• EASTER SEASON
      The early Church’s annual calendar began and ended with the celebration of Pascha (Easter)—the "Big Sunday." Easter celebrates the central event in our salvation. It is the highest of Church feasts. Easter is the oldest Christian festival.
      For seven weeks—a week of Sundays—we observe and celebrate the resurrection of Christ by the power of God. Pentecost (the 50th day) concludes the Easter Season. On Pentecost, we celebrate God’s gift of the Spirit (the breath, the unseenness of God).
      The inseparable relationship between cross and resurrection in Christian faith declares the unity of this cycle. We observe [the 40 days of] Lent in anticipation of the resurrection and we celebrate the Easter weeks remembering the cost of the victory of the cross. Finally, Pentecost recalls the outpouring of the Spirit—God’s gift that empowers us to be impassioned witnesses to the crucified and risen Christ.
      This gift draws us together as a people, helps us comprehend what God is doing in our world and commissions us to proclaim—in word and deed—God’s plan of reconciling all people in the name of the risen Christ.
      Adapted from the Catholic Update article "The Liturgical Year: How Christians Celebrate Time."
    • Welcome To St. Helena, The Church On The Hill

      St. Helena Catholic Church is located in the northeastern corner of San Antonio.  The parish was founded in 1974.  From the beginning, the people of St. Helena Parish have chosen to be generous with their time, talent and treasure.  They have been active and involved in all aspects of parish life.  They chose the motto "People Helping People" as an apt description of the spirit of St. Helena's parishioners.

      Today the parish has grown to over 3,500 families and the facilities have grown also.  Hundreds of lay ministers help promote, vibrant, reverent celebrations of the Eucharist.  Dozens of people assist in faith formation.  Dozens more are involved in various organizations, retreats, sports and service projects.  We invite you to come get in contact with Jesus Christ through his Church: "Peace be with you." (John 20:19)
       

    • Mass Schedule
      Weekday Masses
      Monday  8:30 am
      Thursday  8:30 am
      Friday   8:30 am

      Weekend Masses
      Saturday   5:30 pm
      Sunday  8:00 am, 10:00 am, 12:00 pm

      Communion Service
      Monday - Friday 6:30 am

      Confession
      Saturday 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm

      Adoration
      Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
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    • We Celebrate the Mass
      The Communion Rite

      The Lord’s Prayer
      The priest invites us to pray the
      Lord’s Prayer together. He says,
      “At the Savior’s command
      and formed by divine teaching,
      we dare to say:”
      Together with the priest we
      continue,
      “Our Father, who art in heaven,
      hallowed be thy name;
      thy kingdom come;
      thy will be done on earth
      as it is in heaven.
      Give us this day our daily bread;
      and forgive us our trespasses
      as we forgive those who
      trespass against us;
      and lead us not into temptation,
      but deliver us from evil.”
      The priest continues,
      “Deliver us, Lord, we pray . . .
      as we await the blessed hope
      of the coming of our Savior,
      Jesus Christ.”

      Doxology
      We end the prayer by praying the
      acclamation,
      “For the kingdom, the power
      and the glory are yours,
      now and for ever.”

      The Rite of Peace
      The priest invites us to share a
      sign of peace, saying, “The peace
      of the Lord be with you always.”
      We respond,
      “And with your spirit.”
      We share a sign of peace.

      The Fraction, or the
      Breaking of the Bread
      The priest breaks the host, the
      consecrated bread. We sing or pray
      aloud,
      “Lamb of God, you take away
      the sins of the world:
      have mercy on us.
      Lamb of God, you take away
      the sins of the world:
      have mercy on us.
      Lamb of God, you take away
      the sins of the world:
      grant us peace.”

      Communion
      The priest raises the host and says
      aloud,
      “Behold the Lamb of God,
      behold him who takes away
      the sins of the world.
      Blessed are those called to
      the supper of the Lamb.”
      We join with him and say,
      “Lord, I am not worthy that
      you should enter under my roof,
      but only say the word and
      my soul shall be healed.”
      The priest receives Communion.
      Next, the deacon and the
      extraordinary ministers of Holy
      Communion and the members of
      the assembly receive Communion:

      The priest, deacon, or extraordinary
      minister of Holy Communion holds
      up the host. We bow and the priest,
      deacon, or extraordinary minister of
      Holy Communion says, “The body of
      Christ.” We respond, “Amen.” We
      then receive the consecrated host
      in our hand or on our tongue.

      If we are to receive the Blood of
      Christ, the priest, deacon, or
      extraordinary minister of Holy
      Communion holds up the cup
      containing the consecrated wine.
      .We bow and the priest, deacon,
      or extraordinary minister of Holy
      Communion says, “The blood of
      Christ.” We respond, “Amen.”
      We take the cup in our hands
      and drink from it.

      The Prayer after Communion
      We stand as the priest invites us
      to pray saying, “Let us pray.” He
      prays the Prayer after Communion.
      We respond, “Amen.”