 |
| Mary Queen of Heaven: A Welcoming Catholic Community in Elmhurst - Contact us at: parishoffice@maryqueen.org |
Elmhurst, Illinois
Mary Queen of Heaven Church
Sixth Sunday of Easter
April 27, 2008
Mary’s Page
I had a wonderful evening last night. I was invited to the home of a young family in our parish whom I have come to know over the last four years.
It was just lovely – we sat outside for drinks as dinner cooked on the grill. My dog, Saint Catharine, was invited into their yard and she enjoyed all the new smells and meeting new people. The weather could not have been more perfect. It was a day that forecasters had threatened rain but the sun was shining still, even into the evening. What a beautiful day to relax and enjoy good company.
We moved inside for a delicious dinner and our conversation wandered through the ins and outs of growing up, having children, our lives of work, life in the parish, and even the White Sox! I enjoyed pork tenderloin, baked potatoes and asparagus that had been cooked on the grill (new grilled taste treats for me!) and a Riesling wine that was not super-sweet (another nice surprise!). We also had a special dessert which shall remain unnamed, so that the guilt feelings do not come and take away my memory of savoring the spoonfuls.
It was a perfect night except for some sadness on both our parts about the fact that I will be leaving the parish in June. We did not dwell on this for long but we probably would not have had as good of a time if it had gone unmentioned. It is never comfortable talking with others when there is an elephant in the room.
In the world of therapy, it is well known that if people become able to accept and allow themselves to experience the emotions involved in painful situations in life, or in grieving the loss of something or someone they love (instead of running away from or avoiding their feelings), they are better able to heal and grow. It is not always easy to do this, which is why therapists will always have work! It is also why life is often not as full as it could be. It is not easy to make ourselves vulnerable, to enter into and trust sharing our feelings; it can seem much easier to keep our emotions inside of us and to put up little or even big walls of protection around ourselves.
This theory about human behavior resonates with Catholic imagination and our understanding of grace. Life is more powerful than death and God can make all things work together for good for those who have faith. But we have to open ourselves to God in order to most fully receive the gifts of grace that God wishes to give us.
Sometimes, these experiences of grace can come at great sacramental moments. Often, they can happen in the midst of ordinary life. After all, it is a very part of our sacramental theology that God transforms the ordinary – things like bread, wine, water, and oil – and makes them holy. In the same way, God can transform our lives so that we can grow in holiness. I believe that the reason I love parish ministry so much is because it is so easy for me to see this kind of transformation happening all of the time. I have been blessed by so many people with whom I have been involved in ministry, people who have allowed me to become part of their lives, people who have made it easy for me to see God at work every day.
My experience last evening with this young family of our parish was just such a grace-filled occasion. I have had the privilege of being with this family at some critical times in their lives. Last night, we reminisced about some of these times. Then, before I left to go home, the husband shared a story that I did not know. He told me about how, four years ago, it was a strange thing to have a woman come to this parish. He said that at first, he simply ignored me, from times when he saw me in Dominick’s to times when I made announcements in church. He admitted to being “somewhat of a male chauvinist.” But then he told me what it was like for him the first time he and his wife came in to see me and I said that I recognized them from being at Mass. The husband told me that this simple but personal contact began a process for him of becoming more open to getting to know me. He told me that since that time, I have made a real difference in their lives. He also told me that he is a changed person because he has learned from this experience not to ever again ignore or close himself off to others.
What a lesson he gave me in Christian discipleship! I know that he gave me a compliment. But his willingness to make himself vulnerable in sharing his feelings with me allowed me the opportunity to witness God at work in his life. This was a spiritual experience for me – one as powerful as any retreat or sermon could be. God was right there, front and center, looking me in the face as this man told his story.
I will not be dwelling in these pages on the fact that I will be leaving in June but I wanted to acknowledge it so that it doesn’t become the elephant in the room. It is a sad thing for me to think of leaving but I want you to know that this ministry has brought me more joy than you could ever know. I also hope to enjoy many more grace-filled moments with you in the time remaining for me here. Thank you for sharing your lives with me. I thank God for you and for being present to me through you.
Dr. Mary, Pastoral Life Coordinator
Parish News
CCW MOTHER’S DAY TRIBUTE
mqh respect Life Committee will be selling carnations to honor the nurturing women in our lives (mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters, cousins, friends). The carnations will be placed at Mary’s statue in the Gathering Place for Mother’s Day, May 11th.
Carnations can be purchased for $1.00 each. Order sheets will be available the weekend of April 26th and 27th. A member of CCW will be in the church vestibule after all the Masses to accept orders at that time, or during the weekend of May 3rd and 4th.
The names of all those being honored will be published in an insert in our parish bulletin the weekend of Mother’s Day, May 10th and May 11th.
EUCHARISTIC ADORATION
During a recent Q&A session with priests in Rome, this is what our Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI had to say about eucharistic adoration: “Thanks be to God that after the Second Vatican Council, after a period in which the sense of eucharistic adoration was somewhat lacking, the joy of this adoration was reborn everywhere in the Church, as we saw and heard at the Synod on the Eucharist.
We have now discovered that without adoration as an act consequent to Communion received, this center that the Lord gave to us – that is, the possibility of celebrating his sacrifice and this of entering into a sacramental, almost corporeal, communion with him – loses its depth as well as it human richness.”
All are invited to come and spend some time with Our Lord during our next day of Eucharistic Adoration, Monday, May 5, 2008 from 9 AM to 7 PM. Spend time in quiet in memorized prayer, meditative prayer, reading the scriptures, etc.. The day of adoration and prayer closes with Benediction at 7:00 PM. You are invited to join us any time during the day, as well as for Benediction. We are in need of people to sign up for an hour of adoration, especially the 12 PM hour. Please see the large sign-up poster in the back of church.
Women Doctors of the Church:
St. Catherine, St. Teresa, and
St. Therese
As part of a year-long celebration of Women in the Church/Bible, the Adult Education and Spirituality Committee is proud to present Father David Simpson, who will discuss the Women Doctors of the Church: St. Catherine, St. Teresa, and St. Therese. Fr.currently serves as the Commissary Provincial of the Midwest Region of the Carmelite Province based in Darien, Illinois. The presentation will be at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 6 in Barrett Hall. All interested men and women are invited. For further information, contact the Church office at 630-279-5700.
Youth group news
Wings to Heaven
6-8 pm
May 4th
May 18th
All 4th - 8th graders join us May 18th for our welcome ice cream social..
DESTINY
May 7th 8 pm
May 18th 8:30 am
any confirmed 8th graders are welcome to join our high school meetings.
reminder to get your permission slips in for the youth leadership conference
june 27th- june 29th
last and certainly not least a very special thank you to all those that helped with our lock in. It was a HUGE success.
Katie and Dan Connelly, Mary and Stephie Japczyk, Sophie Armengol, Kathleen McCall, Sam Caskey, Dani Deboni, Brittany Biggs, Bridget McGing, Gloria Martinez, Jake Zielinski, Anna Stasica, Marisa Stefani, Katie Converse, Rachel and Jessie Rodgriguez,
Kerstyn Jankovec,Katie Mueller, David Gusloff , Marie McCall. Jerry Cote, Susan Huster, Tom Gusloff, Terri Kevil
Thanks to all of them for giving so generously of their time.
mUSIC MINISTRY
If you would like to participate in the Music Ministry, please see Interim Music Director/Pianist Tim Barton or call 847-223-0760.
RCIa Missing Photos
Whoever took down the RCIA bulletin board, please return the photos. We need those for our next bulletin board and eventually they are placed in our RCIA album. It is time now to create a post-Easter bulletin board so please return the pictures ASAP to Dr. Mary Foley, Mimi Wolak or Tom Nanak. Thank you!
A Vocation View
That Jesus rose from the dead is our Faith. That we can be reborn in the Spirit is our Hope. That we can do God’s work is our Love. Follow God’s Call.
Christian Education Commission
MARY QUEEN OF HEAVEN PRESCHOOL
OPEN HOUSE SCHEDULE
Wednesday, May 14, 2008 6:00p.m.-8:00p.m.
SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE Please call the Preschool for information. Become a part of our growing school. Schedule a visit, meet the teacher, come “Light the Way” with us.
The Preschool is accepting Registration for the 2008-2009 school year. We look forward to being able to serve your child and your family. We are offering Open Houses for those interested in visiting our classroom.
Please see our website at www.maryqueenpreschool.org and contact the school office for more information and registration. (630) 833-9500
Preschool tours scheduled upon request.
Religious Education News
Religious Education Registration
We are taking registrations for the 2008-2009 RE year. If you did not receive one or know someone who needs one, please call the RE office. We encourage everyone to return his or her forms before the end of the school year to insure your choice of session time. Be aware that our Kindergarten and Pre School RE space is limited, so register early.
Please consider being a catechist.
Our more than 75 volunteer catechists, assistants, office helpers, etc. etc. are the backbone of our RE program. Please consider joining them. Our children depend on you to pass on our faith. Call the REO for details.
Mark your calendar:
Wednesday, April 30th - Please be aware that Gr. 5-8 at the 5:15 session will not meet for class. It is our hope that they all will join their fellow RE classmates at the evening session for the Food Drive.
Annual RE Food Drive – All RE students in Gr. 5-8 are invited to participate. They should gather in church at 6:50PM to be put into groups with their adult leaders and sent forth. Please be generous if you should see some our RE children at your door collecting food for the hungry.
This is our last session of the year. Thank you to all of our students, families, and staff for a wonderful year of faith sharing.
Thank you to all who helped with our First Communion and Confirmation Celebrations this past month. All 5 of the First Communions and our Confirmation celebration could not have taken place without the hard work of all of our catechists, office helpers, ministers, and musicians. You know who you are. You are much appreciated.
If you have any questions or need more information, please call Mary Ann Woods at the REO, 832-8962.
Christian Worship Commission
To pray for our sick is an important privilege of our parish family. Please call 630-279-5700 to have a name added to our list. A new listing will appear in bold face. When calling the parish office, please leave contact information and your relationship to the person. Names will remain on the prayer list for four weeks. Contact the parish office to renew the individual’s name on our prayer list. We hope that you will pray for these persons every day.
David Francetic Robert Restivo
REST IN PEACE
Dr. Jose Alonso
Christian Service Committee
PEACE AND JUSTICE COMMITTEE
Catholic Perspectives on Immigration and Justice
Five principles governing the Church’s response to
public policy relating to immigration:
1. Persons have the right to find opportunities in their homeland to work and support their families in dignity and safety. In public policy terms, efforts should be made to address global economic inequalities through just trade practices, economic development, and debt relief. Peacemaking efforts should be advanced to end conflicts which force persons to flee their homes.
2. Persons have the right to migrate to support themselves and their families when there are just reasons for it. While not absolute, this right applies when migrants are forced by rampant poverty or political unrest to leave their homes out of necessity and seek only to survive and support their families.
3. Sovereign nations have a right to control their borders in the service of the common good of their citizens. However, this right also is not absolute. Powerful economic nations have an obligation to the universal common good and should seek to accommodate migration to the greatest extent possible. Where labor demands attract foreign workers, an immigration policy is required that will enable persons to enter the nation legally, safely and in a dignified manner to obtain jobs and reunite with family members.
4. Refugees and asylum seekers should be afforded protection when forced by political unrest to leave their homes for fear of death or harm.
5. The human rights and the human dignity of undocumented migrants should be respected, whether they have entered the nation without proper authorization or have over-stayed their visas. Such persons should not be detained in deplorable conditions, shackled, or abused in any manner. They should not be blamed for the social ills of a nation.
Prepared by Mary Ann Reed for the Peace and Justice Committee and based on information obtained from justiceforimmigrants.org, the Catholic Campaign for Immigration Reform or the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Diocesan News
2008 Catholic Ministries
Annual Appeal
Diocese of Joliet
Your pledge continues the good work of the Catholic Church in seven counties that comprise our diocese. We ask that you give prayerful consideration to making the most generous gift you can. Please make your gift today.
Community News
MASS OF THE ANGELS
A Memorial Mass to remember
children who have died and
infants who have died through
miscarriage or stillbirth.
Friday, May 9, 2008.
Immaculate Conception Church
134 Arthur St., Elmhurst
(2nd building west of York Rd. &
3 blocks north of St. Charles Rd.)
7:30 p.m. Mass
Reception following
All families and individuals are welcome to attend this Mass in remembrance of children who have died. A special ceremony will take place for family members to commemorate the lives of their loved ones. Elizabeth Ministry volunteers will assist in hosting the event. All are welcome.
This Mass is sponsored by the Elmhurst Elizabeth Ministry. If you have any questions, please contact Diana Brown, 630/ 833-5269.
Mass for the Feast of St. Peregrine, the cancer saint, will be celebrated Sunday, May 4 at 2:00pm at the National Shrine of St. Peregrine, Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica. Persons with cancer and others seeking healing will be invited to come individually for a blessing with a relic of St. Peregrine at the conclusion of Mass. Our Lady of Sorrows is located in Chicago at 3121 West Jackson Blvd., adjacent to I-290, the Eisenhower Expressway. There is ample, secure parking at the rear of the Basilica. For more information, call 773-638-5800, ext. 19.
Mass for the Feast of St. Peregrine, the cancer saint, will be celebrated Sunday, May 4 at 2:00pm at the National Shrine of St. Peregrine, Our Lady of Sorrows Basilica. Persons with cancer and others seeking healing will be invited to come individually for a blessing with a relic of St. Peregrine at the conclusion of Mass. Our Lady of Sorrows is located in Chicago at 3121 West Jackson Blvd., adjacent to I-290, the Eisenhower Expressway. There is ample, secure parking at the rear of the Basilica. For more information, call 773-638-5800, ext. 19.
Mary Queen of Heaven
|
Ministry Schedule |
Saturday, May 3, 2008 |
Sunday, May 4, 2008 |
|
|
|
5:00 PM |
8:30 AM |
10:30 AM |
|
Presider |
TBA |
Fr. Enright |
Fr. Don Blaeser |
|
Lector |
K. Passarelli |
R. Wilkes |
F. Tremmel |
|
Eucharistic Ministers |
Dr. M. Foley D. StaRosa (S) K. Diggins (C) S. Pingatore M. Reed |
Dr. M. Foley K. Passarelli (S) T. Sabel (C) T. Nanak D. Bernstein |
Dr. M. Foley J. Eichorst (S) P. Mason (C) J. Spears D. Styka R. Styka |
|
Altar Servers |
J. Simon M. Bourke |
V. Maple J. Alonso |
K. Pierzchala M. Japczyk |
MASS INTENTIONS FOR THE WEEK
Sunday, April 27, 2008
8:30 AM + Joyce Smiss
10:30 AM + Steve Cleary
Monday, April 28, 2008
8:30 AM People of the Parish
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
8:30 AM Communion Service
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
8:30 AM + Deceased members of the
Parish
Thursday, May 1, 2008
8:30 AM Communion Service
Friday, May 2, 2008
8:30 AM People of the Parish
Saturday, May 3, 2008
8:30 AM Communion Service
5:00 PM + Deceased members of the
Parish
Sunday, May 4, 2008
8:30 AM People of the Parish
10:30 AM + Elizabeth Lundgren
+ indicates person is deceased
Use GoodSearch search engine & earn money for MQH!
Enter www.goodsearch.com for web site.
Type “Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Church” into the
“I support” box, & click “verify”. Continue your search.
Gospel Reflection
"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate to be with you always, the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot accept, because it neither sees nor knows him. But you know him, because he remains with you, and will be in you." - Jn 14:15-17
Readings for the Week of April 27, 2008
Sunday: Acts 8:5-8, 14-17/1 Pt 3:15-18/Jn 14:15-21
Monday: Acts 16:11-15/Jn 15:26-16:4a
Tuesday: Acts 16:22-34/Jn 16:5-11
Wednesday: Acts 17:15, 22-18:1/Jn 16:12-15
Thursday: (Easter Weekday) Acts 18:1-8/Jn 16:16-20
Friday: Acts 18:9-18/Jn 16:20-23
Saturday: 1 Cor 15:1-8/Jn 14:6-14
Next Sunday: Ascension of the Lord: Acts 1:1-11/Eph 1:17-23/Mt 28:16-20
Collection total for Sunday,
April 20, 2008
amounted to $6839.24
Thank you for your support.
ParishPay
Making it Easier to Give
Please consider this option when choosing how to best support our Parish Family at Mary Queen of Heaven. Contact www.parishpay.com, or call 866-PARISH-1 for further information.
“God loves a cheerful giver”