I believe that I had a very wise young man in my office the other day. For a few months, I have been helping him and his fiancee to prepare for marriage. In their meetings with me (which are in addition to their pre- cana sessions with one of our married couples in their home), we talk about church teaching and take care of a lot of paperwork. The couple has also taken a personality profile that I evaluated with them, and we are working together on plans for their liturgy. In my most recent meeting with them, we talked about "family of origin" issues, as I do with every couple. I ask each of them to talk about some of the things they remember from growing up that they want to bring into their new family life together. I also ask them what were some things from their family of origin that they do not want to bring into their new family life together. This kind of conversation can be very helpful to couples and I often get very interesting answers!
The answer I received from this young man took me by surprise, largely because of the maturity he seemed to have for someone of his age. He grew up in a good family and had a happy childhood. In fact, he really had a hard time thinking about any negative thing he could say about his experience growing up. After thinking it over for a while, however, he said this: "While I enjoyed the things we did together, there were always projects going on. I would like more days of rest for my family, less stress."
In the days that have passed since our last meeting, I have not forgotten his words. They have echoed back to me a number of times. One of them, I have to admit, was one morning this week when, after working non-stop for more than a week on various projects and reports, I found myself beginning to get crabby with Sister Marlene. I remembered the young man's words and decided to get out of the office for a break. I took myself to lunch and then to the drugstore for some vitamins. It was just the break I needed to come back refreshed and friendly again. I also remembered that it really doesn't pay to skip your day off! The young man I spoke with the other day already has a good sense of that for himself.
I also remembered his words in connection with other conversations I have had around the parish lately. Just last night, I said to a parishioner that it looked like she had been getting some sun over the summer. She told me that she has, especially with the six ball games she attended in one weekend with her kids! I also remembered seeing one of our teens last Sunday and saying to her that she looked tired. She told me that she has been going non- stop with activities all summer.
Maybe we should all take the words of this young man to heart as we enter into these last days of summer. Work is good, and there are always unavoidable deadlines we have to meet. But getting overtired doesn't help us in the long run. Perhaps all of us can think about how busy our lives really are, including for our kids. Activities are good - but we all need days of rest and less stress. These are things this young man wants for his new family. We should want them, too.
Today, on the Lord's Day, we have a day to begin this anew. Find some time to rest and refresh yourselves. The Lord of Creation did and we should, too! And let us look to the remaining days of summer. Have fun and enjoy this time together with your families. Slow down and have some restful times together, too! Our children will value these times, life will be less stressful, and someday when they have their own children, their families will have better balance in their lives. Thanks to the young man who gave us all a reminder of this.
Thanks, too, to the Finance Council and to Sister Marlene for all of their work on the annual report which will be going out in the mail this week. Please feel free to call me anytime if you have questions about this. Thanks to all of you, too, for your help and support as our parish continues to grow!
Mary M. Foley, Pastoral Life Coordinator
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.
Request for Sacristan Ministers
We are looking for people who would be willing to help with
our Sacristan Ministry. The Sacristans are the ones who help to
prepare for each Mass. They maintain the sacred vessels,
vestments, and linens, and they manage all of the supplies that
are used for our different celebrations in church. Our head
sacristan must cut back on her responsibilities due to health
problems, and her "right hand" helper is moving out of state
because of her husband's job transfer.
If you would be interested in learning more about what happens
"behind the scenes," you might enjoy the ministry of sacristan.
We are hoping to have some volunteers who would be willing to
learn all aspects of the ministry (cross-training, so to speak),
so that people can cover for one another when there is a need.
However, it is possible to make only a limited commitment, for
example, to machine wash altar server robes, or to bring
vestments and linens to the dry cleaners when needed, or to set
up for morning Mass on a certain day of the week.
If you would like to volunteer or learn more about this
important ministry of our parish, please contact Mary Foley at
the parish office at 279-5700 or by E-mail at MMRFoley@aol.com.
Da Vinci Code and the Catholic Church
Did Mary Magdalene play a bigger role in Christ's ministry
and life than that presented in the Gospels? Might there be
ancestors of Jesus alive today? If so, what effect would this
have on Christianity today? Is The Da Vinci Code fact or
fiction?
These are some of the issues raised in the book, The Da
Vinci Code, by Dan Brown. On Wednesday, August 23, at 7:30 p.m.
in Barrett Hall, the Adult Education and Spirituality Committee
will present the video, Jesus Decoded, prepared by the U. S.
Bishops Conference, which discusses the Catholic Church's
position on some of the issues raised in this controversial book.
The one-hour video will be followed by small-group discussions.
All teens and adults are invited. (We will not be discussing
whether or not there are killer albino monks roaming the earth!)
Please contact Julie McGovern at 832-0537 for further
information.
Free Ministry to Traveling Catholics
For nationwide Mass times and locations,
phone 1 800-Mass Times
(1-800-627-7846)
Or Internet www.Masstimes.org
Religious Education News
HELP us fill our remaining catechist positions. RE
classes begin very soon. However there will be classes that
will have to be delayed unless good people like yourself
(you know who you are) come forward.
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. 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 5 more. We are blessed.
If you can help, please call the REO today. Classes begin soon.
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. Remember that we do not process registrations
the week of September 20th. If you want your children to start on
the first day of class, register now. Pass the word to your
friends and neighbors.
Our calendar and other information regarding RE should be in the
mail. Please read it over carefully.
For more info on any of the above, please call Mary Ann Woods at
the REO, 832-8962.
Christian Education Commission
Grade levels where you are needed:
Session 1 - 3:15 Grade Two - 1 person is needed
Session 2 - 5:15 Grade One - 1 person
Grade Seven - 2 people
Session 3 - 7:15 Grade Six - 1 person
Crafters' Holiday
St. Alexander's Hall
230 S. Cornell, Villa Park
Scheduled this year for
Saturday, October 28
9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Looking for a place to sell your
Beautiful, clever and useful handcrafts?
$30 per space with your table; $40 with our table.
Call Pat (941-8592) or Marianne (834-2183) for an application and
further details.
St. John the Apostle CCW
1st Annual Fall Festival of Savings
Sunday, September 10
1:00 to 5:00 p.m.
On our parish grounds
330 North Westmore Avenue, Villa Park
Calling all garage sale junkies, entrepreneurs and
crafters!! Do you have stuff to sell? Spaces are $25 each.
Registration and payment must be received before August 27. If
interested, please call either Kathy at 630-279-5334 or Ginger at
630-833-2944 for more information and a registration form.
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.
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
Robert Manion Dennis McCabe
Raymond Mitchell Fred Moss
Bobbi Nannini Geri Pstrzoch
Baby Faith Reid Rob Restivo
Joaquina Scroppo Jess Smith
Rachael Thompson 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.
The Diocese of Joliet
Celebrates
The 19th Annual Bishop's Mass
With Persons With Special Needs
Sunday, October 15, 2006
12:00 noon
Cathedral of St. Raymond
604 N. Raynor Ave., Joliet
Please join us to celebrate Liturgy
with Bishop J. Peter Sartain
Luncheon follows immediately in the Joyce Center (Gym)
Please call Jen at 815-727-6411 for lunch reservations.
Interpreter for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing is provided.
Effective Choices, Effective Parenting
Building Effective Relationships With Our Difficult Children
For parents of children with ADD or ADHD
Tuesday, August 22, 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.
Building Effective Relationships With Our Children
For parents of children ages 0-19
Tuesday, August 29, 7-9 p.m.
This workshop helps parents build on their existing
strengths in order to win greater cooperation with their
children. Topics discussed include: increasing mutual respect,
positive communication and trust in the parent/child
relationship; understanding how parent's behavior affects child's
response; developing disciplinary techniques that work; providing
children with the tools they need to survive and thrive in
today's society.
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
Volunteer Tutors Needed
The Sisters of St. Joseph of La Grange Park are in need of
volunteers for its adult literacy program, School on Wheels.
Tutors are needed to teach one hour per week from 9 a.m. to 2
p.m. or 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Cicero, Hodgkins, Lombard, Summit,
Westmont, and Woodridge.
Two-day trainings will be held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on
August 28th and 29th and August 30th and 31st. Volunteers must
attend one two-day training session. No prior second language
skills are needed.
For more information, call 708-354-9200 Ext. 5060, 5085, or
5037.
Lands of the Bible
Week 3 Synopsis
In week three, we will go through the waters of the Bible
Lands. We will study the significances of these places for our
own journey through the "waters" of our life.
Diocesan News
Immigrant Worker Justice Walk
The Joliet Diocese Peace & Justice Office along with Pax
Christi Illinois and many other immigration rights, labor and
religious organizations are endorsing a Labor Day Weekend walk
calling for fair and humane immigration reform. The walk will
start with a rally on Friday, September 1st at 12:30 p.m. at
Chinatown in Chicago (corner of Archer & Wentworth) and will end
with a rally at the offices of Speaker Dennis Hastert's office in
Batavia (27 N. River St.) at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, September 4th.
For more information about the walk contact the Illinois
Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights at www.icirr.org or
call 312-332-7360.
A Vocation View
John's Gospel reveals God's promise of the Word made flesh.
This is revealed through the sacrifice made by Christ: "I am the
living bread, come down from heaven ... the bread I give is my
flesh for the life of the world ...".
Do this in memory of Him.
Lecture Explores the Female
Perspective of Family History
Brother Joseph Martin, FSC, Assistant to the President at
Lewis University, will present the lecture "Half My Ancestors
Were Women!" on Thursday, September 14 at the Lewis campus in
Shorewood. Free and open to the public, the one-hour lecture
will be held at 7 p.m. and will focus on female ancestry as
related to genealogical research.
Brother Joseph is a member of the De La Salle Christian
brothers-the religious teaching order that sponsors Lewis
University. An author, educator and researcher, he is a member
of the National Genealogical Society and the Association of
Professional Genealogists. He is a alumnus of the Institute of
Genealogy and Historical Research at Stamford University.
For more information or to register for the lecture, please
call (815) 836-5148. Phone registration is required to attend.
Lewis University's Shorewood campus is located at 247 Brookforest
Avenue, near the intersection of Route 52 (Jefferson Street) and
Route 59.
The Rite of Christian Initiation of Adults is available to
those individuals who:
* are curious to know more about the Catholic faith or know
someone who is curious.
* persons who have never been baptized.
* those who have been baptized as Catholic, but never had an
opportunity to complete their sacramental experience through
Confirmation and/or Eucharist.
* adults who have been baptized in another Christian
denomination, and would now like to enter into full communion
in the Catholic Church.
We, as the parish community of faith at MQH, welcome and
are here to assist these individuals in four ways:
1. Provide catechesis regarding the teachings of the Catholic
Church.
2. Be examples of a community of prayer and Christian living.
3. Be attentive witnesses of the various rites celebrated during
Mass.
4. Prepare adults to spread the Gospel of Jesus and build the
kingdom of God in our world.
If this ministry is of interest to you, please call:
Mimi Wolak at 941-3851 or
Tom Nanak at 530-4502.
................................................................
--I am interested in beginning the journey through the RCIA as
a catechumen or candidate.
___I am interested in being a sponsor for a new person.
___I am interested in knowing more about being a team member
of the RCIA.
___I need more information; let's talk!
Name: __________________________________
Phone: __________________________________
50th Anniversary Parish
Picnic Celebration
You and your family are cordially invited to attend Mary
Queen of Heaven's 50th Anniversary Parish Picnic on Sunday,
September 17, 2006. Rain or shine, the picnic will be held on
the parish grounds from 12:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Many plans have
been made to provide food, fun and entertainment for both adults
and children of all ages.
As in previous years, a huge tent with sides will be
available in case of rain. Families can bring their own food or
purchase tickets for an "All-You-Can-Eat Buffet." Tickets will
be available for the Buffet next weekend after all the Masses.
Adults $9.00 each; Kids $7.00 each. Buffet tickets must be
purchased by September 14th. Popcorn, cotton candy, soda and
bottled water will be available for purchase. Activities for the
family will include, face painting, moon jumps, a slide, egg
toss, Limbo contest, balloon toss, volleyball, fire truck and a
baking contest. Disk Jockey and Bingo too!
Special features will be the availability of our 50th
Anniversary Cookbook and Spirit Clothing. Sounds like lots of
fun, so be sure to plan on attending and spending a wonderful
afternoon enjoying conversations and participation in the various
activities with parishioners and alumni of our parish. For more
information or to volunteer to help, please call Bob Glick (833-
5725), Ed Hayes (279-5325), or Sheila Reiter (833-6657.
Remember the Diocesan Appeal?
To date, our parish has given $17,803.00 to the Diocesan
Annual Appeal. The goal set for us by the diocese, based on the
size of our parish, is $26,907.00. We are $9,104.00 short of our
goal. The Diocesan Appeal funds many worthy ministries,
agencies, and projects in our diocese that help many people in
need. We are grateful to all of those who have already made a
contribution. If you have not yet returned your envelope for the
Diocesan Appeal, please do so. The parish must submit the goal
amount, no matter what we collect. Everyone can help. Thank
you!