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
The GATHERING, a small faith community here at Mary Queen
of Heaven is offering you a valuable resource for spiritual
growth and parish community development. We have purchased a
license for an Internet publication from Celebration-the e-
Series. It is called Parish Life. We have a subscription for one
year from 11/05. Our license allows all parishioners to receive
this monthly Internet publication with a one-time registration
using our parish code. Our code is 502308.
Go to www.celebrationeseries.org and click the Parishioner-
Participant E-mail Registration button to register with our code
to receive the monthly publication.
Once you have registered, you will be notified by e-
mail each month when the publication is available. No passwords
are necessary. (Please refrain from distributing the code to
persons who are not members of this parish.) If you have
questions about or problems with registration, the Web site
www.celebrationeseries.org will direct you. (Note the "e" in the
title)
Catholic Charities, in Lombard
Volunteer Opportunity
Would you like to positively impact someone's life? Do you
have 1 to 2 hours each week you can spare? Volunteer help is
needed to help our transitional housing department with client
files and to check the transitional housing voicemail box and
return calls as needed. Hours and days vary based upon your
availability. Please call Jane Tyschenko at (630) 495-8008, ext
15.
Market Day
Orders for February are due Monday, February 13, at noon.
Turn in your order form in the box at the back of church or at
the rectory. Pickup on Saturday, February 18, from 9:30 - 10:30
a.m. in the Social Hall.
If you have questions or would like to place an order,
please call Maria at 279-2238 or Karen at 279-4108.
Fellowship Sunday
February 19th after 10:30 Mass
Hosted by our Eucharistic Ministers.
All are invited to come and visit with fellow parishioners
and enjoy some light refreshments.
50th Anniversary Celebration
Mary Queen of Heaven's 50th Anniversary Celebration begins
Sunday, April 2 at the 10:30 a.m. Mass. Bishop Imesch will be
the principal celebrant and a very special liturgy is planned to
mark 50 years of spiritual growth. Following the Mass all are
invited to Barrett Hall for Fellowship and the opportunity to
visit rooms in the school building, which will contain
memorabilia from the past and also the present.
The Anniversary Committee meets every two weeks planning
and working on a calendar of events that will carry us through to
April 2007. Much help and many hands are needed to work on the
various events that are scheduled, and we invite you to attend a
meeting and see where you could offer your expertise. Our next
meeting is Tuesday, February 21 at 7:30 p.m. in Barrett Hall.
We are still looking for help in these particular areas:
1. Memorabilia from the past (pictures, booklets, newspaper
articles, video's, etc.). Perhaps you can recall an event or
a series of events from the past and would like to share them.
May we suggest that you write your thoughts down, contact
either Sheila or Ellen at the numbers listed below and someone
will be happy to stop by and pick them up. In addition to
having items for people to read or look at in the Memorabilia
Room(s), we would like to put some of your stories in the
bulletin.
2. Names and addresses of previous parishioners or school alumni
are extremely important so we can invite them to our.
celebration on April 2 and the other events scheduled
throughout the year. For more information or questions:
contact Sheila Reiter 833-6657 or Ellen Walker 279-4021.
3. A 50th Anniversary Cookbook with best recipes from MQH
parishioners is planned. Recipes should be carefully printed
or typed and checked for accuracy. Recipe forms are available
in the vestibule of church. They can be placed in the basket
in the vestibule or sent to the rectory to the attention of
Mary Nanak or Ellen Walker. We thank you for your
participation in this project and if you have any questions,
please call Mary (530-4502) or Ellen (279-4021).
Diocesan News
St. Charles Borromeo
School Registrations
Do you have a child entering Kindergarten through Eighth
grade in the 2006-2007 year? St. Charles Borromeo School is
currently accepting registrations. St. Charles Borromeo
inspires academic excellence and spiritual growth in a nurturing
environment, fostering the traditions of Catholic worship and
Christian behavior. St. Charles Borromeo offers full day
Kindergarten, after school care, as well as many other great
programs. The school is located on the Elmhurst/Bensenville
border at 145 East Grand Avenue. Please call the school office
at 766-0116 for more information or to arrange a tour of the
school.
Joliet Diocese Catholic
Charismatic Healing Mass
Friday, February 18; Mass at 7:30 p.m.
Sacrament of Reconciliation - 6:30 p.m.
Father Mike Lane, Presider
St. Joseph Catholic Church, Downers Grove
For information, please call 630-964-0216
Marriage Ministry
We're still newlyweds!
Come meet the neighbors! The Marriage Ministry is planning
the first of our double-date nights for Saturday, February 18, at
7:30 p.m. All married couples are invited to come. We will be
meeting in Barrett Hall where couples will be selected by chance
to go to dinner together. It is an opportunity to meet new
couples in our parish community and perhaps get to know some
better. The only cost is your dinners and that will be
determined by you. So come and meet your neighbors!
Plans for the future: Dinner-theater night, talks by
marriage counselors, moonlight picnic, 50+ anniversary Mass, 10
great date nights. For more information or to join the Marriage
Ministry, please contact Don or Ellen Walker at 630-279-4021.
Christian Service Commission
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, alone or as a family. Thank you.
Pam Bondfide Heather Brennan
Katherine Brennan Kathleen Bryers
Doresa Brugler Pat Caffarelli
Rose Caffarelli Kathy Calzante
Dennis Ciancio Cosmore Ciancio
Family of Cynthia Catalano Paul Cirone
Rhonda Colletti Margaret Conroy
Baby Samantha Dobrowolski Trudi Dolato
Dino Fuggitti Anna Heffel
Jen Huwalt Tom Huwalt
Pat Holmes Michelle Humann
Maureen James Tom Janicke
Richard Johnson Irene Kmieciak
Bernadette Kohn Tim Kowalski
Baby Emma Lynde Robert Manion
Bobbi Nannini Geri Pstrzoch
Baby Faith Reid Jess Smith
Karen Sutkus Cathy Ward
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.
Christian Worship Commission
Bishop Blanchette Scholarship
(Sponsored by the Joliet Diocese of Catholic Women)
Planning on attending a Catholic High School? Please
consider applying for this scholarship. To be eligible, a
candidate must be Catholic, have a minimum scholastic average of
C+ and have need of financial assistance.
All applications must be received by February 17 to be
considered. If you are interested, please call Diane Bernstein
at 279-7252 for additional details.
Free Adoption Information Meeting
Children all over the world are in need of a loving family.
Have you recently considered adoption? Not sure where to start?
Sunny Ridge Family Center invites you at attend a free China
Adoption Information Meeting on Tuesday, February 21, at 7:00
p.m. The meeting will be held at Sunny Ridge Family Center, 2S
426 Orchard Road, Wheaton IL. Come learn about children available
from China and the requirements and process for adopting.
Sunny Ridge is licensed as a child welfare agency by the
Illinois Dept. of Child & Family Services ID#019976 and is a
nonprofit agency serving children and building families through
adoption. For more information or to register for the free
meeting, please call Sunny Ridge at 630-668-5117 ext. 228 or
visit our website at www.sunnyridge.org
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
RCIA Update!
Last week another gentleman joined our weekly sessions of
the RCIA as an Inquirer. He is searching his heart to determine
if this is the right time for him to begin his journey towards
full initiation into the Catholic Church. On Sunday, March 5,
the parish will witness Kyle Nannini, our Catechumen, experience
the Rite of Election at the 10:30 Mass. At this time Kyle will
make his final commitment requesting all of the Sacraments of
Initiation at the Easter Vigil.
The RCIA Team is always in the need of others who are
willing to share their faith experiences as faith companions,
sponsors or leaders. Please search your own hearts to determine
if you are being called to such service. Being part of the RCIA
experience is a wonderful way to learn more about your faith,
understand scripture and how to apply God's word in your own
life.
If you are interested in being part of the RCIA on any
level, please call Mimi Wolak at 941-3851.
Identity Theft
The City of Elmhurst and the Senior Citizens Commission is
sponsoring informative seminars on Saturday, February 18th and
25th at 10:00 a.m. at City Hall on the subject of identity theft.
Learn how identity thieves can obtain your personal information
and how it is used. Learn who the victims of identify theft are.
Know that everyone can be the target of identify theft. The
speaker is Cheryl Channic, Financial Education Coordinator, State
of Illinois. Call 630-306-7077 to reserve seating. Space is
limited!
Mother McAuley
50th Anniversary Weekend
Saturday, February 25, 6-11 p.m.
A fun-filled evening with Food, Entertainment, Art Exhibit and
Auction
Sunday, February 26, Noon
Mass, Tea and "Why we Tell the Story"
theatre presentation
All events at: Mother McAuley, 3737 W. 99th St., Chicago
$25 Weekend Ticket ($35 at the door)
Tickets available at
www.mothermcauley.org or 773-881-6565
O Holy Night CD's Are Here!
The Music Ministry's live recording of the Christmas Eve
Concert, "O Holy Night," will be distributed before and after the
Masses on the weekends of February 18/19 and February 25/26. We
will have two tables set up in the vestibule. One will be for
the distribution of preordered CD's. The other table will have
CD's for sale for $12.00 each.
Religious Education News
Are you being called to be a catechist? It is never too
early to start thinking about being a catechist for the 2006/2007
RE year. With our ever-growing enrollment, each year the need for
catechists increases.
Every year there are catechists who cannot return for one
reason or another. I am sure that this year will be no different.
So if you have always wondered what goes on in the building after
you drop your children off, this is the perfect time to stop by
and say hi. Remember you don't have to be a theologian; you just
have to love children, love your faith and want to share it. We
are looking forward to hearing from you.
Mark your calendar:
Saturday, Feb. 18 - Market Day in the Social Hall - 9:30AM-
10:30AM
Wednesday, Mar. 1 - Ash Wednesday - No Regular Class - Parents
are to bring their children for a distribution of Ashes
Service at 4:00PM in Church or for Mass in the evening.
If you have any questions or need more information, please call
Mary Ann Woods at the REO, 832-8962.
Diocese of Joliet
February 5, 2006
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
I deeply regret the pain and embarrassment that you
have experienced from the media reports these past days.
Those reports concerned a six-hour deposition I gave
several months ago about a number of instances of sexual
abuse by priests of the Joliet Diocese. Most of what you
have read or heard happened more than 20 years ago and had
already been reported in the newspapers.
When the actions of these priests were reported to me,
I realized that the behavior was inappropriate. Whether or
not there were any police investigations, all priests who
were accused of inappropriate behavior were immediately
interviewed and received professional treatment or left
ministry.
The actions of those priests happened before
psychologists recognized that behavior of that kind was
indicative of a severe problem that could not be adequately
treated. I relied heavily on the judgment of professional
therapists when they concluded that a priest was fit for
return to ministry. Some priests were recommended for
restricted ministry. Some of these carried out their
responsibilities well and did so with the commendation of
their supervisors.
Despite undergoing treatment and receiving approval
for ministry, other priests repeated inappropriate
behavior. When this was later learned, they were removed
from ministry.
Years ago, I would never have returned a priest into
ministry if I had not been assured by professional
therapists that he was ready to return. Today, if any
priest is accused of inappropriate conduct, the States
Attorney's Office is notified and the matter is referred to
the Diocesan Review Committee. The priest will be
permanently removed from ministry when the allegation is
found credible.
I deeply regret the harm that has been caused to
victims and the pain and embarrassment that many of you
have experienced. The media reports tend to portray me as
someone who doesn't care about the safety of children.
Nothing could be further from the truth. I became a priest
because I care. All of us can look back on our lives and
find things we should have done differently. At the time
our action proceeded from our own best judgment, though in
later years it is clear that other decisions should have
been made. Any decision I made was according to my best
judgment at the time.
I want to express my sincere apology to all who have
suffered abuse from priests. I deeply regret any damage
that was done to you and want to assist with your recovery.
If others have been abused and have not as yet come
forward, please contact our Victim Assistance Coordinator,
Sister Mary Frances Seeley, OSF, so that healing can begin.
All of us have learned a difficult and painful lesson
from this experience. For my part, I promise to do whatever
I can to see that the past is not repeated.
Sincerely in Christ,
Most Reverend Joseph L. Imesch
Bishop of Joliet
Catholic Construction Corps of the Diocese
of Joliet
Katrina Recovery Mission trip to Bayou La Batre,
Alabama
Jan. 9 - Jan. 13, 2006
Before We Went
We learned about this mission opportunity at the Peace and
Justice committee meeting of our parish on November 10, 2005. We
attended an information meeting at the St. Charles Center in
Romeoville on November 17.
Vern Witte welcomed a group of potential volunteers at this
Nov. 17 meeting with handouts and an overview of the needs of the
victims of Katrina. We joined the group which volunteered for
the week of Jan. 9-13. We discussed transportation arrangements,
what to bring, scope of work, and hammered Vern with numerous
questions. Mary Alice Steck, formerly of our parish, was one of
the volunteers.
A variety of thoughts went through our minds...would
Rosalie (age 76) and I (age 77) be able to do the tasks assigned
to us, so much to do to get ready, check with our doctors to make
sure we have had the right immunizations, etc. We knew that we
needed to pray for safe passage of all the volunteers to Alabama.
By early January some volunteers decided to depart on
Saturday, Jan. 7, stay overnight at a motel and finish the trip
on Sunday; while others departed very early on Sunday morning,
January 8. All arrived safely by dinner time on Sunday evening
at the Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS) site in Bayou La Batre,
located on the Gulf coast some 30 miles southwest of Mobile. AL.
Mennonite Disaster Service is a faith-based agency that
responds to disasters by providing volunteer labor for cleanup,
repair and reconstruction of homes. MDS places special emphasis
on helping low-income families, single parents, the elderly and
the disabled.
Volunteers Repaired Homes and Restored Hope
Our diocese provided 13 of the total group of 43
volunteers, while MDS provided the housing and meals for the
volunteers. Bob Weichman, director of the MDS site, oriented the
group to the work to be done. He charged us with the
responsibility of befriending the homeowners with whom we might
have contact. He put it more bluntly, "building relationships is
as important as the work to be done."
While the houses and other structures along the waterfront
were heavily damaged, the homes in the little town of Bayou La
Batre and in the surrounding area (away from the coast) suffered
mainly rain and wind damage. Homeowners who couldn't afford
insurance coverage or lacked resources due to poverty had been
required to apply for assistance.
We were divided according to our construction skills and
assigned to one of the six crews of varying sizes depending on
the task to be tackled. Volunteers stripped torn-up asphalt
singles from roofs and laid down new shingles. They repaired
minor structural damage to homes, replaced damaged drywall
panels, and installed new or repaired damaged windows.
A typical day was scheduled as follows: Up at 6 o'clock,
pack our own lunches at 6:30, breakfast at 7, gather tools and
equipment and depart for work site in MDS trucks by 8:15, arrive
at work site by 8:45, break at 10, lunch at 12 noon, afternoon
break at 2, terminate workday at 4:30. Back at MDS by 5 in time
to shower and relax before dinner which was served at 6. While
this was the schedule, crew chiefs and various circumstances
modified the schedule as needed.
Devotions were held every morning after breakfast. Grace
was said before breakfast and dinner. Volunteers were solicited
to help with kitchen/dining room clean-up in the evening. It
would be a serious oversight if we failed to compliment the cooks
who prepared delicious, wholesome meals. They made sure we were
well-fed at each meal.
After dinner, a member of each crew was invited to report
on the work day. These reports reflected the pride and
accomplishments of each crew. The friendly rivalry between the
crews generated much humor and laughter. It was obvious that
members of each crew enjoyed the camaraderie and fellowship of
working together.
After We Returned Home
We were tired, but happy to be home again. Most of all, we
were and are thankful for the opportunity to reach out to these
people in their need. Also, we were amazed at all the people who
were involved in this project and the love, cooperation, and
dedication of all of the volunteers who came from various parts
of Canada and the U.S. They represented various faith traditions:
Catholic, Baptist, Lutheran, Mennonite, Presbyterian. Our
gratitude extends to our Diocese of Joliet and to Bishop Imesch
for providing these outreach opportunities.
We hope that members of our parish will read this article
and volunteer to participate in this mission to the victims of
Katrina. YOU are needed!! Phone Vern Witte at 630-882-8919 for
more information. If you have any questions about our experience
call Rosalie and Milt Honel at 630-279-7086.
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