By Jonathan Martinez - Florida Catholic
St. Helen's multilingual choir sing during the Mass celebrating the parish's 50th anniversary.
Visiting priests, including former pastors, joined current pastor Father Lucien Pierre in concelebrating the Mass marking the end of St. Helen's 50th anniversary year. Auxiliary Bishop Enrique Delgado presided.
Laurie Paul, member of St. Helen's LifeTeen ministry, leads the procession bringing the offertory to the altar during the Mass celebrating the parish's 50th anniversary. The children brought gifts native to their countries of origin, which included sugar cane, pineapples and bananas, among others.
Sterleen Romain, member of St. Helen's Praise Dancers, leads a moment of praise during the Mass celebrating the parish's 50th anniversary. The praise dancers are members of the church's LifeTeen ministry.
St. Helen's Praise Dancers lead a moment of praise during the Mass celebrating the parish's 50th anniversary. The dancers are members of the church's LifeTeen ministry.
Parishioners hold hands during the "Our Father" at the Mass celebrating St. Helen's 50th anniversary.
Ginnette Lilavois, parishioner and extraordinary minister of Communion at St. Helen, prays the "Our Father" at the Mass celebrating the parish's 50th anniversary.
Father Joseph Long Nguyen was one of the visiting priest who concelebrated the Mass marking St. Helen's 50th anniversary. Father Nguyen is in charge of the archdiocese’s Vietnamese Apostolate which used to reside in St. Helen.
Marcelle Chery, parish manager at St. Helen, gives Father Lucien Pierre, the parish's administrator, a plaque commemorating the church's golden jubilee and his contributions as pastor.
Bishop Enrique Delgado presided at the Mass marking the conclusion of St. Helen's 50th anniversary year.
Photography: JONATHAN MARTINEZ | FC
LAUDERDALE LAKES | They sang, prayed and praised in English, Spanish and Creole, holding true to their identity as a mosaic of nationalities united as one Catholic family.
Photographer: Jonathan Martinez | FC
Sterleen Romain, member of St. Helen's Praise Dancers, leads a moment of praise during the Mass celebrating the parish's 50th anniversary. The praise dancers are members of the church's LifeTeen ministry.
After a jubilee year filled with festivities, St. Helen Church concluded its 50th anniversary celebration with a golden jubilee Mass Oct. 12. Led by their multilingual choir accompanied by mariachis, representatives of various parish groups and ministries processed into church at the beginning of the Mass.
“Today is a very, very special day in the life of the parish of St. Helen,” said Auxiliary Bishop Enrique Delgado, who concelebrated the Mass with the parish’s administrator, Father Lucien Pierre, and visiting priests. Echoing the words of Pope Francis, the bishop reminded the people of the importance of a parish’s place in the community.
He preached in terms that were all too familiar to the faithful who call St. Helen home. How parishes are sanctuaries, all-welcoming, mission-driven and oriented. He said how they needed “to keep their doors wide open” so everyone who needs assistance may be helped.
His homily was fitting for a congregation who for the past 50 years lived by those words – a fact made evident by the tapestry of faces that formed the congregation.
Photographer: Jonathan Martinez | FC
Marcelle Chery, parish manager at St. Helen, gives Father Lucien Pierre, the parish's administrator, a plaque commemorating the church's golden jubilee and his contributions as pastor.
“Today, St. Helen celebrates its 50 years anniversary. Let’s work together to have a St. Helen Parish that excels as missionary disciples,” continued Bishop Delgado. “May God bless you always and happy anniversary.”
In line with the homily, the offertory procession featured children from the community bringing gifts native to their countries of origin. The gifts included sugar cane, pineapples and bananas.
The Mass also included a moment of adoration by the St. Helen Praise Dancers, who are a part of the church’s LifeTeen ministry.
“With the songs and the lyrics I can express myself,” said Laurie Paul, one of the group members. “While dancing I can express myself and give thanks to God for everything that he gave to me.”
At the conclusion of the Mass, Father Pierre received a plaque commemorating the jubilee and his contributions as pastor.
“As a priest, as a follower of Christ, you need to have in your heart a place for each and every person, every parishioner, every community. You have to have the heart of Christ, the heart of a good shepherd,” Father Pierre said later, when asked about what it takes to successfully shepherd such a diverse community. “Open the door and make people feel they are welcomed. Whatever language, whatever culture, whatever nationality, you need to open the door.”
He concluded “We may be different, we may have different languages but we are following one Lord, we are one in Christ,” he added.
The Mass was followed by a dinner featuring food from many of the different ethnic groups represented in the parish. Two more events that weekend brought to a close the yearlong jubilee: a candlelight celebration with members of other faith communities Oct. 13, and a final Mass followed by a Golden Jubilee Musical Celebration Oct. 14.
“Our motto, the theme that we have this year, is ‘moving forward towards the future’,” said Marcelle Chery, parish manager. “We will continue the evangelization, continue to work together. Having so many different nationalities that continue to meld together makes us a rich community and not everybody has that.”
Photographer: Jonathan Martinez | FC
Parishioners hold hands during the "Our Father" prayer at the Mass celebrating St. Helen's 50th anniversary.
