Service is an important component of the Christian life. At  St. Helen, we are always increasing our opportunities to serve each other, our community, and the world. From meal preparation to care for the environment, we know that there is no act of service too small to show how good is the Good God. 

In addition to these ministries, please keep an eye on the bulletin for other occasional service opportunities, such as Festival set-up or work 

Service within the Parish

Volunteers are needed to bring light and cheer to those in our family who can't get to church. Whether it be a one-time or a regular visit, this is a wonderful way to get to know our extended faith family.

Communion can be brought to the homes of parishioners who are unable to participate in the Sunday liturgy. If you currently serve as a Eucharistic minister and would like to add this to your ministerial service, please let us know.

These volunteers help by cooking casseroles, side dishes and desserts for receptions (usually luncheons) held after funerals. Volunteers are also needed to offer hospitality and serve food at the receptions. You may volunteer as you are able, as there is no minimum commitment.

This ministry works with the Archdiocese of Cincinnati and the Marianist Environmental Education Center at Mount St. John (Bergamo) to promote the work of the Catholic Coalition on Climate Change, addressing the important moral issues surrounding environmental stewardship.

Parish initiatives have included replacing lightbulbs and boilers with more energy efficient options, encouraging batter recycling, and expanding the recycling capabilities of the parish campus.

This group leads the parish-wide efforts to make sure that all parishioners, new and old, feel welcome through an initial phone call after they register, keeping in contact during their first year, and offering information on parish activities and ministries.

Service within and beyond the Parish

Members who are part of the Prayer Chain receive weekly e-mail updates on parishioners, family members, and friends for whom we have been asked to pray.

If you would like to add a person to the prayer intention list, please use the contact form at the bottom of the webpage.

If you love to knit or crochet (or have always wanted to learn), would you like to put your skills to good use in the service of others? This group meets twice per month to socialize, pray, and knit/crochet prayer shawls for members of the parish and friends who could use a boost of love and compassion. A specific pattern is used, and shawls are distributed after the masses that include the Anointing of the Sick and on an as-needed basis.

If you prefer to create the shawls at home, that's perfectly fine. Contact us when you are finished and we will make arrangements to have them blessed.

The purpose of the St. Vincent dePaul Society is to provide temporary or emergency aid to anyone in the parish neighborhood who calls. Food and other grocery items are collected, purchased, and distributed personally by Vincentian members. The Society also maintains the parish food pantry. Assistance is monitered and determined through a voice mail system and may include rent or other utility bills, occasional furniture needs, and other one-time assistance.

At Christmas, the Vincentians also coordinate the Infant Jesus Shower distribution in coordination with the parish. All work of the society is Confidential.

Service beyond the Parish

St. Helen Parish is a member of Catch the Building Spirit (CtBS, a local coalition of Catholic Churches. Together with other church and community organizations, CtBS partners with Habitat for Humanity. Together, they fund, build, and landscape a home each ear for a low-income family that otherwise could not afford their own home.

Volunteers of all skill levels are needed for carpentry, painting, pouring concrete, installing drywall, wiring electric, plumbing, planting, preparing and providing meals for workers, clean-up, and more. In addition, financial support is needed to obtain permits and purchase materials. Above all, prayer is needed for the safety of workers and for the success of the building effort.

Each month, our parish provides support to the Dayton-wide St. Vincent dePaul Hotel, which is a homeless shelter. This is done through two primary initiatives.

There is a group of parishioners who are organized into teams of 5 or 6 to go serve meals at the Hotel once per month, typically on Friday evenings.

There is also a great need for parishioners to provide all the food needed to serve one dinner at the St. Vincent Hotel. An e-mail list has been created, and each month an e-mail announces the menu to the volunteer list. It's usually a casserole (recipe and pans provided), brownies, or bags of salad.