Since its inception six years ago, Touring Tuesdays have been attended by thousands of families. The tours offer parents an opportunity to see Catholic schools in action, learn about the admission process, and meet with principals, faculty, and students at the school. Touring Tuesday reservations are required and can be made by contacting the school. Tours can also be arranged at other times to accommodate parent schedules. Our next scheduled dates are Tuesday, Dec. 3 and January 7 and 28 from 9-11AM. For more info, call St. Helena School at 718-892-3234.

After a long illness, Mr. Bernardo Del Valle, the wonderful and cheerful longtime chief of maintenance, parishioner and usher here at St. Helena passed away on Friday. “Benny” was the loving husband of Nidia and the father of Richard, Catherine and Wendy (all graduates of our school) and the grandfather of Kevin, Keith and Ciara (also former students). The wake will be on Mon., Nov. 18 from 3-5PM and 7-9PM at Castle Hill Funeral Home. The Funeral Mass will be on Tues., Nov. 19 at 9:45AM at St. Teresa's.

Perhaps you feel God is calling you to help undocumented immigrants in a very special way. This 40-hour course runs March 24-June 20 on Tuesdays from 6-9PM at St. Francis of Assisi Church, 19 West 31st St., NY. The course is based on the Immigrant Legal Resource Center's curriculum. Non-lawyers who complete the course will receive ILRC certificates and NY lawyers will receive 42 New York CLE credits. Scholarships available for staff and volunteers of non-profit organizations such as St. Helena's. Registration deadline is March 11. For more info, call 212-736-8500 X305.

To most people, Thanksgiving is a time for love, family, and gratitude. However, people sometimes forget that it is also about giving to others. In the month of November, St. Helena’s holds its annual Thanksgiving Food Drive in order to help local families in need this holiday season. Our students, friends, alumni, and parishioners are able to bring in their donations until November 23 and drop them off in the School Office or the Rectory. The collected items can include: canned vegetables and other goods, tuna, rice and beans, boxed mashed potatoes, stuffing mix, pasta, cornbread muffin mix, cranberry sauce, salt and pepper, spices, boxed macaroni and cheese, cake mix, vegetable oil, drink mixes, coffee, tea, sugar, mayo, peanut butter and jelly, pie filling, cereal, foil baking pans, and canned gravy. Every family deserves to have the ability to enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner with family and friends. The St. Helena Thanksgiving Food Drive helps many families in the Parkchester area experience that lovely dinner. Did you know that nearly 13 million children in the United States are food insecure? Your donations will be brought by our students and parishioners to St. Anthony’s Soup Kitchen and will be used as part of their annual Thanksgiving Dinner for the poor on Saturday, November 23. Thank you for your kindness and generosity. Remember that Sunday, November 17 is the third Annual World Day of the Poor, and contributing to the Food Drive is a wonderful way to help celebrate it.