Mary's Corner
Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Church
426 N. West Avenue
Elmhurst, Illinois 60126-2171
Parish Office: 630/279-5700
Fax: 630/279-4667
A Vocation View
Whom the Lord loves, he disciplines. The best way to lead others
through the narrow gate is to be formed and disciplined as a
leader. Then you can go through the
narrow gate, yourself.
L.O.S.S. Support Group
(Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide)
Through the collaboration of Catholic Charities (the Archdiocese of
Chicago and the Diocese of Joliet), 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. For more information, call toll free at 1-
800-240-7011. The next meeting dates are as follows:
August 28 - St. Daniel the Prophet Parish Center
101 West Loop Drive in Wheaton
Prayer Requests
To pray for our sick is an important privilege of our parish
family. We hope that you will pray for these persons every day.
Natalie Baker Joyce Belasiek
Pam Bondfide Pat Caffarelli
Rose Caffarelli Kathy Calzante
Cosmore Ciancio Dennis Ciancio
Lou Ciancio George Cibula
Paul Cirone Ida Corriedo
Cynthia Catalano Family Rosemary Davis
Deacon Bob Delbeke Trudi Dolato
Baby Dobrowolski Virginia Feret
Kathy Filipiak Cecilia Garstki
Mary Goggins Mary Hagerty
Anna Heffel Jen Huwalt
Tom Huwalt Michelle Humann
Maureen James Richard Jones
Kathy Johnston Irene Kmieciak
Bernadette Kohn Anne Kostas
John Larkin Baby Emma Lynde
Marie Mangano Robert Manion
Mary Martin Dennis McCabe
Mary Piszczor Raymond Mitchell
Fred Moss Mary Sabel Oye
Geri Pstrzoch Baby Faith Reid
Robert Restivo Vera Rossiano
Agnes Sabel Patricia Sabel
Joaquina Scroppo Linda Barone Simons
Jess Smith Mary Spierowski
Rachael Thompson John Unger
Richard Vanni
If you or a family member would like to be included in our
prayers, please call the rectory at 279-5700. Also, please let
us know when a name should be removed.
Wanted: Eucharistic Ministers
As Mary Queen of Heaven continues to grow, so does our need
for an increased number of volunteers in the various parish
ministries. We would like to add more Eucharistic Ministers to
accommodate our growth and we ask that you consider becoming one
of them. It is truly a privilege and humbling experience.
The following are requirements to be a Eucharistic
Minister: The person must be Catholic and in good standing with
the Church, and must have received the Sacrament of Confirmation.
Eucharistic Ministers must be at least 16 years old. Training
will be provided at the church on Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at
7:00 pm. Please call the parish office at (630) 279-5700 to
register in advance.
"So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees". (Today's
Second Reading) Let Worldwide Marriage Encounter strengthen your
Marriage. The next Worldwide Marriage Encounter Weekend
is....Sept. 21-23. Contact couple: Tom and Mary Leonard 630-577-
0778. Website: http://wwmejoliet.org
There will be altar server training for all current servers
and for those wishing to become servers on Saturday, September 8
at 10:00a.m. Children who have received First Eucharist are
eligible to serve. Please call the parish office to register at
(630) 279-5700. Thank you.
Please see our website at www.maryqueenpreschool.org and contact the
school office for more information and registration.
(630) 833-9500
Preschool tours scheduled on request.
Preschool opens September 4, 2007!
PARISH PICNIC UPDATE
Mark your calendars! The annual Mary Queen of Heaven
Parish Picnic will be held on Sunday September 16th from 12:30
p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Come spend time with family and friends. Enjoy music,
games, food and good old family fun. As in past years, you may
bring your own food or purchase your meal. The food will be
supplied by Cuomo Catering and the menu will include Fried
Chicken, Italian Sausage, Potato Salad, Fruit Salad, Pasta Salad
and Roasted Corn. Complimentary Desserts and Coffee will be
provided by the parish and parish families. Tickets will be
available after all the Masses this weekend. The donation for an
Adult Ticket is $9 per person, and $6 for children under 12.
Pop, Water, Popcorn and Cotton Candy will be available for
purchase.
For more information or to volunteer to help, please call:
Bob Glick (833-5725), Sheila Reiter (833-6657), Ed Hayes (279-
5325), Mary White (833-9809), Mike Launius (220-6927) or Phyllis
Twardowski (279-6239).
AUGUST IS CATHOLIC CHARITIES MONTH!
Get what you give . . . volunteer! Whether you are young or old, there
is a volunteer opportunity for you at Catholic Charities in the Diocese
of Joliet. You can volunteer at one of the shelters, at our soup
kitchen, work with seniors or children, or assist with planning one of
Catholic Charities many special events. To learn more about volunteer
opportunities and our programs and services, visit our website at
www.cc-doj.org or call our Development Office at 815-723-3405
VOLUNTEER TUTORS NEEDED
The Congregation of St. Joseph (formerly Sisters of St. Joseph of La
Grange Park) is greatly in need of volunteers for its adult literacy
program, School on Wheels. Tutors are needed to teach one hour or so per
week from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Cicero, Hodgkin, Lombard,
Summit, Westmont, and Woodridge. Two-day trainings will be provided from 9
a.m. to 2 p.m. on August 27th and 28th or 29th and 30th. Volunteers must
attend one two-day training session. No prior second language skills are
needed.
For more information, call (708)482-5060 or (708)482-5085
INFORMATION MEETING FOR MEDICAL & CONSTRUCTION MISSION TO THE
PHILIPPINES
The Catholic Diocese of Joliet is planning its next medical and
construction mission to the Philippines. An Information meeting will
be held on October 3rd, 2007 at 7:00 PM at the St. Charles Pastoral
Center, 402 S. Independence Blvd., Romeoville, IL 60446. Interested
persons are invited to attend. Further information can be found at
www.paxjoliet.org/missions
Women in the
New Testament
Come and "make a difference" by becoming a Bible Study
Facilitator.
During our Parish Mission this past Lent, we were asked to
"Go, make a difference in this world." Is the Lord calling you
to share your faith and ability to guide a discussion with
others?
Beginning the week of September 24, 2007, the Adult
Education Ministry of Mary Queen of Heaven will be offering a
study of the Women in the New Testament through the Little Rock
Scripture Study. It will run 8 weeks through the week of
November 12, 2007.
In both the Old and New Testament, what is most striking
about the way the story of salvation is told is that from a
patriarchal society, the story of woman, embodied in the stories
of so many women, is still told. A culture that naturally would
overlook the roles and voices of women, and yet these women are
not erased. The part these women play is essential and could not
be left out.
As the author of this study states, "Our challenge is to
try to make sense of its inclusion and to take the story from
here."
During our Parish Mission this past Lent, we were asked to
"Go, make a difference in this world." Is the Lord calling you
to share your faith and ability to guide a discussion with
others? Come and "make a difference" by becoming a Bible Study
Facilitator. If you
are interested in becoming a facilitator for a group, please call
Lynn Suwanski at 630-530-2523. Ample training will be provided.
Religious Education News
Our catechist meetings begin this week and we still have
classes that need a leader. HELP us fill our remaining
catechist positions. Our opening event is September 12th.
We pray that we will not have to delay our first class
session on September 19th because good people like yourself
(you know who you are) have not come forward.
Please consider joining our team of dedicated men and women just
like yourself who weekly share their Faith with the young people
of the parish. Help our children to get to know our God.
Please bear in mind we have over 500 children in RE our program.
We have almost 70 catechist and aide positions to fill. We need
only 9 more. We are blessed. However, these positions must be
filled. If you can help, please call the REO today. Classes begin
soon.
Help keep our children safe on Wednesday afternoons.
We are in dire need of help with traffic control on Wednesdays.
The parking lot is very congested on Wednesdays, particularly the
first session with folks picking up Emerson children, Emerson
children walking over to our school building, and people from
schools other than Emerson dropping off children for RE. It would
take only 15-20 minutes of your time weekly. But the service that
you would be providing our little ones could last a lifetime. If
you always wanted to help in the RE program, but the classroom is
just not your thing, than this may be where you are called. Know
that if your children are not registered at the first session, we
can use help monitoring traffic at all three sessions. We are
waiting for your call.
Have you registered yet?
Registrations are still being taken in the REO for the coming
year. Our opening event is September 12th. It will be here before
we know it. Remember that we do not process registrations the
week of September 19th. If you want your children to start on the
first day of class, register now. Pass the word to your friends
and neighbors.
Our calendar and other information regarding RE has been mailed.
If you are a returning family, you should have received it.
Please read it over carefully.
For more info on any of the above, please call Mary Ann Woods at
the REO, 832-8962.
The following are those grade levels where help is still needed:
Session 1 - 3:15PM
Preschool four - 1 person is needed to aide (a great position for
a young person)
Kindergarten - 1 adult aide is needed to help the 2 adults
already in the classroom.
Session 2 - 5:15PM
Grade One - 1 lead catechist Grade Five - 1 co-
catechist Grade Six - 2 catechists
Grade Seven - 1 co-catechist
Session 3 - 7:00PM
Grade Six - 2 co-catechists
All sessions meet on Wednesdays.
Labor Day Mass Schedule
Mass will be celebrated at 9:00AM in the Church on Monday,
September 3. All are invited to join us in prayer.
Diocese of Joliet
Office of the Bishop
425 Summit St.
Tel: 815-722-6602
Joliet, Illinois 60435-7155
Fax: 815-722-6632
August 15, 2007
Solemnity of the Assumption
Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,
You may be aware that Planned Parenthood will soon
open a clinic that will provide abortions within the boundaries
of the Diocese of Joliet. Located on the border of Naperville and
Aurora, this will be the second abortion clinic to open in DuPage
County in the past five years. I am deeply saddened that DuPage
County will soon hold the distinction of hosting five abortion
clinics within its borders.
The proposed opening of the new clinic is a troubling
development. For everyone concerned, abortion is a source of
great suffering and sorrow. As Catholics, we hope in the Lord of
Life. Made in his image and likeness, we know that human life is
sacred. At times like this, it is important to remember that our
lives are not our own. Each of us belongs to Christ, and he asks
us to serve him in one another and to show particular concern for
the most vulnerable among us.
As Catholics, we will stand proudly and consistently
"For Life" in our diocese. Rather than collapsing in negativity,
we call on all people of good will to respond with positive
action. Every step we take must be peaceful.
Prayer is our most powerful weapon. Pray that the Gospel of
Life will take root and flourish in the seven counties that make
up our diocese. Pray for all pregnant women in need, particularly
those who find themselves in seemingly desperate situations. Pray
for a conversion of heart in those who support and work at
abortion facilities. Pray for healing of those who suffer the
impact of abortion.
Work through your parish and area Pro-Life organizations to
make known your Pro-Life convictions. Do what you can to offer
support to pregnant women in need. Write letters to the editor of
the local newspapers and to elected officials expressing
opposition and concern, and always do so in a peace-filled,
respectful manner. Our peaceful demeanor is one way we will
consistently demonstrate our love and respect for all life.
Please join me on Friday, September 7 in a day of prayer
and penance for the promotion of a Culture of Life and an end to
abortion. Pray in the manner of your choosing - perhaps attend
Mass that day, pray the rosary or other favorite prayers, for the
intention of an increased respect for the sacredness of life.
Choose a simple penance in keeping with your health and daily
duties - abstain from meat or sweets that day, or refrain from
television or other entertainment. Such simple efforts on our
part can be a powerful witness to our neighbors and a sign to our
Heavenly Father that we love the life - the lives - he has given
us.
May we never tire of proclaiming the dignity and worth of
every human life. May we never tire of serving the vulnerable and
their caregivers with generous hearts. And may we never cease to
pray for the day when all people, and all societies, will defend
the life of every human from conception to natural death.
Sincerely in Christ,
Most Reverend J. Peter Sartain
Bishop of Joliet
Back to Parish Bulletin Page