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:
[email protected]
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 1, 2015
, 2013
FOURTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Pastor: Rev. Msgr. Ambrose O. Nwohu.…………………………………………………………………………..520-896-2708
Parish Secretary& Compliance Representative: GloriaAcosta ……………………………………………………520-896-2708
Parish Office Hours: Tuesday – Friday……………………………………………..…..…………….…..………….9 a.m.-2 p.m.
Priest: Tuesday - Friday…………….…..………………………………………………….9:30 a.m. - 12 noon & 2 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Director of Religious Education: Mary Telles: Wednesday………………………………………………………..520-896-2708
MASS SCHEDULE
Saturday (Mass of Anticipation)……………………………………………………….……...…………………………….5 p.m.
Sunday………………………………………………………..…………………………………………………….8 a.m. & 10 a.m.
Monday thru Friday……...……………….…………………………………………..............................................................8 a.m.
First Friday of the Month Anointing of the Sick and Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament…………………………......8 a.m.
All Holy Days of Obligation………………………………………..……………………........................................9 a.m. & 7 p.m.
Pray the Rosary…………………………………………………………………..…………………….1/2 hour before each Mass
Parish Board of Directors
Rev. Msgr. Ambrose O. Nwohu, President
Manuel Navarro, Treasurer
Teresa Kern, Secretary
Most Rev. Gerald F. Kicanas, D.D.
Rev. Msgr. Albert I. Schifano
********SACRAMENTAL PREPARATION*********
Marriage Preparation
Diocesan regulations require
that you see a priest at least
four months before your
wedding date.
Baptismal Preparation
Please call for arrangements at least two
months prior to the date of Baptism.
Baptisms are scheduled for the third
weekend of each month.
Reconciliation/Confession
Saturday from
4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Any other time by appointment.
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
February 1, 2015
Come, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD
who made us.
— Psalm 95:6
— 1 Corinthians 6:19a
AUTHORITY FROM GOD
According to Moses, the people decided they didn’t want to hear God’s voice directly
any more. It was much too frightening. Why couldn’t God send human teachers, prophets,
instead? God agreed, but with a warning. The people had better listen to those teachers,
because they spoke in God’s name.
That arrangement, though, had its own problems, for them and for us. How do I know
this teacher is truly from God? And if the teacher is from God, are all parts of the teaching
meant for me? We have the Church and scripture to help us with those questions, but still
there are always a few loose ends.
That is the powerful significance of the sentence in today’s Gospel: “The people were
astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the
scribes.” The people knew that this Jesus was authentic—truly a teacher sent by God.
They knew it by hearing him.
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
February 2015
1/24/15 & 1/25/15
Parish Offertory - $677.95
Please stop by the parish office to reserve dates for the Sanctuary
Lamp. The Sanctuary Lamp may be reserved by more than one
person for the same dates.
Thank you and God bless you for your generosity.
PLEASE PRAY FOR
Ill and/or homebound: Veronica Lozano-Myers, Rico Guerrero, James Davis, Dora Chavez, Lynne Cunningham, Mary Maldonado, Tony T. Diaz,
Sammy Pacheco, Felix Marquez, Dorothy Hidalgo, Corina Diaz, Mollie Clark, Hailey (Candelaria) Lugo, Madison Harper, Michael Hilimire, Bea
Marquez
Our Service Men & Women:
Nathan Jackson, Manny Navarro, David Navarro
Faithful Departed: Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord and may perpetual light shine upon them
***Please help keep our prayer list current. To add someone to the prayer list, please call the parish office. Names will remain on
the list for 2 months. If you wish someone to remain on the list for an extended period, please contact the parish office.***
Bishop Kicanas’ Monday Morning Memo is an informative update on events taking place in the diocese and what the bishop’s busy schedule consists
of each week. You can read the weekly memo by visiting the diocesan website; www.diocesetucson.org or by requesting a copy from St. Helen
Parish Office. If you have something you want to publicize in the bishop’s memo, please e-mail it to [email protected] 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.
FEBRUARY 2015 CALENDAR
Every First Friday – 8 a.m.- Anointing of the Sick and Adoration of the
Blessed Sacrament
Holy Days of Obligation – Masses 9 a.m. & 7 p.m.
Adult Formation (Scripture) Classes with Msgr. Ambrose – Tuesdays, 7 p.m.
Choir Practice – Saturdays, 9 a.m.
Our Lady’s Prayer Group – Thursdays after 8 a.m. Mass
Finance Committee – Every 3rd Thursday – 6:30 p.m.
Parish Council – As announced
Liturgy Committee – As announced
Caregivers Support Group – Every 1st & 3rd Wed. – 10 a.m.
Second collection for Building Fund - Every first weekend of the
month . Parish Maintenance Second Collection six times/year.
St. Helen Offices & Ministries
Parish Council Chairman – Frank Pierson
Finance Council Chairman – Manny Navarro
Compliance Representative – Gloria Acosta
Liturgy/Bereavement - Mary Buzan
Choir Director – Ellie Brown
Religious Education
1st & 2nd Grades
3rd Grade (1st Communion)
4th & 5th Grades
`
6th Grade
7th, 8th Grades
Confirmation Class
Mary Buzan
Debbie Gutierrez
Janice Vigil
Margo Padilla
Allison Lapa
Mary & Tony Telles
896-2955
896-2469
896-2708
730-4701
896-3530
V0
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR
SUNDAY MORNING SOCIALS
2015 SECOND COLLECTIONS (*Diocesan)
February 7 & 8 – St. Helen Building Fund
February 21 & 22 –St. Helen Parish Maintenance
March 7 & 8 – St. Helen Building Fund
Envelopes for
PARISH special
collections in the rack
back of the church.
February Magnificats are here.
Call or visit the parish office to reserve your copy.
Adult Scripture Study with Msgr. Ambrose will resume on
Tuesday, January 27 at 7 p.m. in the Parish Hall.
All adults welcome.
730-470
896-2711
896-2676
241-4793
896-2148
896-9031
Social Justice – Mary Ellen Kazda
896-2955
St. Helen’s Food Bank – Helen Alvarez
404-4817
Knights of Columbus – Johnnie Seballos
896-2589
Cursillo Movement Leaders – Mary & Tony Telles
896-9031
Adult Catechesis – Msgr. Ambrose O. Nwohu
896-2708
Carlos Ruiz – Maintenance
896-2629
Kitchen Angels
Church Cleaning/Furnishings/Environmental Design (Volunteers needed)
YEAR OF CONSECRATED LIFE
Pope Francis has called for a special year-long focus on
consecrated life, asking the church’s religious sisters, brothers
and priests to “wake up the world” with their testimony of
faith, holiness and hope.
The Diocese of Tucson joins Pope Francis and the Church
throughout the world affirming Consecrated Religious
throughout this time designated as the Year of Consecrated
Life.
Events will be sponsored throughout the year for the renewal
of religious life, for the celebration of the witness of members
of religious orders and as an invitation to younger people to
consider a religious vocation.

COWORKERS IN THE VINEYARD: PEOPLE OF
FAITH, HOPE, & CHARITY
Join Catholics from across Southern Arizona at the
Tucson Convention Center to learn more about our
faith, to celebrate our faith and to be encouraged to
live our faith throughout our diocese and the world!
Speakers such as Fr. Robert Barron from Word on
Fire Ministries and Dr. Carolyn Woo will offer
engaging presentations on being Catholic today.
MARCH 5-7, 2015 www.corkers.diocesetucson.org
There are families in our community who need our help.
Please do what you can. Our Food Pantry needs supplies of
all non-perishable food items including coffee, flour, lard,
etc. If you know of any family who needs help please call
896-2540. All information will be held strictly confidential.
Monetary donations are also gratefully accepted.
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION ANNOUNCEMENTS
“The Catechist is one who guards the memory of God and who
knows how to awaken it in others.” --Pope Francis
TODAY’S READINGS
First Reading — Moses spoke to all the people, saying: “A
prophet like me will the LORD, your God, raise up for you”
(Deuteronomy 18:15-20).
Psalm — If today you hear his voice, harden not your hearts
(Psalm 95).
Second Reading — Brothers and sisters: I should like you to be
free of anxieties (1 Corinthians 7:32-35).
Gospel — The people were astonished at Jesus’ teaching; he taught
them as one having authority (Mark 1:21-28).
The English translation of the Psalm Responses from the Lectionary for Mass © 1969, 1981, 1997, International
Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.
READINGS FOR THE WEEK
Monday:
Mal 3:1-4; Ps 24:7-10; Heb 2:14-18; Lk 2:22-40 [22-32]
Tuesday:
Heb 12:1-4; Ps 22:26b-28, 30-32; Mk 5:21-43
Wednesday: Heb 12:4-7, 11-15; Ps 103:1-2, 13-14, 17-18a; Mk 6:1-6
Thursday: Heb 12:18-19, 21-24; Ps 48:2-4, 9-11; Mk 6:7-13
Friday:
Heb 13:1-8; Ps 27:1, 3, 5, 8b-9; Mk 6:14-29
Saturday: Heb 13:15-17, 20-21; Ps 23:1-6; Mk 6:30-34
Sunday:
Jb 7:1-4, 6-7; Ps 147:1-6; 1 Cor 9:16-19, 22-23
Mk 1:29-39
SAINTS AND SPECIAL OBSERVANCES
Sunday:
Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Boy Scout Sunday
Monday: The Presentation of the Lord;
World Day for Consecrated Life;
Blessing of Candles; Groundhog Day
Tuesday: St. Blaise, Bishop, Martyr;believed martyred in the persecution of Licinius, early 4th c.; bishop of Segaste in
Armenia; associated with the healing of throats; venerated as well by the Eastern Church.
St. Ansgar, bishop; died 865 at Bremen; O.S.B.; missionary to Denmark and Sweden; bishop of Hamburg;
great preacher and administrator; known as the “Apostle of the North”; patron of Denmark, Germany, and
Iceland.
Blessing of Throats; Tu B’Shvat (Jewish new year of trees) begins at sunset
Thursday: St. Agatha, virgin, martyr; died probably under Decius (c,251) in Sicily; patroness of Palermo and Catania;
invoked for protection against volcanic eruptions and fires; mentioned in the Roman Canon.
Friday:
St. Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs; Paul Miki, Jesuit scholastic, and his twenty-five companions,
including two other Jesuits, six Franciscans, fifteen tertiaries, and two laymen; were crucified by order of the
ruler Hideyoshi 5 Feb. 1597 at Nagasaki; among them, the Mexican, Felipe de Jesus, the first martyr from the
Americas to be beatified; protomartyrs of the Far East (canonized in 1862 by Pope Pius IX).
First Friday
Saturday: Blessed Virgin Mary; First Saturday
TREASURES FROM OUR TRADITION
The Oil of the Sick, usually labeled OI (for Oleum Infirmarum), is often reserved with chrism and the oil of
catechumens in an ambry. An ambry is a cabinet, often beautifully ornamented and kept near the baptistery in the
church. Olive oil, with no fragrance added, is blessed at the Chrism Mass in Holy Week by the bishop, although there
is now a provision for a priest to bless oil if none is available. This restores to our Latin Rite practice a tradition never
lost in the Eastern tradition, in which priests consecrate the oil of the sick, even at the sick person’s home. Any
vegetable oil may be used now, since olive oil is difficult to obtain in some places. Many priests keep a small supply
of oil close at hand in a small metal tube called a “stock.”
In the former rite, every sense of the body was anointed, accompanied by a prayer for forgiveness of sin. So, the
eyes, ears, nostrils, mouth, hands, and feet were all touched. Today, this is simplified to an anointing of the forehead
and the hands, but generally today the oil is used more lavishly, and the symbolism of touch so central to the rite is
enhanced. Often, a priest will invite everyone present to join in the “laying on of hands.” Sick persons are often
pushed aside or feared in our culture, and to be reverently touched in love can be a profound experience of God’s
healing, forgiving, accepting presence through the ministry of the Church.
—Rev. James Field, Copyright © J. S. Paluch Co.
Diocese of Tucson
… happenings around the diocese
The following are employment opportunities currently available in the Diocese of
Tucson. To view the job descriptions and information on how to apply, persons interested should
refer to www.diocesetucson.org (Employment Opportunities).
Diocese of Tucson Pastoral Center:
 Bishop Moreno Pastoral Center, Tucson – Administrative Assistant (part-time)
 Bishop Moreno Pastoral Center, Tucson – Contract Advertising Sales Representative (New Vision diocesan
newspaper)
 Human Resources Department – Payroll Coordinator
 Human Resources Department – Secretary
 DOT Communications Department – Graphics Designer (Part-time)
 Catholic Tuition Support Organization (CTSO), Tucson – Administrative Assistant
 Catholic Foundation for Stewardship and Giving, Tucson – Executive Director
 Catholic Foundation for Stewardship and Giving, Tucson – Finance Manager
 Catholic Foundation for Stewardship and Giving, Tucson – Development Associate
Schools & Parishes:
 Most Holy Trinity Parish, Tucson – Full Charge Bookkeeper
 Santa Cruz Catholic School, Tucson – Science Teacher
 St. John the Evangelist School, Tucson – Intervention Teacher
 St. Cyril of Alexandria Parish, Tucson – Custodian (evening shift)
 St. John Catholic School, Tucson – Cafeteria Attendant
 St. John Catholic School, Tucson - Cafeteria Cook
 St. John Catholic School, Tucson - Bookkeeper
RETROUVAILLE & MARRIAGE ENCOUNTER RETREAT NOTICES
Retrouvaille provides marriage help! Retrouvaille is a Catholic organization to help struggling couples rediscover hope
and purpose in their marriages. The next Weekend in Tucson is January 23-25. For information, call Art and Valerie at
520-216-0360 or visit www.HelpOurMarriage.com
The Responsorial Psalm today says, “Teach me your ways, O Lord!” Do we allow the Lord to teach us His ways so that we
can love and honor our spouse more each day? Let the Lord strengthen, renew, and rekindle your marriage sacrament by
attending a Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend on Feb 20-22 or Apr 24-26 in Phoenix and May 29-31 in Tucson. For
more information visit www.wwmearizona.com (Para los fines de semana en español, por favor
visite www.phoenix.emm14.org)
GOD’S WORD TODAY
Today, we are once again given an account of the call of the disciples. These Gospel stories are positioned in the early
part of Ordinary Time for good reason. We know that the Lenten journey is just around the corner. That journey will
take us once again to Jerusalem and to the cross and resurrection of Christ. One of the characteristics of discipleship is
that one does not become a disciple solely on one’s own. There is always a call, an invitation to follow the way of
discipleship. When today’s Gospel is proclaimed, try to put yourself in the place of those early disciples who were
casting their nets. They were simply doing their daily tasks. In the middle of those tasks, the Lord calls them. Perhaps
that is precisely where the Lord calls each of us—in the midst of our daily tasks. As we prepare to listen to God’s
word, let us open our hearts to listen to the invitation issued to each of us to follow in the footsteps of Christ.
From Saint Margaret Sunday Missal, copyright © J. S. Paluch Company