Mary Queen of Heaven Catholic Church
426 N. West Avenue
Elmhurst, Illinois 60126-2171
Parish Office: 630/279-5700
Fax: 630/279-4667
Call for Volunteers
S.T.E.P. Hunger Walk Event
Steps Toward Eliminating Poverty
Short-term committee work for an all ages event
Sunday, May 21, at Mary Queen of Heaven
What is S.T.E.P.? S.T.E.P., unlike other walks, includes
opportunities for prayer, education, advocacy and cultural
awareness.
Prayer: We will open our hearts to Christ who will guide us in
our efforts to assist those in need.
The Walk: Our walk is symbolic of walking with our brothers
and sisters who walk for miles everyday to survive.
Education: We will learn about global, national and local
poverty issues.
Advocacy: Advocacy involves working for justice. We will
learn how we (children to adults) can become proactive in
battling poverty and related issues. This will enable each
one of us to realize that Christ's compassion is active, not
passive.
Cultural awareness: Through music, food, art, videos and
displays, we will learn about cultures living in poverty and
promote awareness that we are created in "oneness" and in
Christ.
This event is a joint effort of MQH, IC and Visitation
parishes. Mary Queen is this year's sponsor.
If you would like to volunteer please call John Menarek at 834-
4075/email jmenarek@sbcglobal.net.
Parish News
Help the Homeless at PADS
Need help any of the following Sundays:
April 9, April 23, May 28
6:00 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. (that's right, a.m.)
Even if you can only make it one time,
your help is appreciated.
Two different locations: Elmhurst Presbyterian, and Salvation
Army-Oak Brook, near Summit and Butterfield
Call Debbie at 941-7224 and she can give you more
information. You will meet at least 1 or 2 people from Mary
Queen when you work at either site. The work is mainly cleaning
up after breakfast and putting away the bedding.
Religious Education News
You a Catechist? Why Not?
This is the perfect time to start thinking if you are
being called as a catechist in our Religious Education Program
next school year. Each year we lose a few catechists due to
moves, jobs, or maybe moving on to another ministry in the
parish. I'm sure this year will be no exception. Our sessions
currently meet on Wednesdays, 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. for Pre-school
through Grade 4, 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. for Pre-School to Grade 8 and
7:15 to 8:30 p.m. for Grades 5 through 8. So if you like the
little ones or maybe the junior high is where your interests lie,
please call for more information.
Your children deserve the very best....You!
Lenten Project
We are collecting items for Easter baskets, which will be
donated to Marillac House on Chicago's West Side. Each Wednesday
during Lent, there will be a "Basket" in the hall of the school
for donations of candy, small stuffed animals, grass, or other
items appropriate for a child's Easter basket. Please be
generous.
Mark Your Calendars:
Wednesday, March 29 - NO CLASS - Spring Break
Wednesday, April 5 - Class Resumes
Saturday, April 8 - First Communion Retreat
9-11 a.m., Social Hall
If you have questions or need more information, please call
Mary Ann Woods at the REO, 832-8962.
Christian Education Commission
Christian Worship 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.
Pam Bondfide Heather Brennan
Kathleen Bryers Doresa Brugler
Pat Caffarelli Rose Caffarelli
Kathy Calzante Dennis Ciancio
Family of Cynthia Catalano Cosmore Ciancio
Paul Cirone Rhonda Colletti
Margaret Conroy Trudi Dolato
Baby Samantha Dobrowolski Dino Fuggitti
Modesta Goggins Mary Hagerty
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 Raymond Mitchell
Bobbi Nannini Phyllis O'Donnell
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.
Lenten Food Collection
Our St. Vincent dePaul food collection will be held the
weekend of April 8 and 9. The food will be distributed to needy
families in our community for Easter.
We are collecting non-perishable items of canned
vegetables, fruit, soup, pastas, rice, spaghetti sauce, prepared
foods, coffee, tea, juice, boxed cake mixes, peanut butter,
jelly, paper products (Kleenex, toilet paper, paper towels), hand
soap, and laundry detergent. Boxes will be available in the
church vestibule to accept your donations.
If you have an hour or two to spare, we could use your help
sorting the food for the Easter Baskets on Sunday evening, April
9, at 7:00 p.m. in the church. Please call Sheila Reiter at 833-
6657 to offer your help.
Christian Service Commission
Easter Egg Hop-N-Grab
Saturday, April 15
The annual Parish Easter Egg Hop-N-Grab will be held at
11:30 a.m. after the Blessing of the Baskets. Children ages 1-10
with a parent or guardian are invited to join the event. There
will be treats, prizes, music & face painting; plus popcorn &
cotton candy for sale.
We are looking for volunteers ages 11 and up. This is a
great way to help out and have some fun; 8th graders can earn
service hours also. We would like prize donations for this
event. These can be candy, small items to fit into eggs or
larger ones for prizes such as jump ropes, sidewalk chalk,
coloring books etc. If you would like to volunteer or donate
items, please call Genet Pinkerton at 834-6521. There will be
donations boxes at school.
Enrich your Lenten Journey
Sign up for Eucharistic Adoration for Monday, April 3, 2006
from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 PM We are also in need of people who can
make a regular commitment to a time slot. If you are interested
or have any questions please call Kay Diggins at 630-530-7124 or
Renee Bladek at 630-832-1812.
CCW MEETING
The monthly CCW Board Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 28th
at :30 p.m. at the home of Diane Gornick, 284 Geneva Avenue. All
women of the parish are invited to attend. For more information
or if you have any questions call Mary Connelly at 782-7626.
CCW "Woman of the Year"
Congratulations to Mary Nanak who was chosen "Woman of the
Year" last Sunday. Mary will attend the 28th Annual Woman of the
Year Mass and luncheon on Saturday, April 29, at the Cathedral of
St. Raymond. She will also be honored at our "Ladies Night Out"
dinner in June.
DISCERNMENT PROCESS FOR NEW PARISH PASTORAL COUNCIL
MEMBERS
NOMINATIONS ACCEPTED APRIL 8-9 AND APRIL 15-16
Last year, our parish moved to a model of discernment, rather
than election, for Parish Pastoral Council members. This model
has advantages over elections because the focus is not on
choosing who is the most popularly known of the candidates.
Instead, an independent facilitator leads a prayerful process
which helps all who are involved discern who has the gifts most
needed for the Council at a particular time in the life of a
parish.
This year's process will begin during the weekend of April 8-9,
when representatives of the PPC will speak at weekend Masses
and nominations will be accepted for new members. Nominations
will also be accepted the weekend of April 15-16. All nominees
who would like to participate in the discernment process will
be required to attend an Orientation to the PPC on Monday,
April 24, at 7 p.m. The next step for nominees continuing in
the process will be required attendance at Discernment Day, to
be held on Saturday, June 17 from 9 a.m. to noon. During
Discernment Day, those present will prayerfully discern our new
PPC members. Some of the nominees may discover that they are
better suited to another particular ministry or to service on
one of the PPC Commissions. Those who are discerned as new PPC
members will attend their first PPC meeting on June 26 at 7
p.m. Please keep these dates in mind if you are nominated
because attendance is required at these events.
The PPC is a visioning and planning body. Members of the PPC
should not be the "do-ers" of the parish who are already
leading ministries and activities but they should be persons
whose primary commitment is to their service on the PPC. This
year, we are looking for two new adult members and two youth
representatives. PPC members should be:
* Individuals who are fully dedicated to the whole parish's
well-being and not to a specific ministry or area of church
life
* Persons of compassion, care, and integrity, who possess good
"people skills"
* People who are open to the Holy Spirit and who are able to
make decisions by the consensus method, rather than by
majority rule
* People who model tolerance, as Jesus did
* People who are bridge-builders and who have a sense of humor
All registered parishioners, adults and teenagers, are invited
to nominate a candidate. A nomination must include the name of
the one being nominated and the reason why he or she is being
recommended for the PPC. Those eligible for the PPC must be
Roman Catholics who are in good standing with the Church, who
have already received the Sacrament of Confirmation. No staff
member other than the Pastoral Life Coordinator serves on the
Council and no immediate family members may serve at the same
time.
MILT HONEL
I view the process which was implemented in 2005 involving
prayer, discernment, orientation, and selection a decided
improvement over the popular election format. The Discernment
Process adopted by our parish last year results in better
prepared parishioners being added to the Parish Pastoral
Council. Parishioners who are nominated and go through the
Discernment Process but decide, for whatever reason, not to
join the PPC will result in parishioners having a better
understanding of the operation of the PPC in our parish.
MARY ANN REED
Having been "elected to" parish councils in the past at other
parishes, I was excited about the opportunity to participate
in a discernment process last spring when considering
membership on the MQH Parish Pastoral Council. The process,
conducted on a Saturday afternoon, was almost like a "mini"
retreat for me. I was invited to spend some time looking
inward and really considering those personal qualities that
might either be an asset or a challenge to me as a member of
the parish pastoral council. I was given the chance to share
my awareness with others and to be affirmed in my self-
assessment. I also had the pleasure of getting to know some
other people a bit more intimately and to support and affirm
them. All of the sharing was done in a truly caring manner,
and I feel I learned something about myself as well as about
others. It was useful to me to have the time-the peace and
quiet-to consider what service on the PPC would mean in terms
of commitment and to make a realistic appraisal of my
willingness and ability to give the job what it requires. I
think the discernment process is invaluable, even if the
individual "discerns" that they are not called to serve in
this way. Anyone who is "looking for their niche" in parish
ministry will have much to gain from going through this
process. The Holy Spirit is full of surprises!
BRENDA SCANLON
I am a longtime parishioner and have been a member of Mary
Queen of Heaven Parish Pastoral Council for the past year.
When I was asked to consider being a PPC member, I thought
that this might be a possibility. I was fortunate to have the
Discernment Process help me in making the decision to be a PPC
member.
The Orientation Session gave me the opportunity to learn what
the PPC is all about and what is expected of its members. The
Day of Discernment allowed for prayerful thought and
discussion before making this commitment to the parish.
As a member of the Mary Queen of Heaven PPC, I am able to give
back some of what has been given to me. I am able to be of
service to Mary Queen of Heaven Parish and its parishioners.
What a blessing for me! I encourage anyone who wishes to
serve on the Parish Pastoral Council to take advantage of this
time of discernment. It is well worth the time spent.
HEATHER STYKA
I agree with the listed qualities for PPC members. Most of
all (speaking from experience!) I would emphasize that members
should be able to attend meetings. They must be able to
commit themselves. Sometimes this means that we must seek
individuals who may not have large roles in other areas of the
parish. Since our parish uses discernment rather than
elections, I think we will be able to look past the familiar
faces and rather look for people who will be able to respond
to the call of leadership.
LYNN SUWANSKI
Discernment has been an integral part of my faith life since
the birth of my Small Faith Community 12 years ago. Each year
we evaluate what is important to our group and to each of us
as individuals, concluding, hopefully, with a commitment to
remain with the group for another year. Through this
experience, I see the value in the process of discernment for
the formation and growth of the Parish Pastoral Council.
Potential members work through the process to realize whether
or not the Spirit is calling them to the Parish Pastoral
Council. Last year, the first year we did this in our church,
was a faith-filled day with some surprises. It was definitely
worth the time and prayer it took to recognize the people who
discerned a call to join the PPC.
MORE REFLECTIONS FROM CURRENT PPC MEMBERS:
SOME REFLECTIONS FROM CURRENT PPC MEMBERS:
Mary Queen of Heaven Church
A welcoming Catholic community that is rich
in history and open to the future, knowing
that the Spirit of God is truly guiding us.
You are invited to join us for our
50th Anniversary Mass
Sunday, April 2, 2006
10:30 a.m.
Bishop Joseph Imesch, presiding
426 N. West Avenue
Elmhurst, Illinois
(630) 279-5700
Following Mass all are invited to a
reception in Barrett Hall and to visit
the school building which will contain
memorabilia (the past and present).
Mary M. Foley, Pastoral Life Coordinator
JOE GORYL
Discernment is a very important part of my spiritual life at
Mary Queen of Heaven Church. Through discernment, I call on the
Holy Spirit to give me direction on some of the choices I make
on behalf of the parish. I consider discernment a Gift from
God not just a process. Sometimes it is difficult to follow the
direction of the Holy Spirit, trying to block out outside
influences. However, part of discernment is making those
distinctions and then being at peace with the decisions I have
made. Before my involvement on the Parish Pastoral Council
(PPC) I would use discernment on a personal level in my
everyday life, asking the Holy Spirit to help me make the
correct decisions. Since I have become a member of the PPC, I
have discovered a whole new level of discernment. I have
learned that the Spirit also acts within the gathered believers
of the parish community. Discernment is how the Spirit shows us
what God wants us do and be.
Through this upcoming discernment process, we will all need to
ask the Holy Spirit to guide us to make decisions that we will
find peace in.
KATHLEEN GUSLOFF
According to the New American Bible: Discern means to help us
understand between two or more things. I believe this process
enables those nominated to better understand the role of the
PPC and level of commitment needed to serve. This method gives
nominees time, through prayerful discernment, a chance to look
at how they might feel called to contribute to our church.
Nominees will have the opportunity to learn about the council
and each other in an effort to choose who they believe will
best serve our parish community. I pray that this model of
discernment will benefit our parish family and all those
participating find it to be a positive and rewarding
experience.
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