We are coming to the end of our liturgical year. Next Sunday, we will celebrate the Feast of Christ the King, and the following weekend it will be Advent! How fast time seems to go.
The changing liturgical season is a reminder to us that life is always changing. The Book of Ecclesiastes reminds us of all the different times in life:
There is an appointed time for everything,
and a time for every affair under the heavens.
A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to uproot the plant.
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to tear down, and a time to build.
A time to weep, and a tie to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones,
and a time to gather them;
a time to embrace,
and a time to be far from embraces.
A time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away.
A time to rend, and a time to sew;
a time to be silent, and a time to speak.
A time to love, and a time to hate;
a time of war, and a time of peace.
We are now in a time when some things are coming to an end and we will be getting ready for the new life that is to come. The fallen leaves and colder air remind us that death, a part of all life, is settling in for the winter. But the dead of winter is not really the end. Within the depth of the ground lay dormant the seeds that will come to life in the spring. We wait through shorter days and longer nights for what we know is to come. Things seem to be getting darker but we know the darkness will not last. We begin to count the days until the sun and light and newness of life return.
Our Advent is a time of waiting. For us as Catholics, this season is a time of waiting and of hope; it is a time of expecting new life as we celebrate Jesus being born. We celebrate his birth into the world 2000 years ago; we prepare our hearts to receive him more fully into our lives. This year, our Liturgy Committee's theme for Advent will be: "Advent is Here: Show the Face of Christ." During Advent, we are not only preparing for Christmas Day. We will be preparing for the people we are called to be because Jesus came into the world. We prepare to be the people we are called to be because he loves us and he chooses to enter into our lives. Responding fully to that love means that we must let die those things that keep us from him. Now is the time. Now is the time to let all of those things that have clung to our hearts and kept us from the fullness of life and joy. Now is the time to let anger, resentment, jealousy, desire for power and control, selfishness, and every petty and mean-spirited thing to fall away and die like last year's leaves fall from the trees.
As the seasons change, both in the world around us and in the life of the church, we are reminded that we, too, should change with time, overcoming what has separated us from one another and from God. We should take time to prepare for life to come anew, fresh with surprises beyond our expectations.
Please take note of our upcoming Advent and Christmas schedule:
Advent Reconciliation Service:
Wednesday, Dec. 5 at 7:00 p.m. in Church
This is on a Religious Education night and third-session parents
are invited to join with their children and fellow parishioners
for this sacramental celebration. Parents and children are
invited to report to their children's classrooms and then
everyone will process together to church.
Christmas Mass Schedule:
Children's Mass with Nativity Pageant
Monday, December 24 at 4:00 p.m.
(Please note the NEW TIME this year)
Christmas Eve, Monday December 24
Prelude Concert at 10:00 p.m.
"Midnight Mass" at 11:00 p.m.
Christmas Day, Tuesday December 25
8:30 a.m. Mass
10:30 a.m. Mass
On another note: we have just learned that our
Confirmation Mass (when our 8th graders will be Confirmed)
will be celebrated on Saturday, April 26 at 5:00 p.m.
Please mark this date on your calendars.
One other note about time: Enclosed in this bulletin, you will find a document from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on what is their position on the war in Iraq today. Please take time to give this document thoughtful reflection. Please also take time to pray for all of those affected by war, especially the family of 22 year-old Army Sgt. Joe Vanek of Elmhurst, who died as a soldier in Iraq this past week.
Dr. Mary
Dr. Mary Foley, Pastoral Life Coordinator
Market Day
Orders for December are due Monday, December 10, at
noon. Turn in your order form in the box in the back of
church or at the rectory. Pickup on Saturday, December 15,
from 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. in the Social Hall.
If you have questions or would like to place an order,
please call Karen at 279-4108 or Beth at 833-5469 or email
her at ekujawa121@sbcglobal.net .
A Vocation View
You know that at the end of earth-time, everything will be
stubble. Be sure there is a monument to your earth-love in
heaven. Listen to Jesus.
Yoga Class Schedule
Come for one or more classes recommended for ages 15 to 75
(however, everyone is welcome)
Increase your flexibility, strength, and decrease your
stress. It is about balance, strength, and mobility.
Tuesdays 9 am to 10 am
Nov 20 and 27
$4 per class ($6 for families)
Call Debbie Styka at 941-7224/
Please bring a non-slip yoga mat if you have one.
Required: comfortable clothing, socks that can come off.
MARY QUEEN OF HEAVEN
"CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY" RAFFLE
Looking for money to pay off those "Christmas Gift" Bills.
Why not take a chance on our "Christmas Holiday" Raffle. YOU
COULD BE A LUCKY WINNER! All Raffle proceeds will benefit our
Parish.
Only 250 tickets will be sold and the winners need not be
present. The odds of winning a Raffle Prize are great! The
Ticket Donation is $100. Each ticket contains 10 slots so that
the cost of the ticket can be divided with as many as 10 people
if you choose.
1st Prize $10,000
2nd Prize $2,000
3rd Prize $1,000
The Drawing will take place on December 16th in Barrett Hall
immediately following the 10:30 a.m. Mass. Refreshments will be
served. Please consider helping us make this event a success so
that we can continue to grow as a welcoming parish that provides
ministries involving all walks of life and continued spiritual
growth to our families and their children. Invite your family,
friends and co-workers to participate in the Raffle.
Tickets will be available beginning next weekend in the
vestibule of church or can be obtained by contacting the Parish
Office or one of the following committee members: Sheila Reiter
(833-6657), Derrick StaRosa (291-9115) Phyllis Twardowski (279-
6239) or Mary White (833-9809)
FELLOWSHIP SUNDAY
Today, Sunday, November 18th all are invited to attend
Fellowship, hosted by our Lectors. Fellowship will be held in
Barrett Hall immediately following the 10:30 a.m. Mass. Bring
your family and join your friends in conversation while enjoying
some sweets and a cup of coffee, tea or juice.
This past week our Preschoolers brought in canned and dry
goods to help make Thanksgiving Baskets for those in need. They
contributed over 140 items to our Parish collection. Part of our
program encompasses caring for God's world. This is one way that
we are able to make a contribution to others in need and give
thanks to God for the gifts we have been given.
There is no school for the Preschool on Wednesday,
Thursday, or Friday of this week. Enjoy this wonderful family
time together. Remember to give thanks to God for all of your
blessings. We wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving!
Please see our website at www.maryqueenpreschool.org and contact
the school office for more information and registration.
(630) 833-9500
Preschool classes have begun. We still have some openings in our
Tuesday/Thursday class.
Come join us!
Preschool tours scheduled upon request.
Teacher Aide Position Available
Do you enjoy working with children, fostering their growth
spiritually, academically, physically, and emotionally? We are
currently accepting resumes for the teacher aide position for our
Preschool here at MQH. Please direct resumes to Mrs. Liz Lowrey
at MQH Preschool 426 N. West Ave. Elmhurst, IL 60126.
THANKSGIVING MASS
9:00 am
This Thursday is Thanksgiving. Please join us at 9:00a.m.
Mass to thank God for the abundant blessings we have received.
Bereavement
Thank you to all who helped to make our Mass of Remembrance
on All Souls Day a meaningful event for all those who gathered in
prayer. Father Tapper, Deacon Tom Nolan, and our lector, Tim
Kowalski lead us through a beautiful service filled with hope. A
special thanks to the faithful bereavement ministers: Mary White,
Rosemarie and Jose Pizarro, Cathy Paulus and Kay Passarelli who
were there to set up, clean up and many tasks in between! We are
grateful for the ushers, Tom Nanak and Joel Bernstein who helped
out with the larger than usual crowd.
If anyone is interested to learn how you might be of
service in this ministry, please call Mimi @630- 941-3851. Please
continue to pray for the improved health of Lou Ciancio!
Reminder to all RE families:
There will be no class on Wednesday, November 21st due to the
Thanksgiving holiday.
There will be no class on Wednesday, November 28th due to a
catechist Evening of Reflection.
Please mark your calendars.
Advent Service Projects:
This year we will again be collecting new unwrapped toys
for Marillac House on Chicago's West Side...not so very far from
Elmhurst. We have heard from Sister Antoinette telling us that
they are in great need this year. There will be a "toy box" in
the hall of school for donations on Wednesday, December 5th and
12th during class times. Toys for all ages are welcome...no violent
toys please. Please be generous.
Our children will also have the opportunity to add a global
dimension to their acts of service. They will go to the "polls"
to vote for the animal of their choice to be sent to a 3rd world
country. The RE children are asked to come to class with a
donation of 50 cents which will be donated to Heifer
International. They can then "vote" for a pig, a sheep, or a
goat to be sent to a small village, which will drastically
improve the quality of life of it's residents. Our "polls" will
be open on the first two Wednesdays of December. Over the years,
our children have really enjoyed this project.
Confirmation Candidates need your prayers.
There is a basket in the vestibule of Church with names of
Confirmation candidates written on index cards. Please take a
card out of the basket and pray for that candidate for the next 5
months. It is our hope that each and every one of our 73
Confirmation candidates will have a "Prayer Partner" as they
journey toward Confirmation. Then at Confirmation time, if you
wish, you are invited to write your candidate a note expressing
how you have been praying for them. These notes will be collected
and presented to the candidates on Confirmation day.
On behalf of the entire Religious Education staff, we wish you
all a Blessed Thanksgiving.
For more info on any of the above, please call Mary Ann Woods at
the REO, 832-8962.
Religious Education News
CHRIST RENEWS HIS PARISH (CHRP)
POSTPONED TO SPRING
There has been a great deal of interest in the weekends for
Christ Renews His Parish (CHRP), however, the two particular
weekends in November and December were not good for many
parishioners since they were so close to the holidays.
Therefore, we have postponed the weekends and will hold
them in the Spring (February or March) when it's more conducive
to scheduling. Please watch the Bulletin for details. We will
be announcing the new weekends shortly.
If you have any questions please contact Karen Sutkus at
klsutkus@aana.com or (630) 279-3240 or Alex Grozik at (630) 530-
0503.
MAYSLAKE MINISTRIES PROGRAMS
December 1, 2007 (Saturday)
"VIVIR EN RELACION CON DIOS, MARIA Y LOS SANTOS" on
December 1 (Saturday) with Fr. Gilberto Cavazos-Gonzalez, OFM at
Mayslake location from 9:30a..m.-4:30p.m., $75. This Spanish
School of Spirituality session will fill quickly. Call 630-323-
1620 for reservations by 11/21/07
December 5th, 12th, and 19th, 2007 (Wednesdays)
This Wednesday night Advent series "THREE HOLY WOMEN" will
reflect God's grace as we prepare for Christmas and meet Margaret
of Cortona, Therese of Lisieux and Cornelia Connelly. Fr. Albert
Haase, OFM will present from 7-9p.m. at the Mayslake location
with reservations due by 12/3/07 to 630-323-1620. $75 covers all
three sessions.
December 15, 2007 (Saturday)
"IN THE MIDST OF WINTER..." with Sr. Marianne Saieg, OSF
will be presented at the Mayslake location in Westmont.
9:30a.m.-2:30p.m. Cost is $50. Call 630-323-1620 with
reservations by 11/30/07.
ADVOCATE GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPITAL
COUMIDIN AND YOU
Tuesday, November 27th, 2007
7:00pm-8:00pm Good Samaritan Hospital-
Red & Black Rooms
The blood thinner Coumidin is a powerful medication that has
assisted many patients through medical ailments and medical
procedures such as heart valve repair or replacement. Coumidin
has also helped those patients who have had heart attacks or
experience irregular heart rhythms. Patients taking Coumidin
must be aware of the special concerns of taking this drug
properly. If you or a loved one is on Coumidin, join Dr.
Weinstein as he reviews what every patient should know about this
blood thinner.
PILGRIMAGE TO COLONIAL
AND CARMELITE SPAIN
Following the life and spirituality of Carmelite mystics
St. Teresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross, Fr. Bob Colaresi,
O. Carm. Is leading a pilgrimage to Spain, April 13-26, 2008.
Places include Madrid, Toledo, Segovia, Salamanca, Fontiveros,
Alba de Tormes, Seville, Cordoba and Granada. Cost: $3,700,
double occupancy. For further information and flyer, please
contact Darlene at the Carmelite Center: 630-969-4141.
CATHOLIC CAMPAIGN FOR
HUMAN DEVELOPMENT
Life at the poverty line leaves nearly 40 million
Americans hanging on for dear life-hanging on to feed their
families and to keep a roof over their heads. The Catholic
Campaign for Human Development supports self-help projects
of people working together to break the cycle of poverty.
You can make a difference. Be part of the numbers that
care-give generously to CCHD in today's Collection.
Community News
OVERNIGHT RETREAT
"The Reed of God: An Advent Overnight Retreat" will
be presented by Sr. Joyce Kemp, rc, PhD, on Dec. 7-8. In
this retreat, which is based on Caryll Houselander's "The
Reed of God", participants will reflect upon the role of
Mary as bearer if Christ into the world and our own calling
to allow the life of Christ to grow in us. Topics will
include emptiness, Mary's "yes" and Advent as the season of
the seed. The cost is $110 for a single room/$95 for a
double room. The cost includes a copy of "The Reed of
God". Registration after Nov. 26, please add $20. For
further information or to register for this retreat, please
call 630-393-1231 or email cacarroll@cenacle.org
CATHOLIC CHARITIES SERVES NEEDY FAMILIES
Catholic Charities, Diocese of Joliet, hopes to make Christmas
a little brighter for low income families in DuPage County.
This year, through the agency's Holiday Outreach Program,
hundreds of individuals have already been "adopted" by donors
and parishes.
Although most families were "adopted" during the early fall
months, Catholic Charities is still in great need of monetary
donations to purchase gift cards for food and clothing for
families who will ask for our help before and after the
Christmas holidays.
Your donation to purchase food and gift cards for these
families and their children may be mailed to Catholic
Charities' Holiday Outreach Program,
26 W. St. Charles Road, Lombard, IL 60148. If you prefer, you
may donate small denomination ($50.00 or less) gift cards for
area grocery stores and department stores (Target, Wal-Mart,
Kmart, and Kohl's)
Catholic Charities relies on the continued generosity of the
community to help them serve every needy family. Thank you for
all that you do!
THE BUSY PERSON'S RETREAT
...is a retreat that works itself into your busy daily
schedule, giving you an opportunity to deepen your relationship
with God during the Advent Season.
Participants will meet individually on a weekly basis
during the weeks of November 26th, December 3rd, 10th, and 17th
with Spiritual Director, Sister Myra Lambert, SSCM, Servants of
the Holy Heart of Mary, 717 N. Batavia Ave., Batavia, IL.
Registration is limited. Cost is $40.
For more information or to register, call Linda Isleib at
630-879-1296, Monday through Friday.