Summertime. All you need to do is look around on Sunday mornings to know that summer has arrived! Folks are beginning to spend weekends away, enjoying vacations and long weekends. We have had some lovely weather. There is more outdoor grilling going on and people are playing outside more. Parish activities have slowed down. Hopefully, everyone will get some rest and relaxation during these summer months.
Summer can also be a time for catching up, especially for those whose lives are busiest during the school year. I am grateful for summertime in lots of ways. There is more time for friends and family. This week, I was able to spend an afternoon and evening in Lake Geneva with my son Bryan. This week, I was also able to make a major dent in piles of paperwork, a good accomplishment! And before the next week is out, I look forward to a concert and a dinner party with friends.
Like many people, I will have some time away this summer. In two weeks, I will be traveling to North Carolina to celebrate the wedding of my son Jason and his wife-to-be Briana. I look forward to being together with my whole family again, including my Dad and Nancy (he has been doing very well since his stroke last year; my thanks to everyone who has prayed for him), my son Sean and his wife Lanier, who also moved to North Carolina this year, and my son Eric and his wife Jessica, who will be bringing baby Jameson to the wedding. Thanks be to God for all of the ways that summer provides time for joy and refreshment! I also hope to have some time in August to do some more work on my thesis, which is due by December.
Summer is also a time to plan for the coming year. Already, committee and ministry meeting schedules have been entered into Sister Marlene's computer, and the Religious Education calendar is taking shape for next year. Behind the scenes, there is work that continues during these summer months. Our Parish Pastoral Council just approved our three year parish plan. This is the fruit of two year's worth of work that began with Parish Leadership Day and updating our mission statement. The planning process has involved all of our commissions working together to define our parish goals and define ways that we will work to achieve these goals as we move into the future. During their upcoming retreat in August (after one month off for summer), the Parish Pastoral Council will be planning for the September Commissions meeting when the plan will be presented in its final form to all parish leaders.
Also in September, the parish plan will be distributed to all parishioners, as the PPC, together with the Parish Finance Council (which continues to meet through the summer) begins the new year with a focus on Stewardship and Evangelization. Everything in our parish plan relates to stewardship and evangelization, from preschool development to adult education, from preventive maintenance schedules to young adult ministry, from increasing the Sunday offertory to having seniors in our parish reading stories to children in Religious Education classes, from continuing to provide beautiful worship experiences to reaching out to those who have been away from the church, and the list goes on and on.
In September, everyone in the parish will receive a copy of our parish plan, along with a brochure that will outline some special events scheduled for the fall. As we consider stewardship and evangelization, we want to be able to articulate what those things mean for us as a church and we will be having some special guest speakers coming in to help us learn more. Also, before our Ministry Fair in October, we will have a Gift Discernment Day for everyone in the parish to learn how to discern what gifts they have been given by God and how these gifts - whether of time, talent, or treasure - may be shared with others. All of our activities focused on stewardship and evangelization will lead up to a parish mission planned for February. This mission will be a three day event intended to renew and invigorate us as we continue to live out the mission of Jesus with our lives.
In terms of summer work behind the scenes, we are also pulling together people who have different gifts who can help with the continuing development of the preschool. Soon, we will have some folks involved in marketing helping us to prepare for promotional materials. We will be sprucing up the school building and I do not think that this summer is too soon to begin some painting. Anyone who might be interested in helping with this should call the parish office and we can get something organized as soon as August.
In the meantime, let's all enjoy the summer. Rest, relax, enjoy family and friends. For those who will be away on weekends, summer will be a time for sometimes celebrating Mass at other parishes. Enjoy these opportunities and share with us new things you may learn! Also, for those who will be away at times over the summer, please continue to help the parish with your contributions, which can be mailed in. We can also make arrangements for those who would be interested for automatic debits or credit card payments. Continuing to improve our financial health as a parish is one of our very important parish goals and every way in which you can and do help is greatly appreciated. Thank you always!
May God continue to bless you!
Mary M. Foley, Pastoral Life Coordinator
A Vocation View In today's First Reading, Amos says he did not choose to be a prophet. God selected him. Maybe God is asking you to reconsider what you are doing and do His work instead. Introduction to the Bible Week 7 - The Importance of Biblical Scholarship How the meaning of a biblical text is determined is discussed in our lesson this week. We will reflect on the important relationship between biblical scholarship and personal interpretation. Reminder: Study will resume on Tuesday, July 11 (both AM and PM groups) and Friday, July 14. Effective Choices, Effective Parenting Building Effective Relationships With Our Teens For Parents of Children Ages 13-19 Tuesday, July 18, 7-9 p.m.. This two-hour workshop teaches participants practical, usable skills and insights on how to parent effectively during the challenging teen years. Building Effective Relationships With Our Difficult Children For parents of children with ADD or ADHD Tuesday, July 25, 7-9 p.m.. This two-hour workshop strengthens parent's skills to interact effectively with children who are suspected to have symptoms of ADD or who have been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD. All workshops held at Catholic Charities, in Lombard. $20 per person; $25 per couple. Pre-registration required. Instructor: James Gilligan, MSW, LSW For more information, please call-630-710-8226 or e-mail effectiveparenting@sbcglobal.net Mother McAuley Golf Outing The Saint Xavier Academy/Mother McAuley Alumnae Association will host its annual golf outing Putt & Party on Friday, July 21, at Stony Creek Golf Course in Oak Lawn. All net proceeds will go toward financial assistance for students. Golf starts at 1:00 p.m. followed by a buffet and raffle at 5:30 p.m. A fee of $65 covers both golf and buffet, and for non- golfers its $25 for the buffet. The raffle includes cash prizes, a weekend stay at Lake Delavan and many more prizes. Contact the Alumnae Office at 733-881-6565 or go online at www.mothermcauley.org. Are you widowed? Do you know someone who is widowed? If you have been recently widowed and are still struggling with the loss, or if you have been widowed for some time and need something to get you "over the hump" because you seem stuck in one spot, this program is designed to help you move on with your life while treasuring your past and its precious memories. The Joyful Again! retreat is for both men and women (all ages) who have been widowed and are still trying to find hope and joy in their lives. All are invited. When: July 29 & 30 Where: Mary Queen of Heaven Parish, Elmhurst Donation: $75 includes meals (Adjusted if needed) Register by calling 708-354-7211 DuPage Emergency Shelter - Opportunities Catholic Charities operates a 24-hour year-round emergency shelter and program in Villa Park which serves individuals and families who are situationally homeless. During the program the individuals and families work to regain self-sufficiency and their independence. The residents work toward securing employment and then housing. We ask for your help in the following: The Shelter needs volunteers who can engage young children in activities during the weekday or on Saturdays while their parents are out searching for a job or housing. The activity would be at the shelter while a Catholic Charities employee is always on site. If you have questions or would like to apply and begin the required background checks process, please call Sandra Feely at 630-495-8008, ext 64. Our Shelter needs a toy box to hold children's toys. The box we had is very old and needs to be replaced. The one we have now holds about 10 children's toys and is a rectangular box. The toy box must have a top on it. Also, do you have a working adult bicycle which you no longer use? The Shelter is in great need of bicycles which our clients can use to go to appointments and apply for employment. Please call Yvonne Morrongiello at 630-941-8681 if you can donate an adult bicycle or a new or gently used toy box to our shelter. Lands of the Bible - coming Are You a Bible Study Leader in your Heart?? "Come follow Me" Allow the Word of God to Form You as a Disciple of Jesus - We are planning to continue with some lighter study during the spring-summer and we invite you to join us in becoming a facilitator for the second of these Tuesday study groups: Lands of the Bible. Studies will begin Tuesday, August 8, and run Tuesdays, through the week of Sept 25. Very little training is needed. We will be working as one large team. There will be one training on Saturday, July 15, at 9:00 a.m. in Barrett Hall. The more leaders we have, the more groups we can breakout. The study evenings will have pre-planned prayer, video, and breakout discussion. Each session will last 1 hour, and we are vacation- friendly. Just be sure to come back to us refreshed. Please call Lynn Suwanski at 630-530-2523 (evenings). Lighter Fare for Summer Wear Sign up for Lands of the Bible Have you ever wondered about the intriguing places referred to in the bible? Do you know where Bethany or Cana is? Do they even exist today? These and other interesting facts will be covered in the next Bible Study, Lands of the Bible. This program is designed to help us understand the bible in terms of where events occurred, how far people of the scriptures actually traveled, and where certain ministries took place. Just as Introduction to the Bible was, Lands of the Bible is a weekly video presentation with small group discussion, a prayer service, and minimal personal preparation. Our first meeting will be on Tuesday, August 8, and we will meet each week through September 26. Sign-up is this weekend, July 8/9. Participant books will be on sale for $5 at that time (please see Mary Foley if you are in need of a "scholarship"). For more information, please contact Lynn Suwanski (630- 530-2523) or Alex and Marie Grozik (630-530-0503). 50th Anniversary Committee Update Paddle Wheel Riverboat Rides on the Fox River The first ride will take place on Saturday, July 15, from 6-8 p.m., and will be for adults only. The second ride will take place on Sunday, July 16, from 4-6 p.m. and will be for adults and children. The cruises will leave from Pottawatomie Park and last for two hours. During the cruise you will be served a buffet luncheon or dinner which will include Southern Pan-fried Chicken, Potato Salad, Hot Baked Beans, Cole Slaw, Rolls & Butter, Pickles & Olives, Cake & Ice Cream and Coffee or Lemonade. Beer, wine and pop can be brought onto the boats. Ice and glasses will be provided. Aside from the beautiful scenery, music will be provided during the cruise. Parking is available for those taking the cruise. Tickets are available for purchase this weekend after Masses. Adult Tickets: $25 per person; Seniors & Children's Tickets: $20 per person. (Children ages 2 and under are free). Each boat will accommodate 100 people so the sooner you purchase a ticket, the better! Rides will be provided for those that need transportation to St. Charles. When purchasing your ticket, please let us know you need transportation and we will arrange a ride for you. The next meeting of the 50th Anniversary Committee will be held on Wednesday, July 19, in Barrett Hall at 7:30 p.m.. . Anyone wishing to help or contribute ideas ,please join us. Anyone interested in helping with the "Homecoming Weekend" (Dinner/Picnic) on September 16 & 17, or the Auction/Dinner Dance, November 3, please contact Sheila Reiter at 833-6657. We need your help! The Summer of '06 is in full swing, but before you know it, we will be seeing those "back to school" ads in the newspapers. While enjoying all the wonderful events of Summer, please consider helping in our Religious Education program. Your children, your God, and your parish will be most grateful. At Session One, we need 3 people to help prepare our second graders for the sacraments of Reconciliation and First Eucharist. This is such a meaningful year for our little ones. It is also very rewarding for our catechists. Just ask anyone who has helped at that level. We also need 1 person to help in Grade 3 at this session. At Session Two, we have positions open at Grade 1, 3, and 5. In the last session, we need help in Grade 6. The time slots are 3:15 - 4:30, 5:15 - 6:30, and 7:15 - 8:30 p.m., respectively. If you love children and you love your faith, we invite you to join our staff. We will help you with the rest. Our Religious Ed Program is one of the best in the area, which is reflected in our continually growing enrollment. But we cannot do it without you. Please call for more information to see how you can help. We look forward to your call. Registrations are still being taken for 06/07 RE year. If you have not mailed yours in yet, please do so as soon as possible. We appreciate your help in getting that word out to your friends and neighbors as well. FYI: So you are aware, we are in the RE office during the summer. If you need to contact us for any reason, please feel free to call and leave a message - 832-8962. Marriage Ministry 10 Great Dates Mary Queen of Heaven's Marriage Ministry is introducing the Great Dates Program this Fall, and you are invited to make 10 dates with your spouse next year. Here is how it works: you and your spouse agree to go out on 10 dates next year on the second Saturday of every month from September 9 through June 9, 2006. For $10 you get a copy of 10 Great Dates to Energize Your Marriage. Each chapter focuses on an important aspect of marriage with some reflection questions. The date begins with a brief gathering at the parish for fellowship and to quickly review the material in the chapter for that date. Then you simply go off to your favorite restaurant, park, hiking trail, coffee shop, etc. and enjoy each other's company and conversation! The date may only last a few hours, but the results will hopefully last a lifetime. The official sign up weekend will be in August. However, if you would like more information, please call Donald and Ellen Walker at 630-279-4021. 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 60435. Contact DCFS at 1-800-252-2873 or call the office of the local County States Attorney. One Day Volunteer Need Catholic Charities is looking for volunteers to help at the Back to School Fair. The Fair will be held on Wednesday, August 9th at the DuPage County Fairgrounds in Wheaton. This is an all- day event but we would welcome volunteers for all or part of the day. No special skills are needed and Spanish speaking volunteers are especially appreciated. Any questions? Contact Mary Tarnow at (630) 495-8008, ext 13. The Joy of Golf for People with Disabilities Would you like to play golf again, but don't think you can because of a disability, back or neck pain, or arthritis? Has a disability or pain kept you from even learning to golf? Then this clinic is for you! Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital has teamed up with Peter Longo, a former PGA Tour player, who is internationally known as a leading authority and teacher on golf for the disabled. Peter authored the first teaching video and CD on the subject and has been conducting golf seminars for disabled students and teachers all over Spain. Together, Marianjoy's golf therapy specialists and Peter have created several clinics to help you return to golf, or maybe start playing for the first time. Clinics are $25 and include two hours of instruction, focusing on your particular needs at your specific level of play. Participants are divided up into beginner, intermediate, and advanced groups for better instruction and learning. Registration is required. Clinic dates vary, so please call for details. Please contact Tracy Ekstrom, CTRS and certified golf instructor for individuals with disabilities at Marianjoy, at 630-462-4040. Couples Married 50 Years: The Diocese of Joliet will hold its 28th Annual Wedding Anniversary Mass on Sunday, August 20, at 3:00 p.m. at the Cathedral of St. Raymond in Joliet. If you were married in 1956 and are celebrating your 50th anniversary, please contact the rectory so that we may submit your name to the Diocese for a formal invitation. Faith Sharing (Use with your family or to open meetings) 1. Read the daily gospel. 2. Pause for a minute of silence. 3. Read it again slowly. 4. What word or phrase "jumps out" at me? 5. Share the word or phrase (no explanation). 6. Share a sentence or two about why this touched you. 7. Thank your friends or family. 8. Thank God for the opportunity to share faith (brief prayer). Come Meet Bishop J. Peter Sartain You are invited to a local celebration to welcome our new Bishop! Bishop Sartain was installed as the fourth Bishop of Joliet in a solemn liturgy on June 27th at the Cathedral of Saint Raymond Nonnatus in Joliet. Our Deanery celebration to welcome the Bishop will give parishioners throughout the local area the opportunity to personally meet and welcome our new Bishop. Bring your family and friends to Visitation Catholic Church, 779 S. York Rd., Elmhurst, and join with parishioners throughout the Deanery in the celebration of the Eucharist on Tuesday, July 18 at 7:00 PM. A reception will follow the liturgy. All are welcome! 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. Natalie Baker Pam Bondfide Heather Brennan Kathleen Bryers Doresa Brugler Pat Caffarelli Rose Caffarelli KathyCalzante Cosmore Ciancio Dennis Ciancio Paul Cirone Margaret Conroy Cynthia Catalano Family Ida Corriedo Trudi Dolato Baby Dobrowolski Virginia Feret Modesta Goggins Mary Hagerty Anna Heffel Jen Huwalt Tom Huwalt Pat Holmes Michelle Humann Maureen James Kathy Johnston Irene Kmieciak Bernadette Kohn Tim Kowalski Baby Emma Lynde Rovert Manion Raymond Mitchell Bobbi Nannini Phyllis O'Donnell Geri Pstrzoch Baby Faith Reid Bob Restivo Joaquina Scropp Jess Smith Ted Vecchio 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 Loretta Pavesi