For information on other parish activities please see Special Events.

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Sacramental Preparation

Baptism

Baptisms usually take place on Sundays at 1pm. If you'd like to have a baptism at St Helens, please ring 01923 223175 to make an appointment to meet with Fr Pat.
This is an opportunity to find out about the deeper meaning of the sacrament as well as to agree a date and to have the necessary paperwork completed. In addition, Fr Pat will explain what is involved on the day itself.
 

First Holy Communion Programme

The programme runs from September to May/June of the following year. It is for children in year 3 or above.

The children must be either attending St Helen's Church or living in the parish. If you live in the parish of St Helen's and attend mass elsewhere then your child should enrol for the programme at that Church.

In September, letters outlining when the Parent's Meetings will take place, are sent to Holy Rood School and given out to all children in Yr 3.

Copies of this letter are available at the back of church for children who do not attend Holy Rood School.

DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE COURSE PLEASE BE AWARE THAT WE CANNOT ALLOW LATE ENROLMENT.

For information on the current programme click here.

Confirmation

The confirmation programme runs from December to June each year for youth in year 10 (people older than this may wish to join the RCIA Programme(Adult Rite of Initiation) 

We encourage our candidates to make an informed personal choice whether the life of a Catholic is for them and whether NOW is the right time for them to confirm that faith.

As part of the programme a 2 day Retreat is planned with lots of activities over the duration. Details of this and the Confirmation programme dates will be given out at the Parents' Meeting which will take place in November and the date will be published in our weekly Newsletter.

Application forms are available from the back of church from October.

LATE ENROLMENT IS NOT ALLOWED

Marriage

To book your wedding at St Helen's Church please ring Fr Pat to make an appointment to come and see him.

At this meeting Fr Pat will be able to confirm if your date is available. He will also explain all the paperwork that is required and the timescales.

It is a requirement that all couples attend a 1 day or / Evenings Marriage Preparation Course. To find out where the nearest course venue for you is then please contact Edmund Adamus at Westminster via email edmundadamus@rcdow.org.uk

Formation

Formation is the name we give to the ongoing development of our faith. The Christian life is a pilgrimage that doesn't end and we believe that no matter where we are in our faith, God is calling us into a deeper and fuller relationship with him.

We aim to provide a range of opportunities including weekly courses, day retreats, mission and pilgrimages, some of which are outlined below.

The Alpha Course

The Alpha course is an opportunity for anyone to explore the Christian faith in a relaxed manner over ten, thought-provoking weekly sessions. It also serves as a refresher course for practicing Catholics or for those who have lapsed in their faith and want to clarify their thoughts about belief. It is run in thousands of Catholic parishes around the world.

We run the Alpha course annually. Contact the parish to register your interest.

2012 dates TBC.

Visit the Alpha website for more information.

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Life in the Spirit Seminars

The Seminars are a series of 6 sessions run annually that enable the Catholic to discover something of the depth of their faith. Each week there is a themed talk that encourages small group discussion over coffee through a range topics relevant to every-day life. These themes are titled: God's Love, Salvation, New Life, Receiving God's Gift, Empowerment and Sin in Our Life.

In their 40 year history the Seminars have opened many Catholics to a renewed connection with God, transforming many from Sunday Catholics into men and women of true faith, with a deep experience of the living God.

2012 Dates TBC.

Contact the parish to register your interest in the next Seminars.

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Parish Mission 2012

Takes place from Monday 5th March - Saturday 10th March and will be run by Fr Jim McManus from the Redemptorists Missionaries.

The programme is currently being planned and the details will be published in the weekly Newsletter and on the Web when ready.

Our misison is an opportunity for members of the parish and wider community to receive a day or week long programme of activities to inspire, refresh and renew our faith. These are also an opportunity to encourage our lapsed family and friends to re-engage with God and Church in a vibrant and lasting way.

We hope to have something for everybody.