Saint Helena Church

WHAT’S GOING ON AROUND SAINT HELENA (2/12/2026)

LENTEN BIBLE STUDY, PRAYER AND BENEDICTION –

Led by Deacon Claude for six consecutive Mondays, beginning, February 16^th from 2:00pm to 3:30pm at St. Titus Church. RSVP to cgranese@sttitus.org or contact the Parish office at St. Helena or St. Titus, by Feb. 15.   Please check bulletin for details.

ASH WEDNESDAY, February 18, 2026, marks the first day of the Lenten season. Lent is the liturgical time lasting 40 days before Easter when Catholics prepare to commemorate Jesus’ Resurrection through prayer, penance, and fasting.

Is Ash Wednesday a Holy Day of Obligation?

Ash Wednesday is not a Holy Day of Obligation. However, it is one of the well-attended Masses throughout the entire liturgical year. It marks an earnest beginning to the Lenten season, inviting the faithful to witness to their Catholic faith, and mortality, by receiving ashes on their foreheads. Schedule for St. Helena and St. Titus:

•  8:00am  Mass & Distribution of Ashes   (Saint Titus)
•  9:00am  Mass & Distribution of Ashes   (Saint Helena)
• 12:15pm Service & Distribution of Ashes (Saint Helena)
•  4:00pm  Service & Distribution of Ashes (Saint Helena)
•  6:00pm  Service & Distribution of Ashes (Saint Titus)
•  7:00pm  Mass & Distribution of Ashes   (Saint Helena)

LENTEN PRACTICES – FASTING & ABSTINENCE

Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence. For members of the Latin Catholic Church, fasting is obligatory from age 18 through age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equals to a full meal. Abstinence from meat on Lenten Fridays applies to all aged 14 and above.

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BE SURE TO PREORDER FOR LENTEN DINNER –  DINE IN OR PICK-UP

ORDERS MUST BE RECEIVED BY 2/16/2025.

To order on line through PayPal, please go to https://forms.pabbly.com/form/share/Ghu3-722602221
or use ORDER FORM IN NARTHEX after weekend masses OR IN CHURCH OFFICE.  OR SEND EMAIL TO John Schmidt for order form.

Please fill out and print 2 copies of your order. Drop off 1 copy of your order form along with a check made payable to “KofC Council 14210”, in an envelope marked “Knights of Columbus Fundraiser” at the Parish Office, or place it in the Parish Office letter box in front door, on or before February 16.

We will call you to confirm your order once we receive it. Bring the 2nd copy of your order with you when you come to dine or pick-up your order on February 20, 2026.
If you have any questions John Schmidt at schmidt@udbell.org or 610-405-3097
Dinner or Pick-up is on Friday, February 20 between 5:00 and 7:15 pm at the Empress Ballroom

Please check if you will ___Dine In or ____Pick Up
Name:                                                Phone:                                                             E Mail:

Entrée Price Quantity Entrée Total as follows:

• Flounder $14
• Fish ‘n Chips $14
• Crab Cake Sandwich $14
• Shrimp Basket $15
• Grilled Salmon $16
• New England Clam Chowder $6
• Pierogies $6
• Caesar Salad $6
• Grilled Cheese Sandwich $6
• Mac and Cheese $6
• Total Order  $ ________________
• Orders must be preordered and paid for on or before February 16, 2026.
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ATTENTION GREETERS AND USHERS – This year we are asking current Greeters and Ushers to begin the Lenten journey on Wednesday, February 18, by serving at one or more of the Masses (listed above) and/or services and distribution of ashes. Please respond to Kathleen Buzad or Larry Constable with your interest in serving on 2/18, along with the Mass/ service time.

There will be members of the Hospitality Ministry at the new “Just Ask” tables (the pre-cursor to a permanent Information Center) in the Narthex at all services ready to assist anyone who has questions. Thank you for your ministry.

Larry Constable lc7150@aol.com

Kathleen Buzad kcbuzad@gmail.com

Jesus said, “Whoever receives you, receives me, and whoever receives me receives the One who sent me.”  Matthew 10:40

SHARING LENT WITH THE SAINTS for children ages 5-8.

A forty-episode series of Lenten reflection for children. Check it out: https://www.themerrybeggars.com/shows/lent-with-the-saints

“Tell the next generation the wonders of the Lord.” Psalm 78

FREE THROW COMPETITION – Thursday, February 26^th, 2026 Boys & Girls, Ages 9 -14

DATE: Thursday, February 26th, 2026

TIME: 6:00pm – 8:00pm

LOCATION: St. Helena’s School Gym, 1499 Dekalb Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422

Prizes- Dicks Sporting Goods gift card

• 1st Place (Varsity)- $100
• 2nd Place (Varsity)- $50
• 1st place (JV)- $25

email shsfreethrow22@gmail.com. Please include participant’s full name, age, grade, school, phone # and address in email. Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus

SCROLL DOWN

WALKING WITH PURPOSE

Connect Coffee, Monday, February 23^rd (6:45pm-8:30pm refreshments) in Nicolo Hall. The coffee will be on, the conversation fulfilling, the hope abounding, and the video, Marriage – Transformed by Grace, utterly inspiring.

MESSIAH 2.0 PRODUCTION PRESENTS…BINGO on Friday, February 27, 2026. Doors open at 6pm. Saint Helena Social Hall (located behind the school). Registration details in bulletin. Questions: messiahconcert2026@gmail.com

MANUP PHILLY 2026 – invites the men of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia to the 18^th Annual Men’s Spirituality Conference to be held on February 28^th at Cardinal O’Hara.  See registration information and list of speakers.

AMERICAN RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE FEB 28th from 9am until 2pm in the Saint Helena School Cafeteria.

• THERE IS A MAJOR SHORTAGE OF BLOOD IN OUR AREA!  Please sign up for your time of giving at www.redcrossblood.org Sponsored by the Knights of Columbus.

COMMUNION BREAKFAST, March 8, 2026, 11:00am Mass, followed by Breakfast and guest speaker Jennifer Randazzo, Click here for Registration or see Bulletin for specifics. All Reservations and Payments are due by March 1, 2026. Sponsored by the Ladies of Helena.

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Consider joining a retreat groups:

WOMEN OF HOPE RETREAT – MALVERN RETREAT HOUSE – MARCH 20-22,2026 Go to www.MalvernRetreat.com to register.

ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER RETREAT – CALLING ALL MEN OF ST. HELENA May 1-3,2026. Fr. Drew Heiman will be the retreat director.

Go to www.MalvernRetreat.com to register or call Malvern at 610-644-0400. Questions contact Joe Bushner at 215-527-3457 or email at jbushner@phillyinvestigators.com (discount under age 22.)

EXPLORE THE POSSIBILITIES.

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