables one to make their weekly offering or even a one-time donation under “Sunday Offering” as well to contribute to the annual Archiocesan fundraising campaign under “Project Advance”. The good news with regards to Project Advance this year is that we have already met our reduced goal of $35,000 and now any donations received will go directly to the parish. This reduced goal is an opportunity we may never have again to fundraise for our parish and we encourage you to support us in this way as we aim to match last year’s donations of $65,000.
St. Helen’s Parish belongs to each and every one of us and in order for it to continue to thrive it also needs the support of every member of the parish. This is your parish, this is your home. Thank you for your generous support of St. Helen’s Parish.
In Christ,
Fr. Alessandro Lovato
November 05, 2020
Dear Parishioners,
I hope this letter finds you and your loved ones in good health. The purpose of this letter is to reach out to all parishioners to inform and update you on some important matters in the life of the parish as well as to ask your financial support.
Here is an update on some important aspects of parish life:
1) Mass Attendance
We are currently still limited to fifty people per service and therefore, for the time being, one must register to attend Sunday Mass. There are two set groups that have been formed for attendance at each respective Mass (Sat. 4:00PM; Sun. 8:30AM, 10:00AM, and 11:30AM). To attend Sunday Mass please register by calling the parish office. Additionally, one can participate online in the Sunday celebration of Mass on our parish website by clicking “11:30AM Live Stream Mass”. Those not able to come on Sunday can also attend a weekday Mass as the numbers are generally low (Mon.-Fri. 7:45AM; Sat. 9:00AM). No registration is required for this.
2) Sacraments
The celebration of all the Church’s sacraments has continued uninterrupted while respecting the new norms for safety in the church building. To arrange for the celebration of the sacraments please call the office; for weddings contact Fr. Alessandro and for baptisms contact Deacon Mike Boreham. The opportunity for confession continues to remain available: Mon.- Fri. 7:25AM-7:40AM; Sat. 8:30AM-8:55AM and 3:00PM-3:50PM.
3) Chapel
The parish adoration chapel is open from Monday to Friday from 7:00AM to 9:00PM. In order to enter the chapel press the numbers 5-4-2 on the keypad and turn the door handle to the right.
4) Flocknote
The current situation has highlighted the need to be able to better communicate with our parishioners. Thus, we are implementing a system called Flocknote specifically designed to help parishes to do this. If you would like to join our mailing list to receive the latest bulletin, news, and updates please register your name and email address using this link:
https://StHelensChurch.flocknote.com/JOINEMAILLIST
We need your financial support to sustain the day to day operation of St. Helen’s Parish. Since the beginning of the current health crisis the weekly contributions made to the parish have fallen by about 40%. The Archdiocese of Vancouver has deferred our mortgage payments as we are currently not able to fully service them. Furthermore, while there has been a reduction in Sunday Mass attendance the costs of operating the parish have largely not changed. We have also incurred the additional expense of professionally sanitizing our church each week for the safety of our parishioners. We really do need your financial support at this time. The current health crisis has affected many financially and it is understood that some may no longer be in a position where they can donate as they had in the past. However, whatever one may be able to give does make a real difference in the life of our parish. I wholeheartedly thank those who have already given generously and invite those who may have been waiting to give to do so.
There are several ways you can give to the parish. The tab on the left hand side of our parish website sthelen.ca enables one to make their weekly offering or even a one-time donation under “Sunday Offering” as well to contribute to the annual Archiocesan fundraising campaign under “Project Advance”. The good news with regards to Project Advance this year is that we have already met our reduced goal of $35,000 and now any donations received will go directly to the parish. This reduced goal is an opportunity we may never have again to fundraise for our parish and we encourage you to support us in this way as we aim to match last year’s donations of $65,000.
St. Helen’s Parish belongs to each and every one of us and in order for it to continue to thrive it also needs the support of every member of the parish. This is your parish, this is your home. Thank you for your generous support of St. Helen’s Parish.
In Christ,
Fr. Alessandro Lovato