I would like to share a story about something that happened to me last Sunday afternoon. Please bear with me, for its meaning may not be clear at first.
I was going to my sister's house. She was having a little backyard family gathering. I wanted to bring something with me, so I stopped at Portillo's to pick up a chocolate cake. I had Saint Catharine (my dog) with me, so I picked up a plain hot dog for her. I ordered a Diet Coke for myself.
I sipped my drink on the way to my sister's and I quickly noticed that it did not taste like a Diet Coke. It took me a few minutes and several more sips to recognize what I was tasting. Then, all of a sudden, I realized that it was definitely not a Diet Coke at all - this was a ROOT BEER! Horrors! This was shocking to me! I have hated root beer since childhood. I don't know why; I cannot remember whatever happened to turn me off to root beer. But I do remember that the only time I could drink it was when my mother mixed it with ice cream to make a Black Cow (as we called root beer floats in those days). Otherwise, I found root beer to be disgusting. You couldn't pay me to drink it. It was awful. And now, I had just finished almost half a cup full!
I suddenly had a very strange combination of thoughts and feelings. Oh no, I'm drinking root beer...I should take it back because they made a mistake...But no, I can't take time to turn around. I have to get to my sister's house. Then, I took another sip. And another. And then, I was completely surprised to discover...that this stuff was actually not bad. In fact, it was kind of good. Much to my surprise, I discovered last Sunday afternoon that I like root beer now. In fact, as I write this on Tuesday evening at my desk, I have a Diet A&W sitting right here next to me.
I have pondered all of this since Sunday. God always uses the ordinary experiences of life to teach us - if we are paying attention.
How often is it that we have some negative experience and then completely shut ourselves off from whatever it is afterwards? It could be a little thing like not liking root beer. Or maybe, it could be a big thing, like holding a grudge against someone for a long time - because he or she hurt us, or was unfair, or because we felt he or she was really wrong about something. The hurt or the unfairness or the wrong may have been very real. But it can become easy, once we have a bad taste in our mouth, to stay away forever. This can really be a mistake. Our bad feelings can fester so that the negative experience gets all blown out of proportion. We can fail to give someone a second chance and then, without even realizing it, we prevent ourselves from experiencing something new.
Our Easter season is coming to a close. We have had weeks to think about what the resurrection of Jesus means in our lives this year. By the time we celebrate Pentecost one week from now, we should be changed, as were the disciples. Remember how Peter denied Christ and then became the rock upon which the church was built? Remember Thomas, who doubted but then came to believe? Remember the disciples on the road to Emmaus who didn't even recognize Jesus with them because they were already so used to thinking of him being dead - but then they finally recognized him in the breaking of the bread?
All of these things are a lot more important than root beer! But even little lessons can help us to understand important things. I have always had it in my power to change the ways that I think and act. How often do I choose to do so? I could have had a root beer on my own anytime in the last 40 years. But I didn't want to change. I was convinced that I could never, ever, like root beer. Well, last Sunday, it only took a little nudge and I found out that I was wrong.
I wonder what else I have been wrong about. What other ways have I stubbornly held on to looking at things or people only one way? Easter and the resurrection are all about experiencing things anew, seeing with new eyes of faith, really believing that love has power over death. How is God trying to nudge each of us? Can we really step out in faith and allow some fundamental change to take place in our lives? If we can, then I think we can better understand what it really means to be Easter disciples.
Let us all pray this last week of Easter that we can be open to making needed changes in our lives, perhaps giving up grudges, perhaps being less closed-minded, perhaps letting go of some prejudice, perhaps giving someone a second chance. May it be a good week of reflection for us all. And do have a root beer on me.
Mary Foley, Pastoral Life Coordinator
A Vocation View Our Spiritual Life is a Journey following the Call of the Master to "Come, Follow Me." Say "Yes" over and over again 2 0 0 7 "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." Mt 25:40 Your gift makes a difference-to more than 85,000 people whose lives have changed for the better through diocesan ministries. People gain a good education, receive shelter and food, leave behind destructive lifestyles, and develop a richer relationship with God. Please help us support them all and give generously. Faith Sharing (Use with your family or to open meetings) 1. Read the daily gospel. 2. Pause for a minute of silence. 3. Read it again slowly. 4. What word or phrase "jumps out" at me? 5. Share the word or phrase (no explanation). 6. Share a sentence or two about why this touched you. 7. Thank your friends or family. 8. Thank God for the opportunity to share faith (brief prayer). "Ladies Night Out" Dinner The Council of Catholic Women is sponsoring "Ladies Night Out" on Tuesday, June 19, at 7:00 PM. This is a great opportunity to relax and enjoy fellowship with your friends from MQH. We will be honoring Teri Kevil, our Woman of the Year, for her dedication and work in our parish over the years. The celebration will be held at Anyway's Restaurant & Pub, 5 E. Roosevelt Road, Oakbrook Terrace. Dinner includes your choice of one of the following entrees: 1) Anyway's Pasta 2) Penne Mozzarella Pasta 3) Junior Sirloin Steak 4) Grilled Chicken Pasta 5) Mediterranean Chicken 6) Blackened Catfish or 7) Pasta Milano as well as coffee, soft drinks or tea and an ice cream dessert. A cash bar will also be available. The cost for the evening will be $25.00 per person and checks should be made payable to Mary Queen of Heaven CCW. The deadline for reservations is Sunday, June 10, as we have to give the restaurant a one week's advance notice. A reservation form insert will be in next weekend's bulletin. Please fill it out as soon as possible and return it to a CCW representative, the church office or drop it in the collection basket. CCW representatives will be in the church vestibule the weekends of June 2/3 and June 9/10 to take reservations. For further information call Mary Connelly (782-7626) or Diane Bernstein (279-7252). Fellowship Sunday Today, Sunday, May 20 Our monthly parish fellowship will be held on Sunday, May 20, after the 10:30 Mass. It is being sponsored by the Council of Catholic Women. This is an extra special fellowship as we are celebrating with Mary Foley who received her Doctor of Ministry degree from Catholic Theological Union of Chicago on May 17. Mary will bring champagne, sparkling grape juice, and cake to the fellowship and all are invited to celebrate with her. Hope to see there for this celebration. Market Day Orders for May are due Monday, May 21, at noon. Turn in your order form in the box in the back of church or at the rectory. Pickup on Saturday, May 26, from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. in the Social Hall. If you have questions or WISH to place an order, please call Maria at 279-2238 or Karen at 279-4108. A Memorial Day Mass will be celebrated on Monday, May 28, at 9:00 a.m. In the Assumption Cemetery Chapel Mausoleum Located at 1S510 Winfield Rd, in Wheaton L.O.S.S. Support Group (Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide) Through the collaboration of Catholic Charities (the Diocese of Joliet and the Archdiocese of Chicago), support groups are in place for anyone who has lost a relative or friend to suicide. A trained facilitator and a mental health professional assist these groups. The groups meet from 7:00 to 9:00 P.M. on either the third Wednesday or the fourth Tuesday of the month. The next meeting date is as follows: May 22 - St. Daniel the Prophet Parish Center 101 West Loop Drive in Wheaton For more information, call 1-800-240-7011 or visit Catholic Charities website at www.cc-doj.org Catholic Charities Foster Care Open and Growing in Joliet Diocese Catholic Charities in the Joliet Diocese is alive and growing and will continue to serve 400 or more children in foster care. The agency is looking for new foster parents. If you are interested or want more information, call toll-free 1-877-844- HOPE. Visit www.cc-doj.org Mary Queen of Heaven Preschool registration continues! Please see our website at www.maryqueenpreschool.org and contact the parish office for more information and registration. Preschool tours scheduled on request. Yoga Class Recommended for ages 15 to 75 but all are welcome Tuesday, May 22, 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. in Barrett Hall $4 per class or $6 for families Call Debbie Styka at 941-7224 Please bring a non-slip yoga mat if you have one.Required: comfortable clothing MQH Garden Club News Spring Planting Time Calling all Garden Club Members and parishioners. Yes, it's that time again when we beautify our church grounds for the summer. We will be planting flowers around the parish office, south side of Church, in front of school and in the planter in front of Mary's Gathering Space on Saturday, May 26, at 9:30 a.m. If you can spare an hour or two, bring your gloves and digger and we will be delighted find something for you to do! Meet in front of Church. While experience helps, it's not necessary. We will train!! If you can help or have any questions, please call Rose Wilkes (833-7238) or Sheila Reiter (833-6657). Religious Education A special thank you to all who made our Confirmation celebration so wonderful last Saturday. Thank you to our Grade 8 catechists, our music ministers, liturgy planners, parents, and most especially, our newly confirmed. We are all very proud of you . RE Registrations June 1st is just 2 weeks away. If you want to register at the discounted fee, get those forms in to the office today. FYI - if you have a preschool or kindergarten child you would like to see in the program next fall, get your registration in today. The 3:15 Kindergarten session is already at capacity. However, there is still room at the 5:15 Kindergarten session. These classes always fill up quickly and enrollment is limited at those grade levels. Catechists Needed Before school is out for the summer break, please consider helping us as a catechist next fall. We thank those who have responded to our plea. However, we are still in need of catechists at various grade levels at various session times. If you are a loving, welcoming, accepting, forgiving person of faith, you have the most important qualifications for being a catechist. You don't have to be a theologian, just someone who can help our children understand how the Gospel can be applied to their lives. Come share your Faith with the over 500 young people of our RE program. Call for more information. If you have any questions or need more information, please call Mary Ann Woods at the REO, 832-8962. Current Events Discussion Would you like to avoid the summer blahs? Join a group discussion of current news by enrolling in a COD class which will be held Friday mornings from 9:30 to 11:00 from June 1 until August 10 in the lounge of St.Peter's Church located right here in Elmhurst. This summer course will provide you with an opportunity to gather with other individuals to discuss current events. Topics such as dealing with the insurgency in Iraq, overhauling health care, the greening of America, China's economy and America's leadership, etc. may be considered for discussion. Enrollment is simple: call COD at (630) 942-2377 or register online at www.cod.edu or call the Older Adult Institute at (630) 942-3779. The name of the course is Current Events Discussion (code 45404). Tuition for this 10 week course: $30 for those of you who are 65 and older; for those of you that have not yet reached age 65, the tuition is $61. For more details about course content feel free to call the instructor, parishioner Milt Honel at (630) 279-7086. St. Domitilla Parish Carnival Thursday, May 31 thru Sunday, June 3 Hours: Thurs. 6-10 p.m.; Fri. 5-11 p.m.: Sat. 1-11 p.m.; Sun. 1-10 p.m. Discounted pre-sale ride coupons available until 5-30. Unlimited Ride Specials: Thurs. 6-10 p.m., Sat. & Sun. 1-5 p.m. Rides for all ages Plenty of food and pop, BINGO and PULL TABS Beer Garden & Entertainment Sat. & Sun. For more info. call the parish office at 708-449-8430 Volunteer Tutors Needed The Congregation of St. Joseph (formerly the Sisters of Joseph of La Grange Park) is in need of volunteers for its adult literacy program, School on Wheels. Tutors are needed to teach one hour per week from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Hodgkins, Summit, Westmont, and Woodridge. Two-day training will be provided from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on two consecutive Saturdays: June 23rd and June 30th. Volunteers must attend both training sessions. No prior second language skills are needed. For more information, call (708) 354-9200 Ext. 5060, 5085, or 5037. The Vatican Internation Exhibition Eucharistic Miracles of the World (126 Church Approved Miracles) Visitation Parish (Podesta Hall-Church Basement) 779 South York Road, Elmhurst. Sunday, June 2, 2007 Noon to 7:00 p.m. Sunday, June 3, 2007 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. LEAF (Loving Elmhurst Adoptive Families) is a social and support group of families living in Elmhurst who have built their families through adoption. The group provides families with the opportunity to socialize with other families of adoption, help educate parents and children and to provide support to one another. The group holds an annual Family Picnic, an Adoption Storytime at the library, outings and more. If you are interested in finding out more information, please email elmhurstadoptivefamilies@yahoo.com or call Tina Schacht at 630-782-5181. On Wednesday, June 13th LEAF will host a workshop called "Talking With Your Children About Adoption." The program will take place at the Elmhurst Public Library and will begin at 7:00 p.m. Those interested in attending, please email elmhurstadoptivefamilies@yahoo.com. Mayslake Ministries "JOURNEY: In Scripture, In the Spiritual tradition, In Adult Development" Saturday, June 16, 2007 This School of Spirituality workshop will explore the theme of journey as a multi-faceted theme of life and spiritual development. Fr. Albert Haase, OFM, Fr. Bill Burton, OFM and Joan Lopina will facilitate this at St. Margaret Mary parish in Naperville from 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. at a cost of $75. Call 630- 323-1620 to register by June 6, 2007. Marianjoy to Offer Presentation: Working Through Grief and Loss Whether it is the loss of a loved one due to death or separation, or the loss of mobility due to illness or injury, there are ways to not only cope with loss, but to learn from it On May 30 at 6:30 p.m., Marianjoy will be offering a free presentation on grief and loss, let by a Marianjoy chaplain and a psychologist. For more information or to register, please call 630-909-7102. Open House Invitation to Suzanne Knuepfer Senior Guest House 375 W. West Avenue, Elmhurst Wednesday, May 23, 4 to 7 p.m. Families, potential senior guests, and professionals are welcome. Refreshments will be served. Call for more information 630-516-3523. The Suzanne Knuepfer Guest House is a bed-and- breakfast style home that provides adults 60 and over a short- term, supervised and supported setting. Guests can stay for 1 to 30 days and are provided with around-the-clock supervision, home cooked meals, companionship and special activities. St. Vincent de Paul Clothing Drive Weekend of June 2 and 3 Spring cleaning?? Clear your home of all that extra clutter!! We are having a collection for The Society of St. Vincent de Paul and we are looking for clean gently used clothing, shoes, cookware, linens, dishes, toys, books, lamps, etc. Your donations will benefit the needy. For your convenience, St. Vincent de Paul bags are available in the church vestibule this weekend. Please fill these bags, or your own bags and boxes, with the items you are planning to donate and bring them to church the weekend of June 2/3. There will be a St. Vincent de Paul truck in the parking lot from 9:00 a. m. on Saturday, June 2 until 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 3. We would appreciate it if you would place your donations in the St. Vincent DePaul truck. Receipts are always available for your donations If you have donations of large items, please call 630-231-4658 to schedule a pick up from your home. Thank you for Helping Us to Help People! Diocesan News Rachel's Vineyard Retreat The next Rachel's Vineyard Retreat for post abortive men and women is scheduled for September 23-25 at St. Charles Borromeo Pastoral Center. For more information call Kay Corcoran at 815-838-7171.