By Jim Davis - Florida Catholic

Photography: JIM DAVIS | FC

LAUDERDALE LAKES | Dane and Peggy Delcontivo knew no one locally when they moved to South Florida from Ohio in 1981. But when they saw St. Helen Church, they dropped in. And never left.

"I talked to the principal, and within 15 minutes, my wife had a job, our kids had a school, and we had a church," said Delcontivo after the 50th anniversary kickoff for St. Helen's. "It's been that way for us ever since. It just … feels … like … home."

His sentiments found agreement in various ways among the 500 people at the Oct. 14 Mass. Even though the surrounding neighborhood has changed over the five decades, "home," "diversity" and "welcoming" were oft-heard words during the anniversary Mass.

The church and its school have been called a small United Nations for drawing people from several regions — Asia, Europe and Africa as well as the Americas. Father Lucien Pierre, priest-administrator for two and a half years, says he knows how it was done.

"If you want to get people involved, you give them an identity," he said.  "We have three communities — Spanish, English and Creole — but one community, St. Helen's. And when they get together, it's beautiful."

 

Musical United Nations  

Music at the Mass sounded forth in variety as broad as the congregation itself. First was the "St. Helen Jubilee Song," written by parishioner Dave McFarlane and music director Les Blachut:

We came in here from around the world
To praise the Lord and hear his Word
Though 50 years this church has stood
It will remain in this place for good

As the choir led the singing, lay leaders processed up the aisle carrying 13 banners for the various parish groups including the altar servers, prayer group, Respect Life and Council of Catholic Women.

Other songs during the Mass included "Ode to Joy" by Beethoven, the Hallelujah Chorus from "The Messiah" by Handel, and the traditional gospel song "When the Saints Go Marching In." A rendition of the contemporary praise song "Sweet Holy Spirit," by the student choir, drew spontaneous applause.

Archbishop Thomas Wenski, the main celebrant, added his own touch of diversity. He began by offering greetings in Spanish and Creole as well as English. Later, he urged everyone to recite the Lord's Prayer, "each in the language of your homeland."

"With its rich diversity of … people of European, African and Asian origins, this parish community is truly a 'Catholic' — a universal — community," he said in his homily. "There is much to celebrate. St. Helen is alive and kicking."

 

'Come as you are, but …'

But he went beyond bromides, urging his listeners to stretch even further to welcome others into the fold — then to encourage them toward godliness.

"St. Helen’s, after 50 years, has a special vocation, a calling — it is the responsibility of each one of you as parishioners — and that is to be a living sign, a witness in the midst of a world of fragile peace and broken promises of what a reconciled and reconciling world looks like," he said. "Come as you are, but don’t stay as you were."

A special feature of this kickoff was the dedication of a statue of St. Helen, patroness of the church. After Father Pierre unveiled the statue, Archbishop Wenski blessed it with holy water.

The eight-foot-tall statue, made of painted resin, is the work of Berthony Seize, a boyhood friend of Father Pierre. Seize was commissioned to make the statue especially for the church's anniversary.

The job took two months, working night and day, said Seize, who came from his home in Petionville, near Port-Au-Prince, for the dedication. He smiled. "It was a challenge. Seeing it now, I feel good in mind and body."

Peggy Delcontivo, who taught at the church's school for 27 years, gave a brief history of St. Helen's during the anniversary Mass.

Archbishop Coleman F. Carroll established the church in 1968, the year Miami was declared an archdiocese. The members first met at a bowling alley, then at a neighboring Lutheran church, before renovating a warehouse as their first house of worship.

In 1973, St. Helen opened the first parish elementary school in the archdiocese in more than a decade. Unfortunately, a fire destroyed the church building the same year, and the congregation worshiped in its new parish hall. But the members began rebuilding the church, which was ready for worship the following year.

 

Finding their faith

Over the decades, St. Helen gained its share of distinctives. For some years, it hosted the archdiocese's Vietnamese before 2014, when that community bought its own parish in Hallandale. It has even hosted the late President Gerald Ford and Lillian Carter, mother of former President Jimmy Carter.

As the surrounding neighborhood changed demographically, St. Helen changed with it. Nowadays, homelands of the 600 families read like a mini-United Nations, including Peru, Ghana, Poland, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. The church still has a few Vietnamese members.

"It's changed a lot, but it still has a spirit of belonging and of reaching out to others," Dane Delcontivo said.

This year is an anniversary also for Steven Holiday, who served as an usher Oct. 14. He was part of the first graduating class of St. Helen's School, 40 years ago. 

"I've always felt comfortable here," the Oakland Park resident said, adding that the church's diversity adds to its appeal. "When people come in, they see so many types of other people, and they say, 'I can fit in.' "

Susana Torres likewise came to St. Helen's from New York, in 1978, as one of the first Spanish-speaking members. She asked the school's principal to let her son enroll but was told the classes were full that year.

"I cried," Torres said. "My son had trouble with bullies in school in New York." The principal relented and let her son in anyway.

Since then, two other Torres children have gone through St. Helen School and been baptized at the church as well. They're not only closer to each other for the experience; they're closer to the Church also, daughter Adriana said.

"This is where I found my faith," said Adriana, who attended the anniversary kickoff with her mother. "And it's where I've formed friendships to last a lifetime. This church is something special to me."

St. Helen's 50th: Here's what they're planning

LAUDERDALE LAKES | St. Helen Church will celebrate its 50th anniversary with several events over the coming year. The events will build on a theme of "Discovering and developing our faith in our parish, thru re-evangelization."

Here are some of the planned events.    

• December 16: Gala hosted by the Women’s Group.

• February 11:  Parish jubilee celebration, fashion show, dinner and wedding anniversary celebration for couples who want to renew their vows.

• April and May: Multicultural activities, for the English, English Caribbean, Spanish and Haitian communities.

• July 4: Parish picnic in the church parking lot.

• August 18: St. Helen feast day, with procession and solemn Mass.

• September: Golf tournament (date to be determined).

• Oct. 14, 2018: Jubilee gala at Signature Grand.

The church is also planning to make a video of its history, featuring previous pastors and events over its half-century.

Other events are being planned as well. For information, call the church at 954-731-7314.