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, MARCH 31, 2013
EASTER SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD
Pastor: Rev. Msgr. Ambrose O. Nwohu.…………………………………………………………………………..520-896-2708
Parish Secretary: Gloria Acosta………………………………………………………………………………………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
Faith is a breaking our of the
isolation of my “I” and a resurrection
of my true self.
Pope Benedict XVI
R/ Lord, increase my faith.
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.
Easter Sunday
March 31, 2013
When Christ your life appears,
then you too will appear with him in glory.
— Colossians 3:4
EASTER ENERGY
On Easter morning when the disciples saw the evidence of the Resurrection, they did not at first
grasp it. John reports that “they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.”
We, on the other hand, have both scripture and church tradition to teach us. Jesus Christ’s resurrection is
at the core of our Christian faith.
All of today’s readings tell us how compelling this event was for the first Christians. There is
great energy in all the readings. Peter preaches with authority and conviction. Paul calls for Christians to
change their lives. In the Gospel reading we see Peter and John in a footrace to reach Jesus’ tomb and
see with their own eyes the evidence that they still could not understand or completely believe.
How can some of this Easter energy be restored to us today? Do we let the astonishing news of
the Resurrection touch us now? Does it call us to action? To deeper faith? To conversion? What new life
will be reborn in us and our parish community this Easter morning?
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
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
3/23-3/24-2013
Parish Offertory - $1,123.25
Easter Flowers - $75.00
March 2013
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.
God bless you for your generosity.
PLEASE PRAY FOR
Ill and/or homebound:
Tony T. Diaz, Infant Sophia Vincent, Leslie Scoville, Sammy Pacheco, Felix Marquez, Dorothy Hidalgo, Corina Diaz, George Castillo, Mollie
Clark, Elidia Alcaraz, Hailey (Candelaria) Lugo, Madison Harper
Our Service Men & Women:
Faithful Departed:
Jordan Garrett, Nathan Jackson, Manny Navarro, David Navarro
+Norma Osborn
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.
MARCH 2013 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.
Cursillo Leaders School – Mondays 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
Compliance Representative – Gloria Acosta
Liturgy/Bereavement - Mary Buzan
Choir Director – Ellie Brown
Religious Education
1st & 2nd Grades –
Janice Vigil
Becky Bayze
`
3rd Grade
(1st Communion)
Maria Martinez
Allison Lapa
4th & 5th Grades
Jennie Seballos
6th, 7th, 8th Grades
Allison Lapa
Phyllis David
Youth Ministry
Carl Wavrek
Confirmation Class
Mary Telles
Leslie Osborn
Social Justice – Mary Ellen Kazda
St. Helen’s Food Bank – Helen Alvarez
Knights of Columbus – Johnny Seballos
Cursillo Movement Leaders – Mary & Tony Telles
Adult Catechesis – Msgr. Ambrose O. Nwohu
Prison Detention Ministry – Bruce Robertson
Carlos Ruiz – Maintenance
St. Helen Kitchen – JoAnn Vigil
Prayer Shawl Ministry – Renee Rios
Church Cleaning/Furnishings/Environmental Design
Caroline Robertson 896-0303 & Vickie Jones
896-2955
896-2708
896-9085
896-3530
668-7004
896-2605
896-2142
896-2148
896-2589
896-2148
896-3169
237-7031
896-9031
896-2443
896-2955
404-4817
896-2589
896-9031
896-2708
896-0303
896-2629
896-2137
896-9736
896-2131
ANNUAL CATHOLIC APPEAL
Thank you for pledging today to help meet our parish
goal. Increasing participation in each parish assures us the
continuation of these efforts.
Volunteers needed for the Sunday morning social hour.
Thank you in advance for your support.
SECOND COLLECTIONS
(*Diocesan)
April 6 & 7 – Building Fund
April 20 & 21 – Parish Maintenance
May 4 & 5 – Building Fund
Envelopes for PARISH
special collections in the
rack at the back of the
church.
Weekly Spiritual Offerings
 First Friday Mass & Adoration of Blessed Sacrament – 8 a.m.
 Adult Scripture Study with Msgr. Ambrose
Every Tuesday evening at 7 p.m. All adults welcome.
 Prayer Service Every Wednesday During Year of Faith
6:30 p.m. Holy Hour Devotion & Chaplet of Divine Mercy
followed by 7 p.m. Mass
EASTER FLOWER MEMORIALS
George Castillo, Jr. by George R. Castillo
Manuel P. Apodaca by Gloria F. Apodaca
Catherine N. Nwosu (nee Nwohu)
Deceased members of Ridge & Leonard Families
By Donna Leonard
Jenny & Lino Marquez by Yolanda Marquez
Vindiola & Acosta Families by Tina Vindiola
Don Romero & Rita Baird by Lupita Romero
Ralph Torrez Diaz by Susie Diaz Parkhurst
+Josip Smolkovich & +Joe & Felipa Felix
By Maidie Smolkovich
Alex Candelaria by Donna Candelaria
Special Intention – Mulholland Family
For Intentions of the Ladies’ Prayer Shawl Ministry
Needed Immediately:
Volunteers for Ministry of Environmental Design for the
Church. This important ministry involves preparation of the
altar for the liturgical seasons: Ordinary, Lent, Easter, Advent
and Christmas.
Caroline Robertston and Vicky Jones will work with new
volunteers to help them become familiar with the
requirements of the ministry. If you feel called to volunteer in
this important and rewarding ministry please call the parish
office or speak with Msgr. Ambrose.
Available now: April issue of Magnificat – $4/copy.
See Tony Telles or come to the Parish Office.
Also available The Catholic Source Book, an excellent
study guide containing a wealth of information about our
Catholic faith. Only 5 copies left. Discounted price - $10.
Good resource for Year of Faith.
For Food Bank donation pick-up please call 896-2540.
Please call that number also if you know of someone
who needs help. Non-perishable food items are needed.
Monetary donations also accepted.
Divine Mercy Sunday
Sunday, April 7, 2013
The Chaplet of Divine Mercy will be
recited before each Mass, including
Saturday.
The Knights of Columbus will have their regular business
meeting this Wednesday, April 3 at 7 pm in San Manuel.
The upcoming golf tournament makes it critical for all
Knights to attend this meeting.
Please consider donating blood April 18 at the San Manuel
auditorium.The need for blood is constant. Thank you.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION
First Communion Saturday, April 27 – 11 a.m.
Confirmation Friday, May 31 – 6 p.m. with Bishop Kicanas.
Please pray for candidates receiving these sacraments.
TODAY’S READINGS
First Reading — Peter is an eyewitness: The Lord is risen (Acts
10:34a, 37-43).
Psalm — This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be
glad (Psalm 118).
(1) Second Reading — All who are baptized, set your hearts on
heaven (Colossians 3:1-4) or
(2) Second Reading — Christ our Passover is sacri-ficed;
therefore let us celebrate (1 Corinthians 5:6b-8).
Gospel — Three witnesses, Mary, Peter, and John; each responds
to the empty tomb (John 20:1-9) or
Luke 24:1-12 (or, at an afternoon or evening Mass, Luke 24:1335).
1-9)
or John 4:5-42
[5-15,
19b-26, 39a, 40-42].
READINGS
FOR THE
WEEK
Monday:
Acts 2:14, 22-33; Ps 16:1-2, 5, 7-11;
Mt 28:8-15
Tuesday:
Acts 2:36-41; Ps 33:4-5, 18-20, 22;
Jn 20:11-18
Wednesday:
Acts 3:1-10; Ps 105:1-4, 6-9; Lk 24:13-35
Thursday:
Acts 3:11-26; Ps 8:2, 5-9; Lk 24:35-48
Friday:
Acts 4:1-12; Ps 118:1-2, 4, 22-27; Jn 21:1-14
Saturday:
Acts 4:13-21; Ps 118:1, 14-21; Mk 16:9-15
Sunday:
Acts 5:12-16; Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24;
Rev 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19; Jn 20:19-31
SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES
Sunday:
Easter Sunday: Resurrection of the Lord
Monday:
Monday within the Octave of Easter
Tuesday:
Tuesday within the Octave of Easter
Wednesday:
Wednesday within the Octave of Easter
Thursday:
Thursday within the Octave of Easter
Friday:
Friday within the Octave of Easter;
First Friday
Saturday:
Saturday within the Octave of Easter;
First Saturday
TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION
Over the centuries, the Church has demonstrated a wonderful ability to adopt a culture’s favorite symbols and
customs and assign them new meaning. Easter eggs have a very ancient pedigree: nature’s perfect package, emblem of
new life, dyed and decorated and given as gifts in ancient Egypt, Rome, China, and Persia. Just as the long hard winter is
over, the egg bursts with promise of life and nourishment. Long ago, Christians came to see the egg not as a symbol of
spring’s rebirth, but of ours, and as a sign of Christ’s tomb. A Polish legend says that Mary, in compassion for the soldiers
at the cross, gave them eggs, but that her tears stained their shells with brilliant color. Legends have their origin in tales
told around a hearth, but they often contain a profound truth. The idea of Mary, the first Christian, engaged in a merciful
act of forgiveness and tenderness even in the shadow of the cross, describes the age-old wish that Christ “Easter in us.”
—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).

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St. Ambrose Catholic School – Kindergarten Teacher
St. Ambrose Catholic School – Cafeteria Cook
Diocese of Tucson - Administrative Assistant, Office of the Chancellor
Diocese of Tucson – Administrative Assistant, Office of Child, Adolescent and Adult Protection
St. Cyril Catholic School, Tucson – Elementary School Teachers (2 positions)
Our Lady of the Valley, Green Valley – Organist
Catholic Cemeteries, Tucson – Grounds Superintendent
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 call 520-722-2931; or e-mail: stogskk@mindspring.com or visit the website at
www.HelpOurMarriage.com
WORLDWIDE MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER
Alleluia, Alleluia, Jesus Christ is Risen! Jesus is our Lord and Savior; all glory, honor and praise be to our Lord God Almighty. Let
Jesus truly be Lord of your life and your Marriage. Allow God’s grace, mercy, compassion, and love to transform your marriage; sign up
today to attend a Worldwide Marriage Encounter weekend to be held in Phoenix on April 26-28th. Call or email Paul and Karen at 520-4772121 or info@wwme-phx.org. You can also visit www.wwme-phx.org for more info.
YEAR OF FAITH: MARCH 2013
Lent to Triduum: Journey of Conversion
Meditation
The Year of Faith is a summons to an authentic and renewed conversion to the Lord Jesus, the world’s only Savior. In the mystery of
Jesus’ death and resurrection, God has revealed, in its fullness, the love that saves and calls us to conversion of life through
forgiveness of our sins (see Benedict XVI, Door of Faith, 6).
March, in this Year of Faith, leads us by Lent’s journey of conversion to the Paschal Triduum: Holy Thursday’s foot washing and
Mass of the Lord’s Supper, Good Friday’s celebration of Jesus’ life-giving passion, the Vigil and Easter morning’s joy at Jesus’
glorious resurrection. In some parishes, especially those with catechumens, the March Gospels challenge us to join the Samaritan
woman and the man blind from birth in deepening our understanding of Jesus as more than a prophet, indeed the Savior of the world.
In other parishes, the Gospels invite us to let the Lord “prune” us of sin that we may bear fruit while there is time; to return as
prodigals to our Father’s house and ease the welcome home for fellow sinners; to embrace as our own the pardon Jesus so graciously
offered the woman caught in adultery. These Gospels bid us open our hearts to God’s gentle but powerful grace slowly purifying and
transforming our thoughts and relationships, our mentality and conduct. But if at Easter we find ourselves disappointed at the
incompleteness of our transformation, Lent’s yearly recurrence reminds us: conversion, like the journey of faith, is indeed a journey
that lasts a lifetime.
Mission
Seek forgiveness and reconciliation in the sacrament of penance and offer forgiveness and reconciliation to those with whom I am not
at peace.