Worshipping God • Serving Others • Making Disciples
Start the ReportA letter of gratitude, challenge, and hope
Dear People of Saint Helen,
We have so much to be thankful for and proud of at Saint Helen. By every measure, we are growing and fulfilling our mission of worshipping God, serving others, and making disciples. When you look at the statistics and many data points in this report, we can conclude that we are doing well as a parish.
However, numbers don’t tell the entire story. In fact, they may even obscure the real magnitude of the strides made, as well as the strides we still need to make as individuals and as a parish family. God has given us so much and is asking so much more of us than what can be revealed through numbers alone.
God’s abundance is beyond measure. It is good for us to ask: “How deeply have I experienced that well of God’s abundant grace and love?” And then, how can we use that abundance to inspire our continued growth as individuals and as a parish family? We need only follow Jesus’ teaching:
Undoubtedly, we have accomplished so much as a parish. Our worship is vibrant, our service to our community is generous, and our faith formation is thriving. But God always encourages us to aspire to more. Yes, let us be buoyed and encouraged by our “fruitfulness,” but let us never allow ourselves to become satisfied. Instead, let us always strive for more, as the Lord always does for us.
God asks us to reach beyond our present circumstances, stretch forward, move out of our comfort zones, and be determined to seek more. God calls us to reach beyond where we are today!
We can only do that by aspiring to the unknown in our faith. God wants to bring us to heights we cannot even conceive. He wants us to allow the Holy Spirit to speak to us in our individual and parish lives.
The Holy Spirit is leading each and every one of us to where God wants us to be— even greater than any goal that we can imagine. Let us strive to go where God is leading us, wherever that may be. God has more in store for us. He will reveal His plans as we continue reaching for more.
As a parish, we have always focused on the promotion and advancement of the Gospel. The Lord and the Scriptures are forever calling and sending us to reach ever greater heights, with greater depth of faith and commitment. There is so much work to be done in this world, here in Westfield, and here at Saint Helen.
As this Jubilee Year of Hope draws to a close, let all we have accomplished—and our service as a Jubilee Church in the Archdiocese of Newark—fill us with hope. More importantly, let the Lord fill us with hope, recalling the words of the Prophet Isaiah:
“They that hope in the Lord will renew their strength,
they will soar as with eagles’ wings;
They will run and not grow weary,
walk and not grow faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
My dear parishioners, let us move forward with hope, zeal, and an urgent missionary spirit. We need only look to Pope Leo XIV to further encourage and inspire us:
“We are to bring to all peoples, indeed to all creatures, the Gospel promise of true and lasting peace… We see the importance of fostering a spirit of missionary discipleship in all the baptized and a sense of the urgency of bringing Christ to all people.”
How do we at Saint Helen measure up to our call?
Once again, thank you for your generosity, expressed in so many ways. All that we are as a parish provides the solid foundation for our next steps forward. We thank God for bringing us together so that, in turn, we can be Christ to others— in our lives, in our families, and in our communities.
Sincerely Yours in Christ,
Msgr. Thomas P. Nydegger
Pastor
The rhythm of the Church year bringing us together in profound and beautiful ways
The rhythm of the Church year brought our community together in profound and beautiful ways.
The Advent season included traditions such as Advent Wreath Making, helping families prepare spiritually—and joyfully—for Christmas. Our annual Christmas Concert, performed with Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish, once again filled the church with stirring sacred music and a deep sense of community unity.
Holy Week and Easter drew thousands of worshippers into powerful encounters with Christ’s passion, death, and resurrection, as we walked with Him through the Triduum and rejoiced in the empty tomb.
Children and families took part in the Children’s Stations of the Cross on Good Friday, entering into Jesus’ journey in a way that was accessible, prayerful, and meaningful for younger disciples.
Other moments throughout the year enriched our parish life:
Lifelong formation for adults of every age and stage
Faith is a lifelong journey, and Saint Helen is committed to supporting parishioners at every stage. This year, people of all ages found welcoming spaces to learn, grow, and deepen their relationship with God.
The Called and Gifted program helped parishioners discern their charisms and understand how God invites them to use their gifts in everyday life—at home, at work, and within the parish.
A significant expansion occurred this year as we introduced LifeLines, which now includes all of our traditional small groups (some of which have been meeting for over 20 years) and added new small groups focused on belonging, relationships, and shared interests. Anyone can find a small group that fits their schedule, interests, and spiritual needs.
Women continued to grow in their faith through Walking with Purpose, a Scripture-based program that combines personal study, small groups, and community. Other adult offerings included Everyday Contemplatives and various Bible studies, all geared toward adults seeking deeper formation and a stronger prayer life.
The new Ageless Senior Ministry gave older adults opportunities to build community, form new relationships, and enjoy stimulating programs for spiritual, social, and educational growth.
“Walking with Purpose has helped women build meaningful connections, deepen their understanding of Scripture, and strengthen their faith lives. Many long-time parishioners say they’ve met more women through this ministry than ever before and now look forward to each new study.”
— Ellen Murphy
“Through Walking with One, we encourage parishioners to think about people in their lives whom they might approach and encourage in their Catholic faith. They themselves might be feeling a nudge to grow closer to God; we can accompany and support them on that journey. Our Evangelization team at Saint Helen is always eager for ways to help connect more people to be part of our faith community.”
— Lucia McGovern
“After losing my dad suddenly six years ago, I found so much comfort in a weekly small group meeting as well as the Cornerstone retreat. To be able to help bring LifeLines to the church—offering that kind of support, friendship, and connection to others—was so meaningful. Giving back to a community that has given so much to me, and helping others find that same community and support system, was an opportunity I wasn’t willing to pass up.”
— Lindsey Wilkinson
“One of Saint Helen’s new Ageless ministry’s goals is to help our golden friends find a way to channel their sense of purpose. While socializing is definitely important, the ministry views serving others as a way to stay connected and vital. We hope to integrate our seasoned community into a more active chapter of life so that they have opportunities to personally connect as well as to bear the fruits of spiritual gifts.”
— JoAnn Murphy
Supporting young families and forming disciples from the youngest among us
Our young families and youth remain vital to our mission.
The forest-themed Vacation Bible School allowed children to learn about God through Scripture, music, crafts, and joyful activities. They discovered that faith is not only something they learn about, but something they live.
The Blessing Cup Retreat helped prepare 2nd graders for First Holy Communion in age-appropriate, meaningful ways, inviting them and their parents into deeper appreciation of the Eucharist.
Retreats for middle and high school students helped them navigate faith, friendships, and identity in a complicated world. These retreats gave our teens space to encounter Christ, reflect on their lives, and build supportive peer relationships.
Children continued to flourish through programs like:
Children’s Liturgy of the Word (CLOW) and Gospel Alive in Me (GAIM) provided age-appropriate liturgy of the Word during Mass for Grades 1–8, helping them build habits of participation and understanding from an early age.
“Elementary Families Together (EFT) is a ministry that really meets busy families where they are while creating memorable, faith-filled moments throughout the school year. The kids have fun, the parents get to know each other, and the families get to serve and grow in faith! EFT has become a welcome chapter in our family’s life at Saint Helen. We’ve had the chance to really connect with families who are in a similar stage as ours and introduce the role of service to all of our kids as a way to put the Gospel into action.”
— Patricia Martin
“Catholic Families Connect (CFC) has blessed us with innumerable fruits: a deeper understanding of our faith; a more intimate relationship with Christ; lifelong friends, mentors, and a support network; and outreach opportunities to introduce stewardship to our sons. CFC has also connected us with so many other ministries at Saint Helen and made it possible for us to be involved despite our busy schedules and lack of family support nearby.”
— Truc & William Gunther
Living the Gospel through concrete acts of mercy and justice
Saint Helen’s mission calls us to serve our neighbors with generosity, compassion, and hope. This year, our parish demonstrated extraordinary dedication to outreach, often quietly, consistently, and with deep love.
Holiday outreach revealed the incredible generosity of our community:
Our daily and weekly outreach ministries remained strong:
The annual Service Auction, fueled by dozens of volunteers, raised critical funds for transitional housing in Elizabeth. This ministry has helped maintain stable housing for families, with an extraordinary long-term success rate.
“The Mental Health Ministry has been a wonderful addition to Saint Helen. It provides endless resources for the community with our Self-Care Sunday. When attending you can see all the services that will support individuals and families affected by mental health issues. Having support from the community helps take away the stigma and people realize they are not alone. The prayer service in May has increased with participation each year and Monsignor Tom and Adrian do a fantastic job that bring a peaceful atmosphere and give a meaningful blessing to all!”
— Monica Bergin
Beyond our campus: camps, creativity, outreach, and digital ministry
Sister Pat’s Kids Camp welcomed campers and volunteers, providing a joyful week of community, learning, and fun.
The 4C’s Christ-Centered Crochet Club blended creativity, fellowship, and service, turning yarn and conversation into tangible signs of care.
Saint Helen Voices, our outreach choir, brought music and hope to nursing homes, community events, and special gatherings throughout the year.
Food drives, nursing home visits, volunteer appreciation events, transitional housing support, and countless small acts of service—often unseen—expressed our parish’s commitment to living the Gospel.
Our livestream ministry continued to connect Saint Helen with a global audience. This year, we welcomed over 1,400 monthly viewers from 12 countries, including homebound parishioners, those traveling, and people discovering our parish for the first time.
Our digital presence offered:
Saint Helen was honored to be designated as a Pilgrimage Church in the Archdiocese of Newark for the Jubilee Year of Hope—one of only four in the Archdiocese. This distinction highlights our strong liturgical life, hospitality, and commitment to spiritual renewal.
Beyond the many Jubilee events held monthly at Saint Helen, churches throughout the county made pilgrimages to our campus for prayer, reconciliation, and hope in this Jubilee Year. Regional partnerships, clergy collaboration, and joint parish initiatives offered new opportunities for shared prayer and broader impact.
Worship at the heart of parish life
Our liturgies are the heart of parish life. Each weekend, more than 300 liturgical ministers serve faithfully—lectors, Eucharistic ministers, media ministers, ushers, greeters, altar servers, and those who prepare our sacred spaces.
The Message Series Team helped shape cohesive, relevant liturgical themes that connected Scripture with daily life, giving homilies and worship a unifying thread across multiple weeks.
The Music Ministry, including choirs, ensembles, and instrumentalists, lifted hearts in prayer and enriched worship with a blend of traditional and contemporary sacred music.
Every minister—visible or behind the scenes—played a vital role in creating an environment where all can encounter the sacred and feel truly at home.
“Every time I walk into Saint Helen I say, ‘thank you!’ I am overwhelmed with gratefulness. All are welcoming to me; I want to hug the whole church.”
— Mary Beth Nollstadt
Transparent, responsible stewardship of the resources God has entrusted to us
Your generosity makes every story in this report possible. The financial statements for the fiscal year reflect the way Saint Helen stewards the gifts entrusted to the parish through Sunday collections, sacramental offerings, ministries, and other sources of income.
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