Dear Friends,
Today, we enter into Holy Week. Lent will come to a close as we begin the rich celebrations of the Triduum. Triduum, meaning three days, is the name given to Thursday, Friday, and Saturday of this week. There are many people who have never attended the services of the church on these days. Please consider making them a part of your spiritual journey this year.
On Holy Thursday at 7:30 in the evening, we will celebrate the Mass of the Lord's Supper. It will begin with the procession of Holy Oils, which we will receive at a very special celebration at the Cathedral tomorrow night. On Monday of each Holy Week, there is a Chrism Mass at the Cathedral which is attended by all of the clergy and lay representatives from every parish in the Joliet Diocese. At this Mass, the Oil of Catechumens (used in Baptism), Holy Chrism (used at Baptism and Confirmation), and Oil of the Sick (used for anointing in the Sacrament of the Sick) are all consecrated by the Bishop. Each parish receives these oils to be used in their church during the coming year. You may have seen these Holy Oils in our church; they are kept on the ambry, or shelf on the wall near to our tabernacle. (The oils which are leftover from the last year are burned and replaced with fresh oils on Holy Thursday.)
Also during the Holy Thursday Mass, a special ritual of foot washing takes place. This recalls what Jesus did in washing the feet of his disciples, showing them that the heart of being a Christian is to be a servant of others. Everyone present at this Mass will be invited to have their feet washed and then to wash the feet of another. This is a very powerful symbol, as we both receive the care of someone and in turn, serve someone else in the same way. This is done skin-to-skin, helping us to remember not only the service of Christian discipleship but the very closeness of Jesus to us.
On Good Friday, we will have the celebration of the Lord's Passion. At this service, also held at 7:30 in the evening, there will not be a celebration of the Eucharist but distribution of communion from the reserved Blessed Sacrament. Nowhere in the Catholic Church in the world is Mass celebrated on this day when we remember the death of Jesus on the cross. The cross has extraordinary meaning for us as Christians and there is a special ritual of reverence for the cross at this service, in which people come up to the front of the church to touch the cross, kneel before it, kiss it, or embrace it. This is a gesture of reverence for Christ himself, who loved us so much that he freely gave his life for us. With these gestures, we also embrace the crosses we carry in our own lives, knowing that God understands suffering and is with us on our journey. Embracing the cross is also a symbol of hope in the resurrection to come.
On Holy Saturday, we will celebrate the Easter Vigil at 8:00 p.m. This Mass, which does not start until sundown, begins with fire outside the church and light from candles everyone receives as they enter. Bishop Stanley Schlarman will be presiding at our Easter Vigil celebration, in which we will listen by candlelight to the Word of God in many scripture stories from the beginning of creation to the time of Jesus. During this Mass, those who have been part of our RCIA program this year will become fully initiated into the church through the sacraments of Baptism, Eucharist, and Confirmation. Those coming from other Christian traditions will make a full profession of faith. This Mass is the most beautiful celebration of the church year. It is the first celebration of Easter. This year at the vigil, we will have special candles for everyone to take home with them. They have been donated as a gift for our 50th anniversary year. Everyone coming for the Easter Vigil this year should stand outside the front doors of the church (or inside Mary's Gathering Space, in case of rain) and receive their lit candle before going inside.
Please invite your family and friends to celebrate these days of the Triduum and Easter Sunday. We will have three Masses on Easter morning, our regular 8:30 and 10:30, and we are adding a 12:00 noon Mass, as well. May God bless us all in these last days of Lent. May we be open to receive the love that is freely given to us and may we share that love with others.
Mary M. Foley, Pastoral Life Coordinator
Reporting Sexual Abuse Anyone who has reasonable cause to suspect the sexual abuse of a minor by a member of the clergy or other Church personnel is urged to report the matter immediately. To inform the Diocese of Joliet, call Sr. Mary Frances Seeley, OSF (Victim Assistance Coordinator) at 1-815-263-6467 or write the Diocese of Joliet, 524 Summit Street, Joliet IL 60435. Contact DCFS at 1-800-252-2873 or call the office of the local County States Attorney. Market Day Orders for April are due Monday, April 17, at noon. Turn in your order form in the box at the back of church or at the rectory. Pickup on Saturday, April 22, 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. Ending Global Poverty: A Call to Action Reflection "The poverty of billions of men and women is the one issue that most challenges our human and Christian consciences." Pope John Paul II Statement from Bishop Imesch: Introduction "My brothers and sisters, I was heartened to see this diocese's response to the massive tsunami in South Asia. Through your generosity, over one million dollars was sent through Catholic Relief Services to help meet the needs of these suffering peoples. Still, in our world today, over one billion people are struggling to survive on an income of less than $1 per day. Not so visible in the news is the reality that 20,000 people die every day throughout the world from preventable disease and hunger. It is these daily smaller "tsunamis" that are beginning to attract the attention of the world. It is to this ongoing tragedy that I join with the Diocese of Joliet Council on Global Solidarity and Mission in this call to action to end poverty now." Bishop Joseph L. Imesch A Call to Action Global poverty is a fundamental moral issue of our age. The suffering of billions of God's people cannot go unanswered, especially when solutions are within our grasp. While we are in a time of great crisis and challenge, we are also in a time of unprecedented possibility. We are in a kairos moment. We can change the world if only we have the will to act. Although certain areas of the world are experiencing progress in combating poverty, Africa is seriously declining. It is imperative that the U.S. and other developed countries increase their level of aid to Africa now. Pivotal meetings of world leaders are addressing global poverty in July and September. To learn what you can do, please visit the Church of Joliet Council for Global Solidarity and Mission website at www.paxjoliet.org/global. With just a few clicks, you can change the world! Holy Land Collection On Good Friday, April 14th, our parish will take up the annual collection for the Holy Land. We ask you to be generous. Your financial contribution will support the works of the Catholic Community in the Middle east and to protect the Holy Places and Christian shrines. Please be generous. Come, Pay Your Respects At Flanagan's Wake Enjoy a wake, Flanagan's Wake. On Saturday, April 29th, the Marriage Ministry is sponsoring a couples' outing to Pheasant Run Theatre to see the interactive comedy Flanagan's Wake. The outing includes the show and a buffet dinner at the cost of $84.00 per couple. We will be meeting at Pheasant Run Theatre at 5:30 with the show being at 6:00 p.m. and the dinner following at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are on sale now and the deadline for purchasing is Easter Sunday, April 16th. Come and enjoy a good old-fashioned Irish wake, Flanagan's Wake!. For tickets or information, please call Don and Ellen Walker at 630-279-4021 or Alex and Marie Grozik at 630-5300503. 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 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. Rest in Peace Dino Fuggitti Christian Service Commission Wanted: Church Office Manager/Volunteer Coordinator Area Catholic Church seeks outgoing person to recruit volunteers and maintain database. Also responsible for hiring and supervision of finance office personnel. MS office and basic accounting experience required. Fax resume and salary history to 630-530-7688. Parish News Good News: The Ministry of Prayer And Praise Has Begun! What is the Ministry of Prayer and Praise? It is a spiritual ministry in which the ministry members offer to God intercessory prayers of petitions and supplications for strength, direction and healing of others. Who can belong? This is a ministry especially for the homebound. It is also for the young, senior citizens, and anyone willing to pray for the world, friends, families or strangers, and especially the members of our parish who are in need. What do I have to do? You are asked to pray in private, in church, at home, or anywhere you may be for people who ask for help through prayers. There will be no required length for the prayers but daily commitment to say a prayer for one month for the received intentions will be the norm. What good will it do? It will provide a spiritual powerhouse that will bring God's blessings on us and the people we pray for. Do we have meetings? No. This is a spiritual ministry. How will I know what to pray for? Each month, you will be sent a newsletter with intentions to pray for during the month. The newsletter will also have bits of news about the Ministry, thanksgiving for prayers heard and articles from Deacon John Maloney and other contributors. How do I join? Call the Parish Office at 630-279-5700 and state that you would like to be a Minister. The ministers will be commissioned and presented a book of prayers and a certificate of membership Prayer is the raising of the heart and soul to God. "It is a blessed fountain which, as it flows, revives our good desires and causes them to bring forth fruit." (St Francis of Sales). Many of us may not believe that we know how to pray or we do not believe that we pray "well." But finding ourselves in dire circumstances and in this respect, responding to the needs of others usually shows us otherwise. Prayer does not necessarily have to be formal, as long as what we say to God stems from our good desire to help others, which is akin to love and which glorifies God. We hope that you will be inspired to join this lofty ministry. Annual Ecumenical Good Friday Walk Good Friday, April 14, 2006 (Sponsored by the Parish Partners for Peace and Justice) Join us in our reflection on issues of peace and justice as we follow in faith the footsteps of Christ. Our journey will begin with Stations of the Cross at 10:00 a.m. at St. Alexander Church, 300 S. Cornell, Villa Park., and continue for approximately 3 miles. Cars will be available for those unable to complete the walk. All participants are invited to a simple lunch of soup and bread after the walk at St. Alexander's Parish Hall. All are welcome . If you need further information, call Carol Yesko at 630-530-3497 or the Ministry of Care Office of St. Alexander's 630-833-7711. Religious Education News RE Registrations Registrations for the 2006-2007 RE year have been mailed this week. Please call the office if you are new to the Parish or are new to our program and would like to receive a Registration form. As our enrollment continues to grow, be sure to return your completed RE registration form as soon as possible to guarantee your first choice of session. Catechists Needed As this RE year begins to wind down, we have to start thinking about our needs for next fall. At this time it looks like we will need catechists and/or aides at many grade levels: Please call the office if you would like to help. Although next September seems very far away, it will be here before you know it. Now is the time to come by and see for yourself what wonderful things go on in our RE classes on Wednesdays. Remember you don't have to be a theologian; you just have to be someone who loves your Faith and would enjoy sharing it with our children. Call the REO for more info. Friday, April 14th our 7th grade RE class presents its annual depiction of the Living Stations at 3:00PM in church. Plan on joining the parish community this Good Friday for this beautiful and prayerful experience. Attention Parents of Confirmation Candidates: Please mark your calendars for the following: Tuesday, April 18-We will have Confirmation Practice for our Candidates (no sponsors) in Church from 6:30-8:30PM. Since this is the only practice, it is mandatory that all be present. Wednesday, April 19-We will have a special Reconciliation Service for all of our Confirmation candidates at 7:15PM in Church. It is very important that all be in attendance. Please note that this session is in lieu of the 5:15 grade 8 session for those who normally attend at that time. Saturday, April 22 - Our celebration of Confirmation will take place at 5:00PM in Church with Bishop Laurence Sabatini presiding. Our final Family Mass of the year will take place on Sunday, April 23rd at 10:30AM. It is even more special than usual since we will welcome a small group of 2nd graders to our Eucharistic Table for the first time. Please be sure to come and celebrate with them. If you have any questions or need more information, please call Mary Ann Woods at the REO, 832-8962. Christian Education Commission ATTENTION ALL LADIES OF THE PARISH The Council of Catholic Women is sponsoring a tour and discussion at Elmhurst's own Wilder Park Conservatory. Planting time is just around the corner, so please be sure to join us and learn about spring planting ideas. The tour will take place at the conservatory on Tuesday, April 18th at 7:00 p.m. All are invited to attend. Any questions, please feel free to contact Mary Connelly at 782-7626. Lenten Food Collection This Weekend, April 8 and 9 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. Visitation Parish 779 S. York Rd., Elmhurst, IL Invites you to share in the extraordinary graces of Divine Mercy Sunday. (April 23, 2006) 1:30 P.M. Sacrament of Reconciliation 3:00 P.M. Divine Mercy Chaplet Veneration of Relic of St. Maria Faustina Kowalska Blessing of Religious Articles 3:45 P.M. Celebration of Mass All are Welcome! Sacred Concert Benedictine University music students and faculty will perform at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 30th at St. Procopius Abbey Church in a concert celebrating Mary, the Mother of God, and the determination of all single mothers who struggle to provide for their children. The "Sacred Concert," sponsored by the Department of Music at Benedictine University, will benefit Families Helping Families, a grassroots neighborhood organization started by a Naperville mom in 1994 to help homeless families in DuPage County. . The concert is free and open to the public, but goodwill offerings are welcomed and encouraged. For more information about Families Helping Families, (630) 355-1043 or e- mail FHF@wowway.com Liturgy Update Next week we enter "Holy Week," the most solemn week of our Lenten Season. It is a time for all to come to worship beginning with Holy Thursday, the Mass of the Lord's Supper. It has been our tradition the past few years to invite all those who attend Mass on Holy Thursday to participate in the "Washing of Feet". As Jesus humbly washed the feet of his apostles, we invite you to join us in this ritual to have your feet washed and in turn humbly wash the feet of others. Please help us make the significance of this occasion as meaningful as possible by participating. On Good Friday all are invited to attend the special services and participate in the Veneration of the Cross. Those of you attending the Easter Vigil this year will be given special vigil candles in honor of our 50th anniversary celebration year. If weather permits and you are able to stand outside of the Church entrance, we ask that you do so. There will be two Candle Tables outside the entrance and as soon as the Blessing of the Fire and the Preparation of the Easter Candle is completed and lit by the Deacon, assigned attendants will light the candles and hand them to the people waiting to enter Church. Anyone who cannot physically stand outside, please enter church and wait in your pew and someone will make sure you have a lit candle. Should the weather be inclement, the fire will be moved over in front of Mary's Gathering Space and people will enter the Gathering Space and wait for the Blessing of the Fire, etc. GARDEN CLUB "SPRING CLEAN-UP" Calling all Garden Club members and other parishioners, it's time to start preparing the parish grounds for Spring Planting. Mark your calendar for Saturday, April 29th at 9.30 a.m. and bring your gloves, rakes and shovels. Many hands are needed so if you have a few hours to spare, please plan on helping us. Give Rose Wilkes (833-7238) or Sheila Reiter (833-6657) if you can help. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You! From the comments received from parishioners and visitors, our 50th Anniversary Celebration was great! Everyone seemed to enjoy the wonderful liturgy, the delicious food, our Memorabilia Room and our MQH Spirit Clothing Room. All of this was made possible by the generosity of parishioners. We would especially like to thank all those who participated in making the beautiful banners, planned the liturgy, and donated the wonderful appetizers, sweets and other items for our reception. Kudos to the 50th Anniversary Committee who worked so hard in planning the occasion and to all the generous people who donated their time in preparing for the event and cleaning up afterwards. A special thank you to Sr. Marlene for all her hard work behind the scenes, and in general to anyone who helped out. It's working together as a team that makes everything come together in a special way. Will You Drink in High School? Come find out what happens if you do, on Monday, April 10, 7:00 p.m., York High School Commons Area. Due to the seriousness and graphic nature of this presentation, all 8th grade students must be accompanied by an adult. This is a project of our Confirmation candidates: Mary Alex Japczyk and Bridget McGing Elmhurst Ministerium Association As is tradition with our Ministerium, we will be having a Community Good Friday Service. We would like to thank Rev. Suzann Holding of the Episcopal Church of our Saviour for volunteering to host the service this year. Community Good Friday Service Friday, April 14, 2006, 12:00 PM Episcopal Church of our Saviour 116 East Church, Elmhurst Reverend Elaine Eachus from St. Perter's UCC Church will be our homilist. Please feel free to join us.