Hundreds of the St. Helen’s faithful flocked to mass on Sunday afternoon to celebrate the closing of their 50th Year Anniversary Celebration. Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio celebrated mass with a number of co-celebrants including Bishop Ignatius Catanello, former St. Helen’s pastors Reverend Monsignor Joseph C. Pfeiffer and Monsignor Richard Marchese, former parish priest Father. John Cush, current associate pastor Father. Robert Keighron and current pastor Monsignor Alfred LoPinto.
Members of the tight kit community stood on-line outside the church Sunday afternoon to greet the bishop and other former members of their spiritual community, especially Catanello, who was especially beloved among congregants during his years of service at St. Helen’s.
Sunday’s mass was the culmination of a year-long celebration marked by several events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the church that began in the basement of one parishioner in 1961. “The parish has come so far,” Father. Keighron said, “and we are so hopeful about what can be accomplished over the next 50 years.”
(Above) Bishop Nicholas DiMarzio was the leading celebrant at St. Helen’s 50th Anniversary Mass. He was joined on the altar by clergy all of whom had a role in the shaping of St. Helen’s long history.
(Below) After mass, parishioners waited on line to greet and speak with many of the honored guests for the occasion, especially Bishop Ignatius Catanello one of the most revered and beloved priests in parish history.
