For all children, women, and men who have been
affected by sexual abuse, may they seek the help and
justice they deserve and may we do everything we can
to help with their healing...;
For all of those who have sexually abused other persons,
may they have genuine sorrow for the wounds they have inflicted and may
they be prevented from ever
harming another person...;
For parents, friends, religious leaders, and others who
have failed to recognize the signs that sexual abuse
was occurring, may they forgive themselves and
receive the forgiveness of others...;
For any who have purposefully protected perpetrators
and allowed sexual abuse to continue, may they realize
fully the guilt they share, take responsibility for the consequences of
their behavior, and do penance...;
Let us pray to the Lord...
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
Many of you know that I was away for the last two weeks in Germany. For the first 9 days, I was staying on retreat at the Benedictine Abbey of St. Scholastica, in Dinklage. For the rest of the second week, I stayed at the diocesan seminary in Munster, where I visited a friend and spent most of my time writing a chapter of my doctoral thesis. I was pretty secluded during my time away and was not aware of all of the media attention directed at our bishop and others over the subject of sexual abuse by priests. It was not until last Sunday evening that parishioners began sharing with me the news clippings and editorials that I had missed.
I cannot serve in leadership for our parish and our church without acknowledging these things. My first response is in the form of the prayer I have written above, which was included in the prayers of the faithful for all of the Masses this weekend. I would like to take some prayerful time before writing more on the subject. For now, I hope that everyone will share in this prayer with me. I also want you to know of the sorrow I feel for those who have been victims of any kind of sexual abuse and for the great hurt that has been experienced within our church because of clergy sexual abuse. I know the deep injury suffered when someone is sexually abused. As a mother, I also share in something that only parents can fully understand: the fierce, passionate, protective love of our children. As a leader of our church, I believe that we are going through a painful but powerful time of purification. As a minister for the church of Joliet, I both call upon our diocesan leadership to be accountable and I also offer our bishop my loving and prayerful support. I will write more on this subject at a future time.
I would like to share with you some of my experience in Germany. I will take more than one week to do this because I believe I have received gifts from this experience that are meant to be shared. Some of this involves important learning about history of our church in that part of the world. Some involves a desire to share part of my spiritual journey which may be an aid to others.
To begin, I would like to tell you how it came to be that I stayed at the Benedictine Abbey in Dinklage this year. It is a story that will take some time to finish. It began last year, when I visited my friend who is the rector of the seminary in Munster.
It was then that my learning first began, as I became more aware of the campus upon which the seminary rests. The educational system is very different in Germany. Religious education (Catholic and Protestant) takes place in public schools, even in higher education. The diocesan seminary, cathedral, and bishop's residence are all situated on the same campus of the secular university, which has both a Catholic divinity school and a Lutheran divinity school, places where future clergy and lay ministers study together. Some of the most important Catholic theologians of the last century have taught at this university in Munster. They have included Joseph Ratzinger (now Pope Benedict XVI), Karl Rahner, and Walter Kasper (who is now a Cardinal and the highest ranking ecumenical officer of the Church, serving as President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity). In addition, Edith Stein served on the faculty of this university, a position unusual for a woman of her time. Edith Stein was a Jewish philosopher who converted to Catholicism and became a Carmelite nun (Sister Teresa Benedicta of the Cross). Her conversion happened in Munster. She was canonized as a saint of the Church in 1998.
Across the street from the seminary is the Cathedral of Munster. As you go inside the doors, you first enter into a large enclosed space. On one wall are portraits of a number of people connected to the city of Munster who have been named saints of the Church or are in the process of canonization. This in itself - there are probably eight portraits in all - is an astounding sight. You are immediately aware that there is something very holy about this city. One of those pictured there is Edith Stein. Another is Cardinal August Clemens von Galen. Little did I know as I stood before his portrait last February that he would be beatified by the Church in October of last year. It was Cardinal von Galen who really brought me to the Abbey this year and I will tell you more about this story next week.
Mary Foley, Pastoral Life Coordinator
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.
Christ the King Parish
Welcomes TV Star, Frank Runyeon
For two presentations:
1. Sermon on the Mount
2. Hollywood Vs. Faith
Wednesday, February 22, at 6:30 p.m.
1501 S. Main Street, Lombard
A free-will offering will be taken up
For more information, please contact
Eileen Maggiore at -629-1717, ext 15.
Knights of Columbus
Pancake Breakfast
Join us for a pancake breakfast on Sunday, February 26,
2006 at 7:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. at Knights of Columbus Hall,
537 S. York Rd. Cost of the breakfast is $8.00 per person.
Proceeds from the breakfast will be donated to needy families.
CCW MEETING
The monthly CCW Board Meeting will be held at the home of
Mary Hagerty, 307 Highland Avenue on Tuesday, February, 28, at
7:30 p.m. All women of the parish are invited to attend.
For additional information or if you have any questions
call Mary Connelly at 782-7626.
Parish News
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 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 is planned with best recipes from
MQH parishioners. 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, call Mary (530-
4502) or Ellen (279-4021).
Fellowship Today
Sunday, February 19, after 10:30 Mass
Hosted by our Eucharistic Ministers.
All are invited to come and visit with fellow parishioners
and enjoy some light refreshments.
Council of Catholic Women
"Woman of the Year" Nominations
Nominations for Mary Queen of Heaven "Woman of the Year"
will be held the weekend of March 4/5. Nominations slips will be
distributed in the pews. All ladies, ages 18 and older, will be
asked to nominate a woman they feel leads a life of faith and
love and who has given generously of her time and talent to the
various ministries and organizations in our parish. They will
also be asked to give a reason why they feel their nominee should
be chosen. To be eligible for the "Woman of the Year," nominees
must be MQH parishioners, not on the parish staff, over 18 years
of age, and not have held the title in the last 10 years. The
following weekend, March 11/12, information on the nominees will
appear in the bulletin to assist you in electing the "Woman of
the Year."
The election for the "Woman of the Year" will be held the
weekend of March 18/19. The lady chosen will be invited to the
28th Annual "Woman of the Year" Mass and Luncheon on Saturday,
April 29, at the Cathedral of St. Raymond and will be honored at
our "Ladies Night Out" dinner in June. Please pray and think
about this and be prepared to make your nomination on March 4/5.
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.
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
Rest in Peace: Ronald Adams and Martha Lassa
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.
Forty Years of Dialogue:
The Catholic Church and Ecumenical and Interreligious
Relations
In the current atmosphere of Christian fundamentalism in
the United States and Islamic influences worldwide, Catholics are
confronted daily with issues relating to other Christian and Non-
Christian religions. Forty years ago, at the Second Vatican
Council, the Catholic bishops issued a Decree on Ecumenism that
promoted dialogue between Catholics and Christians of other
churches and ecclesiastical communities. The bishops also issued
a Declaration on the Relationship of the Church to Non-Christian
Religions. These documents have formed the basis for the Church's
positions and actions on these issues for the last 40 years.
The Adult Education and Spirituality Committee and the
Peace and Justice Committee proudly present Sr. Joan McGuire,
O.P., director of the Office for Ecumenical and Interreligious
Affairs in the Archdiocese of Chicago, who will provide an
overview of the implementation of these two historic documents
within the Catholic Church during the last 40 years.
The presentation will be in Barrett Hall on Tuesday, March
7, at 7:00 p.m. Please contact the Church office, 279-5700, or
Dick Reed, 834-4840, if you have any questions. All are welcome.
Katrina Recovery Information
To MQH parishioners: The Catholic Construction Corps
project of our Diocese is soliciting volunteers to participate in
helping to repair homes damaged by the Katrina hurricane. Our
parish Peace and Justice Committee has been given the
responsibility of coordinating our parish efforts.
All trips are for one week. In most cases we will be
traveling on Saturday and Sunday and returning on Saturday and
Sunday.
The dates given below are inclusive of travel days:
1st trip: March 4 to March 12 to MDS (Mennonite Disaster
service) work site in Newton, TX
2nd trip: March 25 to April 2 to MDS work site in Atmore, AL
(Ivan hurricane)
3rd trip: April 25 to May 7 in St. Ann parish in Lakeshore, MS
4th trip: May 6 to May 13 in New Iberia, LA (This trip abuts
Mother's Day on May 14. The team may want to leave on Friday
p.m. to arrive home for Mother's Day.
For more information or to volunteer, please contact Jan
Alexander at 782-6065.
M.O.M.S
(Moms Offering Moms Support)
Elmhurst Catholic M.O.M.S. is a social and spiritual
organization that provides an opportunity for mothers of young
children from Elmhurst Catholic parishes to meet other mothers.
Bi-monthly meetings include a mother/child activity or a guest
speaker with babysitting provided. There are no membership fees
and everyone is welcome. M.O.M.S meets in Msgr. Plunkett Hall,
lower level of the Immaculate Conception chapel, Elmhurst from
9:30 to 11:00 a.m.
Bienvenidos! Join us on Thursday February 23, for a special
session of "Spanish Music & Movement" taught by Paula Berger, our
fully fluent bilingual instructor (and M.O.M.S. member!), as she
teaches us Spanish through interactive songs, exercises, and
games where children and moms will be encouraged to repeat simple
words. Wear comfortable clothes and join us on this Spanish
language adventure. Paula will focus on children two and under
from 9:30 - 10 and older kids from 10 - 10:30. The babysitting
room will be equipped with toys and open for use by moms and kids
who are not active in the session in progress. For more
information please contact Kelly at 630-833-7223.
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.
Thank you to all who made last weekend's Family Mass so
joyful. Our "Wings of Heaven" choir did an awesome job. Thank
you, Mrs. Maple, and all the young people who sing their little
hearts out. Our next Family Mass is Saturday, March 18, at 5:00
p.m. Mark your calendar.
Mark your calendar:
Wednesday, March 1 - Ash Wednesday - No Regular Class -
Parents are to bring their
children for a Distribution of
Ashes Service at 4:00 p.m. in
Church or for Mass in the
evening.
Saturday, March 18 - Confirmation Final Interviews - 9 a.m.
to Noon in school.
Saturday, March 18 - Family Mass at 5:00 p.m.
If you have any questions or need more information, please
call Mary Ann Woods at the REO, 832-8962.
L.O.S.S.
Up-Coming 10 Session Group
The L.O.S.S. (Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide)
Program provides services to those who are grieving a death by
suicide of a family member or close friend. Includes 8 weekly
sessions and 2 monthly follow-up meetings for the newly bereaved
and/or new members:
Wednesdays, April 5 thru May 31
June 7 and July 5
At Holy Spirit Church, in Naperville
We need at least 10 people signed up to convene a group.
Call 1-800-240-7011 to register. Deadline to register is March
29. L.O.S.S. is a program provided by Catholic Charities.
Lenten Retreat
Sponsored by Servants of the Holy Heart of Mary
Nazareth Retreat House
717 N. Batavia Avenue, in Batavia
All retreat weekends begin at 8:00 p.m. on Friday and end at 2:00
p.m. on Sunday. There are four weekend choices:
Friday, February 24 through Sunday, February 26
Friday, March 3 through Sunday March 5
Friday March 10 through Sunday March 12
Friday, March 17 through Sunday March 19
The suggested donation is $50.00.
For more information or to register,
please call Linda Isleib at 630-879-1296.
Make a Difference with Catholic Charities!
Catholic Charities Diocese of Joliet office in Lombard is
seeking to fill several key positions for its Development
Volunteer Committee. These volunteer positions include Public
Relations, a Fundraiser, an Event Planner and an Administrative
Assistant. The time commitment for each position is at least
eight hours per month.
Volunteers for each of these key positions should have
leadership and teamwork skills as well as good oral and written
communication skills. In addition to specific tasks associated
with each role, volunteers will be expected to attend monthly
meetings at the Catholic Charities office in Lombard, 26 W. St.
Charles Rd
For more information contact: Beth Traub (630) 378-5364 e-
mail QEITraub@aol.com, or Sue Iacovelli (630) 833-7345.
Rachel's Vineyard Retreat
A Rachel's Vineyard Retreat for post abortive men and
women, sponsored by the Joliet Diocesan Life Office is scheduled
for March 3-5, 2006 and September 22-24, 2006 and will be held at
the St. Charles Borromeo Pastoral Center, in Romeoville.
Confidentiality and privacy will be strictly observed. To
learn more about a Rachel's Vineyard Retreat or to register,
contact Kay Corcoran at 815-838-7171. For more information
and a list of retreats in other locations:
www.rachelsvineyard.org or call the toll free national hotline at
1-877-HOPE-4ME.
Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
April 23 - May 5, 2006
Led by Fr. Bob Colaresi, O. Carm.
We return to our spiritual home and reflect on the
scripture of our salvation. Starting in the Galilee, we visit
Mt. Carmel, Jaffa, Nazareth, Cana, Caesaria, Sea of Galilee,
Capharnaum, Mt. Of Beatitudes, Caesaria Philippi, Mt. Tabor,
Jerusalem, Mt. Of Olives, Bethlehem, Ein Karem, Way of the Cross,
Western Wall, Massada, Judean Wilderness, Ein Gedi and Emmaus.
A powerful experience into the heart of Christianity, the
life of Jesus, and our Jewish heritage. Cost: $3,275 (double
occupancy). For further information contact Darlene, Carmelite
Spiritual Center, 8433 Bailey Road, Darien IL 60561. Phone 630-
969-4141.
Benedictine University Best Buddies
5K Walk/Run for memorial scholarship
Saturday, March 4, at 9 a.m.
At Benet Academy Track in Lisle
Best Buddies International is a nonprofit organization
dedicated to enhancing the lives of people with intellectual
disabilities by providing opportunities for one-to-one
friendships.
The event cost is $15 and includes a commemorative T-shirt.
To participate in the event or to donate, please contact the
Benedictine University Best Buddies organization at
BenBestBuddies@yahoo.com.
Upcoming Parish Pastoral
Council Discernment
(Hold these dates!)
Planning for next is around the corner already! We will
begin discernment in March for next year's new members of the
Parish Pastoral Council. Keep in mind these important dates:
* Feb. 18-19 and Feb. 25-26: Detailed information about the
discernment process will appear in the bulletin.
* March 3-4: Current PPC members will speak at weekend Masses
about the discernment process.
* April 8-9 and April 15-16: Nominations taken at all weekend
Masses.
* Monday, April 24: Mandatory PPC orientation for those who
accept nomination.
* May or June: Mandatory discernment session for nominees who
wish to continue the process (date pending confirmation by
facilitator.
* June: Those who are discerned to serve the PPC attend their
first meeting of the council.