I recently held my daughters Quinceañera celebration at this church. Chosen with love to have it here since it was where my husband and I got married. I was extremely disturbed and disappointed at the way mass turned out. Father Emmanuel was hyper-fixated on people's attire, and wasted no time to constantly shame our guest about it. He brought up attire on multiple occasions even through everyone was covered up and I didn't see anyone that stood out dressed "inappropriately" for mass. It really put a cloud over my daughter's celebration. We walked out of mass confused, and extremely disturbed. He lost the essence of a quinceañera celebration by constantly talking about "women's breast" and shaming them to receive the body of Christ from the other helper instead of him. It was all around a terrible experience. read more

This is a wonderful parish. Father Emmanuel is supportive, caring, and faithfully traditional--he shows special reverence for the Body of Christ. Father Angel is likewise attentive and compassionate, and together they've led beautiful renovations of the church. I grew up here in the early 2000s and moved away in the 2010s; it warms my heart to see my home parish so well loved. read more

This has been my parish home for nearly seven months, after my reversion to the faith. Currently, I'm attempting to complete the OCIA courses to receive the sacrament of confirmation. Father Emmanuel has been my spiritual director and has gave me proper guidance to discern the pathway that'll lead me to move forward. You don't need to be holy to enter the Church, but willing to sacrifice yourself to fortify your faith. And that's a lifelong commitment, it can be scary and uncomfortable. But it's not impossible either. read more

I attend this church. I live in this community. I come from nativity in south L.A There is only 2 English masses. Which I don't like. I went to mass a couple of weeks ago, and there was a young priest who spent the whole time chastising us about church etiquette, and clothing. What happened to come as you are? Church is always packed. I guess I'd like for my priest to be personable. read more

The core of St. Helen's - meaning, those who are involved and attend Mass as regularly prescribed by the Holy Catholic Church - is a very welcoming body of Christ. Each member has struggles and challenges living in a secular world but hang onto Jesus as their one true Christ. None is perfect but each strive for contrition and deepening of their faith. read more

Father Emanuel grabbed my hand really really tight and told me to put the body of Christ in my mouth in front of the priest. I already had it in my mouth and showed him proof but he just said ok!? Not okay this church is very nice but very rude fathers. read more

ATTENTION ST. HELEN PARISHIONERS. Fr. Angel Castro is a complete fraud. He illigitematley represe the virtues and values of a true priest and leader of the Catholic Church. He is an abhorration. Today, Fr. An-hell was supposed to give a blessing at a cemetary for a deceased relative. He had arranged with a local mortuary to do a mass and blessing at a cemetary. At the very end of the mass he said he could not attend the cemetary event with no particular reason given. He mentioned it to bystanders and not to family and gave no aplogy. In essence, he failed to fulfill his contractual obligation. As you may imagine he left the group priestless at the cemetary and created much ill will, angst, and anxiety amongst attendees. This was beyond unprofessional. St. Helen also has odd office hours and very often no one picks up the phone. This is not reflective of a well run parish and reliable priest. He may give a good sermon, but so can a practiced charlatan. Parishioners should run away from St. Helen's as fast as they can, and NEVER arrange services with An-hell. I hope he is reprimanded severely by the Diocese and related hierarchy. He is no servant of the Lord's. That much I can attest to. I hope this post along with others saves someone the heartache. read more

St Helen's - Fraudulent Fr. Angel Castro - Churches Near Me - South Gate, California

There was no structure in this church. My cousin recently had her sweet sixteen and we had such a terrible experience. We came out of that church very disappointed with the service Father Angel Castro gave. The ceremony is meant to be a celebration of something beautiful instead he spent the entire mass scolding my cousin and directing himself toward her with assumptions he had based on our family in regards to us attending mass every Sunday. He was doing this without knowing anything about my family or my cousin , he spent the entirety of her mass attempting to shame everyone present for wrongfully assuming that we are not in touch with our spiritual side. It was wrong on his behalf to assume anything in regards to our lives, as a good Catholic we were always taught not to judge others without knowing anything about them. Apparently this priest does not practice what he preaches. It was very unprofessional of him and inconsiderate to rob my cousin of her special day in the church and with our loved ones. Moreover, I would not recommend this church to anyone who wants their mass to be special and meaningful. This church does the complete opposite. We were robbed of a meaningful moment without a single apology from him after he realized how he had served. As a family we are very distraught that what was meant to be a beautiful milestone for my cousin turned out to be a saddened occasion in the church. read more

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Father Angel Castro Ruined my daughters sweet 16 ceremony . He was rude to my guest, during church, and literally spent the first 20mins roasting my daughter on her special day. Stood 2 feet in front of her and gave her a hard time about how she practices her religion, how many times she goes to church , etc....my daughter got so nervous and felt so pressured she FAINTED after being so nervous and on her knees the whole time. After a 10min break to help her up and make sure she was ok , we requested for Castro to wrap it up because my daughter wasn't well, he then continued to give her a hard time for another 10min before getting to main ceremony and finishing. We paid a lot of money , it was unacceptable for him to try to make it about him and ruin my daughters church. I was very mad, and honestly a few seconds away from cursing him out and yelling at him at the least. read more

St Helen's - Evil father angel Castro - Churches Near Me - South Gate, California

I love attending to this church ever since I was a teenager. what I love the most is the chorus that the 11 am mass has, the voice of the lead singer is amazing.The songs fills my heart with joy and it brings me memories from when I attended mass with my mother. Father Michael is a great priest, he really gets the message across in the perfect way. It's so genuine! read more

We love to attend mass when it is given by Father Angel. It feels like he knows exactly what to say and has the perfect words to any given situation. My husband and I really enjoy it. read more

After years of not attending any kind of church I began to recently develop a tail and horns...kidding. It had been so long since I last attended mass so when my mother in law asked me if I wanted to go to church with her I quickly said yes. The church was beautiful inside and out and although there were many pews available they quickly filled up and a lot of people were left standing. Mass was beautiful. Seating inside and parking? Not so much. Make sure you come a bit early if you want to find a seat and a parking spot. read more

St Helen's - Sunday mass - Churches Near Me - South Gate, California

I love coming here for mass on Sundays. Father Angel always gives the best mass ever. I love how he talks to everyone in a way that we can all understand what the whole topic was about & makes everyone think about what he is saying. He definitely gives you something to think about once mass is done. The church is absolutely beautiful & well taken care of. It does get packed fairly quickly so it's best to come 5-10 minutes before. read more

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The annunciation is at noon not 11 o'clock if you people are going to do annunciation then do it right if not then don't even do it

Beware! This church had given me a date for my kid baptism and weeks after (2 weeks before scheduled ceremony) my date was rescheduled! After, Invites were sent, location was reserved and had family reserve the date to travel out of town. They didn't care after I explained everything and expressed how unfair it was. Even tho they rescheduled one week after is still not fair! On top of that they don't give me a logical excuse! More like no excuse! My guess is that they overbooked! They pretty much just care about the "$80" donation and found themselves in a bubble after realizing they overbooked!!!!! They should be ashamed for all the inconvenience they have caused and heartless they are!! read more

I love and miss my old. Everybody was friendly and family orientated. Father Angel is an awesome priest. Catechism team for adults are so amazing and knowledgeable. read more

Please don't waste your money on any ceremony at this church. I paid for my daughter's 15 Church here. The priest Angel was rude and made my daughter cry. He forgot I paid for the his service and it wasn't cheap. For him to be rude on a special day it just sad. The lady Marisol that does the practices for your event was rude as well. She was late to practice and tried to rush through it. She tried to rush us because she had a wedding practice after our practice time. When she was late to being with. I don't think of ever coming back here again, or even recommend this Church to anyone. God is Love! These people work for the Church what does that tell you! read more

I'm not a church goer, nor am I an atheist. The only reason I am rating this place is because I live two blocks away from here. This church is nice inside and out. I used to come here many years back, which is why I remember! The pleasant thing about this church is the bells that ring every hour of the day. A nice sound to wake up to on a weekend morning! read more

I love father Angel Castro.........he is wonderful!!! I love when he gives mass. He connects with the people.

I have been attending ST HELENS since the early 80's. Most recently I had the joy of attending and getting to know FATHER SAM on a more personal level. I enrolled my child in the school and got to see what happens behind the scenes. Since then Father Angel has taken over and cut out the YOUTH MINISTRIES programs all together. Alot of staff that's been there for years is GONE! I realize there's a business side to the church, but being heartless isn't very christian. It's funny how one can preach out love one day and treat your staff like useless trash. I have tons of stories. Both good and bad. God is great, please go to church. Love one another.. that's all good. But try and PRACTICE what you PREACH... Father Angel read more