Do i have to be catholic to attend mass

​Anyone is welcome at any time to attend a Catholic Mass. There are some parts of the church service that may seem unfamiliar, such as the words we say or the postures we take. Let the Catholics worry about those. You may participate in whatever ways you feel comfortable, but we do reserve the reception of communion for those who are Catholic. If you are not Catholic, you may receive a blessing by crossing your arms over your body during communion. 

I've been away from the church for a while.  What do I need to do to return?

​We want to encourage you as you take this first step. For those who have been fully initiated into the Catholic faith and have been away for a while, a good first step is to receive the Sacrament of Confession. Confession is available Thursdays from 6:00-7:00 pm and by appointment with a priest. For people who have grown up in another faith tradition but wish to return to God through the Catholic church, please contact Sue Sack, in the parish office, so that she can help you determine the best path forward.

How do I join St. Helen Parish?

 ​You may fill out the form online, or print and return the form by mailing it, dropping it in the Sunday collection basket, or bringing it to the parish office during regular office hours. All those baptized in the Catholic faith tradition are welcome to register with our parish.

What do I do if I need to prepare for a Sacrament, like Baptism, Confirmation, or Marriage?

​First, congratulations! This is a big step in your life of faith. Instructions specific to each Sacrament are available by looking under the Sacraments tab at the top of the page and choosing the appropriate sacrament. Most preparation processes take a significant amount of time, ranging from a few months to several years.

Someone in my family just passed away.  What do I need to do to have a Catholic funeral?

​Please call the parish office at 937-254-6233 during regular office hours Monday through Friday, or leave a message on our Emergency Line and Mel will call you right back. Or, you can let your funeral home know that you would like St. Helen Parish to be involved in the process and a representative from the funeral home will contact our office. After the initial contact has been made and the appropriate type of service has been determined, a trained volunteer from our church will meet with you to prepare the funeral service.