| 1315 Olmstead Avenue Bronx, NY 10462 718-892-3232 fax: 718-892-3078 sthelenarc@yahoo.com |
|
|
|
|
CONGRATULATIONS ON THE "PARKCHESTER 70 REUNION May 15 was a glorious day and a memorable event for Parkchesterites, past and present. The long-awaited "Parkchester 70" Reunion brought back hundreds of former Parkchester residents who enjoyed a beautiful spring afternoon sharing memories of "the old days." Commendation is due to the Parkchester Preservation Corporation and the current Management for the superb format of the day—the nostalgic video in the American theater; the time-line panels in Metropolitan Oval, the "gathering tents" in the South Oval, the events in the North Quadrant, the food stations and entertainment, and simply the chance for new residents and former residents to enjoy "being home." St. Helena's Church was proud to be part of this wonderful event. Many former parishioners joined us at the 5:30PM Mass at the end of the day and then stayed afterwards to view our school and re-live old times. Thanks to all who came ! You are always part of St. Helena's! Click on this link to see some pictures of the Parkchester Reunion featuring several St. Helenites:
THE SECOND ANNUAL BURKE HOUSE DINNER Tom Whelan is a 1960 graduate of St. Helena's School. He served in the Vietnam conflict, spending a year in Cam Ranh Bay and Tuy Hoa. After returning from the army and working for the next several decades in the computer field, he decided to visit Vietnam in 2002. His experience in visiting the country which he had once considered the enemy had a profound effect on him. He was particularly struck by the plight of street kids in Saigon (now Ho Chi Minh City). "I return to America with a vivid sense that I had to do something," he said. That "something" became Burke House, an organization dedicated to helping Vietnamese street kids improve their lives. (Burke House was named after Tom's mother, Rita Whelan whose maiden name s Burke). His trip to Vietnam in November, 2002 was the first of successive "Thanksgiving trips" each year since. He hosted Thanksgiving dinners for children and their families, assisted a Vietnamese order of sisters in their work with children, and invited family and friends to join him in this undertaking. Tom's work was recognized in The Daily News in an article entitled "Vet Returns to Vietnam To Aid Kids." Further information on Burke House, including the News article, is available on the website at www.burkehouse.org St. Helena's Parish will be honored to host the Second Annual Burke House Thanksgiving Dinner/Dance in our auditorium on Saturday, September 25 at 7PM. Tickets are $50 per person. For information and ticket sales, please contact Tom Whelan at BurkeHouse@prodigy.net |
|
© AM 2011 |