On Saturday, my son Jason was married to Briana in North Carolina. They met while both were living in California but when they decided to marry, they decided to relocate. Briana is from Virginia and she wanted to be closer to her mother when they had children. North Carolina was their choice because it was familiar to Jason (and the rest of my family) since he and all his brothers worked for many summers there, at a camp for boys in the Appalachian Mountains. (One of my other sons still works there now.) So Jason and Briana moved to Charlotte, a city which is home to many artists, also something good for Jason, who has begun to be commissioned for some of his paintings.
This wedding not only brought together people from the north and the south but also people from different religious traditions. In this setting, Catholics were in the minority. This is always a good experience because your attention is drawn to those things you take for granted.
Several people came up to me and asked me about my ministry, since they did not think that women could minister in the Catholic Church. I think that the thing which surprised me most, however, was when a young man, who was not Catholic, came up to me to tell me about his new job at a Catholic school in Texas. He was one of the young adults who had spent some years working as a camp counselor together with my sons.
Others gathered around as he talked about his new job as a science teacher. I think that all of these kids (I know they are in their late-20's now but I can't help thinking as a Mom) are at a wonderful stage in life, as they are making important decisions and life choices that are setting future direction for them. They still have fun together and sometimes play together as if they were still at camp but they also seem in awe of each other as they hear of the increasing responsibilities their friends are taking on in life - marriage, work, etc. They know they are growing up. And so do I.
As the young man who is now the science teacher began to talk about his new job, he told us about having to go to a workshop on teaching evolution. Some of the others who were standing with us were surprised to learn that the Catholic Church teaches about evolution. I explained how it is that Catholics can believe in biblical teaching and accept scientific theory about evolution. The young people around me listened carefully and respectfully, even though I knew that some of them came from traditions that take biblical teaching more literally. There were some other questions and I was glad for the opportunity to share with them some more about Catholic Church teaching.
In the last few days, I have thought quite a lot about this exchange from a number of perspectives. First of all, I have thought about how much we take for granted as Catholics, especially if we live most of our lives in parochial settings. Sometimes, it is when we are outside of our regular surroundings that we can appreciate more fully what our Catholic identity means. It can be challenging to talk about what we believe, especially when we are with people who think differently than we do. But this is our mission in life. We are to preach the gospel. We do this by the way we live our lives and by talking about what we believe as Catholics. There is an essential difference between evangelization and proselytizing. Proselytizing means intentionally trying to take people away from other churches or denominations or religions. That is not the same thing as evangelization, which is what we do when we talk about what we believe.
This encounter made me reflect on some other things, too. I thought about how much time Catholics fight with each other or fight over things like revisions in liturgical practices. This is all nothing new, of course. All one needs to do is pick up the Bible and read about such difficulties in the earliest Christian communities. I just wonder how things might be different if we took all of the energy we direct at internal conflict and turned it outward, focusing on evangelization, so that the world would know what is best about being Catholic instead of seeing us at our worst.
Finally, my encounter with this young man made me think about something else. Jason and Briana's wedding was a mixed marriage. This is the church's language for a marriage between a Catholic and a Protestant. So, this has become part of my family life as it has for many others. I know from years of experience in pastoral ministry that it is not always easy for families in which there are such differences. Yet, my encounter with the young science teacher served as an important lesson. We were all present for Jason and Briana's wedding because we all love them both. Our purpose in being there was to be present in love and support for them. The discussion I had with the science teacher and others at the reception about the church's teaching regarding evolution just happened out of the normal course of events but we were able to have genuine dialogue and not argument because we began on common ground. Our focus was on being persons of love.
I believe that this the best thing we can be - whether we are in families where there are mixed marriages or whether we are among fellow Catholics with whom we disagree. Genuine dialogue and understanding can be better achieved when we first try to find common ground and become more focused on our love for one another than on what divides us. May God bless Jason and Briana and all of those whose lives teach this to us.
Mary M. Foley, Pastoral Life Coordinator
Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass
Celebrate the Anniversaries of Marriage at the
Cathedral of St. Raymond, Joliet
Sunday, August 20, 2006, at 3:00 p.m.
The 28th Annual Diocesan Wedding Anniversary Mass will be
celebrated on Sunday, August 20, 2006 at 3:00 p.m. at the
Cathedral of St. Raymond in Joliet. All couples and their
families, no matter how many years married, are invited to attend
the event (maximum of four guests per couple, please). During
the liturgy, our new bishop of Joliet, J. Peter Sartain, will
lead the couples in a renewal of their marriage vows. Couples
celebrating 25, 50, and more than 50 years of marriage will
receive a special certificate. Please pre-register by completing
and returning the form by August 11, 2006. For more information,
please call 815-838-5334.
Rachel's Vineyard Retreats
For Healing After Abortion
Rachel's Vineyard retreats are an opportunity for any
person who has struggled with the emotional or spiritual pain of
an abortion. The retreat is a very specific process designed to
help you experience the mercy and compassion of God. It is also
an opportunity to surface and release repressed feelings or
anger, shame, guilt, and grief. The weekend will help your soul
find a voice, and transform the pain of the past into love and
hope.
Rachel's Vineyard retreats are sponsored by the Joliet
Diocesan Life Office. They are scheduled for September 22-24,
2006 and February 23-25, 2007, at St. Charles Borromeo Pastoral
Center in Romeoville, IL. 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.
"Out of Poverty" Program
Catholic Charities plans to hold an "Out of Poverty"
program in September in an effort to prevent homelessness and
improve people's lives. There are no explicit criteria for
attendance other than individuals who find themselves in need of
assistance in moving out of poverty. The program helps the
participants to take control of their goals, time, and money for
a prosperous and self-sufficient future. The program is for 10
weeks, once a week, and is free.
The classes will be held in our office at 26 W. St. Charles
Road, Lombard, on Mondays from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and will
start on Monday, September 18.
Please call Dennis Haffron at 630-495-8008, ext. 45 with
any questions and to be included on a list for the next class.
50th Anniversary Committee Update
Auction Dinner Dance Committee Meeting
Thursday, August 10 at 7:30 p.m. in Barrett Hall
Homecoming Weekend Committee Meeting
Wednesday, August 16 at 7:30 p.m. in Barrett Hall
Dinner on Saturday, September 16
Picnic on Sunday, September 17
Auction Dinner Dance
Friday, November 3, at Alta Vista
Anyone wishing to help or contribute ideas for any of these
events, please join us or call Sheila Reiter, 833-6657, for more
information.
Sign-up for Bible Study
Lands of the Bible
It is still not too late to sign up for our next Bible
Study, Lands of the Bible. We will meet for 8 weeks from August
8 to the week of September 25. Please join us to learn about the
Holy Lands where Jesus once walked. For more information on
sighing up, please call Lynn Suwanski at -630-530-2523.
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 Scroppo
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.
Back to School Fair
The 15th Annual Back to School Fair, coordinated by Catholic
Charities, will be held on Wednesday, August 9th from 11;00 AM-
6:00 PM at the DuPage County Fairgrounds in Wheaton.
Approximately one hundred agencies will provide a wide
variety of information and free health services for children ages
newborn to 18 years. The health services include a limited
number of physical exams for children entering grades K, 5, and
9, immunizations, dental and vision screenings.
Parents will also find information regarding financial
assistance, child care options, affordable housing, legal needs,
educational and career opportunities, voter registration,
nutrition, social security, car sear and booster seat safety,
D.A.R.E. cars, bicycle helmet safety. A ten-dollar voucher for
the exclusive purchase of school supplies will be distributed to
each eligible student in the family. Interpreters will be
available and it is required that a parent or guardian accompany
the children.
Please bring proof of family income and residency, as well
as identification for each child in your family and any health
information that may relate to the health services that are being
sought. For more info., call Mary S. Turnow, Catholic Charities,
630-495-8008.
Effective Choices, Effective Parenting
Building Effective Relationships With our Teens
For parents of children ages 13-19
Tuesday, August 8, 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.
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
Religious Education
Are you called to be a catechist??
Are you aware that at your Baptism, all Christians are
commissioned to do the work of Jesus? Did you know that all
Catholics are called to further the teaching mission of Jesus?
Have you heard that by sharing your faith with children, you
deepen your own faith in the process? Do you know that without
our volunteer catechists, we do not have a Religious Education
Program?
Please consider joining our team of dedicated men and women
just like yourself who weekly share their Faith with the young
people of the parish. We still have openings that must be filled.
Help our children to get to know our God.
All sessions meet on Wednesdays. Please bear in mind
because of the size of our program we have almost 70 catechist
and aide positions to fill. We need only nine more. We are
blessed. If you can help, please call the REO today. Classes
begin in just a few weeks.
Have you registered yet?
Registrations are still being taken in the REO for the
coming year. Our opening event is September 13th. It will be here
before we know it. If you have not registered, please do so ASAP.
Pass the word to your friends and neighbors. Classes are filling
up.
For more info on any of the above, please call Mary Ann
Woods at the REO, 832-8962.
Christian Education Commission
The following are those grade levels where you are needed:
Session 1 - 3:15
Grade Two - 3 openings Grade Three - 1 opening
Session 2 - 5:15
Grade One - 1 Grade Three - 1 Grade 5 - 1 Grade
Seven - 2
Session 3 - 7:15
Grade Six - 1
MQH Parish Feast Day
The feast day of Mary Queen of Heaven will be celebrated on
Sunday, August 20, with an outdoor Mass at 10:30 a.m.
Our Mass will be held between the church and school
building, directly behind Barrett Hall. Should the weather be
inclement, Mass will be held in the Church.
Following Mass there will be fellowship. This is a great
opportunity for our parish families to meet and become better
acquainted with each other, while enjoying conversation and
refreshments (coffee, tea, juice and sweets). We look forward to
seeing you and your family on this special occasion.
Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults
Are you, or do you know of someone who was, baptized in the
Catholic faith, but for various reasons never completed the
sacramental preparation by receiving Eucharist and Confirmation?
Have you been attending Mass with your Catholic spouse, and have
an interest in learning more about the Catholic faith? Do you
know someone who is interested in becoming Catholic or someone
who has never been baptized?
If you can relate to these situations, consider completing
your sacramental preparation by looking into the RCIA! Contact
Mimi Wolak at 941-3851 or e-mail mimiotvision@hotmail.com to
learn more about how you can enrich your spiritual life through
full participation in the life of the church through the
sacraments.
Dinner & Dialogue
With the Wheaton Franciscans
This session on Franciscan Spirituality will be presented
on Monday, August 14, 2006 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at Our
Lady of the Angels Convent, 26 W. 171 Roosevelt Road, Wheaton.
The "Dinner..." will begin with a simple meal, followed by a
prayer, engaging presentations, and then a table discussion.
This session, The Prophet lives a life of nonviolence by becoming
instruments of peace. Cost $15 for this session or $20 for the
two remaining sessions. To register, please call the Justice,
Peace and Integrity of Creation Office at 630-784-2555, or email
us at justicepeace@wheatonfranciscan.org